People from all over the planet come to the Grand Canyon. Most of them are truly amazed at the immensity of the National Park, which covers over one million acres. That's when it becomes clear the ideal way to see a large part of the region is by taking a plane tour of the Grand Canyon.
Flights leave from Las Vegas and from Grand Canyon National Park Airport (GCN), just outside the main gates of the South Rim in a little town called Tusayan, Arizona. Vegas travelers can fly to the West Rim or the South Rim, but people in Arizona fly to the South Rim. There are no planes that fly between the South and West Rims.
Choices
When you depart from Las Vegas, you have many choices when it comes to airplane tours of the Grand Canyon, plus you can choose a landing tour or an air-only tour. Air-only flights are a good value and are great for people on limited budgets. You get to see the scenic wonders of Grand Canyon West along with the massive Hoover Dam and beautiful Lake Mead. Many people opt for the landing tours though because they are a lot of fun and you get to do more.
For instance, helicopters can fly to the floor of the canyon at the West Rim. You can include one of these thrilling rides with your plane tour. Or if you want a serious thrill, you can add on a pass to the Skywalk and take a walk on a glass bridge.
If you take a tour to the South Rim, your options are different. Planes aren't allowed to land inside the National Park, so all flights are air-only. Still, you have choices in tours and one of the best is the longer one that lasts 50 minutes. This flight takes you over nearly 75 percent of the National Park! It is a lot of fun and the only other way to see so much of the park is by taking an extended helicopter tour.
The Aircraft
The planes used on air tours seat up to 19 passengers, so they're a lot bigger than many people think. The windows are huge so they are ideal for sightseeing and the reclining seats are very comfortable. They also have personal headsets for all the passengers so they can hear interesting info about the canyon (pre-recorded in up to 11 different languages!).
Tickets
Grand Canyon air tours are awesome and extremely popular. They are also a choice for people who couldn't get seats on chopper tours.
What does this mean for you? Book as soon as you pick your tour. You should plan to get your seats one week ahead of your trip, or sooner if you can. And buy your tickets online, because that's where all the real deals are. But book direct with the tour company, because you won't be paying a middleman's fee and you'll get the best rates and discounts.
Recap
I hope I've explained your options for Grand Canyon plane tours in a way that helps you make the decision that's right for you. While you can begin an airplane tour in Vegas or the GCN in Tusayan, you want to depart from Vegas if you want to add on a thrilling landing tour. Get your seats as early as possible Get your tickets online. That way you can take advantage of the special Internet rates that tour companies offer on their websites. Just be sure to complete your transaction on the tour operator's website. If you buy your tickets elsewhere, you will have to pay full retail price!
Travel blogger T. Delveccio is an authority on experiencing the
Grand Canyon by airplane. She advises checking out this website to get super deals on the top air tours:
http://grandcanyoncheap.com/airplane-deals.html
