Grand Canyon Helicopter tours [ex Vegas]?

[Magpie10]

Chooms those photos are absolutely wonderful the colours you captured unbelievable. You certainly got the wonderful colours and spectacular scenery. I didn't do the helicopter tour and you certainly do get a much better perspective from the air.

 

[JohnM]

Sensational photos!

Some years ago I did a chopper ride into one of the secondary canyons and spent the day hiking. One of the things that I vividly remember as we jinked through some canyons on the way in is Wagner's 'Ride of The Valkyries' being piped through the headsets - shades of that Hollywood drivel 'Apocolypse Now' - but I have to admit that it felt the part swooping into the GC.

 

[Princess Fiona]

Great pics
The South Rim is spectacular indeed. We did it on the cheap last Dec by driving to and from Vegas. It was a very long way. Next time I go I think you've convinced me to take the air tour instead

 

[vetrade]

Chooms, you caught the light just perfectly in some of those pics. Did you use a polarizer filter to reduce hazing?

 

[SandyS]

I did the same trip as Chooms (great pics, much better than mine) and loved it but felt that there just wasn't enough time at the rim. I had to be dragged away, I just wanted to stay. So I'm off to the Grand Canyon next year and was thinking of doing the drive and stay for a few nights. Princess Fiona, how was the drive?

Great pics
The South Rim is spectacular indeed. We did it on the cheap last Dec by driving to and from Vegas. It was a very long way. Next time I go I think you've convinced me to take the air tour instead

 

[JohnM]

I did the same trip as Chooms (great pics, much better than mine) and loved it but felt that there just wasn't enough time at the rim. I had to be dragged away, I just wanted to stay. So I'm off to the Grand Canyon next year and was thinking of doing the drive and stay for a few nights. Princess Fiona, how was the drive?

It is a fairly long drive, but the road is good. Worth visiting Hoover Dam on the way and pause at Williams to see a bit of Route 66. The Skywalk on the Hualapai reservation at West GC is interesting (Grand Canyon West, Grand Canyon | Home) but a fair detour, so allow time. Maybe do it on the way back to Vegas if that's where you will start and end.

There are also plenty of helicopter tour options from the village at the GC.

 

[vetrade]

I did the same trip as Chooms (great pics, much better than mine) and loved it but felt that there just wasn't enough time at the rim. I had to be dragged away, I just wanted to stay. So I'm off to the Grand Canyon next year and was thinking of doing the drive and stay for a few nights. Princess Fiona, how was the drive?

It's an easy 4 1/2 - 5 hr drive (275 miles) from Vegas to the South Rim. Speed limit in Nevada / AZ is 70mph. If you doubled that driving time by returning to Vegas the same day you wouldn't get much time at the GC. Your idea of staying overnight is sensible as you would then have plenty of time to enjoy the canyon from the various lookouts along the rim as well as doing a trail walk part way into the canyon (such as the South Kaibab Trail) if you felt inclined.

 

[SandyS]

Thanks for the tips. Thinking of a couple of nights in Vegas then drive to the Grand Canyon, staying 2 nights and then back to Vegas for another couple of nights before moving on to next destination. I'm sort of looking forward to a leisurely drive there and back.

 

[JohnM]

Thanks for the tips. Thinking of a couple of nights in Vegas then drive to the Grand Canyon, staying 2 nights and then back to Vegas for another couple of nights before moving on to next destination. I'm sort of looking forward to a leisurely drive there and back.

That would really only give you one full day at the canyon. I'd suggest making sure you get there on the first day in time to do the sunset tour out to the far view points just in case you want to do that again the final evening. And get up early for a dawn stroll along the rim on at least one of the mornings.

 

[Princess Fiona]

It's an easy 4 1/2 - 5 hr drive (275 miles) from Vegas to the South Rim. Speed limit in Nevada / AZ is 70mph. If you doubled that driving time by returning to Vegas the same day you wouldn't get much time at the GC. Your idea of staying overnight is sensible as you would then have plenty of time to enjoy the canyon from the various lookouts along the rim as well as doing a trail walk part way into the canyon (such as the South Kaibab Trail) if you felt inclined.

Having done it as a day trip due to time constraints I totally agree.

We left at 0630, arrived at lunchtime (quick stop en-route) and departed again at 5pm.
It was pretty crazy and I did all of the driving as Shrek's licence had conveniently expired and he hadn't bothered to renew it prior to leaving SYD :!:

 

[JohnM]

Thanks for the tips. Thinking of a couple of nights in Vegas then drive to the Grand Canyon, staying 2 nights and then back to Vegas for another couple of nights before moving on to next destination. I'm sort of looking forward to a leisurely drive there and back.

The other response I'd have to this is: are sure you really want four nights in Vegas when it seemed that you deeply regretted insufficient time at the GC previously? (I know where I'd rather be ).

Also, to clarify, by the 'tour' to the far view points I mean the shuttle buses (you can't drive). There are quite a few view-point stops you can make on the hop-on-hop-off shuttles.

 

[get me outta here]

I had no idea a person could stay at the canyon. I'll have to look into that. Is it byo tent?

Thanks for the tips. Thinking of a couple of nights in Vegas then drive to the Grand Canyon, staying 2 nights and then back to Vegas for another couple of nights before moving on to next destination. I'm sort of looking forward to a leisurely drive there and back.

 

[vetrade]

I had no idea a person could stay at the canyon. I'll have to look into that. Is it byo tent?

No tents required - there is a variety of lodge / cabin / hotel accommodation close to the rim and plenty more hotels at Tulsayan, just outside the CGNP entrance. There is a frequent shuttle bus from Tulsayan to the park

 

[SandyS]

The other response I'd have to this is: are sure you really want four nights in Vegas when it seemed that you deeply regretted insufficient time at the GC previously? (I know where I'd rather be ).

Also, to clarify, by the 'tour' to the far view points I mean the shuttle buses (you can't drive). There are quite a few view-point stops you can make on the hop-on-hop-off shuttles.

The day tour I did last time meant I had very, very little time at the Canyon, so I'm staying a couple of nights on this visit. Since you have to book cabins reasonably far in advance, I'd already booked the 2 nights then wondered if I'd like to stay longer- too late - I can't get the cabin I want for extra nights on my dates. But I'll leave Vegas early and make the most of the trip. And my partner wants to see Vegas too. It certainly is a "contrast" to the beautiful GC.

 

[Maca44]

A picture says a thousand words and even though I have been to Grand Canyon several times, I am still unable to describe it in words to people.
You just have to see it for yourself. Thanks for the photos; I have not done the helicopter tour but drove from Page near Lake Powell south around the rim.

 

[CMA222]

You could wait but personally I'd stump up the potential extra and pre book to ensure you get the final departure of the dat, the sunset departure as its a brilliant fly over Vegas on return as the lights come on.

TG

We did the Sundance Helicopters Sunset trip a while back. It was excellent and good value (though not cheap). Collected from the hotel by shared limo then over to McCarran Airport so only a short ride after collecting a couple of other passengers. After the briefing, out to the GC via the Hoover Dam and on to the Sundance landing site in the valley of the GC by the river. Champagne (well sparkling wine!) and sandwiches and fruit etc for all in the valley then a sunset return flight back out of the GC to the Las Vegas strip as the lights are all coming on as dusk falls. 4 full helicopters flying in a single line formation in each direction. Pre book to make sure you get the sunset trip. I do not recall any issue with tipping but maybe times have changed.

 

[Quickstatus]

Reactivating this thread.....
Will be in Vegas for several days until the new year.

Sounds like the best way to see the GC is the heli.

Any tours which are a whole day?. Don’t want to just go door to door for a few hours

Would appreciate any updates or tips.
Which rim is the best?

 

[chooms]

Reactivating this thread.....
Will be in Vegas for several days until the new year.

Sounds like the best way to see the GC is the heli.

Any tours which are a whole day?. Don’t want to just go door to door for a few hours

Would appreciate any updates or tips.
Which rim is the best?

Looks as though the tour we did is still available (but gone up in price a little bit).

IIRC it was about 7-8 hours round trip in total. Flight in a small plane to the South Rim (best part of the canyon), heli-tour, then lunch at the edge of the canyon. Check out my earlier pics.

I haven't done any of the other tours, but was blown away by the whole experience.

I do have one tip: make sure you take warm clothing. It is much, much colder at the South Rim than in Vegas. We were told it can snow there sometimes. Given you are going in winter, I'd be prepared to take a jacket and beanie.

 

[Quickstatus]

Anyone stay at the south rim lodges?.
2 day 1 night stay?

 

[SandyS]

Looks as though the tour we did is still available (but gone up in price a little bit).

IIRC it was about 7-8 hours round trip in total. Flight in a small plane to the South Rim (best part of the canyon), heli-tour, then lunch at the edge of the canyon. Check out my earlier pics.

I haven't done any of the other tours, but was blown away by the whole experience.

I do have one tip: make sure you take warm clothing. It is much, much colder at the South Rim than in Vegas. We were told it can snow there sometimes. Given you are going in winter, I'd be prepared to take a jacket and beanie.

I think I remember reading somewhere, that you can do the day trip to the South Rim in the light plane but they will allow you to take the return flight the next day. So if you wanted to stay overnight, without the long drive, it’s possibly an alternative option.