GRAND CANYON FROM THE AIR

GRAND CANYON FROM THE AIR. What is the best way to see the Grand Canyon, if you have only a day or two to do it? Take an air tour. To get the air in a helicopter or an airplane, you give the best chance to see the majority of the park as possible.

Tires

Air Tours are only available on the western edge and the South Coast. Coming from Las Vegas, the West Rim is the most likely destination. If you want to visit the South Coast, take an airplane flight 45 minutes. For people traveling from Phoenix, Scottsdale and Sedona, I recommend self-drive South Basin to start your journey by air.

Helicopter

The western border is the only place where you can ride a helicopter to the bottom of the Grand Canyon. These tours depart from Las Vegas. Below landings can be expanded to include a rafting trip on the River. There is also an option to include tickets to the Grand Canyon Skywalk, the glass bridge that allows you to walk 70 feet beyond the edge of the rim.

South Rim helicopter tours depart from the Grand Canyon Airport in Tusayan. There is only one type of flight. It passes through the Kaibab Plateau and the Dragon Corridor, before returning to the northern coast. Flights average 30 minutes. There is an option to increase air time of 50 minutes.

By air

West Rim air tours depart from Las Vegas. Flight time to the rim is 20 minutes. The tours include tours by air and landing only, which can be updated to include rafting tours, Skywalk tickets and helicopter rides.

Air travel south of the border to stop Tusayan, which is 10 minutes from National Park. Flights average of one hour and go to the South Coast, Basin East and Far North. The update is the most popular Grand Canyon tour one day rafting, which starts at the end of Glen Canyon Dam 15 miles downstream at historic Lee's Ferry.

There is also a Las Vegas to South Rim tour plane. The flight takes less than an hour and follows the Colorado River. At the time that the earth has seen a 50 per cent of the canyon from the air. An update of the popular helicopter tour.

Meet the planes

Helicopter Tours are conducted aboard EcoStar AStars or 130. In most cases, the EcoStar is an upgrade. This helicopter has a 25 per cent over the cab. It is equipped with theater style seating (everyone looks forward) and comes with plenty of legroom. I also like the 180-degree wraparound windshield and Fenestron tail rotor, which offers one of the smoothest rides in the sky.

Many people have the impression of seeing the Grand Canyon from the air in aircraft on board a small plane. Not true. These tours are conducted aboard a Vistaliner. It can be up to 19 passengers and has over sized windows, big seats, and the winds fixed to the top of the aircraft so you can get great views. The aircraft is equipped with the latest navigation technology and is manned by two pilots certified by the FAA.

How to get a lot

Do not pay retail price. Shop the Internet. The best deals are always published on the Web. I regularly see online specials that reduce the prices of air tours up to 35 percent. The other thing you can do is to book in advance. Do not wait until the last minute or you will end up paying a premium.

GRAND CANYON FROM THE AIR