A visit to Grand Canyon is a wonderful experience in itself, but you can take it up a level with a bird’s eye view. Helicopter sightseeing flights are offered by several companies, with flight times ranging between 35 and 90 minutes. I have flown over the Grand Canyon myself, so I can advise you on what to choose and what to look out for.
Table of Contents
- What You Need to Know about Grand Canyon Helicopter Tours
- 70-Minute Helicopter Tour Over the Grand Canyon From Las Vegas For $509
- Helicopter Flight Over the Grand Canyon and Las Vegas Strip For $611
- Flight Over the Grand Canyon and Las Vegas Strip With Landing and Champagne For $696
- 40-50 Minute Flight Over the Grand Canyon From Arizona For $415
- Bonus: Helicopter Tour Over the Strip With Go City Pass Las Vegas
- Photos From a Grand Canyon Helicopter Tour
What You Need to Know about Grand Canyon Helicopter Tours
✈️ Where to Fly to the Grand Canyon From
Sightseeing flights over the Grand Canyon begin and end either directly in Las Vegas, in nearby Boulder City or at the smaller Grand Canyon National Park Airport. This is about 4 hours drive from Las Vegas.
Flights direct from Las Vegas are more expensive and usually include a pick-up and drop-off back to the hotel. Flights from the South Rim tend to be cheaper, but you have to drive yourself to the departure point. I flew from the South Rim.
🛒 Where to Book a Grand Canyon Scenic Flight
Several companies own helicopters and operate sightseeing flights in the Las Vegas area: Papillon Grand Canyon Helicopters, Maverick Helicopters, and others. Tickets are sold by brokers over the internet and directly in Las Vegas.
I recommend booking a sightseeing flight as soon as you know your dates. Some dates tend to fill up early, so buying a ticket on the spot is an unnecessary risk.
The advantage of booking a scenic flight over the Grand Canyon through the following link is the lowest price guarantee. You can also buy a gift certificate valid for 5 years.
💵 Price of a Grand Canyon Helicopter Tour
The biggest influence on the price of the experience is the length of the flight, the departure point and the time chosen. Sightseeing flights at sunset are more expensive. The price also varies depending on the company or season you choose, and you can save money by booking early.
⚠️ The Flight Price Quoted May Not Be Final
When comparing sightseeing flight offers, check carefully what is not included in the price. The better the deal on the face of it, the more suspicious it is. Some offers may not include tax, departure tax or helipad usage fee. Optionally, you can usually pay extra for a seat in the front seat, a departure from the Strip, or a ride to/from your hotel.
In this article, I always try to give final prices including fuel surcharges, heliport usage fees or ticketing fees.
🕒 When Is the Best Time to Fly
The best weather for a scenic flight is usually in the morning, when visibility from the helicopter deck is also at its best. During the entire flight you can take photos and videos at will, so for the best experience I recommend choosing from the morning departure times. The exception to this is the more expensive and usually sold out sunset flights, which provide an extra experience.
🔎 My Experience With a Grand Canyon Helicopter Tour
My flight operator was Papillon, and I purchased the experience through a middleman. The pilot was a nice guy, he chatted with us the whole trip, explained what we were seeing and answered my often silly questions. The company is the only one that flies in the part of the Grand Canyon that is accessible from Las Vegas.
💺Best Seat in the Helicopter
Most helicopters fly in a configuration where the pilot and two passengers sit in the front and there are four other passengers in the back. The best view is from the two seats in the front, which operators know all too well and pay extra for better seats.
Seating arrangements are always purely at the pilot’s discretion, and for safety the balance of the machine must be even. Therefore, when booking a flight, the weight of the passengers is stated.
Grand Canyon Helicopter Tours – Price, Best Offers & My Tips
To save you from spending time searching, I have some tips for sightseeing flights over the Grand Canyon. The flights vary in price, length and departure location so there is something for everyone. Prices are inclusive of all fees, and I last updated them in April 2024.
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70-Minute Helicopter Tour Over the Grand Canyon From Las Vegas For $509
For me, this is the best option if you want to see the Grand Canyon from a helicopter and go directly from Las Vegas. The flight time is approximately 70 minutes, during which you’ll see the Grand Canyon including Guano Point and Eagle Point, Hoover Dam and Lake Mead.
I took this exact flight as well. A gentleman from the helicopter company picked us up right at our hotel in Las Vegas and drove us to Boulder City, where the flight departed. The van ride took about 40 minutes one way. There were two of us in Las Vegas, so we sat in the front of the helicopter right next to the pilot. Those are the best seats, with a group of three other tourists sitting behind us. Even though I travel a lot and have seen a lot of the world in various ways, I fondly remember this flight.
During the flight you can listen to audio commentary in several languages, and you can also communicate with the pilot. You fly in an Airbus or Eurocopter helicopter for 6-7 people every day from 8:00 am to 6:15 pm. The duration of the complete experience from the pick-up in front of the hotel to the return there are 3,5-4 hours.
- 💵 Price: $509 with lowest price guarantee ($489 per person + $19.56 fees)
- 🚁 Departure and arrival: Las Vegas (shuttle from hotel included)
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Helicopter Flight Over the Grand Canyon and Las Vegas Strip For $611
The scenic flight is more expensive than the previous one, but it lasts 20 minutes longer and you’ll also get a bird’s eye view of the unique Las Vegas Strip. Of course, the flight route includes the Grand Canyon including Guano Point and Eagle Point, the Mojave Desert, Lake Mead and Hoover Dam.
The advantage of flying directly from Las Vegas’ McCarran Airport is that you won’t waste time on a trip to the heliport outside the city. During the flight you can listen to audio commentary or communicate with the pilot.
The duration of the whole experience is 3.5-4 hours. The airline staff will pick you up directly at your Las Vegas hotel, then drive you back upon your return.
- 💵 Price: $611 with lowest price guarantee ($559 per person + $22.36 fees + $30 fuel surcharge)
- 🚁 Departure and arrival: Las Vegas (shuttle from hotel included)
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Flight Over the Grand Canyon and Las Vegas Strip With Landing and Champagne For $696
A scenic flight over the Grand Canyon with all the trimmings. You’ll see all the places mentioned in previous tips including Hoover Dam, Lake Make Mead and the Las Vegas Strip. Unlike previous flights, you’ll also land at Grand Canyon West for 30 minutes, where you’ll be treated to a meal and champagne reception.
Net flight time is 90 minutes, during which you can listen to audio commentary or interview the pilot. There are three times each day – early morning, mid-morning and midday.
Included in the experience is transportation from your hotel in Las Vegas and back to your hotel upon return. The helicopter departs from the Las Vegas airport, so you won’t waste time getting to the heliport outside of town. The advantage of buying through the link above is the lowest price guarantee.
- 💵 Price: $696 with lowest price guarantee ($669 per person + $27 fees)
- 🚁 Departure and arrival: Las Vegas (shuttle from hotel included)
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40-50 Minute Flight Over the Grand Canyon From Arizona For $415
A 40-50 minute sightseeing flight in an Eco-Star EC130 helicopter describes a circuit consisting of the South, East and North portions of the Grand Canyon. You will see the famous Dragons Corridor, the Point Imperial section of the Little Colorado River at a depth of 5,000 ft and the Navajo Nation territory.
The cost of the scenic flight is $415 per person including all fees. You are guaranteed the lowest price when you purchase through the link below. Flights are operated from 9:00 am to 5:15 pm every day.
The helicopter departs and returns to Grand Canyon National Park Airport in Arizona, which is a 4-hour drive from Las Vegas. So I recommend taking a sightseeing flight on your way to the national park, not during your stay in Las Vegas.
- 💵 Price: $415 with lowest price guarantee ($399 per person + $15.96 fees)
- 🚁 Departure and arrival: Grand Canyon National Park Airport
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Bonus: Helicopter Tour Over the Strip With Go City Pass Las Vegas
The Go City Pass is a prepaid ticket to dozens of attractions and experiences around Las Vegas. You can buy it for 2-5 days, during which time you can visit as many attractions as you can without additional fees.
There are dozens on offer, including the Big Apple Coaster, the observation deck at Eiffel Tower, the roof of The Strat or a trip to Hoover Dam. The more attractions you can visit, the more you save. Hundreds of dollars can be saved over four days compared to standard ticket prices.
If you buy a Go City Pass for 3-5 days, you can choose one of the premium attractions. One of them is a 15-minute night flight in an Airbus Eco-Star EC-130 helicopter over the Strip by Papillon Helicopters. Apart from the purchase price of the pass, you won’t pay anything extra, all fees are already included in the price. Just book your flight time via the mobile app.
From aboard the helicopter, you can see the Bellagio Hotel, The Venetian, the Eiffel Tower, The Strat and other attractions, which you can then visit for free with the Go City Pass. For me, this is the cheapest way to take a helicopter ride over Las Vegas.
Photos From a Grand Canyon Helicopter Tour
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