Grand Canyon Helicopter Rides Over the National Park!

No matter where you have been and the sights and sounds you've seen, you haven't seen anything yet until you have had a bird’s eye view of the Grand Canyon. You can go on a helicopter tour of the Canyon from a variety of departure points. One option that guarantees you views you will experience with delight and remember with fondness is South Rim helicopter flights.

There are more tour options like taking a hike, driving through, biking and even going for a mule ride but nothing beats an aerial view. You'll become among the five million visitors that visit the Canyon each year since it was formally recognized as a national park in 1919.

Helicopter trip options can be made based on just how long you want to tour for, the point you want to depart from, the number of passengers that'll be on-board the flight and if extras like champagne will be included. Different tour companies have different options and rates for any tours they provide and it is worthwhile to take the time to do a comparison.

One choice for a Grand Canyon South Rim helicopter tour starts from Vegas. You can get to the Canyon aboard a luxury coach during which you make a stop at the Hoover Dam where you get a chance to take photographic mementos of your trip. After this your tour starts. The tour takes 35 minutes and it goes over the Grand Canyon South Rim.

Another tour option is taking off from Grand Canyon Airport located in Arizona. The 45-minute tour will lift you above the 1.6 million-acre Kaibab National Forest where the world’s biggest ponderosa pines grow. You'll circle the Colorado River and you will catch sight of the Desert View Watchtower and the Painted Desert, which is recognized as a Historic Landmark.

You can even go over the Marble Canyon and Point Imperial, which is the North Rim summit, and then the flight continues on over the Canyon, over the North Rim and then turns southwards over the Dragon Corridor, which is the deepest and broadest part of the Canyon. From here, the journey back to the airport begins.

Yet another alternative is a twenty-five minute, rim-to-rim tour. This particular one begins at the Grand Canyon Airport in Arizona as well. The flight covers the Kaibab National Forest, passes through the Dragon Corridor and Colorado River before reaching the North Rim. On the return leg through the Dragon Corridor, you can see the Tower of Ra and Vishnu Schist.

As you pick a helicopter tour package, keep some factors in mind. One is the option of the helicopters themselves. Some are luxurious, with extras like wraparound windows that offer clear views of the Grand Canyon and a serving of champagne. Look at costs too; choosing what suits your budget according to the flight duration and how many people will be taking the flight. Also be certain to make early reservations because the Canyon is a very popular tourist vacation spot.

Mr. Plunket is a world traveler who especially enjoys exploring Grand canyon National Park. If you are planning a trip to the canyon, he recommends this site for Grand Canyon helicopter tours.