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If you're planning to take a helicopter tour of the Grand Canyon, you'll find some of the tour packages are expensive. Fortunately, there are basic helicopter tours that depart from the South Rim and Vegas that are easy on your budget. One of the reasons the basic tours are less expensive is because they fly on the older type of aircraft. You would fly on a Bell Ranger helicopter or an AStar. These choppers may be old style, but they are just as safe as the newer models since they undergo frequent maintenance and have stellar safety records. However, since they're older they don't have modern enhancements such as stadium style seats and panoramic wraparound windshields. The Tours The basic tours that go to the West Rim lift off from Boulder City located outside of Vegas, while the helicopters that fly over the South Rim depart from Tusayan in Arizona. Your all-inclusive basic tour comes with free shuttle transportation from your hotel to and from the airfield in Boulder City. The basic tour shuttle service usually consists of a ride in a van or bus, but if you were to take the deluxe tour, you'd be transported in a limo instead. Grand Canyon helicopters do not fly from Las Vegas to the South Rim, so if you'll be in Vegas and want to take a helicopter tour of the South Rim, you'll need to fly there by airplane first. It will only take you around an hour to fly from Vegas to the airfield in Tusayan where you can begin your chopper tour. On the other hand, if you'll be staying at a hotel in Arizona, you'll need to get to the airfield in Tusayan on your own, however, there are several taxi services you can use. Landing Tours Or Air-Only Las Vegas tours that go to the West Rim are air-only or landing. Both types of tours fly over Lake Mead and Hoover Dam. The landing tours land at the canyon, either on the bottom or top of the rim. A popular landing tour package includes a flight to the bottom of the canyon and a relaxing champagne picnic. It's a fun way to celebrate a romantic occasion, and this tour can also be upgraded to include passes to the Grand Canyon Skywalk or tickets for a boat ride on the Colorado River. The Skywalk is an amazing attraction that is made from glass and juts out 70 feet beyond the canyon's edge. When you stand on it, you can look down and see the canyon floor 4000 feet below you. South Rim Tours There are no landing tours available at the South Rim, because they are all air-only. Even though landing tours are not allowed here, the South Rim is a great tour experience because you get to see so much of the Grand Canyon from the air. The most economical air tour gives you thirty minutes of air time and flies between the South and North Rims. If you can afford to spend more, you should choose the 50-minute tour that covers the area between the North and South Rim as well as all the park over to the eastern border. The longer tour will let you see nearly 3/4 of the entire national park. That's an amazing feat! To Conclude You can take a fun-filled tour of the Grand Canyon even if you are on a budget. Just book a basic helicopter tour, as it covers the same ground as the deluxe tour, you just don't get as many luxury perks. If you can afford the deluxe tour though, you should go for it because the extra cost is worth it. You'll get luxury shuttle service, the best viewing possible on an aircraft, and comfy seating on the deluxe tour. Whatever tour you choose, be sure to book in advance, so you'll be sure to get a seat on a fantastic tour of nature's wonderland. Tips from the Author
Grand Canyon expert author Justine M. is a huge fan of the National Park and recommends readers take one of these helicopter tours in order to get the possible views of the Canyon: http://www.grandcanyonhelicopters.org/las-vegas/
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