It won't be long until it's Spring Break once again. Families and college kids will be flocking to vacation destinations during March and April to anticipate the arrival of spring and warmer weather. This year, do something besides lay around on the beach, such as visiting Vegas and taking a tour of the Grand Canyon. Vegas is the perfect starting point for a helicopter tour, but since they are so popular, you have to book your tour in advance or it might sell out.
Helicopter Tours Out Of Vegas
Helicopters fly from Vegas to the West Rim of the Canyon. The Canyon is 120 miles out from Vegas, and it takes only 30 minutes to get there in a helicopter. If you're interested in the South Rim, there are airplane flights directly from Vegas.
The helicopters that fly out of Vegas pass over the Hoover Dam and Lake Mead on the way to the Canyon, so you'll have plenty of things to see on your flight. You can book a flyover tour or a landing tour when you go to the West Rim. While you'll see spectacular scenic views on a flyover, the landing tours are best because you get to include land adventures.
Landing tours are fantastic, because you can land at the top of the rim, or inside the Canyon next to the Colorado River. The bottom landing tour that I recommend is the one that includes a Champagne picnic. This will set you down right next to the river, where you can even take a boat tour.
Landing Tours On Top Of The Rim
The top of the rim has several interesting hiking trails and it is also where the Skywalk is located. The Skywalk is an impressive platform that is 4000ft above the bottom of the Canyon. It is also 70ft over the edge, and has a transparent floor. It's exhilarating to stand on the Skywalk and marvel at the beauty of the National Park. If you're going to walk out on any of the trails, Guano Point and Eagle Point both offer spectacular views.
The Helicopters
There are basic and deluxe tours available. Deluxe is the way to go, because you will fly in a state of the art EcoStar 130 helicopter. This helicopter has a spacious cabin, flies smoother than any other touring helicopter, and has large stadium style seats. Best of all, it has a huge panoramic viewing window, which will give you unobstructed views, 180 degrees around the front of the helicopter.
Another nice benefit of a deluxe tour is you are transported to and from your hotel in a limousine.
South Rim Tours
If you fly out to the South Rim, or if Arizona is more convenient than Las Vegas, you will have two different air-only tours to choose from. One is a 30-minute flight that goes to the North Rim and back. The second tour, which is the most popular, is 50 minutes, and includes the eastern areas of the National Park. The longer tour is quite comprehensive, and it allows you to see about 75 percent of the national park.
You won't be able to take a landing tour at the South Rim, but you can add on a Jeep tour that takes you on a ride through the park so you can see the main landmarks up close and personal.
Final Thoughts
I love the Grand Canyon. It's a beautiful and mysterious part of the country, which is rich in history. The sights are second to none, and with helicopters, you will have the best vantage point. For Spring Break, go with a deluxe package for the best experience. Landing tours at the West Rim will give you plenty of opportunity for adventure, and South Rim tours can be combined with Jeep tours to really round out the experience.
Don't forget to book your tour in advance. You'll find the best prices when you book early too. You can book your tour online and pay with your credit card to get instant confirmation of your seat reservations for a Spring Break adventure you'll always remember.
Helicopter Tours Out Of Vegas
Helicopters fly from Vegas to the West Rim of the Canyon. The Canyon is 120 miles out from Vegas, and it takes only 30 minutes to get there in a helicopter. If you're interested in the South Rim, there are airplane flights directly from Vegas.
The helicopters that fly out of Vegas pass over the Hoover Dam and Lake Mead on the way to the Canyon, so you'll have plenty of things to see on your flight. You can book a flyover tour or a landing tour when you go to the West Rim. While you'll see spectacular scenic views on a flyover, the landing tours are best because you get to include land adventures.
Landing tours are fantastic, because you can land at the top of the rim, or inside the Canyon next to the Colorado River. The bottom landing tour that I recommend is the one that includes a Champagne picnic. This will set you down right next to the river, where you can even take a boat tour.
Landing Tours On Top Of The Rim
The top of the rim has several interesting hiking trails and it is also where the Skywalk is located. The Skywalk is an impressive platform that is 4000ft above the bottom of the Canyon. It is also 70ft over the edge, and has a transparent floor. It's exhilarating to stand on the Skywalk and marvel at the beauty of the National Park. If you're going to walk out on any of the trails, Guano Point and Eagle Point both offer spectacular views.
The Helicopters
There are basic and deluxe tours available. Deluxe is the way to go, because you will fly in a state of the art EcoStar 130 helicopter. This helicopter has a spacious cabin, flies smoother than any other touring helicopter, and has large stadium style seats. Best of all, it has a huge panoramic viewing window, which will give you unobstructed views, 180 degrees around the front of the helicopter.
Another nice benefit of a deluxe tour is you are transported to and from your hotel in a limousine.
South Rim Tours
If you fly out to the South Rim, or if Arizona is more convenient than Las Vegas, you will have two different air-only tours to choose from. One is a 30-minute flight that goes to the North Rim and back. The second tour, which is the most popular, is 50 minutes, and includes the eastern areas of the National Park. The longer tour is quite comprehensive, and it allows you to see about 75 percent of the national park.
You won't be able to take a landing tour at the South Rim, but you can add on a Jeep tour that takes you on a ride through the park so you can see the main landmarks up close and personal.
Final Thoughts
I love the Grand Canyon. It's a beautiful and mysterious part of the country, which is rich in history. The sights are second to none, and with helicopters, you will have the best vantage point. For Spring Break, go with a deluxe package for the best experience. Landing tours at the West Rim will give you plenty of opportunity for adventure, and South Rim tours can be combined with Jeep tours to really round out the experience.
Don't forget to book your tour in advance. You'll find the best prices when you book early too. You can book your tour online and pay with your credit card to get instant confirmation of your seat reservations for a Spring Break adventure you'll always remember.
About the Author:
The writer is a pro on Grand Canyon National Park heli excursions from Vegas and Arizona and suggests these South Rim helicopters in addition to these flights that depart from Vegas: http://www.grandcanyonhelicopters.org/las-vegas/
