July 4th Is A Busy Time For Grand Canyon Helicopters So Book Your Seats Early

By Author: Tracy Delvecchio
Total Articles: 17
Comment this article

Well, it's almost here, the day most Americans wait for eagerly, the July 4th holiday! There is no better time to take a getaway to the Grand Canyon, but if you plan to go over the holiday, book your trip now. July Fourth is one of the Park's most popular times, and tours on Grand Canyon helicopters traditionally sell out fast.

Helicopter tours begin in Las Vegas, Nevada and Tusayan, Arizona at the Grand Canyon National Park Airport. The flights from Tusayan go to the South Rim and the flights from Vegas go to the West Rim.

South Rim Tours

You can choose from a 50 minute or 30 minute helicopter tour of the South Rim, they fly you to the North Rim and back passing over dramatic landmarks such as the Dragoon Corridor.

The longer flight includes everything in the 30-minute tour but so much more. It is a very popular option among visitors to the South Rim. You get to fly over the South and North Rims and the entire park up to the eastern edge. The tour glides you over nearly ? of the whole National Park.

At the South Rim, helicopters are not allowed to descend to the canyon floor or even fly ...
... below the rim. That unique experience is only possible at the West Rim.

Touring The West Rim Of The Grand Canyon

Flying from morning until sundown, these Grand Canyon helicopter tours depart from Vegas-area airfields every hour. They come in air-only and enhanced landing versions.

The air-only tours are cheapest and they're a great value. These Grand Canyon tours are ideal if you don't have much time or money, or if you just want a quick overview of the region. You will get to see other impressive sights besides the West Rim, for example, you fly right over Lake Mead and the Hoover Dam.

A lot of people prefer the landing tours though. As I mentioned before, the West Rim is the only place where your chopper can land on the bottom, almost 4,000 feet below the edge of the rim! The flight is thrilling, and it allows you to take other fun side trips.

For instance, you could choose a landing tour that includes a champagne picnic on the canyon floor. In addition, you can book a rafting tour along the smooth waters of the Colorado River. You could also choose to land on top of the rim and get VIP passes to the Grand Canyon Skywalk. This all-glass cantilevered bridge lets you walk 70 feet past the edge of the rim!

Getting Discounts When You Book Your Tour

The July holiday is one of the Park's most popular times, and helicopter tours almost always sell out. You need to book your tour about a week or two in advance. You'll be able to get a seat and have a better shot at snagging one of the preferred flight times (morning flights are best).

The biggest discounts on Grand Canyon tours are found online. However, you won't find bargains on the big sites such as Orbitz, Priceline, or Viator. Buy direct, from the tour company's website. Then you can take the Internet discount when you complete your purchase on the site.

To Sum It All Up

Summer is always busy at the Grand Canyon, but many folks make a special point of going there for the July 4th holiday. That is why it is so important to book your tour early. To get the special Internet price, you'll need to complete your purchase on the tour company's website.

Author's Tips

Travel writer Tracy Delvecchio is an expert on Grand Canyon National Park air tours. She suggests checking out this website for the very best prices on the hottest trips: http://www.grandcanyonhelicopters.org/hot-deals