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Summer's just about over, so it's time to start considering one of the terrific autumn Grand Canyon air tours. Tours are available every day of the year and you can catch one in Vegas or Tusayan, which is near the South Rim. The weather is perfect in the fall for touring the canyon. In the summer, temperatures in the canyon can soar to 110 degrees! Best Tour Time Because the heat isn't as severe, autumn flights on Grand Canyon helicopters are enjoyable at any time of the day. Still, mid-morning flights are the best because that is when the air is less turbulent and visibility is best. Book Early Tours on Grand Canyon helicopters are amazingly popular. The helicopters only hold six passengers so they sell out during the peak summer season. Things change some for autumn flights. Since there are fewer visitors then, there are more open seats to choose from. That means you can probably snag a seat on even the very popular tours during the fall months. Here's a word of caution, though: even though it's fall, you'll still want to plan ahead and book your tour well in advance. To be on the safe side, try to book your helicopter tour at least one week ahead of the date you want to go. That's especially true if you're hoping to take one of the popular Vegas landing tours that include a champagne picnic or a smooth-water float trip down the Colorado. Touring Options Most Grand Canyon helicopters fly out of Tusayan or Vegas, but a few start at Sedona (inconsistent) or the Phoenix area (expensive). That's why I recommend driving to Tusayan if you'll be coming to the canyon from somewhere in northern AZ. Vegas-based travelers have it made-they can take landing tours or air-only versions. If you don't have a lot of time to spend on your tour, then an air-only flight is ideal. The air-only tours give you a fantastic overview of the Grand Canyon, Lake Mead, and the Hoover Dam, and they take about three hours counting the shuttle ride from and to your hotel too. If you have more time, you should take a landing tour if you can. You can see the canyon from the air and up close from the ground. You will get a lot of value out of a landing tour. One of the tours lands on top of the rim and on the canyon floor too. Another comes with VIP access to the West Rim's magnificent "Glass Bridge" ? the Grand Canyon Skywalk. If you go to the South Rim, you can take a tour that lasts thirty or fifty minutes. The short tour flies you over to the North Rim and back. This includes a thrilling tour of the Dragoon Corridor, which is the deepest and widest part of the canyon. The long flight is even better if you have time to take it. You'll get to see the same highlights the shorter tour covers, but you also get to fly all the way to the eastern boundary of the National Park. That means you'll see up to 75 percent of the Park, including highlights like the Vermillion Cliffs, the Little Colorado River and the Desert Watchtower. Plan Your Clothing Wisely Dress for the weather when you tour the Grand Canyon, especially since temperatures can be cool in the autumn. Dress in layers and wear a jacket if you go to the South Rim, also be sure to wear sun protection and a brimmed hat. The weather at the West Rim is often unpredictable, so be sure to check the forecast before leaving for your tour. Your tour will be a lot more enjoyable if you are comfortably dressed in appropriate clothing and shoes! ------------------------------- IMPORTANT NOTE FROM THE AUTHOR Willing to take a Grand Canyon helicopter excursion? Start here for a list of the top flights before going here for discount coupons that will make these trips ridiculously inexpensive: http://www.grandcanyonhelicopter.org/grand-canyon-helicopter-tour-coupons.html
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