Are you ready to have a fun time doing something exciting and different? There’s no better way to have a memorable New Year’s celebration than to top it off with a helicopter tour of the Grand Canyon.
Christmas Day is the only day of the year when the tour helicopters don’t fly, so you’re cleared to go on New Year’s Eve or any other day over your break. These holiday air tours are extremely popular and they sell out in advance, so be sure to book your tour as soon as you can.
Booking early also allows you to have a wider selection in available tours, and when you buy your tour online, you’ll get the lowest price available.
Vegas Chopper Tours
Vegas is an extremely popular tourist destination, so it’s easy to see why it is also the most popular place to begin a Canyon air tour. Because of that, the Vegas tours offer a lot of options. All of the tour helicopters fly over Lake Mead, the Colorado River, and the Hoover Dam, and a few of them also include aerial views of The Vegas Strip.
An air-only tour is a good choice when you don’t have much time to spend on your tour or if you want to save money. These tours basically fly over the high points at the Canyon and then circle back to Vegas. Another, very popular tour option is the landing tour where your helicopter sets down at the Canyon, so you can get out and explore.
These tours are filled with fun and adventure. You can choose a landing tour that takes you to the bottom of the Canyon, the top, or both on the same tour.
You’ll enjoy exploring the top of the rim and walking on the scenic trails and viewing the sights from popular lookout points. You can also upgrade this tour to include Skywalk tickets. The Skywalk is a world famous structure that extends 70 feet beyond the edge of the Canyon and is suspended 4000 feet above the Canyon floor. Walking out on the glass floor is scary and exhilarating, and something you shouldn’t miss.
If you want to land on the Canyon floor, you can enjoy a Champagne picnic by the Colorado River and then take a fun boat ride along the colorful Canyon walls. This landing tour is very popular and it’s a good one to take when you visit the Canyon.
Chopper Tours Of The South Rim
All the South Rim helicopter tours take off from the airport in tiny Tusayan, Arizona. If you’re starting in Vegas, you’ll need to book a flight to Tusayan to begin your tour, but if you’ll be staying in a city in Arizona, you can drive yourself to the airport in Tusayan. The Tusayan airport is just outside of the main gates to the National Park. Even though there are no landing tours permitted at the South Rim, you’ll still find the tours there worthwhile. One tour option is the 30-minute helicopter tour that flies to the North Rim and then circles back to the South Rim. The longer tour covers the same ground, but it is even better because it includes a flight to the eastern border of the Park. This flight gives you 50 minutes of air time and you get to view about 75 percent of the entire wilderness land that makes up the National Park.
Deluxe Tours
When you book your tour, you get to choose between a basic or deluxe flight. The basic tours provide the same views along an identical flight path, but they fly on older helicopters. The choppers may be older, but they are still in top form and safe for flying.
Still, a deluxe tour is the best option if you have room in your budget. The helicopters used on these tours are newer, sightseeing choppers. The seats are bigger and more comfortable, plus they are arranged stadium style so you have a good view no matter where you sit. The cabin offers plenty of personal space and you’ll fly in comfort thanks to climate control. The best part is the windshield that wraps around the helicopter, which gives you unobstructed, panoramic views during your flight. Also, your ride is made more comfortable because the helicopters are quieter and they are more stable so they fly smoother.
To Conclude
Keep in mind, it might be cold at the Canyon during this time of the year, so you’ll want to dress in layers so you are prepared. It may even be snowing at the South Rim, so you’ll want to wear warm clothes if you go there.
There you have it, a fun-filled way to celebrate the New Year’s holiday. Don’t forget to book your tour as soon as you can or you may have to scramble for seats. For the best chances of getting the tour you want, secure your seats with your credit card by buying your tour online at least two weeks in advance if you can. Also, when you buy your tour online, you’ll be able to access the best discounts that land you the lowest price on your tour.
Tips from the Author
Going to Vegas for New Year’s? Take a Grand Canyon helicopter tour. The author recommends going here for a list of the best helicopter rides and here for a list of the best deals: