Want to find a unique way to spend your New Year's holiday? 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 North 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 Las Vegas and Arizona, and you can even fly to Arizona from Vegas if you're more interested in seeing the South Rim. There's plenty on offer for the adventurous traveler.
Vegas Airplane Tours
All planes that leave Las Vegas will fly over the Hoover Dam and Lake Mead on the way to the Canyon, and that's just the beginning. Once you're at the Canyon, the plane will perform a scenic flyover. If you're looking for more, there are landing options available, and I highly recommend that you take one.
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 one is super popular with tourists. 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 Las Vegas. South Rim tours are based right outside of the park boundary.
You have your choice between a 30 or 50 minute air tour, but you should opt for the longer one if you can. You'll see a lot more on the longer tour, so the bump in price is worth it. The airplane flies over to the remote lands of the North Rim. Next, it flies all the way to the eastern edge of the Park, and finally the tour returns 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. When you take into account how big the Canyon and the park is, that's a massive achievement. The Dragoon Corridor is located at the South Rim, and it's the deepest and widest part of the entire Canyon.
Even though the planes can't land at the Canyon Rim, there are additional tours available from Tusayan. There's a 4x4 jeep tour to get you up close and personal with the sights, and there's a massive 2.5 hour bus tour which will take you around the most famous landmarks.
Sightseeing Aircraft
These airplane tours are all-inclusive of taxes and additional fees, so there are no hidden costs. The aircraft can seat 19 people, so they're perfect for larger family groups or corporate events. 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. Booking a Grand Canyon tour from Las Vegas or Arizona will allow you to do something truly special this year, and make the most of the holiday. Remember that you need to book early, as this is one of the most popular times of the year to travel. Make your booking online, and use your credit card to complete the booking. 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 Las Vegas and Arizona, and you can even fly to Arizona from Vegas if you're more interested in seeing the South Rim. There's plenty on offer for the adventurous traveler.
Vegas Airplane Tours
All planes that leave Las Vegas will fly over the Hoover Dam and Lake Mead on the way to the Canyon, and that's just the beginning. Once you're at the Canyon, the plane will perform a scenic flyover. If you're looking for more, there are landing options available, and I highly recommend that you take one.
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 one is super popular with tourists. 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 Las Vegas. South Rim tours are based right outside of the park boundary.
You have your choice between a 30 or 50 minute air tour, but you should opt for the longer one if you can. You'll see a lot more on the longer tour, so the bump in price is worth it. The airplane flies over to the remote lands of the North Rim. Next, it flies all the way to the eastern edge of the Park, and finally the tour returns 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. When you take into account how big the Canyon and the park is, that's a massive achievement. The Dragoon Corridor is located at the South Rim, and it's the deepest and widest part of the entire Canyon.
Even though the planes can't land at the Canyon Rim, there are additional tours available from Tusayan. There's a 4x4 jeep tour to get you up close and personal with the sights, and there's a massive 2.5 hour bus tour which will take you around the most famous landmarks.
Sightseeing Aircraft
These airplane tours are all-inclusive of taxes and additional fees, so there are no hidden costs. The aircraft can seat 19 people, so they're perfect for larger family groups or corporate events. 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. Booking a Grand Canyon tour from Las Vegas or Arizona will allow you to do something truly special this year, and make the most of the holiday. Remember that you need to book early, as this is one of the most popular times of the year to travel. Make your booking online, and use your credit card to complete the booking. 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/
