Which Are the Best Grand Canyon West Rim Helicopter Tours?

The variety of Grand Canyon helicopter tours today can be mind-boggling. There are wedding packages, Hoover Dam fly-overs, smooth-water float combos, Skywalk tickets, El Dorado Canyon adventures...if it can be done at the canyon, there is a helicopter that will get you there. These are all once-in-a-lifetime trips. But let's face it, some are more popular than others. With your permission, here are my Top 3 West Rim helicopter rides:

#1

Grand Canyon Helicopter Landing Tour (Best Seller!) The most popular West Rim canyon helicopter tour ever. This flight departs the Vegas 365 days a year, including all holidays. See Lake Mead and the Hoover Dam. Descends 4,000 feet to the bottom of the canyon and lands near the Colorado River. Plenty of time to explore the base. Includes a Champagne toast and hotel shuttle pick up and drop off. Best four hours of your life! More information

#2

Grand Canyon Helicopter, Boat & Skywalk The ultimate chopper combo package. Land at the bottom & walk down to the banks of the legendary Colorado River. Meet up with Hualapai Indian river pilot and take steel-pontoon boat cruise. Helicopter to top of West Rim and do the internationally famous Grand Canyon Skywalk, which lets you walk 70 feet past the edge! Comes with hotel shuttle service, lunch and guide. Trip time: 6.5 hours. More information

#3

Grand Canyon Helicopter (Air Only!) Short on time? Take this canyon air-only tour. It's the quickest way to sample the West Rim. See Lake Mead, Hoover Dam, Guano Point, Eagle Point, the Colorado River, the Grand Canyon, the Skywalk...and much more. A thoroughly satisfying canyon experience. Great for travelers wit mobility issues. Includes hotel shuttle bus. Start to finish runs 3.5 hours. More information

En Route to the West Rim

The West Rim makes a perfect day trip from Las Vegas. Flights leave daily from the Vegas area and make the trip to the rim in 45 minutes. En route, you go over Lake Mead, the Hoover Dam and the Colorado River, which, to my mind, is a major bonus. Then there's Grand Canyon West, which, located on the Hualapai Native American Reservation, is owned and operated by the Hualapai Tribe. The rim, which is not part of Grand Canyon National Park, is a 108-mile piece of the southwestern side of the canyon that features such landmarks as Guano Point and Eagle Point.

Last-Minute Helicopter Rides

I get a lot of e-mail and phone calls from travelers asking if it's OK to get seats when they arrive in Vegas. I always reply, "No." The tours I've listed are the most popular and they often sell out a week in advance. If you RSVP 48 hours or less, it's a crapshoot. My understanding is that visitors think they can get a better deal if they book on arrival. False. Demand for last-minute helicopter rides is so strong that tour operators sell them at a premium. Why negotiate if you can get top dollar, right?

Save Money. Use the Internet

I still wonder why folks put themselves through the wringer when they can pre-book on the Internet and get preferred pricing. I only purchase heli trips online, both for friends and family and my clients. Travel websites are safe, secure and simple to use. The order process is 99.9 percent foolproof. Seconds after you complete your transaction, you get a confirmation email with all the details for review. Seriously, I've never had online booking issues.

Early Bird Gets the Worm

The other benefit of booking a week in advance is that you have more flight times from which to choose. Best time to fly is in the morning. This is when air is smoothest and visibility is best. I'm also a big fan of sunset flights. The bottom of the canyon is magical at this time of day and the ride back is spectacular. Expect to pay a slight premium for sunset rides.

Totally Satisfying

I hope you benefit from my list of the best Grand Canyon helicopter tours to the West Rim. I've flown every variation of flight out there and these trips are by far the most satisfying. These particular flights sell out often. However, if you book them a week or more beforehand, you'll get seats. Not only that, but you'll have a nice selection of flight times from which to choose.

Make it a grand day!

P.S. Not sure who to fly with? Check out my list of the top Grand Canyon helicopter tour operators.