Tours by Air, Grand Canyon

4 more images

Grand Canyon National Park is one of the world’s premier natural attractions, attracting about five million visitors per year. Overall, 83% were from the United States: California (12.2%), Arizona (8.9%), Texas (4.8%), Florida (3.4%) and New York (3.2%) represented the top domestic visitors. Seventeen percent of visitors were from outside the United States; the most prominently represented nations were the United Kingdom (3.8%), Canada (3.5%), Japan (2.1%), Germany (1.9%) and The Netherlands
Aside from casual sightseeing from the South Rim (averaging 7000 feet (2100 meters) above sea level), whitewater rafting, hiking and running are especially popular. The floor of the valley is accessible by foot, muleback, or by boat or raft from upriver. Hiking down to the river and back up to the rim in one day is discouraged by park officials because of the distance, steep and rocky trails, change in elevation, and danger of heat exhaustion from the much higher temperatures at the bottom. Rescues are required annually of unsuccessful rim-to-river-to-rim travelers. Nevertheless, hundreds of fit and experienced hikers complete the trip every year.
I had this grand canyon tour initally by land. It is a 5 hour drive from las vegas throught the hoover dam, mojave desert with stop overs at kingman and williams, arizona and finally to the grand canyon. I opted to go on an additional helicopter ride at papillion tours for 120 USD so that I would have a Bird's Eye view of the Canyon, aside from seeing it at Yavapai Point and at South Rim. Helocopter Ride was expensiveBUT it was worth every PENNY!

2 more images

I know it is very expensive, but if you can swing it, a helicopter ride over and into the canyon is a great experience. My grandson and I took the Imperial Tour which is an hour flight and crosses to the north rim and goes below the rim into the canyon as well. This gave us great views of the Little Colorado and tons of rock formations of an amazing array of coloring. The pilot provides some narration but much is on tape and is available in about 8 languages. There was a French couple on our flight and the pilot played the narrations first in English then in French. If you can arrange to get in the front seat (the chopper seats 6 or 7 plus the pilot), you get the best view. It helps to have an 11 year old with you as they give that seat to the smaller ones.

There are flights of varying lengths (and costs) so you can go for a half hour (about $120) to about 7 hours (around $500). There is a slight reduction in prices for children. There are several companies offering tours, but it is hard to sort out as some seem to be buying out others. We used Papillon but the billing name was Viator.

4 more images

I took a Plane,Helicopter and boat tour of Grand canyon. Cost $ 350 a person.
they picked me up from my hotel around 5am. Drove us to Airport we took a plane to the Heliport to ride in the Helicopter that took us to a boat. then off the boat back on the helicopter for lunch then back in the helicopter to the airport to catch the plane back to the airport then bus back to hotel.
Lunch was good , I had seconds included water,ice tea.
This was my 2nd visit to Grand Canyon.
The Helicopter is not for the faint of heart. The Helicopter pilot dips and dives into the canyon near the water between the walls of the canyon. There are seat belts in the Helicopter.
The woman in the front of the Helicopter were screaming at first because the way the Helicopter dips down into the canyon.

4 more images

Don't miss this. It is a spectacular way to see the canyon. The flight lasts for about 40 minutes. The seatingarrangement is based on how much each person weighs. The skinniest person gets to sit next to the pilot. So wait for a group of fat people before you sign in. A budget tip for Dutch people: Show your ANWB-card. The give you a large discount.

1 more image

Wow - I was so overwhelmed seeing the canyon from the air. This is a definate recommendation - don't thinkof the money - it's once in a lifetime and will give you fantastic memories to remember the canyon by.

If you book in advance and set those allarms nice and early, the most amazing spectacle awaits you. With a helicopter trip over the Canyon you can be sure to take it is shear magical properties. You get views and an experience of a lifetime. Definately worth the expensive costs.

The river shaping the land. Notice the uplift on the left. I have no idea how tall the walls of stone are here since we were flying over. I kind of like the sense of mystery about it though. Everything is even more magical from this perspective.

This is perhaps the best £85 I have ever spent in my life. Taking a helicopter over the canyon is the most amazing way to ecperience it. You get a real sense of enourmiy and just..... (running out of words to try and descrie it) WOW!!

Not only was this my first time in a helicopter, which was exciting enough, but it gave the most amazing views of the canyon that I could ever have wished for :) The ppoint at which you are stop flying above the trees amd snow covered south rim and head out ove the canyon as it just drops away a mile further beneath you is just fantastic.

We took the Imperial Tour with Papillon Helicoptors from Grand Canyon Airfield, which took us out over the eastern canyon before following it back along towards Grand Canyon Village. You get to see both rims very clearly, and that the north rim is much higher than the south rim (we went in early April when the North RIm road was still closed. The snow depth on the north rim was probably 5-6ft in places, only a sprinkling of snow covering the south rim).

The tour istself has an audio commentry, which although quite interesting, becomes increasing difficult to follow as you spend most of your concentraton on looking at the views and attempting to take photos.

The terminal buildin gwher you wait for your flight is comfortable, clean and has amenities like a small cafe and a shop (with film/memory cards if you are low on it). Before your flight you are weighed so that they can balance out the helicopter. YOu are then shown a short safety breifing video and then you wait for your flight. You are not allowed any bags on board (including camera bags), so you may need to wear a coat with big pockets.

Do this and you wont regret it :)

85$ is a small price to pay given the alternative hiking back 10 miles up hill to the car park at the trails head. From the village you can hop on a helicopter every 15 minutes and fly back through the canyon with awsome views and save yourself the 7 hour hike back. This is well worth it.

wow! This is the most amazing way to see the Grand Canyon! Forget the stinky Mules or the vibrating til your teeth fall out airplane tours, the helicopter is the way to go!
I went on Papillon/Grand Canyon Tours out of Tusayan which is the town 6 miles outside of the park. I went on the Imperial Tour and it was jaw dropping.They take your picture right before you board the heli and by the time you get back its availible for purchase and is large enough for framing.It's about, Adult: Reg. $169.00 per person + $6.00 fees.