5 Reasons To Visit The Grand Canyon West Rim By Helicopter

5 Reasons To Visit The Grand Canyon West Rim By Helicopter

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Need a great day trip idea while in Las Vegas? Do the Grand Canyon. Most people start by considering a bus tour because it's cheap. Tempting as that might be, give the bus a pass, unless you prefer spending a lot of your quality time driving. Rather, take a helicopter tour. Here are five excellent reasons why it's the smartest choice.

#1 Helicopters are quick!

The helicopter ride to Grand Canyon West is 45 minutes (the bus ride is 2.5). These are not ordinary helicopters. Customized from nose to tail for sightseeing, they feature wraparound windows, stadium-style seating, and climate-controlled cabins. Papillon Helicopters' Golden Eagle tour flies over Lake Mead, Hoover Dam, and a good portion of the West Rim before returning to The Strip. Total tour time is 3.5 hours and includes pick up and drop off at your Las Vegas hotel.

#2 Helicopters land on the bottom

The Grand Canyon is huge, but it's only at the West Rim, located 120 miles east of Las Vegas, where you can land on the bottom. The 4,000-foot descent is amazing and incredible as the Canyon's steep walls, fantastical rock formations, and deep crevasses pass before your very eyes. The most popular trip is Papillon's Grand Celebration, which lands on the Canyon floor and includes a Champagne toast and lots of time for exploration.

#3. Helicopters offer the best view of the Grand Canyon Skywalk

The Grand Canyon Skywalk has been experienced by more than a million people since its opening in 2007. Known as the Glass Bridge, it's become Las Vegas' hottest outdoor attraction. The Bridge lets you walk 70 feet over the edge of the West Rim while suspending you 4,000 feet above the Colorado River. The two most popular helicopter tours are Papillon's Golden Eagle, which does a Skywalk flyover, and its Golden Eagle Skywalk Express, which lands at Grand Canyon West and includes VIP Skywalk access.

#4 Helicopters let you see more of the Canyon.

Ready to explore the Canyon from top to bottom? Take Papillon's Grand Celebration Skywalk and Boat tour. First, helicopter down to the bottom of the West Rim. Next, board a pontoon boat for a float ride down the Colorado River (suitable for all ages). From here, take the helicopter back to the top and get Vip access to the Grand Canyon Skywalk. There's also time to hope aboard one of the free shuttle buses and further explore the Rim before flying back to Vegas. If there's a tour out there where you can say you've done it all, it's this one.

#5 Helicopter trips are inexpensive

For the money, you can't beat the value of a helicopter tour. Basic air-only tours start at $200 and work their way up based on upgrades such as bottom landings, river rafting, horseback riding, ATV trail rides and more. Making the pot sweeter is the fact that you get to fly over Las Vegas, Lake Mead, and Hoover Dam. Papillon is by far the cheapest of all the Las Vegas helicopter operators, and, if you want their rock-bottom price, book your trip on their website.

Summary

If you are looking for a quick trip to the Grand Canyon from Las Veags, then consider a helicopter tour. The West Rim is just a hop skip away at 120 miles - a distance that helicopters can do in 45 minutes. Tour duration ranges from 3.5 hours if you take the air-only trip to a full day if you upgrade to include a Canyon descent and float trip down the Colorado River. Remember, the West Rim is the only place where you are permitted to fly to the bottom. The most popular version of this must-do trip is Papillon's Grand Celebration. It's best to make advance reservations as these trips are popular and do sell-out. To get the best deal, book online directly with a reputable operator like Papillon.

About the Author:
Before taking a Grand Canyon Helicopter tour, read travel writer Keith Kravitz' reviews at http://www.GrandCanyonHelicopterTourReviews.com



Article Originally Published On: http://www.articlesnatch.com


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