Can you imagine seeing the Grand Canyon and the Las Vegas Strip in one fell swoop? You can, especially by helicopter, which will let you experience both in less time than it takes to watch a movie. It's the ultimate "two-for-one" tour on the planet.
Tour packages range from basic flyovers to extravagant packages that include champagne, river rafting, horseback riding, and ATV adventures. It's your call. To get your travel juices flowing, I put together a short-list of the most popular
Atv
Top 3 Tours
#1 Here's your "no-frills" package. It departs from the outskirts of Las Vegas, does a "U" turn at the West Rim and beelines back over the Strip before touching down.
#2 Flies direct to West Rim, lands. Explore the Canyon. Take in the Skywalk. Board helicopter hover over Las Vegas Boulevard.
#3 The king of tours, this trip zips out to Grand Canyon West, sightsee, then lowers itself 4,000 feet to the bottom. Lunch next to the Colorado River. Ascend, and then jet back to Vegas, taking the long way the city's center.
Bonus Sights
The flight over to the West Rim, which is actually just outside the National Park's boundaries, includes a number of spectacular sites, including:
Lake Mead - A beautiful, deep blue lake. It practically glistens under the desert sun. Largest man-made body of water in the U.S.
Hoover Dam - Second largest dam in the U.S. Provides most of the drinking water and a lot of the electrical power consumed by Las Vegas. It's a spectacular structure, made even more exciting by the new bypass that's being suspended over Black Canyon.
Guano and Eagle Points - These are the West Rim's most famous lookouts. Horizons go on forever. Keep your eyes open for Big Horn Sheep and California Condors.
Skywalk - Do it if you get a tour that offers it as an option. It's literally a glass bridge that extends 75 feet over the lip of the Rim. This is as close as you'll get to having your own wings. The distance from the bridge to the bottom is twice the size of the largest building in the world.
Departures
Flights depart daily from McCarran International Airport, North Las Vegas Airport, and Boulder City Airport. Sunrise, sunset, and evening trips are the most popular. Most tour operators include hotel pick up and drop off. It's recommended that you confirm your flight 24 hours in advance. While on the phone, I tell people to check weather conditions - the Canyon in particular can be quite fickle.
Pricing
Many people think a helicopter tour is out of their budget. Think again. Las Vegas is loaded with tour operators who compete hard for your tour dollar. But if you really want to drive your cost per ticket down, book online, where prices are dropped 20% - 45% of retail (or "rack" rate).
Final Words
Las Vegas helicopters are the only way to see two of the most famous landmarks in the U.S. in less than two hours. Its the perfect trip for travelers who are tight on time or for visitors who want to sample two of the West's most famous icons. So climb aboard, one and all, and get ready for the flight of a lifetime.
Las Vegas Helicopters - See the Strip, Grand Canyon in Under Two Hours
Travel expert Keith Kraviz reviews Las Vegas & Grand Canyon helicopter tours at http://www.GrandCanyonHelicopterTourReviews.com