Would you like to celebrate the New Year's holiday in a unique and exciting way? The Grand Canyon is waiting for you, and there's no better way to see it than from the air. Tours are available for the South Rim and West Rim, so you only need to choose which part of the Canyon you want to see.
But be aware, it's December already, so seats are filling up fast. You should try and book your tour at least a week ahead of time, but doing it now is even better. You'll find the best deals on air tours online and if you buy your tour online using your credit card, you can immediately and easily reserve your seats.
Tours leave from Vegas and Arizona, and you can even fly to Arizona from Vegas if you're more interested in seeing the South Rim. There are plenty of fun things you can do on these tours.
Airplane Tours From Las Vegas
If you depart from Vegas, your plane will fly over the Hoover Dam and Lake Mead giving you a bird's eye view of these impressive landmarks. Then, if you buy an air-only tour, your plane flies over the rim and heads back to the city. If you have time, you should consider booking a landing tour so you can spend some time at the Canyon.
When you book a landing tour, your airplane lands on top of the rim so you can depart and enjoy other activities. There's the Skywalk viewing platform, for starters, which will place you on a transparent platform that is around 4000ft above the bottom of the Canyon, and 70ft over the edge. For safety, you can't take cameras on the Skywalk, but there is a professional photography service on hand, to capture the moment.
You can also fly to the bottom of the Canyon in a helicopter. This is a popular option for visitors at the Canyon. There's a Champagne picnic option, or even a boat tour on the Colorado River.
Touring The South Rim
You can start your tour from the South Rim, or you can fly out there from Vegas. All of the South Rim tours take off from the same point right outside the main gates.
Although there's a shorter 30 minute flight, the 50 minute flight is the best option at the South Rim. You'll see a lot more on the longer tour, so the bump in price is worth it. This tour goes to the remote and mystifying North Rim. Then it flies to the eastern border, and then heads back to the South Rim. Why do I love this tour? Because you'll get to see about 3/4 of the entire National Park when you take it. The Canyon and surrounding Park lands are massive, so the tour covers a lot of ground. You'll even fly over the mysterious Dragoon Corridor, and this lets you see the deepest and widest section of the Canyon.
Your airplane won't be able to land at the South Rim like planes do at the West Rim, but there are still fun adventures you can add on to your tour. You could book a 2 1/2 hour bus ride through the Park or a fun off-road Jeep tour through the rugged terrain.
Sightseeing Aircraft
Airplane tours are all-inclusive, so there are no extra costs once your tour is underway. Nineteen people can ride on each tour, so touring by plane is a good choice when you have a large group or family that wants to go on the same tour together. Most importantly, the planes have been designed for optimal viewing. They have oversized viewing windows, and the wings are mounted above the windows, so there's nothing to block the view. If you're coming from abroad or have companions who are, there is in flight-narration, which can be provided in 10 major languages.
Wrapping Up
New Year's Eve is a special time, but often we find ourselves doing the same thing, year after year. Taking an airplane tour of the Canyon is certainly something different, and it will make this New Year's one you'll always remember. Just be sure to book your tour as soon as you can since holidays are usually busy at the Canyon. It's very easy and convenient to buy your tour online with your credit card. You'll get the best price and will have no stress with your booking when it comes to the day for your tour.
But be aware, it's December already, so seats are filling up fast. You should try and book your tour at least a week ahead of time, but doing it now is even better. You'll find the best deals on air tours online and if you buy your tour online using your credit card, you can immediately and easily reserve your seats.
Tours leave from Vegas and Arizona, and you can even fly to Arizona from Vegas if you're more interested in seeing the South Rim. There are plenty of fun things you can do on these tours.
Airplane Tours From Las Vegas
If you depart from Vegas, your plane will fly over the Hoover Dam and Lake Mead giving you a bird's eye view of these impressive landmarks. Then, if you buy an air-only tour, your plane flies over the rim and heads back to the city. If you have time, you should consider booking a landing tour so you can spend some time at the Canyon.
When you book a landing tour, your airplane lands on top of the rim so you can depart and enjoy other activities. There's the Skywalk viewing platform, for starters, which will place you on a transparent platform that is around 4000ft above the bottom of the Canyon, and 70ft over the edge. For safety, you can't take cameras on the Skywalk, but there is a professional photography service on hand, to capture the moment.
You can also fly to the bottom of the Canyon in a helicopter. This is a popular option for visitors at the Canyon. There's a Champagne picnic option, or even a boat tour on the Colorado River.
Touring The South Rim
You can start your tour from the South Rim, or you can fly out there from Vegas. All of the South Rim tours take off from the same point right outside the main gates.
Although there's a shorter 30 minute flight, the 50 minute flight is the best option at the South Rim. You'll see a lot more on the longer tour, so the bump in price is worth it. This tour goes to the remote and mystifying North Rim. Then it flies to the eastern border, and then heads back to the South Rim. Why do I love this tour? Because you'll get to see about 3/4 of the entire National Park when you take it. The Canyon and surrounding Park lands are massive, so the tour covers a lot of ground. You'll even fly over the mysterious Dragoon Corridor, and this lets you see the deepest and widest section of the Canyon.
Your airplane won't be able to land at the South Rim like planes do at the West Rim, but there are still fun adventures you can add on to your tour. You could book a 2 1/2 hour bus ride through the Park or a fun off-road Jeep tour through the rugged terrain.
Sightseeing Aircraft
Airplane tours are all-inclusive, so there are no extra costs once your tour is underway. Nineteen people can ride on each tour, so touring by plane is a good choice when you have a large group or family that wants to go on the same tour together. Most importantly, the planes have been designed for optimal viewing. They have oversized viewing windows, and the wings are mounted above the windows, so there's nothing to block the view. If you're coming from abroad or have companions who are, there is in flight-narration, which can be provided in 10 major languages.
Wrapping Up
New Year's Eve is a special time, but often we find ourselves doing the same thing, year after year. Taking an airplane tour of the Canyon is certainly something different, and it will make this New Year's one you'll always remember. Just be sure to book your tour as soon as you can since holidays are usually busy at the Canyon. It's very easy and convenient to buy your tour online with your credit card. You'll get the best price and will have no stress with your booking when it comes to the day for your tour.
About the Author:
Grand Canyon expert Debbie Shooster recommends these National Park tours and specifically these fabulous airplane tours from Las Vegas and Arizona: http://www.grandcanyondaytrips.com/best-airplane-tours/
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