Quick Trip to Grand Canyon? Book a Helicopter Ride to the West Rim

Visiting Las Vegas and have only a short time to visit the Grand Canyon? Take a helicopter tour to the West Rim. It's quick, cheap, and will have you back at your hotel in less than half a day...

Were you aware that a round-trip helicopter flight from Las Vegas to Grand Canyon's West is only three hours? And, if you wish to plant your feet on the bottom of the Canyon, it's only an additional 30 minutes?

That's pretty incredible! Especially when the round-trip drive time for a West Rim bus tour is five hours.

Now, because of helicopter tours, the time-strapped traveler can see Grand Canyon West and get back to Las Vegas with plenty of time to spare. It's also the right trip for visitors who are seeking a quick and simple day trip.

The biggest helicopter tour operators in the U.S. call Las Vegas home, including Papillon, Maverick, Grand Canyon helicopters, and Sundance. This is very good news for travelers: Tours are inexpensive as these companies fight to compete for your travel dollar (or Mark, Yen, Euro, or Pound).

The basic Grand Canyon West air tour starts at $220. It leaves Las Vegas, flies over Lake Mead (the largest reservoir in the U.S.), Hoover Dam, Fortification Hill (an extinct volcano), and the West Rim before turning around and heading back to The Strip.

Helicopter flights to Grand Canyon West are loaded with possible upgrades. For example, you can include a Canyon descent, river rafting, ATV tours, horseback riding, and kayaking. Typically the most popular side-trip, however, is the Grand Canyon Skywalk, a glass bridge that extends 70 feet over the edge of the Rim and suspends you some 4,000 feet above the Colorado River.

Additionally, you can upgrade a regular helicopter to an EcoStar, which is comes with a bigger, quieter cabin, large wraparound windows, a two-way digital communication system (talk to the pilot, other guests), and stadium-style seating that lets everyone get the "best view in the house." And, if you want the helicopter just for you your group, charter a helicopter, which includes picking your departure time as well as flight route.

Virtually all Las Vegas helicopter tour packages include hotel pick-up and drop-off. If you are doing a combo or upgrade package, lunch or champagne brunch is included. Departures are from Las Vegas' McCarran International Airport or from Boulder City's, which is located just east of Henderson, NV.

Along with Hoover Dam and Lake Mead, your heli tour will incorporate outstanding views of Joshua Tree forest, buttes, spires, red rock formations, giant boulders, sheer cliffs, and the roaring Colorado River. Be sure to bring an extra, charged battery for your camera or camcorder - there's a lot of picture-taking opportunities.

Located a short 120 miles east from town, the Rim is easily accessible by bus, helicopter, and airplae. Travel company competition keeps prices low for travelers who enjoy the spectacle that only an air tour delivers. These tours are also perfect for visitors who have limited time to sightsee, or simply like the rush of flying. As you plan your Las Vegas vacation, definitely consider a Las Vegas helicopter tour to the West Rim. It's going to be the highlight of one's trip.

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