Memorial Day is a huge summer holiday, so isn't it time that you planned a truly memorable vacation? Tours at the Grand Canyon are going to be in high demand this summer, and if you're going to be in Las Vegas, you should get in early so that you don't miss out on the chance to confirm your ticket.
Helicopter Tours
Helicopter tours of the West Rim depart from Vegas and the tours of the South Rim depart from Tusayan, AZ. If you go to the West Rim, you can book a landing tour that sets down on top of the rim or on the Canyon floor, but if you go to the South Rim, you'll have to take an air-only tour since helicopters are not allowed to land at the Canyon in that part of the National Park.
Beginning your tour in Vegas means you'll see a lot of interesting sights during your flight to the Canyon. Your helicopter flies over Lake Mead and the Hoover Dam, so you get a fantastic bird's eye view of these massive landmarks. If you book an air-only tour, your helicopter will fly over the main highlights of the West Rim and then circle back to Vegas. If you opt for a landing tour instead, you'll get to add on other fun adventures and explore the area by ground as well as by air.
You should book a landing tour if you can if you intend to go to the West Rim. There is one popular landing tour that flies down to the Canyon floor where you are treated to a Champagne picnic. The picnic is near the Colorado River, and once you've finished your toast and snack, you can enjoy a scenic boat ride through the Canyon. The top of the rim has a lot of fun activities too, such as walking on a trail or viewing the Canyon from the massive transparent Skywalk platform that hangs over the edge of the Canyon, 4000 feet above the river below.
There are two helicopter tours to choose from at the South Rim. One of the tours flies over to the North Rim and then back to the South Rim in a tour that gives you 30 minutes of air time. The longer 50-minute tour costs more, but it is worth it because you see so much more since the flight goes all the way to the eastern edge of the National Park. Both tours fly over the Dragoon Corridor, which is the widest and deepest part of the entire Canyon.
Airplane Tours
If you want a more affordable tour, there are also airplanes that fly from Las Vegas. Although they fly higher than helicopters, they follow the same route to get to the National Park. Although this means you won't get to do the hovering flyovers, you still get oversized viewing windows and top mounted wings, for maximum visibility.
The airplanes can land at the Canyon too, so you can take a landing tour when you fly by plane, however, your airplane has to land on top of the rim. You can do all the same things as you would with a helicopter tour including touring the Skywalk and taking a helicopter descent to the bottom of the Canyon.
When you take an airplane tour of the South Rim, the airplane flies over the longer helicopter route, so you get to see around 75 percent of the whole National Park from the air. It's basically the same tour as you would take if you booked the 50-minute helicopter tour of the rim. Even though your airplane tour flies you at a higher altitude, your tickets will be cheaper, and because the planes carry more passengers per tour, the airplane tours are the best choice if you're traveling with a large group.
To Wrap Up
It's important you buy your tour seats soon or they may be sold out since these tours are very popular. While it's best to book your tour two weeks in advance, the last thing you want to do is buy your tour at the last minute or wait until the day you want to go. It's easiest to buy your tour online with your credit card so you get instant confirmation of your seat reservations, plus, buying your tour online means you get to pay the low Internet rate.
With so many options, you can be sure that you will find the right package for your needs and budget. Choose the best option for you and your group, and you'll be all set for the most memorable Memorial Day yet.
Helicopter Tours
Helicopter tours of the West Rim depart from Vegas and the tours of the South Rim depart from Tusayan, AZ. If you go to the West Rim, you can book a landing tour that sets down on top of the rim or on the Canyon floor, but if you go to the South Rim, you'll have to take an air-only tour since helicopters are not allowed to land at the Canyon in that part of the National Park.
Beginning your tour in Vegas means you'll see a lot of interesting sights during your flight to the Canyon. Your helicopter flies over Lake Mead and the Hoover Dam, so you get a fantastic bird's eye view of these massive landmarks. If you book an air-only tour, your helicopter will fly over the main highlights of the West Rim and then circle back to Vegas. If you opt for a landing tour instead, you'll get to add on other fun adventures and explore the area by ground as well as by air.
You should book a landing tour if you can if you intend to go to the West Rim. There is one popular landing tour that flies down to the Canyon floor where you are treated to a Champagne picnic. The picnic is near the Colorado River, and once you've finished your toast and snack, you can enjoy a scenic boat ride through the Canyon. The top of the rim has a lot of fun activities too, such as walking on a trail or viewing the Canyon from the massive transparent Skywalk platform that hangs over the edge of the Canyon, 4000 feet above the river below.
There are two helicopter tours to choose from at the South Rim. One of the tours flies over to the North Rim and then back to the South Rim in a tour that gives you 30 minutes of air time. The longer 50-minute tour costs more, but it is worth it because you see so much more since the flight goes all the way to the eastern edge of the National Park. Both tours fly over the Dragoon Corridor, which is the widest and deepest part of the entire Canyon.
Airplane Tours
If you want a more affordable tour, there are also airplanes that fly from Las Vegas. Although they fly higher than helicopters, they follow the same route to get to the National Park. Although this means you won't get to do the hovering flyovers, you still get oversized viewing windows and top mounted wings, for maximum visibility.
The airplanes can land at the Canyon too, so you can take a landing tour when you fly by plane, however, your airplane has to land on top of the rim. You can do all the same things as you would with a helicopter tour including touring the Skywalk and taking a helicopter descent to the bottom of the Canyon.
When you take an airplane tour of the South Rim, the airplane flies over the longer helicopter route, so you get to see around 75 percent of the whole National Park from the air. It's basically the same tour as you would take if you booked the 50-minute helicopter tour of the rim. Even though your airplane tour flies you at a higher altitude, your tickets will be cheaper, and because the planes carry more passengers per tour, the airplane tours are the best choice if you're traveling with a large group.
To Wrap Up
It's important you buy your tour seats soon or they may be sold out since these tours are very popular. While it's best to book your tour two weeks in advance, the last thing you want to do is buy your tour at the last minute or wait until the day you want to go. It's easiest to buy your tour online with your credit card so you get instant confirmation of your seat reservations, plus, buying your tour online means you get to pay the low Internet rate.
With so many options, you can be sure that you will find the right package for your needs and budget. Choose the best option for you and your group, and you'll be all set for the most memorable Memorial Day yet.
About the Author:
Grand Canyon National Park specialist Erik Magnus suggests getting this free report as it will allow you to save plenty of cash on these extraordinary plane and heli trips from Las Vegas Nevada and South Rim: http://www.grandcanyondaytrips.com/grand-canyon-flights-helicopter-airplane-tours/
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