Best South Rim Air-Ground Combo Ever!
30-Min. Helicopter & 2-Hr. Jeep 4x4 Tour.
Or REALLY Level Up: Upgrade the Heli Segment to a 50-Min. Ride!
By far, the South Rim 30-min helicopter with 2-hour 4x4 Jeep tour is our #1 air-ground combo. Ever. Why? Two reasons...wait...three reasons: 1) It's a GREAT value; 2) both heli and Jeep are guided tours; and 3) it's the most efficient way to see nearly all the National Park in under four hours.
Both these tours fly the same flight path except that the deluxe starts from the Vegas Strip while the economy flies from Boulder City, a Las Vegas suburb that takes about 30 minutes to reach from The Strip. Once in the air, you'll fly over Lake Mead, Hoover Dam, the Mojave Desert and Grand Cliffs Wash.
Let me explain.
This package kicks off with the 1/2 hour helicopter tour. It departs from Grand Canyon National Park Airport and flies into the Canyon en route to the North Rim before it banks left and returns to the airport. By the time you're done, you'll have seen more than 50% of the Canyon.
Once back on the ground, you'll return to your vehicle and drive a couple of minutes to the National Geographic center and check in for the Jeep tour. You'll step into one of our customized Hummer Jeeps and head into the National Park where you'll stop at two of the Canyon's best lookouts for photos and some general hanging out.
The Hardware
The helicopter used on this tour is either an A-Star or a Bell, both of which are excellent for air tours. These aircraft comfortably hold up to six people. Seating configuration is four in the back and two in the front. You can request front seats but it's never guaranteed.
The helicopter is climate-controlled so you can take the tour in summer or winter in comfort. Every seat is a good one. Unlike airplanes where you get a 90-degree view out the side window, a helicopter has a 180-degree wraparound front windshield and glass doors on the side. It's like being in an IMAX theater.
The custom Jeep is just that: imagine a standard Hummer jacked up and ready to go like a monster truck. The Jeep is topless in the summer (a "cloth" roof is attached) and topped in the winter. Total passengers per vehicle is up to nine. This is a true stacked 4x4 but for the most part we stay on mostly paved roads that only become super challenging during winter.
Both the helicopter and Hummer segments are guided. In the case of the heli, it's the pilot sharing what's outside and down below. Like you, he's wearing a headset that's hooked up to a high-end digital communication system. In this manner, you and the pilot can communicate or you can communicate with others in your group. We even offer narrations translated in multiple languages (French, Italian, Spanish, Chinese, Korean, etc.).
The jeep narration is ad-libbed by our trusty, experienced driver-guides. These guys know the Canyon's byways like the back of their hand. Which is important especially during summer when roads are packed and you need to get from A to Z in the safest and most efficient way possible while still engaging with the driver in cross-talk about this-and-that landmark. Seriously, I can't underestimate how worthwhile it is to cruise the Park with a guide.
Options
The most popular version of this tour is the 30-min. with a 2-hour Jeep. And no wonder. It's an affordable great value that over-delivers. However, there are two more variations you need to know about. The first is the 30-min. combo sunset upgrade. It's a heck of a package: starts late afternoon and wraps with a Jeep ride to an incredible sunset lookout. The second option is the 50-min. heli w/ Jeep: everything's the same except you nearly double the air time for the heli.
RSVP
I urge you to try and book these combos at least a week or two in advance. Actually, the more in advance the better. Yes, I understand that these days it's tough planning a trip. But if you want to skip the hassle of finding out that these tours are sold out, book early. This might help, too: cancel within 48 hours of flight time and get a full money back refund. No questions asked.
I hope this post helped you learn more about our awesome selection of helicopter-and-Jeep combos. Personally, I can't think of another way to comprehensively experience Grand Canyon National Park. Lastly, book online to get the best price. Or, take advantage of my special offer to take an EXTRA $10 off per person if you book with me over the phone or in Chat (weekdays, from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. MST). You're call. I'm always happy to help.
Make it a GRAND day!
