Memorial Day will soon be here and that means you'll have a holiday weekend to take a fun getaway. This is a fantastic season for touring the Grand Canyon, and one of the most fun ways to do that is on a helicopter tour you take from Vegas. You can take one of these helicopter tours any day, even on Memorial Day holiday, so get ready to plan your tour with the help of the following tips.
Making Your Booking
You can use your credit card and book your helicopter tour online for the most convenience. This also ensures you'll get the lowest price on your tour, and it instantly locks in your seats. Just be sure to arrive 30 minutes before your tour departs and bring a photo ID and you'll be all set for your adventure.
Vegas Tours
When you take a helicopter tour from Vegas to the West Rim, you'll get to fly over the massive Boulder Dam and Lake Mead on the way to the Canyon. The West Rim tours are available as air-only tours or landing tours, and the landing tours are highly recommended.
Landing flights can either go to the top or the bottom of the Canyon. At the top, there are plenty of walking tracks, as well as the famous Skywalk transparent platform. Buying tickets to the platform will allow you to stand 4000ft above the bottom, and it's an experience that you won't forget.
Bottom landing tours are just as exciting, and many people prefer them. You can purchase a ticket that sets you down next to the Colorado River, where you can enjoy a champagne picnic, and even add a Colorado boat trip onto your adventure.
If you've got plenty of time and your budget will allow for it, you can choose to check out the top and bottom of the Canyon.
Touring The South Rim
Helicopters don't fly from Vegas to the South Rim because it's too far, however, you can get to the South Rim by airplane in about an hour, and then you can begin your helicopter tour in Tusayan, Arizona, which is just outside the main gates of the National Park. You can pick from two tours. The first tour flies over to the North Rim and then comes back. The next tour costs a little more, but it is longer, and is definitely worth considering. It flies over the same area as the shorter tour, but it also includes a scenic jaunt over to the eastern edge of the park. It covers an impressive 75 percent of the entire National Park in 50 minutes of flight time. The longer tour is a sightseeing dream because you get to see so many of the highlights and landmarks in the Canyon.
Basic vs Deluxe Tours
Basic tours typically fly in Bell Ranger helicopters, and include a van shuttle service to the helipad. These tours operate from Boulder City which is just outside of Vegas. Deluxe tours fly directly from the Strip if you're going to the West Rim, and they include a limousine shuttle service for a true VIP experience. The best thing about deluxe is the helicopter you will fly in. It's a late model EcoStar 130, which features a massive viewing window, oversized stadium seats, and a spacious cabin. Although you'll pay a little extra for deluxe, the upgrade in sightseeing from the newer helicopter is worth the price.
Because this is one of the hottest times of the year, especially at the West Rim, you'll need to come prepared with light clothing, sun block, some snacks, and plenty of bottled water. Because these tours are hugely popular, you'll also need to book early. I recommend doing this at least two weeks before the date you intend to fly.
Summarizing
Keep the advice above in mind as you plan your Memorial Day tour so you have the best time at a price that fits your budget. Just be sure to buy your tour in advance online so it won't be sold out. If you leave it too close to the day you intend to fly, you will end up paying a premium for your tickets.
Remember to prepare with everything that you need for a day trip, and you'll be ready for a scenic adventure like nothing else in the United States.
Making Your Booking
You can use your credit card and book your helicopter tour online for the most convenience. This also ensures you'll get the lowest price on your tour, and it instantly locks in your seats. Just be sure to arrive 30 minutes before your tour departs and bring a photo ID and you'll be all set for your adventure.
Vegas Tours
When you take a helicopter tour from Vegas to the West Rim, you'll get to fly over the massive Boulder Dam and Lake Mead on the way to the Canyon. The West Rim tours are available as air-only tours or landing tours, and the landing tours are highly recommended.
Landing flights can either go to the top or the bottom of the Canyon. At the top, there are plenty of walking tracks, as well as the famous Skywalk transparent platform. Buying tickets to the platform will allow you to stand 4000ft above the bottom, and it's an experience that you won't forget.
Bottom landing tours are just as exciting, and many people prefer them. You can purchase a ticket that sets you down next to the Colorado River, where you can enjoy a champagne picnic, and even add a Colorado boat trip onto your adventure.
If you've got plenty of time and your budget will allow for it, you can choose to check out the top and bottom of the Canyon.
Touring The South Rim
Helicopters don't fly from Vegas to the South Rim because it's too far, however, you can get to the South Rim by airplane in about an hour, and then you can begin your helicopter tour in Tusayan, Arizona, which is just outside the main gates of the National Park. You can pick from two tours. The first tour flies over to the North Rim and then comes back. The next tour costs a little more, but it is longer, and is definitely worth considering. It flies over the same area as the shorter tour, but it also includes a scenic jaunt over to the eastern edge of the park. It covers an impressive 75 percent of the entire National Park in 50 minutes of flight time. The longer tour is a sightseeing dream because you get to see so many of the highlights and landmarks in the Canyon.
Basic vs Deluxe Tours
Basic tours typically fly in Bell Ranger helicopters, and include a van shuttle service to the helipad. These tours operate from Boulder City which is just outside of Vegas. Deluxe tours fly directly from the Strip if you're going to the West Rim, and they include a limousine shuttle service for a true VIP experience. The best thing about deluxe is the helicopter you will fly in. It's a late model EcoStar 130, which features a massive viewing window, oversized stadium seats, and a spacious cabin. Although you'll pay a little extra for deluxe, the upgrade in sightseeing from the newer helicopter is worth the price.
Because this is one of the hottest times of the year, especially at the West Rim, you'll need to come prepared with light clothing, sun block, some snacks, and plenty of bottled water. Because these tours are hugely popular, you'll also need to book early. I recommend doing this at least two weeks before the date you intend to fly.
Summarizing
Keep the advice above in mind as you plan your Memorial Day tour so you have the best time at a price that fits your budget. Just be sure to buy your tour in advance online so it won't be sold out. If you leave it too close to the day you intend to fly, you will end up paying a premium for your tickets.
Remember to prepare with everything that you need for a day trip, and you'll be ready for a scenic adventure like nothing else in the United States.
About the Author:
Grand Canyon professional Ione Mahler suggests these superior chopper tours along with these reduced prices for flights that leave from Vegas and the South Rim: http://grandcanyonhelicopter.org/grand-canyon-helicopter-tour-coupons.html