Spring Break is not far away, so it's a good time to start thinking about how you're going to celebrate. If you plan on being in Vegas anyway, then you should consider taking an airplane or helicopter tour of the Grand Canyon. These tours are very popular and they sell out fast, so if you want to take one, you need to book early.
Helicopter Tours Of The Canyon
There are helicopter tours available at both the West and South Rims. Vegas is fairly close to the West Rim, so tour helicopters can fly there directly. However, if you want to take a helicopter tour of the South Rim, and you're in Vegas, you'll have to fly there by airplane first.
All of the tours that leave from Vegas fly over the Hoover Dam and Lake Mead. It takes about an hour to reach the South Rim by airplane from Vegas and about 45 minutes to reach the West Rim by helicopter.
When you go to the West Rim, you can choose a landing tour or an air-only tour. The air-only tour flies over the West Rim and lets you see all the amazing scenery there before circling back to Vegas. The landing tours are more comprehensive and give you the opportunity to see the Canyon up close.
There's a tour that lands at the bottom of the Grand Canyon, and allows you to experience a Champagne picnic, or even a boat ride on the River. There's also a top landing tour, where you can take one of the many walking tracks to reach scenic lookout points. At the top you can also purchase tickets for the Skywalk. This special glass platform is transparent, and will give you the ultimate thrill as you stand 4000ft above the bottom of the Grand Canyon.
Helicopter Tours Of The South Rim
If you choose a South Rim helicopter tour, you'll hop on the chopper right after you arrive from your plane ride out of Vegas. You can pick from one of two tours. There is a short tour that gives you 30 minutes of flight time, and a longer one that lasts for 50 minutes. The shorter tour goes to the North Rim, before heading back to the town of Tusayan. The longer tour goes to the North Rim too, but it also includes an added trip to the eastern boundary of the park. You'll get to see nearly 75 percent of the entire National Park when you take the longer tour. The longer tour costs a little more, but it is worth it because you get to see so much more of the park.
The South Rim tours aren't permitted to land inside the Canyon like the West Rim tours can, but you can still take a ground tour by adding on a bus or Jeep tour of the South Rim.
Touring By Airplane
Tour airplanes fly to the West Rim or the South Rim. If you're looking for an affordable type of air tour, then touring by plane is your best bet. Even if you fly to the West Rim, you could still purchase a landing helicopter tour to the bottom of the Canyon. At the South Rim, the airplane tour covers the same route as the longer helicopter tour.
It's important to note that airplanes fly at higher altitudes, but they do have an advantage in that they can seat more people. If you're in a group, the 19 seats in an airplane may be more suited to your needs. However if it's pure sightseeing that you're aiming for, helicopters provide a lower flying route, as well as large front facing viewing windows. If you purchase deluxe helicopter tickets, you will fly in a newer EcoStar helicopter that features a huge 180 degree windshield, and 6 stadium style seats. Helicopters are also quieter and fly smoother.
To Conclude
Touring the Canyon is the ideal way to add some adventure to your exciting Spring Break vacation. When you start in Vegas, you'll find plenty of tours with a wide variety of options that will fit your budget.
Just be sure to buy your tour early, before they are sold out. It's a good idea to book your tour when you book your Vegas hotel so you don't forget. Buy your tour online with your credit card and you'll get the best deal and avoid fees added by travel agencies.
An air tour of the Canyon is something you'll never forget. Whether you tour by airplane or helicopter, you'll see breathtaking sights as you soar over one of America's most loved treasures.
Helicopter Tours Of The Canyon
There are helicopter tours available at both the West and South Rims. Vegas is fairly close to the West Rim, so tour helicopters can fly there directly. However, if you want to take a helicopter tour of the South Rim, and you're in Vegas, you'll have to fly there by airplane first.
All of the tours that leave from Vegas fly over the Hoover Dam and Lake Mead. It takes about an hour to reach the South Rim by airplane from Vegas and about 45 minutes to reach the West Rim by helicopter.
When you go to the West Rim, you can choose a landing tour or an air-only tour. The air-only tour flies over the West Rim and lets you see all the amazing scenery there before circling back to Vegas. The landing tours are more comprehensive and give you the opportunity to see the Canyon up close.
There's a tour that lands at the bottom of the Grand Canyon, and allows you to experience a Champagne picnic, or even a boat ride on the River. There's also a top landing tour, where you can take one of the many walking tracks to reach scenic lookout points. At the top you can also purchase tickets for the Skywalk. This special glass platform is transparent, and will give you the ultimate thrill as you stand 4000ft above the bottom of the Grand Canyon.
Helicopter Tours Of The South Rim
If you choose a South Rim helicopter tour, you'll hop on the chopper right after you arrive from your plane ride out of Vegas. You can pick from one of two tours. There is a short tour that gives you 30 minutes of flight time, and a longer one that lasts for 50 minutes. The shorter tour goes to the North Rim, before heading back to the town of Tusayan. The longer tour goes to the North Rim too, but it also includes an added trip to the eastern boundary of the park. You'll get to see nearly 75 percent of the entire National Park when you take the longer tour. The longer tour costs a little more, but it is worth it because you get to see so much more of the park.
The South Rim tours aren't permitted to land inside the Canyon like the West Rim tours can, but you can still take a ground tour by adding on a bus or Jeep tour of the South Rim.
Touring By Airplane
Tour airplanes fly to the West Rim or the South Rim. If you're looking for an affordable type of air tour, then touring by plane is your best bet. Even if you fly to the West Rim, you could still purchase a landing helicopter tour to the bottom of the Canyon. At the South Rim, the airplane tour covers the same route as the longer helicopter tour.
It's important to note that airplanes fly at higher altitudes, but they do have an advantage in that they can seat more people. If you're in a group, the 19 seats in an airplane may be more suited to your needs. However if it's pure sightseeing that you're aiming for, helicopters provide a lower flying route, as well as large front facing viewing windows. If you purchase deluxe helicopter tickets, you will fly in a newer EcoStar helicopter that features a huge 180 degree windshield, and 6 stadium style seats. Helicopters are also quieter and fly smoother.
To Conclude
Touring the Canyon is the ideal way to add some adventure to your exciting Spring Break vacation. When you start in Vegas, you'll find plenty of tours with a wide variety of options that will fit your budget.
Just be sure to buy your tour early, before they are sold out. It's a good idea to book your tour when you book your Vegas hotel so you don't forget. Buy your tour online with your credit card and you'll get the best deal and avoid fees added by travel agencies.
An air tour of the Canyon is something you'll never forget. Whether you tour by airplane or helicopter, you'll see breathtaking sights as you soar over one of America's most loved treasures.
About the Author:
Expert journalist Erik Magnus is a big fan of these Grand Canyon National Park airplane tours as well as these heli trips that start off from Vegas and the South Rim: http://www.grandcanyondaytrips.com/helicopters/
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