We are now in the middle of fall and the weather is perfect for a Grand Canyon helicopter tour. If you are considering a flight from either Las Vegas or the South Rim, now\’s the time to do it.

The best places from which to take a helicopter ride are Las Vegas and the South Rim in Arizona. From Vegas, the West Rim is just 120 miles away. If you want to visit South Rim from Vegas, you have to take an airplane flight.

From Vegas

The reason for the airplane option is that the South Rim is too far for Vegas helicopters. Flight time by plane is under an hour, and the most popular package includes a 30-minute helicopter ride and a 2.5-hour bus tour.

If you are departing from South Rim, AZ, you\’ll be leaving from the Grand Canyon National Park Airport, which is located in the small town of Tusayan right outside the main gate to the Park (you\’ll know you\’re close because you\’ll see a bunch of air traffic).

There are two kinds of helicopter tours: Basic and deluxe. Basic helicopters typically use an average aircraft and cost less. Deluxe helicopters, by contrast, use the EcoStar 130, which is #1 for sightseeing.

Superior Helicopters

The reason the EC 130 gets such high marks is because it features a 180-degree windshield, stadium-style bucket seats and an aerodynamic design that makes flying smooth and pleasurable.

In Las Vegas, deluxe flights also take off from the Las Vegas Strip (versus Boulder City, which is where basic flights depart from). They also include free limousine service to and from all major Vegas resorts and conclude with a fabulous tour over The Strip.

If you are looking for a helicopter tour that lands at the bottom of the canyon, you must depart from Las Vegas. Such flights are not allowed at South Rim and thus all of them are air-only. My favorite Vegas bottom-landing tour is the one that goes to the base for a picnic. If you like, you can extend it to include a Colorado River boat ride and VIP tickets to the Skywalk.

South Rim

At South Rim, my favorite helicopter ride is the 50-minute tour that covers nearly 75 percent of the National Park. That one\’s followed closely by the tour that includes a 3-hour Jeep tour that includes stops at all the Park\’s most famous landmarks and lookouts.

Please be aware that helicopter tours are extremely popular. As such, I always tell my readers and clients to book their air tours at least 2 weeks in advance. Yes, it\’s fall and you might be able to get away with a week\’s notice, but if you anticipate flying during or around the holidays, I\’d stick with two weeks.

I also recommend booking online. It\’s safe, secure and easy. More important, it\’s the way to get the best deals. It\’s quite common these days to find certain flights discounted by up to 35 percent. Just remember to complete your booking on the Web in order to qualify for that great rate.

Conclusion

Fall is the perfect time for a Grand Canyon helicopter ride. The two best places from which to depart are Las Vegas, NV, and South Rim, AZ. It\’s the holiday season, too, so I advise making your reservations as soon as possible. My rule of thumb is two weeks in advance. And when you\’re ready to book, do it online. It\’s the one true way in which you can save some serious cash on flights.

The author is an expert on Grand Canyon helicopter tours and recommends going here for the best South Rim flights http://www.grandcanyonhelicopters.org/south-rim/ and here for ones that start from Las Vegas: http://www.grandcanyonhelicopters.org/las-vegas/

The author is an expert on Grand Canyon helicopter tours and recommends going here for the best South Rim flights http://www.grandcanyonhelicopters.org/south-rim/ and here for ones that start from Las Vegas: http://www.grandcanyonhelicopters.org/las-vegas/

Author Bio: The author is an expert on Grand Canyon helicopter tours and recommends going here for the best South Rim flights http://www.grandcanyonhelicopters.org/south-rim/ and here for ones that start from Las Vegas: http://www.grandcanyonhelicopters.org/las-vegas/

Category: Travel
Keywords: grand canyon tours, las vegas tours, grand canyon helicopters, las vegas helicopters