The Grand Canyon National Park is one of the Seven Wonders of the World. With such magnificent scenery, it makes a great tourist destination. Getting there from Las Vegas can prove challenging, except if you take a Grand Canyon airplane tour. These flights are reliable and exciting and get you there in record time and comfort.
The canyon is anything but average. The Park"s boundaries are made up of more than a million acres, much of it pure wilderness that nurtures five life zones. The Colorado River, the headwaters of which are located at the base of the Rocky Mountains, slices some 270 miles through the canyon to create the North Rim and the South Rim. The chasm as a whole averages 10 miles in width (18 miles at it"s widest point) and a vertical mile in depth. It"s not wonder that scientists claim to have discovered some of the oldest exposed rock in the world here.
A flight from Las Vegas to Grand Canyon National Park Airport will take about forty- five minutes. Stepping out onto the tarmac, you"ll be in Tusayan, a small town that"s a stone"s throw from the front gates of the South Rim. Compare this air journey to the five-hour-plus drive from Las Vegas and flying becomes a no-brainer.
The attractiveness of flying is compounded if you are in the market for a quick canyon day trip with a return that day to the Vegas Strip for a night on the town. Obviously, this is not possible if you go by bus or car where transit time can range from 10 to 12 hours. And even if you did go by ground, you"d be utterly exhausted by the time you got back to your resort-hotel.
On the flight over, I suggest you get a window seat. This is because the airplane will be flying parallel to the Colorado River all the way until you touch down at GNP airport. Most tour operators use an aircraft called a Vistaliner. These aircraft have their wings affixed to the top of the body and come with over-sized viewing windows so you get incredible views of the magnificent terrain below.
On the ground, you have two options. The first is to transfer to a luxury coach and take a ground tour inside the Park and see, among other things, Mather Point, Yaki Point and Grand Canyon village. The second is to board a helicopter and go on a spectacular 30-minute, rim-to-rim flight that includes such highlights as the Dragoon Corridor, the North Rim, Kaibab Plateau and Phantom Ranch. The helicopter package also includes the guided coach trip.
Couple more words about the ground tour. Most airplane packages give you up to three hours on the ground. This is plenty of time for exploring the key viewing points as well as for browsing the Village's museums, souvenir shops, art galleries and restaurants. If you find yourself short on time, I suggest starting at Bright Angel Lodge and working your way about the fine amenities in the area.
Canyon airplane tours from Vegas are going to run you anywhere between $250 per person to $375, depending on which side trips you add on. Are they worth it? Absolutely. The transit time alone is priceless. But the real value comes from the spectacular aerial views. The Grand Canyon is a big place. If you have only a day or two to visit, definitely consider an air tour. It's the best way to fully experience America's best National Park.