The Grand Canyon\’s South Rim is located in Arizona and is recognized as the official National Park. There are plenty of ways to experience it but helicopters are by far the best.

Before we move on let me first clarify that there are two rims that most people visit. They are the South Rim, which you\’ll visit from Phoenix and Sedona, and the West Rim, which you go to if in Las Vegas.

From Vegas

Please understand that there are no connecting flights between the rims. And if you are in Las Vegas and want to see the South Rim, I recommend you go by airplane (60 minutes one way).

Now back to South Rim helicopters. For the most part there are two kinds. A 30-minute and 50-minute flight. Even though the shorter flight is cheaper, I prefer the longer one.

And here\’s why: By taking the 50-minute tour, you\’ll see up to 75 percent of the Grand Canyon. In a nutshell, you fly from Grand Canyon National Park airport to the eastern boundary and then across the Canyon and over the North Rim before landing back at the airport.

Dragoon Corridor

In contrast, the 30-minute flight goes from South Rim to North Rim and back. And both go through the magnificent Dragoon Corridor, which is the widest, deepest part of the National Park.

Be aware that there are two kinds of helicopters used on these tours: The Bell Ranger and the EcoStar 130. In most cases, the low-budget tours will use the Bell Ranger and the more deluxe flights will go with the EcoStar.

Is it worth to pay more to fly in an EcoStar? I think so. For starters, the EcoStar is 25 percent larger than the Bell. Further, it\’s equipped with stadium-style seats, a 180-degree wraparound windshield and noise-compression technology that makes the ride sound like a whisper.

Jeep Tour

There\’s also one last South Rim helicopter tour that I want to include on the list. It combines a 30-minute basic rim-to-rim flight with a 2-hour Jeep tour. The ground tour takes you inside the Park and all the way up to Grandview Point with stops in between for photos and lookouts. I\’m told the sunset version of this package is the most popular.

I suggest you book these helicopter flights at least a week in advance especially during the summer months. Forget trying to get one within 48 hours or same day as there\’s a strong chance they\’ll be sold out.

Also dress comfortably. I suggest loose clothing that\’s not reflective. And have your smart phone or camera fully charged the night before. For those who speak a foreign language, make sure to ask for a pre-tapped narrative of the trip in your native tongue. Conclusion

My intent with this article was to list the best South Rim helicopter tours from which to choose. My favorite by far is the 50-minute deluxe tour with EcoStar. I\’m also a huge fan of the one that includes a Jeep tour, especially if you can hit the road around sunset. Regardless which one you purchase, they\’re all superb and will make any trip to the Canyon one you\’ll never forget.

Ready to fly Grand Canyon? The author recommends going here for the best Canyon flights http://www.grandcanyonhelicopter.org/best-grand-canyon-helicopter-tours.html And here for discounts that make these tours cheaper: http://www.grandcanyonhelicopter.org/grand-canyon-helicopter-tour-coupons.html

Ready to fly Grand Canyon? The author recommends going here for the best Canyon flights http://www.grandcanyonhelicopter.org/best-grand-canyon-helicopter-tours.html And here for discounts that make these tours cheaper: http://www.grandcanyonhelicopter.org/grand-canyon-helicopter-tour-coupons.html

Author Bio: Ready to fly Grand Canyon? The author recommends going here for the best Canyon flights http://www.grandcanyonhelicopter.org/best-grand-canyon-helicopter-tours.html And here for discounts that make these tours cheaper: http://www.grandcanyonhelicopter.org/grand-canyon-helicopter-tour-coupons.html

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