"Grand Canyon South Rim Helicopter Tours...
List of the best flights
Compared side by side for price & value."

The Grand Canyon is the crown jewel in the US National Park's system. More than a million acres in size, the region is home to some of the most dramatic landscapes West of the Mississippi River. Thus the question inevitably arises: "What's the most efficient and exciting way to experience this national treasure." My reply, "Book a South Rim helicopter tour." To help you find the air tour that best meets your needs, I put together this short list of trips. Take a gander. I'm positive that one of them will meet your sightseeing needs:

South Rim Helicopter Tours

	North Canyon Tour Classic fly-over tour. Goes rim-to-rim and back! Price: $175 $159
	The Majestic Same as the classic tour except in a modern EcoStar 130. Price: $199 $184
	Grand Kingdom 50 min. flight in EcoStar 130 deluxe chopper. Price: $258 $239
	All South Rim Helicopter Tours List of all Grand Canyon Airport depatures.

South Rim tours do not include free shuttle service from your Grand Canyon lodge or hotel in the surrounding area. From Grand Canyon Village, the airport is a 10-minute drive and from Tusayan it's 5 minutes. Williams and Flagstaff travelers need to budget at least 1.5 hours for drive time. Directions to the individual heliports are clearly marked and easy to find. Please confirm your tour 24 hours in advance.

The Major Differences

Figuring out which tour to take can be whittled down to the following:

• Time. There are 30 minute and 45 minute flights.
• Route. South Rim to North rim and back or an extended version that includes the East Rim.
• Helicopter. Standard flights use an A-Star. Deluxe flights use the EcoStar 130.

I'm a big believer in more airtime the better. Further, the longer you're up there, the more you'll appreciate having done it in an EcoStar 130.

The shorter route is incredible and takes you through the Dragoon Corridor, the largest, deepest part of the canyon. The longer route takes you east past Desert Watchtower, Zuni Corridor and the Painted Desert.

AStar helicopters do their respective tours justice. But if you want to stretch your legs, go EcoStar. These "birds" feature 25% more cabin space, 180-degree wraparound windows and theater-style seating.

Be Smart. RSVP

Five million people visit the South Rim each year. A lot of them take helicopter tours. Because of this, I always advise booking your tour no less than three (3) days in advance. You can try to get a same-day booking, but chances are you'll be stranded on the ground.

Shop Online

The deals listed on this page are only available on the Internet. And rightfully so. It costs tour operators less to process an Internet booking, which is why they offer discount pricing on their websites. Please capitalize on this knowledge. It will end up saving you a bundle.

Click for Grand Canyon South Rim Helicopter Tours

Have a GRAND day,

P.S. There are a number of tour operators that fly the National Park. Click air tour reviews and see how I rank the top 3 based on safety, quality and price.