How to fly over the Grand Canyon by helicopter: best tours, prices

One of the excursions most demanded by travelers who come to the Grand Canyon of the Colorado in a trip along the west coast of the United States, it is without a doubt, fly over the Grand Canyon in a helicopter.

For this you have several options, either if you are going to fly from Las Vegas or if you are already in the Grand Canyon National Park in its most important and visited area, known as South rim.

From my point of view, the ideal way to get to know this impressive natural area is travel by car to the Grand Canyon touring the historic Route 66, to reach it from Williams.

along this route You will access the national park through its southern entrance, where the main Visitors Center.

From this center you can move freely around the different viewpoints of the South rim, the most prominent and visited area of ​​this great natural area, and from where, especially at sunset, you have spectacular panoramic views.

How to fly over the Grand Canyon by helicopter: options

But also, if you feel like it and your budget allows it, the best way to complete your visit is to sign up for a excursion to fly over the Grand Canyon by helicopter or small plane.

Now, if you are limited on time on your trip, you have several options to make the trip. Grand Canyon tour from Las Vegas in a single day.

Specifically you can fly by plane or helicopter through the closest (and least spectacular) area of ​​Las Vegas, known as the west rim of the Grand Canyon, or fly by plane to the most visited city in the South rim, and when you arrive, get on a helicopter to fly over it.

Helicopter on South Rim of the Grand Canyon

If you have already arrived at the Grand Canyon by car on your own, to fly over it there are several companies that offer tourist tours with flights from airport Located right at the southern entrance of the national park, where the transportation services area is located. Showing.

These helicopter tours They take place at all times of the year and throughout the day, always if weather conditions allow it.

There are several companies that offer these excursions at the aforementioned airport, among which is Papillón, the most prestigious due to its long experience of many years providing this service.

Nowadays Papillón offers two different tours for fly over the South Rim by helicopter.

On the one hand you have the North Canyon Tour, which will take you to North Rim and flies over the Kaibab National Forest in the widest and deepest area of ​​the central area of ​​the Grand Canyon.

With a duration of 25-30 minutes, during the flight you hear a voiceover in Spanish explaining the characteristics of the areas you fly.

Another alternative is the Imperial Air Tour excursion which lasts 40-50 minutes and is done flying in a helicopter EcoStar EC130 through the areas of East RimEdit y North Rim.

On the other hand you have the alternatives of Maverick Aviation for Grand Canyon helicopter ride, which is also carried out with devices EcoStar, with two different routes lasting 25 or 45 minutes.

Grand Canyon Plane Tour from South Rim

For fly over the Grand Canyon from the national park airport you have another different option which is to do it by plane.

El small plane tour of the Grand Canyon It is a 40-45 minute excursion that allows you to have a broader vision of the Grand Canyon landscapes, and also with a more reasonable price.

The plane flies over the places of Zuni Corridor, Imperial Point, the confluence of the Colorado and Little Colorado rivers, the aforementioned Kaibab National Forest and Kaibab plateau,

Helicopter prices in Grand Canyon South Rim

The price depends, logically, on the excursion contracted, the time at which you make the flight and, of course, the season of the year.

As an example, the prices for a helicopter flight 25-30 minutes contracted with the company Papillón They range from $199 per person for adults, and $179 for children up to 11 years old, depending on the different factors mentioned above.

On the contrary, the price of the South Rim small plane tour It starts at $124.

How to book helicopter in Grand Canyon

In general, and especially during times of the year when there are more visitors, it is essential to make a book online in advance of your trip, as most visitors do, especially during vacation times.

It is the only way to ensure the specific day you want to do the excursion, according to your travel plan to the Grand Canyon, and if you also want to do the excursion at a specific time, you must book even several months in advance.

Once you have the date and time reserved, to make the flight you must be at the airport at least half an hour before the time you have reserved.

Next, you have access to the company's service Papillón for fly over the Grand Canyon on excursions of different characteristics.

How to Fly to Grand Canyon West Rim from Las Vegas

Now, as we have mentioned, there is another alternative when you are in Las Vegas and you do not have enough time to go to the Grand Canyon by road.

Is fly by small plane or helicopter from Las Vegas to the Grand Canyon, to fly over it there.

This is the perfect option to do the excursion in one day, although you should also know that the plane will take you to an area closer to the Grand Canyon to Las Vegas, known as west rim, less spectacular than the aforementioned South rim.

It is also the complement of the other alternative that you have for go to the Grand Canyon from Las Vegas in one daya minivan tour to the West Rim. where you can descend by helicopter to Colorado River or visit the Skywalk glass walkway.

For go by helicopter or plane from Las Vegas, currently you have several alternatives.

Prices Grand Canyon Helicopter Tours from Las Vegas

The tour Golden Eagle Air Tour It is the one that will take the least amount of time, and it is ideal if you are very pressed for time during your stay in Las Vegas.

With a duration of four hours, you will fly over the Hoover dam and Lake Mead, and already in the Grand Canyon West you will fly through it Guano Point, Eagle Point and Colorado River, and the price of this excursion starts at $244.

Another helicopter tour from Las Vegas, four and a half hours long, is the Grand Celebration Tour, in which you will fly over the Grand Canyon for about 30 minutes.

Its additional attraction compared to the previous excursion is that you will descend in the helicopter to the Colorado River, and their prices start at $344.

Or if you prefer, here is another one Helicopter tour from Las Vegas to the West Rim of the Grand Canyon, with various activities included, audio guide in Spanish and a duration of up to 4 hours.

How to go by plane from Las Vegas to the Grand Canyon

If you prefer to take the excursion from Las Vegas by plane, you have the Grand Voyager Tour, which lasts seven hours.

From Las Vegas you will go by plane to west rim of the Grand Canyon, where you will spend about four hours in which you will board a helicopter to fly over it, you will descend to the Colorado River and you will have the option of visit the Skywalk.

El price of the small plane excursion to the Grand Canyon, the most complete, starts at $539, and below, you have access to information about these excursions and how to book them.

Another similar alternative is this small plane excursion to the West Rim, with a total duration of 7 hours, and in which you can also get on a helicopter to fly over the Colorado River or visit the Skywalk.

Finally, you also have the option of fly by plane from Las Vegas to the most spectacular South Rim, an excursion that will take you 7 hours and already includes a Helicopter ride about 25 minutes over the Grand Canyon.

You will fly in a luxurious plane Beechcraft 1900D for 19 passengers, all with a large window, and then you can get on a helicopter EcoStar.