Grand Canyon Plane Trips: Deciding Between Landing And Aerial Flights

By Author: Tracy Delvecchio
Total Articles: 17
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When you take an airplane tour of the Grand Canyon, you get to see as much as the entire National Park, there is just no way to cover that much ground on any other tour. There are different types of aerial tours you can take. There are tours that allow you to land and those that are air only.

Both types give you a terrific experience. So it all comes down to what you most enjoy doing and how much money you want to spend. Let's take a closer look:

Grand Canyon Landing Flights

Vegas is a popular departure point for landing tours. You'll have several choices. One popular West Rim airplane tour includes a chopper flight down to the canyon's floor. Another exciting option is a float rip along the Colorado River.

You could also choose an air tour that drops you off on top of the rim so you can take a thrilling stroll on the Grand Canyon Skywalk. When standing on this glass bridge you will be 70 feet beyond the edge of the canyon and 4000 feet above the bottom of it!

There are other activities to enjoy on the West Rim top and there is a free shuttle to take you where you want to go. You can enjoy ...
... these notable West Rim highlights:

Scenic Guano Point
The Famous Hualapai Ranch
The Indian Cultural Center
Eagle Point

At the South Rims, there are fewer options, but the ones available are fantastic, like the Jeep ride though the Slot Canyons at Antelope Canyon and a smooth water rafting trip on the Colorado River. The raft rides are suitable for everyone over the age of four.

South Rim Trips From Vegas

There is also a very popular tour to the South Rim from Las Vegas. The flight from Vegas to the Grand Canyon National Airport in Tusayan, Arizona outside the main gates to the South Rim takes around an hour, and you see a lot of amazing scenery on your flight. One version includes a 2 ?-hour guided coach tour of the Park. You can add even more excitement to your tour by adding on a half hour chopper tour of the canyon.

Air Only Tours Of The Canyon

You can depart from Las Vegas or Tusayan for an air tour every day of the year. However, these tours stay in the air the whole trip and do not let you land in the National Park.

These are some of the points of interest you will see when your flight departs from Vegas:

Hoover Dam
Man-made Lake Mead
Grand Canyon West
The Colorado River
The famous glass Skywalk

You will see plenty more amazing sights on your flight to and from the South Rim.

South Rim air-only airplane rides fly over the East, South and North Rims. The highlights include the following:

Imperial Point
The Zuni Corridor
The widest part of the canyon called the Dragoon Corridor
The Desert Watchtower
The Temple of Ra

Your flight lasts 45 minutes and you will see the most amazing natural scenery in the world. Plus, the airplane tour is very affordable.

The Timing of Your Flight

The best time to take an air tour of the Grand Canyon is morning. That's when the air is clearest (great visibility!) and smoothest (less turbulence!). These factors are important to take into account during the summer months. On the other hand, sunset flights are very beautiful!

There are several options for you to consider when choosing the perfect airplane tour for you. Landing tours are my favorites because I think they give you the best of the Park from the air and from the ground. Even so, air-only tours are great for people who are short on time or have a limited budget. Both types of flights are the experience of a lifetime.

Author Tips

Travel editor T Delvecchio is an authority on the Grand Canyon and recommends these tours from Las Vegas as well as these from South Rim: http://www.lasvegasgrandcanyonairplane.com/best-grand-canyon-south-rim-airplane-tours.html