Valentine's Day is just around the corner. One way to make the occasion really special is to take a tour of the Grand Canyon with your loved one. There are several types of tours that depart to the Canyon from Vegas, and you can tour by airplane, bus, or helicopter. No matter what type of tour you choose, you want to book it as soon as possible, because these tours are popular and fill up fast.
Departure Cities
Tours of the Canyon take off from Vegas and from Tusayan, Arizona. The length of time it takes to get to the Canyon depends on where you start from. For instance, if you'll be in Vegas and want to tour the South Rim, you can take a plane and get there in about an hour. If you're taking a bus tour out of Vegas, the ride to the West Rim is 2 1/2 hours and the ride to the South Rim takes 5 1/2 hours. If you begin a bus tour in Phoenix, the bus ride to the South Rim will be just under four hours.
Tours Of The West Rim
A quick way to get to the Canyon is to book a helicopter tour. It only takes 30-45 minutes to fly to the West Rim from Vegas. As an added bonus, the Hoover Dam and Lake Mead are on the way to the Canyon, so you'll get an aerial view of them too when you fly out of Vegas. Depending on the type of tour you book, your helicopter tour will be air-only and just fly over the Canyon, or it will be a landing tour and set down on top of the rim or on the Canyon floor. The landing tour that flies into the Canyon and lands on the floor is very popular, and it even comes with a Champagne picnic. It's a perfect tour to take on Valentine's Day.
Planes that fly out of Vegas can also land at the West Rim, but they can only land on top of the rim. However, that doesn't really matter because you can hop on a helicopter once you get to the rim and ride down to the bottom of the Canyon, or you can stay on top of the rim and visit the Skywalk. The Skywalk is a thrilling attraction that gives you an amazing view of the Canyon below you. If you love adventure, and aren't afraid of heights, then visiting the Skywalk would be a great way to spend Valentine's Day.
Helicopter Tours Of The South Rim
There are a couple of helicopter flights that tour the South Rim. The first one is a half-hour tour that goes to the North Rim, and back again. The other tour is longer, it gives you 50 minutes of flight time and goes to the North Rim as well as the eastern edge of the park. Book the longer tour if you can because it flies over about 3/4 of the entire national park, and you'll get to see a lot of interesting views.
You can also take an airplane tour of the South Rim, even if you want to depart from Vegas. You'll start with an hour flight to the South Rim and then follow that with the 50 minute air tour that follows the same path as the longer helicopter tour. The only difference is that the airplanes fly higher so the views aren't as close as you get from a helicopter. One advantage of flying on an airplane is that they carry 19 people at a time. So if you plan to travel with a group, an airplane tour is probably best so everyone can fly together.
Touring By Bus
If price is an important consideration, then you may prefer a bus tour since they are the most affordable. The tours last all day, so you have plenty of time to see a lot of sights. There is a basic and deluxe option, and the tours are all-inclusive including taxes and park fees. Light meals for lunch and breakfast are included as well. Bus tours to the West and South Rim come with the ability to add on adventures. Some upgrades to consider are Skywalk tickets at the West Rim or a helicopter ride to the Canyon floor, and at the South Rim, you can add on a 50-minute helicopter tour of the National Park.
Final Thoughts
All of the tours available come in basic or deluxe versions. Since you'll want your Valentine's Day experience to be special, consider upgrading to the deluxe option. The deluxe air tours even come with complimentary transportation in a limousine, which is a nice touch. Plus, the helicopters used on deluxe tours provide you with more room, a quieter ride, and enhanced viewing through massive windows, so deluxe is definitely recommended.
These tours are popular and they sell out quickly, so book yours as soon as possible. Try to get your tour two weeks in advance if you can. Buying it is easy when you book online where you'll find the lowest price, plus you'll get instant confirmation when you use your credit card. With so many options, you will find a tour that suits your budget, which will make this year's Valentine's Day extra special.
Departure Cities
Tours of the Canyon take off from Vegas and from Tusayan, Arizona. The length of time it takes to get to the Canyon depends on where you start from. For instance, if you'll be in Vegas and want to tour the South Rim, you can take a plane and get there in about an hour. If you're taking a bus tour out of Vegas, the ride to the West Rim is 2 1/2 hours and the ride to the South Rim takes 5 1/2 hours. If you begin a bus tour in Phoenix, the bus ride to the South Rim will be just under four hours.
Tours Of The West Rim
A quick way to get to the Canyon is to book a helicopter tour. It only takes 30-45 minutes to fly to the West Rim from Vegas. As an added bonus, the Hoover Dam and Lake Mead are on the way to the Canyon, so you'll get an aerial view of them too when you fly out of Vegas. Depending on the type of tour you book, your helicopter tour will be air-only and just fly over the Canyon, or it will be a landing tour and set down on top of the rim or on the Canyon floor. The landing tour that flies into the Canyon and lands on the floor is very popular, and it even comes with a Champagne picnic. It's a perfect tour to take on Valentine's Day.
Planes that fly out of Vegas can also land at the West Rim, but they can only land on top of the rim. However, that doesn't really matter because you can hop on a helicopter once you get to the rim and ride down to the bottom of the Canyon, or you can stay on top of the rim and visit the Skywalk. The Skywalk is a thrilling attraction that gives you an amazing view of the Canyon below you. If you love adventure, and aren't afraid of heights, then visiting the Skywalk would be a great way to spend Valentine's Day.
Helicopter Tours Of The South Rim
There are a couple of helicopter flights that tour the South Rim. The first one is a half-hour tour that goes to the North Rim, and back again. The other tour is longer, it gives you 50 minutes of flight time and goes to the North Rim as well as the eastern edge of the park. Book the longer tour if you can because it flies over about 3/4 of the entire national park, and you'll get to see a lot of interesting views.
You can also take an airplane tour of the South Rim, even if you want to depart from Vegas. You'll start with an hour flight to the South Rim and then follow that with the 50 minute air tour that follows the same path as the longer helicopter tour. The only difference is that the airplanes fly higher so the views aren't as close as you get from a helicopter. One advantage of flying on an airplane is that they carry 19 people at a time. So if you plan to travel with a group, an airplane tour is probably best so everyone can fly together.
Touring By Bus
If price is an important consideration, then you may prefer a bus tour since they are the most affordable. The tours last all day, so you have plenty of time to see a lot of sights. There is a basic and deluxe option, and the tours are all-inclusive including taxes and park fees. Light meals for lunch and breakfast are included as well. Bus tours to the West and South Rim come with the ability to add on adventures. Some upgrades to consider are Skywalk tickets at the West Rim or a helicopter ride to the Canyon floor, and at the South Rim, you can add on a 50-minute helicopter tour of the National Park.
Final Thoughts
All of the tours available come in basic or deluxe versions. Since you'll want your Valentine's Day experience to be special, consider upgrading to the deluxe option. The deluxe air tours even come with complimentary transportation in a limousine, which is a nice touch. Plus, the helicopters used on deluxe tours provide you with more room, a quieter ride, and enhanced viewing through massive windows, so deluxe is definitely recommended.
These tours are popular and they sell out quickly, so book yours as soon as possible. Try to get your tour two weeks in advance if you can. Buying it is easy when you book online where you'll find the lowest price, plus you'll get instant confirmation when you use your credit card. With so many options, you will find a tour that suits your budget, which will make this year's Valentine's Day extra special.
About the Author:
Grand Canyon pro Jacky O'Shea recommends these fabulous air tours. And for a complete list of tours, she recommends bookmarking this web site: http://grandcanyondaytrips.com/tours/
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