Few people know it but the Grand Canyon is just 120 miles from Las Vegas. And even fewer know that the best way to experience the National Park is by helicopter.

But with this article, that\’s about to change.

These days, Las Vegas helicopters go daily to the West Rim from multiple airports, the primary ones are based on the Las Vegas Strip and in Henderson, NV, and Boulder City (the last two are Vegas suburbs).

Flights that depart from Henderson and Boulder are cheaper than from the Strip. This is because you\’ll spend more time getting from your Vegas hotel to the airport – Henderson takes about 20 minutes and Boulder can take up to 35 minutes.

From Las Vegas

If you leave from The Strip, which I highly recommend, you\’re in for about a 10-minute commute and most likely in a chauffeured stretch limousine (Henderson and Boulder flights use a shuttle van). Moreover, Strip flights usually include a tour of The Strip on the way back from the Canyon.

There are two kinds of helicopters that are used on these tours: The Bell Ranger and the EcoStar 130. The Bell is a smaller, older aircraft but it is perfectly safe and gets the job done. The EcoStar is state-of-the-art and has 25% more cabin space than the Bell. It also has stadium-style seats and a 180-degree wraparound windshield.

There are two kinds of flights: Air and landing. Both go over Lake Mead and Hoover Dam, as well as the Colorado River, the Grand Cliffs Wash, the West Rim and the Skywalk. The air tour, however, will turn back and head to town while the landing tour will go to the top or bottom.

Land on Bottom

The bottom tour is the most popular, especially the one that comes with a Champagne picnic. This same tour can be extended with a boat ride down the famous Colorado River. The best one that goes to the top includes tickets to the Grand Canyon Skywalk, the glass bridge that lets you walk some 70 feet over the edge!

Here\’s a fact you need to know: Las Vegas helicopters don\’t fly to the South Rim, the Park\’s other main point of interest. The reason is because the distance (277 miles) is too far for helicopters. Travelers who want to visit the South Rim should consider taking an airplane tour, which will get you there in under and hour. On a related note, there are no flights between the West Rim and the South Rim.

Because it\’s summer and it\’s very busy in Las Vegas and at the Grand Canyon, I strongly recommend booking your helicopter tour at least a week or two in advance. This will ensure that you get the flight you want and the time and date you want. Try not to book a helicopter tour when you arrive in Las Vegas or within 48 hours because a) you won\’t get the flight you want; b) the flight you want will be sold out; or c) you\’ll pay a lot of money for it.

Conclusion

I hope this article about Grand Canyon helicopter tours from Las Vegas proved helpful as you plan your trip. My main point is this: Always consider taking a helicopter ride that departs from the Vegas Strip. Sure, it might cost more, but the benefits are huge, especially considering you get to arrive in a stretch limousine and you get a tour of The Strip. And, lastly, try to book your flight ahead of time. It\’s the only way to make sure you\’ll get the flight/time/date that matters the most to you.

The author is an expert on Las Vegas Grand Canyon tours and recommends getting this free report http://www.grandcanyonhelicopters.org/save-money/ so you can save money on these amazing helicopter tours: http://www.grandcanyonhelicopters.org/las-vegas/

The author is an expert on Las Vegas Grand Canyon tours and recommends getting this free report http://www.grandcanyonhelicopters.org/save-money/ so you can save money on these amazing helicopter tours: http://www.grandcanyonhelicopters.org/las-vegas/

Author Bio: The author is an expert on Las Vegas Grand Canyon tours and recommends getting this free report http://www.grandcanyonhelicopters.org/save-money/ so you can save money on these amazing helicopter tours: http://www.grandcanyonhelicopters.org/las-vegas/

Category: Travel
Keywords: grand canyon, las vegas, grand canyon tours, las vegas tours, las vegas trip, grand canyon flights,