Best Grand Canyon Air Tours

Feb 15
14:32

2011

Keith Kravitz

Keith Kravitz

  • Share this article on Facebook
  • Share this article on Twitter
  • Share this article on Linkedin

Best 1 day Grand Canyon tour? Try the airplane. These flights see in 50 minutes what would take days on the ground. If you intend to day trip the canyon, seeing it by air is the only way to go.

mediaimage
A Grand Canyon air tour is the most comfortable and efficient way to see the National Park. Flights are done aboard a state-of-the-art aircraft that lets you experience the most canyon in the least amount of time. Before you start packing your bags,Best Grand Canyon Air Tours Articles here are seven things that will guarantee that this trip option is for you: 
#1 From whence will you depart? 
Several destinations make perfect starting points for a canyon air tour. Las Vegas, Phoenix, and Sedona, AZ, are the most popular. If it fits into your plans, go with Las Vegas. It's the least expensive. Starting from Arizona? I recommend you rent a car. Flying from Phoenix to Flagstaff, AZ, for example, is terribly expensive. South Rim air tours leave from Grand Canyon Airport in Tusayan, which is a small town located 10 minutes from the National Park's front gate. 
#2 Visit the South Rim or West Rim?
There are only two places where one can enter Grand Canyon airspace: The West Rim and the South Rim. The arid West Rim is a 25-minute flight from Las Vegas and is best known for its activities and attractions. The South Rim, a 45-minute flight from Las Vegas, is famous for its verdant natural beauty and early 20th Century amenities. 
#3 Are you interested in experience the Grand Canyon Skywalk?
This attraction is at the West Rim, also known as Grand Canyon West. The "Glass Bridge" defies gravity by extending 70 feet past the edge and suspending guests 4,000 feet above the Colorado River. From the air, it sparkles under the Mojave Desert sun. Optionally, you can upgrade your air tour to include access to the Skywalk. Build on that by adding a flight over the famous Las Vegas Strip on the way back to town. 
#4 Do you want to go to the bottom of the canyon?
Flying to the base is something that can only be done at the West Rim. You will need to deplane and board a helicopter. From there, it's a 4,000-foot descent that takes you through a desert-version of Jurassic Park. Cliffs, spires and buttes fill the landscape. At the bottom, toast your incredible journey with Champagne, then explore the canyon's ancient floor. 
#5 Raft the Grand Canyon?
Colorado River rafting is available at both rims. The West Rim requires a helicopter ride to the bottom; your choices include starting immediately upstream or being helicoptered to the base of Hoover Dam where you'll put in. At the South Rim, fly from Grand Canyon Airport to Glen Canyon Dam and take a 15.5-mile rafting tour that features spectacular Antelope Canyon and historic Lee's Ferry. 
#6 Do you want to see as much of the canyon as possible in one day?
This is almost a toss up. The Grand Canyon from Las Vegas air tour lets you see almost 50 percent of the canyon. But for 100% classic Grand Canyon, nothing rivals Grand Canyon Airline's Grand Discovery airplane tour. This particular package gets little press, which baffles me. The list of sights you'll see include the South Rim, Dragoon Corridor, Zuni Corridor, Painted Desert, and the North Rim. It's 50 minutes of utter bliss. 
#7 If you want the best prices, book your tour online.
The market for Grand Canyon airplane tours is competitive. You are certain to see a lot of offers. Ignore them. The best, most solid deal you will get is from the tour operators themselves. Grand Canyon Airlines, in my opinion, is the low-price leader for high-quality West Rim and South Rim air tours. To get their rock-bottom price, book online. I personally have realized savings of up to 35 percent. 
Flying is one of the best Grand Canyon tours out there. Be it West Rim or South Rim, you'll see pretty much see it all. These airplane tours can be expanded to include helicopter flights, rafting trips, and Skywalk passes, and Las Vegas flyovers. They are also the fastest way to go from Las Vegas to the South Rim. These trips are economical, too, especially if you book them online, where you can get up to 35% off. So kick off your shoes, recline your seat, and get ready for departure. Getting to the Grand Canyon and seeing it in all its natural glory has never been easier.