Are you planning to celebrate Valentine's Day in style by heading to Vegas? If so, you'll be fairly close to the Grand Canyon, so you should top off your celebration with an air tour over the spectacular natural formation. It's a romantic and adventurous experience, but Valentine's Day is a busy time for air tours of the Canyon, so you need to get your tour booked as soon as possible.
Flights from Vegas go to the West Rim and the South Rim, which is farther away in Arizona. Tours depart hourly on Valentine's Day, just like they do every day of the year. There are two basic tour options that let you choose an air-only tour or one that lands at the Canyon.
At the West Rim, helicopters are permitted to fly down to the Canyon floor where you can land beside the Colorado River. These bottom landing tours are popular and fill up fast, so you'll need to book your tour early and do it online. Go ahead and buy your tour as soon as you book your hotel in Vegas so you don't forget. If you wait too long, the flight may be full, or you might have to pay more if you find open seats.
Helicopter Tours
Helicopters fly over Lake Mead and the mighty Hoover Dam on the way to the Canyon. Once at the National Park, you will complete a scenic flyover, before heading back to Las Vegas. If you choose a landing tour, you will have some more time to explore. I prefer landing tours because they offer more adventure. My favorite is the one that goes to the bottom of the Canyon, and it even includes a Champagne picnic, which is perfect for Valentine's Day. There's even the Skywalk at the West Rim - an impressive glass platform that is 4000ft above the bottom.
If you fly to the South Rim, or if you start your tour from Arizona, you will be able to choose between a 30 minute, and 50 minute Canyon tour. The shorter one heads to the North Rim, and back to the South Rim. The longer tour includes the eastern area of the park, and will have you gazing at over 75% of the entire National Park. I recommend the longer tour, because the increase in ticket price is worth it for the additional sightseeing.
Canyon Plane Tours
Although the airplanes follow the same flight path as the helicopters that fly out of Vegas, there are a couple of differences, such as the airplanes fly higher and they can't fly into the Canyon and land on the bottom. Also, the airplanes can transport 19 people per tour and the helicopters can only take six. That makes an airplane tour the best choice when you're traveling with a big group of people.
You can still land at the top of the West Rim, and with an upgrade you could still take the helicopter ride down to the bottom of the Canyon. If you tour the South Rim, the air-only flights take the same path as the 50-minute helicopter tours. If you want a land experience at the South Rim, you can add on a scenic 2 1/2 hour bus tour through the park.
Airplane tours are more affordable, but they do sacrifice some of the visibility that you get while in a helicopter. Deluxe helicopters offer 180degree views from the front, whereas airplanes are limited to the oversized windows next to your seat.
Conclusion
Whatever you choose, I know that you will have a fantastic time at Las Vegas and the Grand Canyon. My recommendation is that you spend as much as you can afford. This is one of those places where you really do get what you pay for. The Champagne picnic landing tour is my favorite at the West Rim, while the 50 minute helicopter tour is my recommendation for the South Rim.
Remember to book your tour in advance so you don't miss the opportunity to make this Valentine's Day one you'll always remember.
Flights from Vegas go to the West Rim and the South Rim, which is farther away in Arizona. Tours depart hourly on Valentine's Day, just like they do every day of the year. There are two basic tour options that let you choose an air-only tour or one that lands at the Canyon.
At the West Rim, helicopters are permitted to fly down to the Canyon floor where you can land beside the Colorado River. These bottom landing tours are popular and fill up fast, so you'll need to book your tour early and do it online. Go ahead and buy your tour as soon as you book your hotel in Vegas so you don't forget. If you wait too long, the flight may be full, or you might have to pay more if you find open seats.
Helicopter Tours
Helicopters fly over Lake Mead and the mighty Hoover Dam on the way to the Canyon. Once at the National Park, you will complete a scenic flyover, before heading back to Las Vegas. If you choose a landing tour, you will have some more time to explore. I prefer landing tours because they offer more adventure. My favorite is the one that goes to the bottom of the Canyon, and it even includes a Champagne picnic, which is perfect for Valentine's Day. There's even the Skywalk at the West Rim - an impressive glass platform that is 4000ft above the bottom.
If you fly to the South Rim, or if you start your tour from Arizona, you will be able to choose between a 30 minute, and 50 minute Canyon tour. The shorter one heads to the North Rim, and back to the South Rim. The longer tour includes the eastern area of the park, and will have you gazing at over 75% of the entire National Park. I recommend the longer tour, because the increase in ticket price is worth it for the additional sightseeing.
Canyon Plane Tours
Although the airplanes follow the same flight path as the helicopters that fly out of Vegas, there are a couple of differences, such as the airplanes fly higher and they can't fly into the Canyon and land on the bottom. Also, the airplanes can transport 19 people per tour and the helicopters can only take six. That makes an airplane tour the best choice when you're traveling with a big group of people.
You can still land at the top of the West Rim, and with an upgrade you could still take the helicopter ride down to the bottom of the Canyon. If you tour the South Rim, the air-only flights take the same path as the 50-minute helicopter tours. If you want a land experience at the South Rim, you can add on a scenic 2 1/2 hour bus tour through the park.
Airplane tours are more affordable, but they do sacrifice some of the visibility that you get while in a helicopter. Deluxe helicopters offer 180degree views from the front, whereas airplanes are limited to the oversized windows next to your seat.
Conclusion
Whatever you choose, I know that you will have a fantastic time at Las Vegas and the Grand Canyon. My recommendation is that you spend as much as you can afford. This is one of those places where you really do get what you pay for. The Champagne picnic landing tour is my favorite at the West Rim, while the 50 minute helicopter tour is my recommendation for the South Rim.
Remember to book your tour in advance so you don't miss the opportunity to make this Valentine's Day one you'll always remember.
About the Author:
Grand Canyon expert Beth Adams is a huge fan of these Canyon tours and recommends readers go here for a list of the best helicopter and airplane rides for Valentine's Day: http://www.grandcanyondaytrips.com/grand-canyon-flights-helicopter-airplane-tours/