Grand Canyon Helicopters Make Great Memorial Day Adventures

By Author: Tracy Delvecchio
Total Articles: 17
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What could be better than spending Memorial Day soaring over the Grand Canyon in a helicopter? The holiday is May 27, and since it is on Monday, many people get to take a three-day weekend. The Grand Canyon is a huge destination for holiday travelers and helicopter tours usually fill up fast. If you want to take one, book your seat as soon as you can.

You can catch a Grand Canyon helicopter tour in Las Vegas and Tusayan, AZ, which is near the gates at the South Rim. Flights take off hourly and are running on their regular schedules over the holiday. If you catch a flight in Tusayan, you visit the South Rim but if you leave from Vegas, you go to the West Rim.

Either rim is a fantastic adventure.

Chopper Tours Of The South Rim Of The Grand Canyon

Air-only and landing flights are offered at the South Rim. The two tours that are the most popular are the 30-minute and 50-minute air-only flights. Both take off from Grand Canyon National Park Airport at Tusayan. The thirty minute flight takes you to the North Rim and back to the South Rim. The longer option covers the same ground but also takes you to ...
... the eastern edge of the canyon so you get to see the beautiful Painted Desert.

Two fantastic landing tours are also offered. One includes the 30-minute flight I mentioned above and adds a terrific Harley motorcycle ride through the National Park. The other combines the flight with an amazing sunset 4x4 ride to the edge of the canyon. If these options sound like fun, be sure to get your seats early so you don't miss out.

Grand Canyon Chopper Tours From Las Vegas

Vegas helicopters only fly to the West Rim. You can still take a helicopter tour of the South Rim if you are in Las Vegas, you just have to fly to the South Rim first by airplane.

At the West Rim, you have a choice between landing tours and air-only flights. The West Rim has an extra benefit in that it is the rim where choppers can descend to the canyon floor.

If you don't have much time to spend in the Grand Canyon, the air-only tours are fantastic. The flight to the canyon is exciting too because you pass over sights like Grand Cliffs Wash, Lake Mead, and the Hoover Dam. Once your chopper arrives, you'll fly over the fabulous Grand Canyon Skywalk (the ?Glass Bridge?) before turning for home.

The landing tours let you add on some amazing adventures so they are the favorite options among many travelers. A great way to celebrate the holiday is to choose the landing tour that flies you down to the floor of the Grand Canyon where you can enjoy a champagne picnic. You descend 3500 feet into the depths of the canyon where the chopper lets you out for the picnic next to the beautiful Colorado River. A smooth-water rafting tour is a popular add-on for this flight.

Another popular landing flight includes VIP access to the world-renowned Glass Bridge. Constructed entirely of glass, the Skywalk lets travelers walk 70 feet out past the rim's edge. At its apex, you'll be standing about 4,000 feet above the bottom with incredible views all around you!

To Wrap Up

The holiday weekend is closing in on us fast. If you are going to be anywhere close, don't miss the opportunity to take a Grand Canyon chopper tour. Holiday flights typically sell out fast, and this is the first real holiday of the summer. That makes it smart to book your seats at least a week ahead. Also, buy your tour online so you get the best rate available.

Tips from the Author

Travel author Tracy D. is an authority on helicopter trips to Grand Canyon National Park and advises making use of these Memorial Day specials: http://www.grandcanyoncheap.com/helicopter-deals.html