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I've been getting a lot of questions on whether Grand Canyon helicopters are still flying despite the shutdown of the American government. You will be glad to hear the tours are still in operation. Keep in mind, the South Rim portion of the canyon is definitely closed because it sits on government land. You can't even get in the main gates there because they are locked. Luckily, South Rim air tours are still flying. See, the aircraft take off from the Grand Canyon National Park Airport, and this airfield sets outside of the National Park's boundaries. Also, the government doesn't own the airspace above the Park. Meanwhile, at the West Rim, Grand Canyon choppers are operating as they usually do. The West Rim isn't on government land, the land it sits on is actually owned by the Hualapai Indians. Therefore, the West Rim of the Grand Canyon is not part of the Park system and not subject to closure. South Rim Aerial Tours The aerial tours available at the South Rim include helicopter and airplane flights. When you take an airplane tour, you enjoy a scenic flight that lasts about an hour and gives you fantastic views of the North Rim and South Rim all the way over to the eastern border of the Park. It covers 75 percent of the whole Park! There are two versions of South Rim helicopter tours: a 30-minute flight and a 50-minute version. I prefer the longer one because it's much more comprehensive and covers everything the plane tour does. The helicopter tours cost more but they are worth it. So is the upcharge you'd pay if you choose the deluxe tour, because you'll be flying in the best helicopter for sightseeing ? the EcoStar 130. Aerial Tours From Las Vegas If you will be in Vegas, you are in luck because tours that leave from there and go to the West Rim are totally unaffected by the government shutdown. All the tours to the West Rim are operating on a normal schedule including air and bus tours, and rafting trips, just keep in mind rafting trips always close for the winter in mid-November. You will run into a snag if you try to take a land or air tour from Las Vegas to the South Rim because those are not in operation. Once the stalemate's over they'll start up again. Book Your Tour With The Operator A tour's cancellation policy is always important. Anything could come up at the last minute. But it's even more important now, during the government budget crisis. Don't book your tour through some cut-rate company. They offer cancellation policies with exclusions and loopholes that make it hard to get your money back. Besides, you can book a tour with a good company that will give you a full refund if the tour is canceled because of the government's actions. If you're not happy about the uncertainty, there's no penalty if you cancel your tour yourself as long as you do it at least 24 hours before your flight. Tours to the Grand Canyon are very popular and you have to book your seats in advance or you will be shut out, so if you go with a company that has a good cancellation policy, you won't have cause for concern. Quick Summary It is unfortunate the government shut down the Park system but it can't go on much longer. That being said, almost 90% of all Grand Canyon tours are still running on their regular schedules, including most aerial tours. South Rim bus tours (whether from Vegas or Phoenix) and the Vegas plane flights that include a South Rim bus tour are the only tours that are affected. So don't let the shutdown keep you away from the Grand Canyon because there are plenty of ways you can still tour the majestic wonder. TRAVEL ADVISORY Ready to take a Grand Canyon National Park helicopter flight? Start with browsing this expert review before heading here for a list of today's very best flight discounts: http://grandcanyoncheap.com/helicopter-deals.html
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