It's wintertime at Grand Canyon National Park. The temperatures have cooled down to the low 40s, there is occasional snow, and the air is crystal clear. The conditions are perfect for taking a helicopter tour over this amazing national landmark.
Departure Points
Chopper tours depart from two locations: Las Vegas, NV, and Grand Canyon National Park Airport, AZ. Flights that originate from Vegas go to the West Rim, while Arizona-based trips explore the South Rim. There are helicopter flights between the rims. Vegas travelers who want the South Rim are advised to take fly by airplane and then transfer to a helicopter.
Another thing to know is that the temperatures are colder at the South Rim. That's because the South Rim sits at an elevation of 6700 feet. The West Rim, on the other hand, has an elevation of only 4700 feet. Thus, from December to March, the South Rim's temps will range from 40 to 50 degrees during the day and 18 to 25 degrees at night. The West Rim has warmer daytime temperatures that reach into the 60s and 70s, but the nights are a little chilly with 40 degree temps.
It's not even unusual to see know at the Canyon in the winter. The snowstorms usually pass through the Canyon quickly, so it's rare that a tour will be canceled because of bad weather. The snow is mainly confined to the South Rim, but occasionally you'll see light snow at the West Rim too.
Refunds
In the rare event your helicopter tour is canceled because of bad weather, your tour operator should give you a 100 percent refund of your money. I can't vouch for tour consolidators as in many cases you will be booking a flight that is stripped of a refund policy because it's in the hands of a liquidators trying to fill seats as they become available. So, to be safe, buy your tour directly from the tour operator and avoid sites like Priceline, HotWire, and Expedia.
What to wear during this season deserves consideration. I recommend to family and friends that they figure out a system of "layering." Specifically, find a good base layer. This can be either a t-shirt, or, even better, a shirt made of polyester that wicks away moisture and converts it into heat. These types of base layers are quite popular and inexpensive. Over that, I'd wear a sweater and then a Parka-like jacket. A pair of gloves, a scarf, long pants, wool socks and a pair of sturdy shoes are also suggested.
I especially recommend dressing for weather if you book a landing tour. These trips fly out exclusively from Las Vegas; South Rim helicopters are not allowed to fly below the rim and land. Landing options include going to the bottom of the canyon for a Champagne picnic, Colorado River boat rides and VIP Grand Canyon Skywalk tickets. These air-ground trips are very much in demand so make sure you book prior to arriving in Las Vegas.
Book Soon
So when should you book your tour? Well, during the winter, there are fewer helicopters in operation, and each chopper only holds six passengers, so to be safe, try to get your seats at least a week ahead of time. Don't forget to buy your seats from the tour operator over the Internet. The lowest rate available is the Internet rate, but you only qualify if you complete your purchase online, if you buy in person or over the phone, you'll have to pay more for your tour.
Departure Points
Chopper tours depart from two locations: Las Vegas, NV, and Grand Canyon National Park Airport, AZ. Flights that originate from Vegas go to the West Rim, while Arizona-based trips explore the South Rim. There are helicopter flights between the rims. Vegas travelers who want the South Rim are advised to take fly by airplane and then transfer to a helicopter.
Another thing to know is that the temperatures are colder at the South Rim. That's because the South Rim sits at an elevation of 6700 feet. The West Rim, on the other hand, has an elevation of only 4700 feet. Thus, from December to March, the South Rim's temps will range from 40 to 50 degrees during the day and 18 to 25 degrees at night. The West Rim has warmer daytime temperatures that reach into the 60s and 70s, but the nights are a little chilly with 40 degree temps.
It's not even unusual to see know at the Canyon in the winter. The snowstorms usually pass through the Canyon quickly, so it's rare that a tour will be canceled because of bad weather. The snow is mainly confined to the South Rim, but occasionally you'll see light snow at the West Rim too.
Refunds
In the rare event your helicopter tour is canceled because of bad weather, your tour operator should give you a 100 percent refund of your money. I can't vouch for tour consolidators as in many cases you will be booking a flight that is stripped of a refund policy because it's in the hands of a liquidators trying to fill seats as they become available. So, to be safe, buy your tour directly from the tour operator and avoid sites like Priceline, HotWire, and Expedia.
What to wear during this season deserves consideration. I recommend to family and friends that they figure out a system of "layering." Specifically, find a good base layer. This can be either a t-shirt, or, even better, a shirt made of polyester that wicks away moisture and converts it into heat. These types of base layers are quite popular and inexpensive. Over that, I'd wear a sweater and then a Parka-like jacket. A pair of gloves, a scarf, long pants, wool socks and a pair of sturdy shoes are also suggested.
I especially recommend dressing for weather if you book a landing tour. These trips fly out exclusively from Las Vegas; South Rim helicopters are not allowed to fly below the rim and land. Landing options include going to the bottom of the canyon for a Champagne picnic, Colorado River boat rides and VIP Grand Canyon Skywalk tickets. These air-ground trips are very much in demand so make sure you book prior to arriving in Las Vegas.
Book Soon
So when should you book your tour? Well, during the winter, there are fewer helicopters in operation, and each chopper only holds six passengers, so to be safe, try to get your seats at least a week ahead of time. Don't forget to buy your seats from the tour operator over the Internet. The lowest rate available is the Internet rate, but you only qualify if you complete your purchase online, if you buy in person or over the phone, you'll have to pay more for your tour.
About the Author:
Grand Canyon expert Kate Reingold recommends these hot Canyon helicopters. She also recommends going here for coupons that make these flights cheaper: http://www.grandcanyonhelicopter.org/grand-canyon-helicopter-tour-coupons.html
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