One of the most interesting things about Las Vegas, NV, is that it\’s just 120 miles from the Grand Canyon. And such close proximity to the National Park means travelers have a host of terrific day trips from which to choose.

Of all the tours available, helicopters are the most popular. Flights take off from Las Vegas and surrounding towns and get you to the Canyon in 45 minutes.

Air or Landing?

There are two kinds of helicopter tours: Aerial and landing. The air-only trips fly over Lake Mead, Hoover Dam and the Canyon before returning to Vegas. Landing tours, by contrast, stop at the top and on the bottom.

My favorite landing tour is the one that lands at the base for a Champagne picnic. Once there, you can also explore the bottom and even take a walk to the banks of the Colorado. There\’s also an opportunity to add a boat ride to your flight.

All Vegas helicopters come in basic and deluxe. Basic tours are the cheapest and typically fly from the suburbs and Boulder City. Deluxe flights take off from The Strip, making then much more convenient.

Deluxe flights are more expensive but in my opinion are worth it. Not only do you fly from The Strip, but in many cases transportation to and from the heliport is via limousine, which is excellent if you are celebrating a special moment.

Moreover, these flights only utilize the EcoStar 130, which is the most superior chopper flying today. I say this because the EC is outfitted with a 180-degree wraparound windshield and stadium-style seats that make every seat the best in the house.

Lastly, deluxe flights come also come with a tour over the Las Vegas Strip. If you think Vegas is exciting on the ground, wait until you see it from above! In essence, this segment of the tours starts from the Stratosphere tower and ends at the Luxor pyramid.

Airplane Tours

Plane tour offerings are very similar to helicopters except they are cheaper. In my opinion, airplane tours don\’t get the credit they deserve. Indeed, planes fly at a higher altitude than helicopters, but in times of limited availability (nearly always these days), you will find seats.

My favorite one is the West Rim flight that lands at the top of the rim and comes with a helicopter ride to the bottom and boat ride down the Colorado. Further, these trips can be packaged to include VIP tickets to the world-famous Skywalk.

Bus Tours

Coach trips are the most economical option but they also take the most time. For comparison\’s sake, it takes a helicopter and an airplane going from Vegas to the West Rim approximately 45 minutes and 30 minutes, respectively. The bus, by contrast, takes 2.5 hours to reach the West Rim and 5.5 hours to get to the South Rim.

That said, bus tours remain extremely popular, particularly because they are all-inclusive and come with all park fees, lunch, guide service and more. Each bus can hold up to 50 people, so you also know there will be availability even if you try to book one within 24 hours (not advised but possible).

Conclusion

I hope you get the chance to spend a day at the Grand Canyon during your visit to Las Vegas. These trips are extremely fun and thrilling, especially the helicopter and airplane tours. And to get the best price possible, make sure to book online and in advance. It\’s the only way to enjoy this natural wonder without breaking the bank.

The author is an expert on Grand Canyon tours and recommends these Vegas-Canyon airplane tours and these helicopter rides at http://www.grandcanyon123.com/survey/top-3-las-vegas-helicopter-tours.html

The author is an expert on Grand Canyon tours and recommends these Vegas-Canyon airplane tours and these helicopter rides at http://www.grandcanyon123.com/survey/top-3-las-vegas-helicopter-tours.html

Author Bio: The author is an expert on Grand Canyon tours and recommends these Vegas-Canyon airplane tours and these helicopter rides at http://www.grandcanyon123.com/survey/top-3-las-vegas-helicopter-tours.html

Category: Travel
Keywords: airplane tours