Halloween is just around the corner, and it’s the perfect occasion for taking a little vacation. If you’re looking for something out of the ordinary to do, why not try a Grand Canyon flight from either Las Vegas, or Arizona. You can take a helicopter tour or an airplane tour and customize your tour package with a variety of options. All you need to do is choose one that fits your taste and your budget.
Best Grand Canyon Chopper Tours
Flights run all year around, except for Christmas Day, so you don’t need to worry about special schedules over Halloween. The Nevada flights lift off from the Vegas Strip, Henderson, and Boulder City in Nevada. If you’ll be in Arizona instead, then departing from Tusayan is more convenient since the airport in Tusayan is near the gates at the South Rim of the Grand Canyon National Park.
One reason you may prefer to book a Vegas tour over a Tusayan tour is that the flights that depart from Vegas are allowed to land at the Grand Canyon’s West Rim. The air-only tours are fun too, but the landing tours pack in extra adventure. You can book a landing tour that sets down on top of the rim or one that flies deep into the Canyon and lands on the Canyon floor, plus, you can choose to do both if you want. At the bottom you could indulge in a Champagne picnic or even a Colorado River tour, whereas the top of the Canyon has the famous Skywalk. The Skywalk is a stunning glass and metal platform which sits almost 4000ft above the bottom of the Canyon. It seems like you’re walking on air. You can purchase air flights that include Skywalk tickets in the package.
Although you can’t take a landing tour from Arizona, you will still be in for some spectacular sightseeing. There are two choices in the tours based on the amount of flight time they offer. One tour lasts about a half an hour, while the second tour is nearly an hour long. I recommend the second option because it shows you much more of the park, taking you to the North Rim, the eastern boundary, and back to the South Rim. In all, the longer tour covers about 3/4 of the national park, and it is one of the most comprehensive tours available.
Basic And Deluxe Tours
You have your choice of flying on a basic or deluxe tour. Basic tickets offer fantastic views, albeit inside slightly older helicopters. Even though they aren’t considered the ultimate in sightseeing aircraft, they are still safe to ride in and you’ll have great views.
The best flights are on deluxe tours, and they are worth the extra cost. Deluxe tours use EcoStar 130 helicopters. They have roomier cabins and you’ll be a lot more comfortable during your tour. They also have the best seating arrangement for sightseeing, and they also have a huge viewing windscreen that is designed for sightseeing. If you choose deluxe in Vegas, then you will fly from the Strip and receive a limousine shuttle service. Basic tours depart from just outside of Vegas, and use standard shuttle services.
Grand Canyon Airplane Tours
There are also airplane tours that offer the same routes as helicopters at the North Rim and South Rim. The drawback to an airplane tour is that the airplanes have to fly higher, so the views aren’t quite as good as what you get in a helicopter. Plane tours are fun and scenic though, and they are the perfect option if you’re touring with a group because an airplane can hold up to 19 people per flight. Airplane tours also cost less than both basic and deluxe helicopter tours, so if you’re flying on a budget, you should seriously consider taking an airplane.
Conclusion
So, which tour sounds like fun? Deluxe or basic? Will you tour by plane or chopper? Will you tour the West Rim or the South Rim? You’ll have a lot of choices, that’s for sure. My recommendation is that you fly from the area that’s most convenient for you, and choose the best package that you can afford. Booking a tour with a fun perk like a champagne picnic on the canyon floor is something you’ll never forget.
Halloween is right around the corner, so you should make your booking within the next week. Book online for the best deals and seat confirmation, and prepare yourself for a sightseeing vacation that is unlike anything else on earth.
