Spring break is the time of year when you should really do something special. If you've been looking for the perfect getaway, you won't find any place better than the Grand Canyon. Airplane tours operate from Las Vegas and run every day of the Spring Break holiday season. Find out what's available, and plan the tour of a lifetime.
Vegas Airplane Tours
The airplanes that depart from Vegas follow a flight path that goes over the Hoover Dam and Lake Mead on the way to the Canyon. There are flyover and landing tours available, with the air-only option being the most affordable. Even so, I recommend a landing tour, because it will allow you to get the most out of your visit.
There's a landing tour where you can purchase an additional ticket for a helicopter ride to the bottom of the Grand Canyon. This is my personal favourite, and one of the most popular tours at the Grand Canyon. At the bottom you can enjoy a short picnic, and you could even include a boat ride on the beautiful Colorado River.
The Skywalk Experience
If you take a tour to the West Rim, you'll want to visit the Skywalk. The Skywalk is a huge glass viewing platform that extends past the edge of the Canyon wall. It will allow you to stand 4000ft above the Canyon, looking straight down and all around at the sights. There are no cameras allowed on the platform, for safety reasons, but there are professional photographers on site who can capture your moment forever.
South Rim Tours
You may want to take an airplane tour of the South Rim instead. They fly from Vegas to Tusayan, Arizona near the South Rim. These tours take an epic 50 minute route over the National Park, covering the South Rim, North Rim, and eastern boundary. While you can't land at the South Rim, you can add a ground tour onto your package if you want.
One of the ground tours you can take is a bus ride through the park that lasts about 2 1/2 hours and takes you by all the main sights. If you crave even more adventure, there's also a 4x4 Jeep ride that takes you to locations that aren't easily accessible from a touring bus.
Why Take an Airplane Tour?
Airplanes are the prime choice for budget conscious travelers, because they're more affordable than helicopters. Another perk is that airplanes carry more people per tour, which is nice if you're traveling with a group. Nineteen people can ride on an airplane tour and each seat is equipped with a recorded commentary of your flight, and the recording is available in 10 languages. You can request a particular commentary when you book your tour to make sure it is ready for you when you take your flight.
These airplanes are deHavilland Twin Otters and they are totally customized for sightseeing. For example, the wings are affixed to the top of the body so you can see everything beneath you via the aircraft's oversized windows.
Grand Canyon Climate
The West Rim is close to Vegas, and the weather mirrors what's happening in the city. So if you're dressed appropriately for the weather in Vegas, you should be fine at the West Rim. If you're traveling to the South Rim, and you will be departing the airplane, make sure that you bring a warm sweater, with some lighter clothing on underneath. The temperatures can be chilly at the South Rim in the spring, so you want to make sure you'll be warm on your Jeep or bus tour.
Wrapping Up
Final piece of advice: Always book your plane tour in advance. The Spring Break vacation is a very popular one at the National Park, so you'll need to get that reservation in at least a week before you hit the road. And make sure you do it online - that's where the best prices on the best trips are.
One of the great things about taking an airplane tour of the Canyon is that you have lots of options for personalizing your experience. The Vegas flights go to the West Rim or the South Rim, and you'll find something perfect for your budget. So buy your tour as soon as you can, and get ready to have a fantastic Spring Break getaway.
Vegas Airplane Tours
The airplanes that depart from Vegas follow a flight path that goes over the Hoover Dam and Lake Mead on the way to the Canyon. There are flyover and landing tours available, with the air-only option being the most affordable. Even so, I recommend a landing tour, because it will allow you to get the most out of your visit.
There's a landing tour where you can purchase an additional ticket for a helicopter ride to the bottom of the Grand Canyon. This is my personal favourite, and one of the most popular tours at the Grand Canyon. At the bottom you can enjoy a short picnic, and you could even include a boat ride on the beautiful Colorado River.
The Skywalk Experience
If you take a tour to the West Rim, you'll want to visit the Skywalk. The Skywalk is a huge glass viewing platform that extends past the edge of the Canyon wall. It will allow you to stand 4000ft above the Canyon, looking straight down and all around at the sights. There are no cameras allowed on the platform, for safety reasons, but there are professional photographers on site who can capture your moment forever.
South Rim Tours
You may want to take an airplane tour of the South Rim instead. They fly from Vegas to Tusayan, Arizona near the South Rim. These tours take an epic 50 minute route over the National Park, covering the South Rim, North Rim, and eastern boundary. While you can't land at the South Rim, you can add a ground tour onto your package if you want.
One of the ground tours you can take is a bus ride through the park that lasts about 2 1/2 hours and takes you by all the main sights. If you crave even more adventure, there's also a 4x4 Jeep ride that takes you to locations that aren't easily accessible from a touring bus.
Why Take an Airplane Tour?
Airplanes are the prime choice for budget conscious travelers, because they're more affordable than helicopters. Another perk is that airplanes carry more people per tour, which is nice if you're traveling with a group. Nineteen people can ride on an airplane tour and each seat is equipped with a recorded commentary of your flight, and the recording is available in 10 languages. You can request a particular commentary when you book your tour to make sure it is ready for you when you take your flight.
These airplanes are deHavilland Twin Otters and they are totally customized for sightseeing. For example, the wings are affixed to the top of the body so you can see everything beneath you via the aircraft's oversized windows.
Grand Canyon Climate
The West Rim is close to Vegas, and the weather mirrors what's happening in the city. So if you're dressed appropriately for the weather in Vegas, you should be fine at the West Rim. If you're traveling to the South Rim, and you will be departing the airplane, make sure that you bring a warm sweater, with some lighter clothing on underneath. The temperatures can be chilly at the South Rim in the spring, so you want to make sure you'll be warm on your Jeep or bus tour.
Wrapping Up
Final piece of advice: Always book your plane tour in advance. The Spring Break vacation is a very popular one at the National Park, so you'll need to get that reservation in at least a week before you hit the road. And make sure you do it online - that's where the best prices on the best trips are.
One of the great things about taking an airplane tour of the Canyon is that you have lots of options for personalizing your experience. The Vegas flights go to the West Rim or the South Rim, and you'll find something perfect for your budget. So buy your tour as soon as you can, and get ready to have a fantastic Spring Break getaway.
About the Author:
Expert writer Ione Mahler suggests readers check this page for a list of all Grand Canyon tours and here for the very best Canyon plane trips at low Internet budget costs: http://www.grandcanyondaytrips.com/best-airplane-tours/
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