Maverick Las Vegas Helicopter Tours:
Vegas Views or Neon & Nature?
Most people know Maverick for its Grand Canyon flights. But if you only have an hour or two in Las Vegas, Maverick also flies two tours that never leave the valley, and both take off from its own terminal right on the Strip. No long drive to an airport, no early start.
One is short and sweet. The other is a proper little adventure. Here's how they compare, and which one I'd book.
VEGAS VIEWS: THE QUICK LOOK AT THE STRIP
Vegas Views is Maverick's classic Strip flight. You're in the air for about 10 to 12 minutes, and in that time you fly the length of the Strip and on to historic downtown. Out the window you'll see the Bellagio and its fountains, the Sphere, Caesars Palace, the High Roller, the Wynn, the STRAT, Allegiant Stadium and Fremont Street.
You can fly it in the daytime or after dark. Night is when the Strip really shows off, so if you have the choice, that's when I'd go. The helicopters seat up to six, with leather seats and wrap-around glass, and your pilot gives you a briefing before you board.
One thing to know: Vegas Views is a shared flight. It's only private if your group buys every seat. If flying together matters to you, read my take on private helicopter tours first.
NEON & NATURE: RED ROCK CANYON, A LANDING AND CHAMPAGNE
Neon & Nature is the one I get excited about. It takes about an hour from start to finish. You take off from the Strip and fly west for 12 to 15 minutes over the red sandstone cliffs of Red Rock Canyon, about 25 miles from the city.
Then you land. Maverick's private landing site sits on Blue Diamond Ridge, about 2,900 feet above Las Vegas, and you get roughly 30 minutes on the ground. There's a champagne toast, time for photos and a short walk, and picnic tables if you'd rather just sit and take in the whole valley below you. On the way back you fly over the golf courses and big estates, and finish with a pass over the Strip.
There's also a Neon & Nature Sunset version, booked from the same page. You stay longer at the overlook to catch the sunset, then fly back after dark as the Strip lights up. You get the desert and the neon in one trip.
WHICH ONE SHOULD YOU BOOK?
Now my two cents. If you just want to see the Strip from the air and tick it off the list, Vegas Views does exactly that, and it fits in between dinner and a show.
But if you can spare an hour, book Neon & Nature, and make it the sunset flight if you can get it. Ten minutes over the Strip is fun. Standing on a ridge above the whole Las Vegas Valley with a glass of champagne is the part you'll still be talking about at home. It's my pick for anniversaries, birthdays and proposals too.
A FEW THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE YOU FLY
- You don't pick your seat. Everyone is weighed at check-in and the pilot assigns seats for weight and balance. I explain how that works in How to Get Front Seats.
- Bring your phone. Photos and video are fine on both tours. Just turn the flash off so it doesn't bounce off the windows.
- Dress for the ridge. The Neon & Nature landing site is high up. Bring sunscreen, a hat and sunglasses in summer, and a light jacket the rest of the year.
- Plans change. Maverick lets you cancel for free up to 72 hours before your flight.
HOW DOES THIS COMPARE WITH PAPILLON?
Papillon flies the Strip too, and it has more combinations, with dinner, a show or a limo added to the flight. I compare those in Las Vegas Helicopter Ride with Dinner or a Show and How to Pick Between a Basic & Deluxe Las Vegas Strip Helicopter Tour. For my overall view of the two companies, see Papillon or Maverick and my Maverick Helicopters review.
1. Maverick Neon & Nature (with Sunset option)
2. Maverick Vegas Views
Have a grand day,
