July 4th Is A Busy Time For Grand Canyon Helicopters So Book Your Seats Early
The highlight of the summer, the Fourth of July celebration, is going to be here soon. It is a fantastic time to take a vacation to the Grand Canyon National Park, but you better book your tour as soon as possible. The Fourth of July holiday is one of the busiest times at the Park and the most popular helicopter tours of the Grand Canyon fill up quickly.
Chopper tours fly out of Tusayan, AZ (where Grand Canyon National Park Airport is located) and Las Vegas, NV. Tusayan flights do the South Rim, while Vegas tours head for Grand Canyon West.
Touring The South Rim Of The Grand Canyon
The South Rim Tours are 30 minutes or 50 minutes long and fly you from the South Rim to the North Rim and back, including a pass over the notable Dragoon Corridor.
The 50 minute flight covers the same ground as the 30 minute flight but just adds more time in the air so you see more. It's become my personal favorite at this Rim. You'll see the South Rim, the North Rim, and everything up to the Park's eastern boundary. The tour glides you over nearly ? of the whole National Park.
South Rim choppers aren't allowed to fly below the level of the rim or land on the bottom. 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 most affordable tours are the air-only versions. If you have a tight budget or don't have a lot of time to spend, these are the ideal tours, and they offer a fantastic overview of the Grand Canyon region. In addition to seeing the West Rim of the Grand Canyon, you will also fly over Lake Mead and the massive Hoover Dam.
Of course, the landing tours are great fun and very popular. This is where your chopper is allowed to fly below the canyon rim, all the way to the floor nearly 4000 feet below! The ride is thrilling enough, but going to the floor of the canyon allows you to have other fun experiences too.
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 cantilevered bridge has a floor made of glass so you can walk 70 feet away from the edge of the rim and look down into the depths below you.
Booking and Discounts
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).
Without a doubt, you will find the lowest prices on the Internet. But they are not on travel sites such as Priceline, Orbitz, or Viator. Go directly to the tour operator's website instead. Complete your purchase on their site and you'll get a super Internet discount!
To Sum It All Up
The summer tourist season is always a busy time at the Grand Canyon National Park, but many families make a point of celebrating the Fourth of July there. That is why it is so important to book your helicopter tour early. Don't forget, to get the lowest possible rate, go to the tour operator's site and complete your purchase online.
Chopper tours fly out of Tusayan, AZ (where Grand Canyon National Park Airport is located) and Las Vegas, NV. Tusayan flights do the South Rim, while Vegas tours head for Grand Canyon West.
Touring The South Rim Of The Grand Canyon
The South Rim Tours are 30 minutes or 50 minutes long and fly you from the South Rim to the North Rim and back, including a pass over the notable Dragoon Corridor.
The 50 minute flight covers the same ground as the 30 minute flight but just adds more time in the air so you see more. It's become my personal favorite at this Rim. You'll see the South Rim, the North Rim, and everything up to the Park's eastern boundary. The tour glides you over nearly ? of the whole National Park.
South Rim choppers aren't allowed to fly below the level of the rim or land on the bottom. 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 most affordable tours are the air-only versions. If you have a tight budget or don't have a lot of time to spend, these are the ideal tours, and they offer a fantastic overview of the Grand Canyon region. In addition to seeing the West Rim of the Grand Canyon, you will also fly over Lake Mead and the massive Hoover Dam.
Of course, the landing tours are great fun and very popular. This is where your chopper is allowed to fly below the canyon rim, all the way to the floor nearly 4000 feet below! The ride is thrilling enough, but going to the floor of the canyon allows you to have other fun experiences too.
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 cantilevered bridge has a floor made of glass so you can walk 70 feet away from the edge of the rim and look down into the depths below you.
Booking and Discounts
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).
Without a doubt, you will find the lowest prices on the Internet. But they are not on travel sites such as Priceline, Orbitz, or Viator. Go directly to the tour operator's website instead. Complete your purchase on their site and you'll get a super Internet discount!
To Sum It All Up
The summer tourist season is always a busy time at the Grand Canyon National Park, but many families make a point of celebrating the Fourth of July there. That is why it is so important to book your helicopter tour early. Don't forget, to get the lowest possible rate, go to the tour operator's site and complete your purchase online.