Choose Grand Canyon Helicopters for That Perfect Day Trip
There’s lots of things to see and do when visiting Las Vegas, NV. Lake Mead and Hoover Dam come to mind. But the most important landmark of them all is the Grand Canyon. Best way to see these landmarks in a day? I recommend helicopter tours. With lots of packages from which to choose, there’s a flight that’s bound to suit your sightseeing needs.
National Park air tours are the only way to go, especially when you consider how big the canyon is. Here are some quick facts:
Length: 277 miles
Width: 10 miles on average
Depth: 1 mile
Acres: 1 million plus
The canyon’s age is as impressive as its size - many scientists and geologists believe the Colorado River forged it some two million years ago. The number may be up for debate, the beauty of the scenery isn’t, as the park is ranked among the Seven Natural Wonders of the World and is one of the most visited places on the planet.
Each year, the canyon receives about five million visitors, the vast majority of which will view the gorge from the South Rim. For a views from a higher elevation, there are those who will visit the North Rim, though it is closed during the winter. Recently, the West Rim has actually become very popular, particularly with tourists who want to experience the Skywalk.
The West Rim, officially known as Grand Canyon West, sits on the Hualapai Indian Reservation, and in these tough economic times, the increase in tourism has actually helped the reservation to thrive. The natives provide visitors with a number of unique services that bundle education, cultural entertainment and guided excursions that when taken as a whole create an unforgettable vacation experience. Here’s a list of West Rim key points of interest:
Hualapai Ranch
Indian Cultural Village
Eagle Point
Guano Point
West Rim helicopter tours, all of which depart from the Las Vegas area, offer adventuresome travelers a variety of exciting activities. These are called “landing” tours, and they include trips that go to the bottom (includes a Champagne picnic), a boat ride on the famed Colorado River and an unrestricted pass to the Grand Canyon Skywalk.
Lots opt for the Skywalk, a U-shaped Glass Walkway that lets you walk past the edge. One Skywalk restriction that many find unpleasant however is the fact that they will be unable to take pictures. This is simply because there is a possibility of dropping a camera, thereby causing damage to the bridge. Luckily, you have the option of taking plenty of photos while in the air.
There’s also an aerial tour. It goes over the West Rim and provides time-crunched travelers a quick trip of this national treasure. Planes hold up to 17 people, are very comfortable and spacious and feature over-sized viewing windows that give you a clear shot of the terrain below. These air-only tours provide an unforgettable ride, but they are only the beginning!
Looking for Las Vegas helicopters that go to the West Rim? Travel writer Ione Mahler recommends these canyon flights and shares how to get them cheaply.