Grand Canyon - Helicopter Tours | 5 Reasons to Book Early

Apr 19
08:03

2011

Keith Kravitz

Keith Kravitz

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Grand Canyon heli tours are extremely popular during spring and summer. In case you haven’t scheduled your air tour yet, I strongly advise you do it right now. Need more convincing? Read through this article.

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Amongst the most popular questions I get from visitors is,Grand Canyon - Helicopter Tours | 5 Reasons to Book Early Articles "Should I purchase my Grand Canyon helicopter flight in advance?" My response is always a resounding "Yes." Beyond the fact that interest in these trips exceeds supply, allow me to share five more reasons to secure your seats immediately:
Sunrise and sunset flights tend to be overbooked. This is the time the canyon really comes to life, and travelers who have done their homework know this. Cancellations are uncommon, especially during the summer months (high season).
Morning flights are the most enjoyable and offer the most flexibility. The air is smoother in the a.m. and visibility is at its best. Canyon weather conditions are fickle; if there's a re-scheduling, those at the top of the queue fly first.
Helicopters hold only six people. This limits the supply of seats. Further, these aircraft require a correct distribution of weight - a traveler weighing between 275 and 300 pounds may be required to purchase two seats.
Days are shorter in fall and winter. This impacts the total number of flights available. Also, this is "low" season, a time when tour companies lower the number of flights they operate.
It's less costly. Book on the net in advance and you will save a massive wad of cash as compared to the retail/rack rate with which you'll get slammed IF you successfully buy a same-day flight at the heliport.
The principle of selecting your Grand Canyon helicopter tour in advance applies whether you leave from Vegas or the South Rim. For Vegas travelers, helicopter tours only visit the West Rim and the Las Vegas Strip. To do the South Rim, you need to take a 45-minute airplane trip and switch to a helicopter.
West Rim tours include:
Landing at the base. Drop 4,000 feet to the base. Exit the aircraft and explore the ancient floor. Champagne toast included. Upgrade to include a no-rapids rafting trip.
The Grand Canyon Glass Walkway. Land at Grand Canyon West. Access the "glass bridge," a miraculous structure that dangles 70 feet over the edge and suspends you 4,000 above the Colorado River.
Standard air tour. Fly over the Lake Mead Reservoir, Hoover Dam, a Joshua Tree forest, and the Mojave Desert. U-turn over the Grand Canyon West. Upgrade to include a Vegas Strip flyover.
South Rim tours, which take off from Grand Canyon Airport in Tusayan, AZ, located just beyond the gates of the National Park, fly over the Kaibab Plateau and straight into the Dragoon Corridor before turning back at the North Rim. For the quintessential flight, upgrade to an EcoStar 130.
Grand Canyon helicopter tours are incredibly popular with visitors to Las Vegas and Arizona. To enjoy this aerial joyride, I can't help but recommend you book your tour upfront. Seats are limited, especially during sunrise and sunset flights. The great thing is getting to the front of the line has never been simpler. Just log on to the Internet and RSVP. Then kick back and experience the Grand Canyon the way it was supposed to be experienced. From the air!