Grand Canyon helicopter tours are an exciting way to experience the National Park. But if you want to take your flight to a whole new level, take a deluxe version of these air tours. These trips feature better aircraft and a level of service that makes them a much better value than the basic options.

Helicopter rides are available from Las Vegas, NV, and the South Rim in Arizona (e.g. Tusayan, the small town just outside the National Park’s main gates). Deluxe flights leave nearly hourly from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. and are available all year except on Christmas Day.

Las Vegas

Vegas helicopters go to the West Rim of the Canyon and there are two types: air-only and landing. Air-only go over the Canyon and back while landing tours go to the top and/or the bottom. Personally, I prefer landing tours because they give you the benefit of seeing the Canyon from air and ground.

More specifically, I prefer the landing tours that go to the bottom of the Canyon for a Champagne picnic. And if you’re feeling super adventurous, upgrade this particular package to include a boat ride down the Colorado River and VIP tickets to the Grand Canyon Skywalk (this tour is known as the 4-in-1 and regularly sells out).

Deluxe Vegas helicopters utilize the superior EcoStar 130. This helicopter is 25 percent larger than others. Its incredibly large cabin is outfitted with stacked, stadium-style bucket seats that face a 180-degree wraparound windshield that assures maximum views. Further, these choppers are aerodynamically designed to deliver the smoothest ride possible and feature “whisper-ride” rotors that significantly reduce noise to a point where it’s a non-factor.

In addition to including all taxes and fees, deluxe tours also come with limousine service to and from your hotel, as well as an extended tour over the Las Vegas Strip, starting from the Stratosphere Tower at the north end to Mandalay Bay to the south (Tip: Try to book the last flight of the day so you can catch Vegas with it’s lights turned on!).

South Rim

Helicopter rides at this Rim are also available in deluxe. This applies to the 30-minute and 50-minute flights, both of which use the EcoStar 130 mentioned earlier. Guests are responsible for arranging their own transportation to Grand Canyon National Park Airport. Please note that South Rim helicopters are prohibited from flying below the Rim and landing at the bottom.

The 30-minute flight goes from the South Rim to the North Rim and back and includes the Dragoon Corridor, which is the widest and deepest section of the National Park. The 50-minute deluxe, which in my opinion is the better value, does everything the shorter flight does plus everything up to the Park’s eastern boundary. By the time you’ve completed the “50,” you’ll have seen up to 75% of the Park!

Deluxe helicopter tours are in high-demand. My recommendation is that you book one at least two weeks prior to the day you want to fly. But if you really want to be assured of getting seats, purchase your tour right after you book your hotel. Tip: Do not book deluxe tours within 72 hours of flight time because two things could happen. First, you’ll pay a premium and it’s not cheap. Second, the flight is sold out, which is very common during spring, summer and fall.

So that’s the scoop on deluxe Grand Canyon helicopter tours. Take one and I’m confident you’ll experience the flight of a lifetime.

The author is a Grand Canyon expert and recommends going here for the best South Rim helicopter tours and here for ones that depart from Las Vegas: http://www.grandcanyonhelicopters.org/las-vegas/

The author is a Grand Canyon expert and recommends going here for the best South Rim helicopter tours and here for ones that depart from Las Vegas: http://www.grandcanyonhelicopters.org/las-vegas/

Author Bio: The author is a Grand Canyon expert and recommends going here for the best South Rim helicopter tours and here for ones that depart from Las Vegas: http://www.grandcanyonhelicopters.org/las-vegas/

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