Las Vegas Activities - The Two Best Grand Canyon South Rim Airplane Tours

Oct 27
07:49

2010

Keith Kravitz

Keith Kravitz

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The perfect Las Vegas day trip? Try the Grand Canyon's South Rim. Famous for its views, this rim is a "must-see." The best way to experience it? By airplane, of course. Here are the two best flights on the market today...

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The Grand Canyon is larger than life. It's 190 miles long,Las Vegas Activities - The Two Best Grand Canyon South Rim Airplane Tours Articles averages a mile deep, and covers 1,900 square miles. On foot, you will see just a fraction of this natural wonder. For those serious about tackling this geological beast, the only real option is to take an airplane tour.

In my opinion, there are only two tours that are up for the task. The first one, which departs from the Las Vegas area, is called the Grand Canyon Deluxe. The other, which leaves from Grand Canyon Airport, AZ, is the Grand Discovery. Grand Canyon Airlines operates both of these flights. Let's take a closer look:

Grand Canyon Deluxe

Departs year round from the Vegas area and is the only air tour that flies direct to the Grand Canyon's South Rim. Flight time to the National Park is 45 minutes. The trip is conducted aboard a fixed-wing Vistaliner, an aircraft that has been fitted with over-sized windows for sightseeing (and photos!) and an enlarged cabin for comfort. Includes in-flight narration in multiple languages. The flight pretty much follows the Colorado River east. You'll fly over Lake Mead, the biggest reservoir in the U.S., and Hoover Dam, the second largest dam in the nation, before touching down at Grand Canyon Airport. Here, you'll deplane and board a luxury bus to the South Rim. This part is a guided tour, which will stop at Mather Point, the most popular lookout at the South Rim, before going onward to Grand Canyon Village, where there are a number of fabulous gift shops and restaurants. You can book this trip at $190 for adults and $170 for kids (these are discount Internet prices). Trip duration is eight hours.

The Grand Discover (Grand Canyon, AZ)

Departs from Grand Canyon Airport in Tusayan, Arizona. The airport is only 10 minutes from the National Park's main entrance. Many consider this the tour that "defined" airplane trips above the Park. Conducted on a Vistaliner, it departs daily and heads east, crossing Zuni Point and the Zuni Corridor where you'll see the Desert Watchtower, the Painted Desert, and the Navajo Indian Reservation. The return follows along isolated North Rim past Imperial Point, the tallest point in the canyon, before banking left into the Dragoon Corridor, the widest, deepest part of the canyon, and then descending over the verdant Kaibab Plateau. There are no bad seats on this tour. Price is $120 for adults and $98 for children. Total flight time is 50 minutes.

The most popular question I get from folks who want to see the Grand Canyon is this: What's the difference between the South Rim and the West Rim? Here are some facts that clarify the two places:

The South Rim, AZ, Grand Canyon National Park

The South Rim is located in the heart of Northern Arizona some 277 miles east of Las Vegas. From Phoenix, it's a four-hour drive, and, from Sedona, AZ, it's a two-hour one. This rim is classic canyon: Most of the photos you've seen are from this area. It's famous for its viewpoints (Mather Point, Yaki Point, Hermit's Rest), trails (Bright Angel, South Kaibab), and gift shops (Hopi House, Bright Angel Lodge, Kolb Studio). Las Vegas travelers have two ways to get here: Bus, which takes 5.5 hours, or airplane, which takes 45 minutes.

West Rim

The West Rim is 120 miles east of Las Vegas and just outside the official boundaries of the National Park. It's home to the world-famous Grand Canyon Skywalk, a glass bridge that extends 70 feet past the edge and suspends guests 4,000 above the Colorado River. The West Rim is also the only place where you can take a helicopter to the bottom. The most popular ways to get here are by bus (2.5-hour drive) and by airplane (25-minute flight). Please note that there are no direct airplane tours between the West Rim and the South Rim and vice versa.

I've taken the South Rim bus and airplane tours from Las Vegas. I adamantly recommend the Grand Canyon airplane tour. It may cost a bit more, but you'll get to the canyon faster as well as arriving more energetic and ready to go. You also get back to Las Vegas in time to go out for dinner and a show. From the South Rim, nothing beats the Grand Discovery tour. I can assure you that what you see in 50 minutes would take days on the ground. That's not an exaggeration. The price, too, is spot on. So go and get your boarding pass and your camera - it's time to fly and master the Grand Canyon.