So you’ve made it to Las Vegas, Nevada but you want to escape the hustle and bustle of the city. The most common attraction that tourists like to visit while they are here is one of the wonders of the world. While many people like to drive out there to experience the road trip element, others prefer to take a Grand Canyon helicopter ride.
These tours allow you to see the wonder from a unique perspective and also avoid the crowds. Many sections of the GC are packed with thousands of tourists as it is world renowned after all. Instead of fighting for the best camera angles opt for a Grand Canyon helicopter ride to take all the best pictures.
If all of this tickles your fancy keep reading on to find out what you can expect from a Grand Canyon helicopter ride.
What you’re going to see
While you will ultimately be seeing one of the wonders of the world, it stretches so far that it is separated into several different sections. These sections are all unique and have so much to offer that they can be their own tour. From such you should think about what area you want to visit before making a booking. There are four main areas of the GC that you can visit on a Grand Canyon helicopter ride;
- North Rim
- South Rim
- East Rim
- West Rim
Many people love to see the South Rim as it is what is referenced in everything that you see about the GC. The West Rim is the second most frequented area and the hotspot for aerial tours as you can land on the base at this region.
Extra sights
If seeing one of the wonders of the world wasn’t enough for you many tours take you over other tourist attractions in the area before or after you see the GC. Many Grand Canyon helicopter rides will take you to see the following;
- Hoover dam
- Lake Mead
- Colorado River
- Mojave Desert
- Skywalk
- Downtown Las Vegas
- And many more
Be sure to check in with the tour company beforehand to see what attractions are included. They normally have a set route that they will take so it will all be preplanned.
Getting to your aircraft
A very important factor that you need to consider with your Grand Canyon helicopter ride is how are you getting to the aircraft. Many companies will include a complimentary shuttle with their services however some may require you to go to the airport yourself. Check in before you make your booking what the rule is so you won’t be met with any surprises on the day of your tour. Below are the airports that are most frequented for these tours;
McCarran Airport
This airport is the most popular for Grand Canyon helicopter rides to depart from. It is only a 10 minute drive from downtown Las Vegas and will cost you approximately $15 from the strip. If you company doesn’t provide you with a shuttle most hotels will also offer shuttles to this airport.
Henderson Executive Airport
Only some aircrafts will depart from here and is about 25 to 30 minutes from Las Vegas. It is important that you ask where you are departing from beforehand to account for the extra travel time getting to the departure point.
Boulder City
Both types of aircrafts will depart from this airport that is about 30 minutes out from Las Vegas. You really have to understand the time constraints if you are departing from this location. It is common that it can add up to an hour and a half extra to your trip time.