There are a number of helicopter tours from Las Vegas that go to the Grand Canyon. But the one that goes to the bottom is everyone\’s favorite.

First, a few facts. Did you know that Las Vegas is just 120 miles from the West Rim of the National Park? It is and it takes a helicopter just 45 minutes to get there.

Hoover Dam

En route, you\’ll be treated to spectacular views of Lake Mead, Hoover Dam and the Colorado River before landing 4,500 feet at the bottom (the descent takes up to 15 minutes).

Now the cool thing about this specific landing tour is that you get 30 minutes at the bottom. I\’ve done this trip a lot and I can tell you that a half hour is plenty of time to enjoy a Champagne brunch and a walk to the Colorado.

This particular flight only uses the EcoStar 130, which is the best aircraft in the business. Compared to standard helicopters, this one is 25 percent larger and comes with stacked, stadium-style seating, which means every seat is the best in the house.

Departures

Now here\’s where this trip gets interesting (and few people know about this tip). There are two points of departure. The Boulder City Municipal Airport (which is a suburb of Vegas) and the Las Vegas Strip.

The cheaper version of this flight leaves from Boulder, and the reason for this is because you have to take a 30-minute shuttle ride from Vegas (this does not include the pre-pick up time from your hotel).

The more expensive version departs from the Vegas airport, which is 10 minutes from most properties. Equally important is the fact that you get picked up in a limousine and dropped off in one, too. Apparently this combo is a hit with travelers because the pricier option tends to sell out fastest.

Boat Ride

Now I often get questions from folks if this flight can be extended to include a boat ride on the Colorado River. Makes sense when you consider you\’re already at the bottom, right? And yes, the option exists, but to date all of them require you to land on top of the rim and do the Skywalk.

Personally I like the idea of being on the water and doing the Skywalk on the same day. For those unfamiliar with the Glass Bridge, it lets you walk 70 feet past the edge until you\’re suspended some 4,000 feet over the bottom.

Father, this same package gives you up to 2.5 hours to explore the top of the West Rim. And you\’ll need it, too, because you\’ll want to check out Eagle Point and Guano Point as well as Hualapai Ranch and the Indian Cultural Center.

Conclusion

The intent of this article was to give you an overview of the Las Vegas helicopter that lands at the bottom of the Grand Canyon. This is Vegas\’ most popular air tour and so I recommend that if you want to do it that you book it at least a week ahead of time. Lastly, give strong consideration to the flight that departs from The Strip. Yes, it\’s more expensive but to my mind the convenience and the limo are worth it.

This Grand Canyon expert recommends downloading this free helicopter tour guide at http://www.grandcanyondaytrips.com/save-money/ Then visiting this page for flight discounts at http://www.grandcanyondaytrips.com/helicopters/

This Grand Canyon expert recommends downloading this free helicopter tour guide at http://www.grandcanyondaytrips.com/save-money/ Then visiting this page for flight discounts at http://www.grandcanyondaytrips.com/helicopters/

Author Bio: This Grand Canyon expert recommends downloading this free helicopter tour guide at http://www.grandcanyondaytrips.com/save-money/ Then visiting this page for flight discounts at http://www.grandcanyondaytrips.com/helicopters/

Category: Travel
Keywords: grand canyon helicopters, las vegas helicopters, grand canyon flights, south rim helicopters, tips,