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Would you like to visit the amazing Grand Canyon? Is a chopper tour on the list of things you want to do there? That is a great idea! Below are a few pointers about taking one of these exciting chopper tours of the Grand Canyon. Departure Points Choosing where your tour will begin is the first decision you'll need to make. Air tours of the Grand Canyon depart from Las Vegas and from a city in Arizona by the South Rim's main gates called Tusayan. If you will be staying in Phoenix or another city in central Arizona, you should choose a helicopter tour that departs from Tusayan. Tusayan is only ten minutes from Grand Canyon Village and about an hour from Williams, AZ. When your tour originates in Las Vegas, the helicopter will take you to Grand Canyon West, or the West Rim. Vegas choppers do not go to the South Rim because it is too far away. So, if you really want to go to the South Rim from Vegas, choose an airplane tour instead. The rim you visit will probably be decided for you based upon your departure city, but if you need help deciding which rim tour to take, keep in mind the South Rim is known for its spectacular beauty while the West Rim is known for its thrills and adventure. Need more details before you decide? Grand Canyon West Or The South Rim A lot of people consider the South Rim to be the "official" Grand Canyon. There are many spectacular sites there and one of the most notable ones is Dragoon Corridor, which is the deepest and widest part of the canyon. This is unspoiled wilderness at its best. The South Rim sits at a higher altitude (7,000 ft. above sea level) and vegetation is more plentiful than at Grand Canyon West. The West Rim of the Grand Canyon is part of the Hualapai Indian Reservation. This is where the Skywalk is located, it is an experience you don't want to miss. If you're not familiar with it, this all-glass cantilevered bridge suspends you 4,000 feet over the canyon bottom-while you're standing 70 feet beyond the edge! The glass bridge is not the only thrill at the West Rim, you can also hop on a chopper and fly to the floor of the canyon there, it is the only place in the National Park where that is allowed. The floor of the canyon offers fun experiences such as a picnic and a raft ride along the Colorado River. Types of Air Tours You have a couple of options in chopper tours, you can land or take an aerial, or air-only tour. The air-only tours fly over notable landmarks as they circle the canyon and then fly back. You can catch one from either Tusayan or Vegas. However, if you want to take a landing tour, you need to depart from the city of Vegas. Some of the landing tours land at the top of the rim while others fly you straight to the canyon floor. If you will be taking off from Vegas, you should seriously consider a landing tour. Then you get the best of both experiences by seeing the canyon from the air and from the ground. Both types of tours fly over Hoover Dam and Lake Mead before arriving at the rim. The tours at the South Rim come in two types, 30 minutes or 50 minutes. The thirty minute flight flies through the Dragoon Corridor on its way to the North Rim and back. The 50 minute flight follows the same flight path but also includes a loop to the eastern edge of the National Park. Booking It is a good idea to get your tour seats about a week ahead of time. The tours sell out often, so waiting until the last minute may lead to disappointment. If you complete your purchase on the tour company's website, you'll snag a great online-only rate! Important Note from the Author Like to take a Grand Canyon National Park helicopter tour. Then I recommend going here for a listing of the best (and safest) tour operators http://grandcanyoncheap.com/helicopter-tours.html Then here for great deals: http://grandcanyoncheap.com/helicopter-deals.html
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