Mind-Blowing Grand Canyon SKYWALK Helicopter & Airplane Tours from Las Vegas
The Grand Canyon Skywalk is officially the #1 outdoor attraction for Las Vegas travellers. Makes sense to us because our Skywalk helicopter and airplane tours are roaring to the top of the list in terms of most-booked tours this year.
Personally, I'm not surprised. The fastest way to get from Vegas to the West Rim is by air. Compare this to self-driving or taking a bus tour. By air, it takes 45 minutes to reach the Rim. Max. By ground, it's up to 2.5 hours. Also, expect to spend an entire day on a ground trip (in the case of a bus trip it's 12 hours!) versus up to 7 hours via air.
Choices
Plus, these air tours are a great value. Let's start with helicopter options. There are two. The economy and the deluxe. The key difference is price and departure. The economy leaves Boulder City, which is a suburb located about 20 minutes from the Las Vegas Strip. The deluxe departs from The Strip. The pricing difference is about $60.
Is the extra $60 worth it? Yes. First, the deluxe option includes limousine hotel transfers. Second, it includes an extended tour over The Strip that starts from Stratosphere Tower to Mandalay Bay. If you were to do only a Strip helicopter tour with limo, you'd be paying at least $100 per person. One other thing to pay attention to: The Skywalk is optional. Meaning you can add it to your ticket or buy it upon arrival. My advice is to bundle it and save around $10 per ticket.
Big Choppers
Both options use the new, highly modernized EcoStar 130 helicopter. This is the one you want. It's 25% bigger than the older ones and comes equipped with a wraparound front window, glass doors, and stadium-style bucket seats that ensure a great view regardless where you are sitting. If you're obsessed with getting in the front, I recommend you read this front-seat FAQ.
The Skywalk airplane tour departs ONLY from Boulder City. It includes shuttle bus hotel transfers. The plan itself is a modern-marvel. It's a 18-passenger deHavilland Twin Otter that's been totally customized for sightseeing. The windows are gigantically oversized and the plane's wings are attached to the top of the cabin for unobstructed views. This particular tour includes a Skywalk ticket, and I recommend it. But you can also go with the economy plane option that lets you purchase a ticket onsite.
Let's Sightsee!
The flight path for helicopters and airplanes are the same except the helicopter flies at a lower altitude. Regardless if you take off from Vegas or Boulder, you'll fly over Lake Mead, Hoover Dam, the Mojave Desert, Grand Cliffs Wash, the Colorado River and much more before landing at the Grand Canyon West airstrip. Once grounded, you'll exit the aircraft and the adventure begins.
Most start with the Skywalk, which is an all-glass platform that lets you walk 70 feet over the edge of the Rim until you are standing 4,000 feet over the bottom. You're not allowed to bring cameras or mobile phones with you but fortunately there are photographers on the bridge who will take your picture. I'm not in love with the rule but I didn't write it and have grudgingly accepted it. The views are tremendous, especially the one looking east to Eagle Pt.
No Boundaries
Your tour by design includes free entrance to the West Rim (people who self-drive have to pay a hefty entrance fee) and unrestricted use of the hop-on hop-off shuttle that takes you up and down the Rim from Eagle Pt. to Guano Pt., which is an old abandoned mine that's very "steampunkish." You also get access to Hualapai Ranch, which is a reimagined Western Town where you'll encounter buckaroos, gunslingers (and gunfights), and other assorted townsfolk. Like the Skywalk complex, food is available at The Ranch as well.
Total tour time is 7 hours from hotel to hotel and believe me you'll get your fill. I added it up and you get up to 4 hours of ground time at the Rim -- no other tour except the SUPER 4-in-1 MEGA TOUR gives you that. Please be advised that demand always outstrips supply for all Skywalk air tours. So try to book your tour as soon as you reasonably can. I also recommend you try to book a morning tour as during the summer it can get quite hot at the West Rim, which reminds me: drink plenty of water, use sun block and wear clothes [LINK] that protect against the sun's rays.
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