Planning to take a Grand Canyon helicopter tour this year? Well, in addition to determining if you\’ll fly from Las Vegas or the South Rim, you\’ll also have to choose between going on a basic or deluxe flight. And if you\’re the kind of traveler who wants only the best, then the later type of flight is your only option.

Best Value

Of course, basic helicopter tours are cheaper, and for the budget traveler they are the superior choice. However, the deluxe does so much more. For starters, deluxe rides come with complimentary limousine hotel pick up and drop off (basic trips include a shuttle van). Then there\’s the kind of helicopter you get to fly in, which, in my opinion, makes all the difference in the world.

See, basic trips use the AStar and the Bell Ranger helicopter, which are great. But the deluxe uses the superior EcoStar 130, which boasts a cabin that\’s 25% bigger and that means more leg room, personal space and overall general comfort. Further, the EcoStar comes with bucket-style seats that are configured stadium-style. This ensures that every seat is best in the the house. Moreover, these aircraft deploy a 180-degree wraparound windshield that deliver massive panoramic views.

The last thing that makes deluxe tours so awesome is the extended flight over the Las Vegas Strip. After you visit the Canyon, you\’ll head back to town and do The Strip starting from the Stratosphere Tower down to the Luxor pyramid. In between, you\’ll see the Bellagio\’s dancing fountains, Paris\’ Eiffel Tower, MGM\’s Emerald CIty and much more. It\’s a tremendous experience as you get an incredible bird\’s eye view of the world\’s most famous skyline.

Options

Las Vegas deluxe helicopters are available in fly over and landing tours. Both follow the same flight path and go over Lake Mead, Hoover Dam, the Colorado River and the Grand Canyon. Fly overs will turn back while landing tours will take you to the top or the bottom. My favorite landing package is the one that goes to the base for a Champagne picnic. This particular trip can be extended with Colorado River boat and/or a Grand Canyon Skywalk VIP pass.

South Rim helicopters, which take off from Grand Canyon National Park Airport in Tusayan, Arizona, are not allowed to fly below the rim and land. Thus your options are limited to 30-minute and 50-minute deluxe flights. The shorter trip goes South Rim to the North Rim and back and includes the thrilling Dragoon Corridor. The latter does that too as well as everything up to the Park\’s eastern boundary.

Frankly, I prefer the 50-minute flight. That\’s because once you\’ve done it you\’ll have seen up to 75% of the National Park, which is quite remarkable considering the Canyon comprises more than 1 million acres of wilderness. That said, if you find yourself in a pinch for time or you are on a tight budget, I recommend taking the shorter option, which will give you a good sample of the Canyon from the air.

Conclusion

I hope this article about Grand Canyon deluxe helicopter tours proved useful as you plan your trip to the Grand Canyon from Las Vegas, NV, or Tusayan, AZ. Please be mindful that helicopter tours sell out this time of year. In order to make sure you get seats, reserve your flights at least two weeks in advance. And for the best prices, always shop online as that\’s where the hottest deals and promotions are.

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