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.
Because we're already in December, tickets are being snapped up fast. If you want to avoid disappointment, you will need to book now, or at least one week in advance. You can book online using your credit card, which is the most convenient way to ensure your seats are secured, and you will also find the best deals when you book online.
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 lots of tour options and adventures to consider.
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.
Tours land at the top of the rim, and from there you can take advantage of a number of additional packages. 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. Cameras are not allowed on the glass platform for safety reasons, but a professional photographer is stationed on the platform to take a photo to commemorate your exciting experience.
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 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.
The Planes
One good thing about the airplane tours is that they are all-inclusive, which means all fees are included and you won't have any last minute charges once the tour starts. The planes carry 19 people, so if you're traveling with a big family or group of people, a plane tour is the ideal way to travel together. Most importantly, the planes have been designed for optimal viewing. The wings are positioned above the windows so they are out of the way, and the windows are extra large, so you get great views. If you're coming from abroad or have companions who are, there is in flight-narration, which can be provided in 10 major languages.
Final Thoughts
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.
Because we're already in December, tickets are being snapped up fast. If you want to avoid disappointment, you will need to book now, or at least one week in advance. You can book online using your credit card, which is the most convenient way to ensure your seats are secured, and you will also find the best deals when you book online.
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 lots of tour options and adventures to consider.
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.
Tours land at the top of the rim, and from there you can take advantage of a number of additional packages. 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. Cameras are not allowed on the glass platform for safety reasons, but a professional photographer is stationed on the platform to take a photo to commemorate your exciting experience.
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 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.
The Planes
One good thing about the airplane tours is that they are all-inclusive, which means all fees are included and you won't have any last minute charges once the tour starts. The planes carry 19 people, so if you're traveling with a big family or group of people, a plane tour is the ideal way to travel together. Most importantly, the planes have been designed for optimal viewing. The wings are positioned above the windows so they are out of the way, and the windows are extra large, so you get great views. If you're coming from abroad or have companions who are, there is in flight-narration, which can be provided in 10 major languages.
Final Thoughts
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 National Park professional Debbie Shooster suggests these National Park excursions and particularly these fabulous plane tours from Vegas and Arizona: http://www.grandcanyondaytrips.com/best-airplane-tours/
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