Valentine\’s Day weekend is coming up. And for those looking to really impress a loved on, a helicopter tour over the Grand Canyon is a great option. Just make sure you book ASAP as these \”sweetheart\” flights sell out quickly.

Las Vegas

From Vegas, you fly to the West Rim, which is just 45 minutes by air. Types of tours range from air-only to landing, and both kinds fly over Lake Mead and Hoover Dam en route to the National Park.

The air-only flight is perfect for folks who have limited time to sightsee the Canyon. It\’s also the cheapest option and perfect for those on a budget. That said, I prefer landing tours because they offer you a much more comprehensive experience.

Specifically, I like the landing tour that goes to the bottom for a Champagne picnic. And for those feeling especially adventurous, I recommend extending this trip with a Colorado River boat ride. Whichever you go with, you\’re in for one heck of a trip.

Deluxe Flights

Because Valentine\’s Day is so special, I\’m also recommending that you consider taking a deluxe flight that departs from the Las Vegas Strip. I say this because they come with free hotel pick up and drop off by limousine as well as an extended flight over The Strip on the way back from the Canyon.

Further, by going deluxe, you\’re assured of getting onboard an EcoStar 130 helicopter. These particular aircraft are the best sightseeing choppers on the planet. This is because they come with 180-degree windshields, stacked stadium-style bucket seats and an aerodynamic design that makes the ride super smooth.

South Rim

Here you get to choose between 30-minute and 50-minute flights. The shorter one gets the job done but if you\’re doing this for Valentine\’s Day, I recommend going big and taking the 50-minute ride. This particular tour covers nearly 75 percent of the entire Park and includes the Dragoon Corridor, the widest and deepest section of the Canyon.

Another South Rim trip I like is the helicopter/Jeep combo. It\’s the one that features a 30-minute helicopter ride over the Canyon that concludes with a 3-hour ground tour inside the National Park via a customized Jeep. In fact, this one gets two thumbs up from me because no other tour delivers the types of aerial and ground views you\’ll get on this trip.

Dress Accordingly

Bear in mind that February is one of the coldest months of the year at the Canyon. My suggestion is to check out the weather forecast a couple of days prior to your flight and dress for it. Temps at the West Rim are similar to those you\’ll get in Vegas. The South Rim sits at 7,000 feet so if you\’re coming up from Sedona or Phoenix you\’ll want to bundle up.

Conclusion

I hope this article about Grand Canyon helicopter tours during Valentine\’s Weekend (it\’s on Saturday, February 14) helped you as you plan the ultimate \”date\” tour. Remember, my pick for best trip out of Vegas is the deluxe Champagne picnic at the bottom and for South Rim it\’s a toss up between the 50-minute air-only and the helicopter/Jeep combo.

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

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

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

Category: Travel
Keywords: South Rim helicopter