Grand Canyon Helicopter Tours Experience
The standard 25-minute Grand Canyon helicopter tours go north from Tusayan Airport, over the forest to the canyon rim, straight across above the North Rim and back. The views you can get far exceed those from either rim, and give you a better sense of size and grandeur. Many people think their Grand Canyon helicopter tour was an experience they'll never forget.If you can afford it, we think Grand Canyon helicopter tours are well worth the price.
See It Now: Pictures from our trip
What to Expect on Grand Canyon Helicopter Tours
- When you make reservations or Grand Canyon helicopter tours, you will be asked for your weight. Tell the truth. They'll weigh you at check-in to confirm it.
- Each helicopter holds up to five people. Seats are assigned to balance the load and can't be changed.
- Bring your ID with you when you check in.
- Leave your bags in the car (they're not allowed on board), and be sure to stuff your pockets with extra film, media cards and batteries for your camera. This is not the place to run out.
- The ride is quite stable, even for this motion-sickness-prone writer, but airsick bags are provided just in case. Take along your favorite motion sickness remedy if you're worried.
- Photographers, wear a dark, solid-colored shirt or jacket to minimize the reflections you make in the window.
Grand Canyon Helicopter Tours: How Long?
The typical Grand Canyon Helicopter tours last either 25 minutes or 55 minutes. It takes about 8 minutes to get to the rim from the heliport. On 25-minute Grand Canyon helicopter tours, this leaves only 10 minutes over the canyon. The longer tours spend almost 40 minutes above the chasm, and they're only about thirty percent more expensive than the shorter tours, making it a much better bargain.Grand Canyon Helicopter Tours: Companies
All of the Grand Canyon helicopter tours take off from the heliport next to the Tusayan airport, a few miles from the South Rim. I took my ride with Maverick Helicopters, who fly the quietest, most comfortable and environmentally friendly helicopters in the air. Other companies offering Grand Canyon helicopter tours include Papillon, AirStar Helicopters and Grand Canyon Helicopters.As is common in the travel industry, the writer was provided with a complimentary flight for the purpose of reviewing it. While it has not influenced this review, About.com believes in full disclosure of all potential conflicts of interest. For more information, see our ethics policy.
