Las Vegas to South Rim by Plane:
The EASIEST, MOST COMFORTABLE Way
to Get to the National Park
(Great Upgrades, Too!)
If you want to fly from Las Vegas to the South Rim, you have to go by airplane. Helicopters are not an option because The Rim is too far away. It's all good, though. Airplane tours are significantly cheaper. They're also much faster and take just 60 minutes to reach Grand Canyon National Park in Tusayan , AZ (by contrast, it will take you nearly 5.5 hours to get to the South Rim by car or bus!).
Supersonic
The airplane flight covers a lot of ground, most of it over some of the most scenic parts of Nevada and Arizona. Departures are daily but limited to the a.m. They go over Boulder City, Lake Mead, Hoover Dam, West Rim, North Rim and South Rim before landing. The flight to and from is worth the cost of admission as you'll have seen up to 75 percent of the Canyon en route!
Our planes are designed for sightseeing, too. All windows are oversized, and the wings of the aircraft are attached to the top of the cabin so you have unobstructed views to the horizon and below. The plane itself is a deHavilland Otter twin-engine aircraft with seating for 18 adult passengers. The aircraft's communication system includes pre-programmed trip narration in up to eight languages, including French, Spanish, German, Japanese, Chinese and more.
Need to point out that seating on the deHavilland is a little different from what you are probably used to. In this aircraft, there's two seats on one side of the aisle and one on the other. This is handy to know if you want to sit next to a friend or family member or if you prefer a window-seat, which can be requested. There's no guarantee that your request will be honored but if it is, you'll be charged an additional $10 if you want it. You can also decline it and no charge will be applied.
Jeep, Helicopter or Both?
The Las Vegas-South Rim airplane tour can be optioned in three (3) ways. The first is to add a bus tour inside the National Park. This USED TO BE the most popular option but the COVID pandemic made 45-passenger bus tours unpopular so we've put that one on hold. I'll update this article when it comes back online. Another option that has become the #1 package includes a 3-hour 4x4 open-air GUIDED Jeep tour. It's usually on sale (not sure how long as we get into peak travel season) and is a heck of a value, with the Jeep stopping at multiple locations that include two breathtaking lookouts. The final option includes a 30-minute helicopter that goes from South Rim to North Rim and back via the Dragon Corridor followed by a 1.5-hour Jeep tour.
Frankly, I love this tour's options, primarily because you get to see so much, including a ton just on the trip to and from the Canyon on the airplane. My only complaint is that we've yet to increase the number of departure times and this has led to all versions of this tour selling out, especially the 4x4 option because it's typically on sale and that leads to additional buy pressure on this product.
The Munchies
These tours depart from our Boulder City, NV, terminal, which is about 30 mins. from the Las Vegas Strip. Each package includes free hotel transfers by Sprinter van and a light meal at the South Rim. You're permitted to bring a small daypack (child-size) on the aircraft, which I recommend you do. Include in it snacks and water etc. because this is a full-day trip. Food and drink can also be had at one of several restaurants at Grand Canyon Village at South Rim.
The climate at South Rim is different from that in Vegas. In Vegas, you're at an elevation of ~2,000 feet. So in summer it's fire hot and in winter it can be temperate cold. At South Rim, which is at an altitude of 7,000 feet, summer days can be hot but NOT unbearable, while winter days can be cold to bitter-cold. Moral of the story is to dress accordingly. And, since the majority of people take this tour during the summer months, I strongly recommend you pack sunglasses, lip balm, and sunblock. Not a bad idea to wear a lightweight long-sleeved shirt and pants.
Please RSVP this tour. At least a week or two in advance. Further out if you're trying to do it during summer. Seriously, demand exceeds supply here and if you really want to do the South Rim from Vegas, you have to put on your "planner" hat and be prepared to lock down your seats in advance. The best price will be the Internet price when booked in advance. Simple as that. Print or keep your tickets on your phone for future reference and especially for your exact pick-up time and location. Then buckle up and get ready for the flight of a lifetime.
Ready to fly? Book this experience now:
Click Here for Las Vegas to South Rim by Plane w/ Jeep 4x4 AND/OR Helicopter!
Make it a GRAND day!
