If you are going to the Grand Canyon, be sure to take a helicopter tour, as it is a fun and amazing way to view this spectacular wonder of nature. The tours depart from Las Vegas and you can choose from several operators that service the West or South Rim. As an added bonus, these tours arrange to have up picked up and taken back to your hotel on the Vegas Strip.

Destinations

Because flights are closely regulated over the Grand Canyon, helicopters are only allowed to fly to the West Rim and South Rim. Your aerial tour from Vegas may start with an airplane ride to the Grand Canyon National Park Airport, which is located in Tusayan, Arizona. There you will board a helicopter and complete your tour.

Grand Canyon helicopter tours to the West Rim can be aerial only, or you can choose to land. If you don't have several hours to spend at the canyon, the aerial only tour may be the best choice since it only takes around three hours. Landing tours are great if you have more time because you can add on other activities such as walking on the glass Grand Canyon Skywalk or taking a float trip down the Colorado River. Many people opt to take the West Rim landing tour that includes a descent to the canyon floor where a champagne picnic awaits.

If you want to see the South Rim, it will have to be by air because helicopters can't land there. Aerial tours are perfect if you don't have any desire to get out and walk around or if you have mobility issues. Grand Canyon helicopter tours to the South Rim usually make a round trip to the North Rim that takes anywhere from 30 to 50 minutes. Points of interest on one of these tours includes the deepest part of the canyon known as Dragoon Corridor and Kaibab Plateau. The Tower of Ra, named after the ancient Egyptian god of the sun, is another amazing site as it towers more than 6000 feet tall. Other spectacular highlights include Temple Butte, the impressive Painted Desert, and the Zuni Corridor.

Quality Aircraft

These tours are conducted in state-of-the-art helicopters. The large windows allow for unobstructed sightseeing, there is climate control, and the seats are roomy and comfortable too. The choppers are operated by licensed professional pilots who also double as entertaining tour guides that point out the interesting sights below. Some tours provide you with headphones so you can listen to an entertaining and educational recording during your flight.

Because these tours are so popular, the seats fill up fast, so it is a good idea to book your tour in advance. You should book your trip at least three days ahead of time. If you can book even earlier, you may get a better price, plus you will have a better chance of getting the date and time you want. Since most of the choppers can only take six passengers, if you are traveling with a larger group, you will have to figure out how to divide it into smaller groups. You can bring your children along as long as they are accompanied by an adult.

When you are ready to take a break from the neon glitz of the Vegas Strip, book a canyon helicopter tour and marvel at the beauty of nature. A helicopter tour will let you get close to nature and admire her spectacular beauty, and if you can take advantage of a great special offer, then your experience will be even sweeter.

Seeing the Grand Canyon from the air is the only way you can appreciate its immense size, and taking a canyon helicopter ride is great fun too. Before you book your tour, be sure to look for an internet special that will save you as much as 35% off the price so you can save money while making memories to last forever.