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Taking a helicopter tour to the Grand Canyon West Rim is one of the most exciting experiences I’ve ever had. The breathtaking views of the canyon’s rugged cliffs and winding Colorado River are simply unparalleled.
Besides, the West Rim is the only area in the Grand Canyon that permits below-the-rim landings by helicopter. Plus, when you compare the West Rim vs. South Rim, the West Rim is more accessible and offers the added thrill of attractions like the Skywalk with lovely aerial views.
7 Best Grand Canyon West Rim helicopter tours
In this guide, I’ll walk you through the best Grand Canyon West Rim helicopter tours. We’ll review each one’s highlights, itinerary, and pricing to help you choose the best one for your trip. But to sum up, these are my favorite ones:
- Flight of the Condor by ✈️ (20 mins) | from Grand Canyon West
- Over the Edge tour with below-the-rim landing and Colorado River cruise by 🚁🛥️ (1 hr) | from Grand Canyon West
- Golden Eagle by 🚁 (3.5-4 hrs) | from Las Vegas
- VIP at the Rim by 🚁 🚌 (7 hrs) | from Las Vegas
- King of Canyons with below-the-rim landing by 🚁 (4-4.5 hrs) | from Las Vegas
- Grand Voyager with below-the-rim landing and Colorado River cruise by ✈️🚁🛥️🚌 (7 hrs) | from Las Vegas
- West Rim Highlights by ✈️ (4 hrs) | from Las Vegas
1. Flight of the Condor, the cheapest Grand Canyon West Rim helicopter tour
This flight is the most recommended air tour to Grand Canyon West. The tour begins with a flight from the Grand Canyon West airport, soaring over stunning aerial views of the West Rim and remarkable rock formations. Personally, I learned a lot about the history of the canyon with the in-flight narration and saw the Grand Canyon from a perspective that not everyone gets to see.
If you’re traveling on a budget, and are looking for the cheapest Grand Canyon West Rim helicopter tour, this is the next best thing. The tour is done on a panoramic airplane, but the views are just as good as if you take a helicopter tour, and at half the price.
1. Flight of the Condor, the cheapest Grand Canyon West Rim helicopter tour
Yes, it’s a short tour, but once you’re done, you can continue your adventure by taking the free shuttle bus to some West Rim lookouts. We first stopped at Hualapai Ranch, where you can enjoy Old West gunfights and lasso lessons. Then, head to Eagle Point to admire the enormous eagle-shaped rock formation and explore Native American dwellings while enjoying cultural music and dancing.
- Highlights: Airplane flight over Grand Canyon West
- Duration: 20-minute flight
- Departure: Grand Canyon West
- Price from: $169
2. Over the Edge Helicopter & boat tour, one of the most exciting Grand Canyon West Rim helicopter tours
This excursion is a popular helicopter tour from Grand Canyon West. It starts with a breathtaking flight from the Grand Canyon West Airport, where you’ll enjoy aerial views before descending below the rim for a landing on the canyon floor.
Once you touch down, you’ll embark on an exciting journey along the Colorado River in a pontoon boat. Rafting in the Grand Canyon allows you to fully appreciate the beauty of the majestic stone walls rising dramatically on either side of you.
2. Over the Edge Helicopter & boat tour, one of the most exciting Grand Canyon West Rim helicopter tours
After your river adventure, the helicopter will take you back to the rim, where you can continue your exploration. You can choose to visit one of the many lookouts or purchase a ticket to the Grand Canyon Skywalk.
This helicopter-pontoon tour of Grand Canyon West is one of the most comprehensive excursions you can find. So, don’t miss it!
- Highlights: Helicopter flight over Grand Canyon West, below-the-rim landing, and Colorado River cruise
- Duration: 1 hour (20-minute flight)
- Departure: Grand Canyon West
- Price from: $289
3. Golden Eagle, the best Grand Canyon West helicopter tour from Las Vegas
If you’re paying a short visit to Sin City but you’re eager to experience the Grand Canyon, this tour is the perfect choice! It’s one of the top Grand Canyon West helicopter tours, departing from a private heliport near Las Vegas.
As you embark on your journey, you’ll soar over iconic landmarks. Yes, the Grand Canyon West Rim is the highlight, but I also consider this to be one of the best helicopter tours of Hoover Dam, Lake Mead, and the Mojave Desert in general, because you’ll enjoy phenomenal aerial views along the way. And once you get to your destination, you’ll be treated to beautiful views of the West Rim, Eagle Point, Guano Point, and the Colorado River, too.
3. Golden Eagle, the best Grand Canyon West helicopter tour from Las Vegas
This excursion is designed to give you a VIP experience, which makes it the best Grand Canyon West helicopter tour from Las Vegas. The flight includes music and multilingual narration, providing interesting facts and stories about the landmarks below. When you reach the Grand Canyon, you’ll see the famous Skywalk and other beautiful landscapes, so have your camera ready and enjoy one of the best Grand Canyon helicopter tours.
Once you’re back in the city, use the hotel drop-off service available for select hotels in Las Vegas.
- Highlights: Helicopter flight over Hoover Dam, Lake Mead, and Grand Canyon West
- Duration: 4 hours (70-minute flight)
- Departure: Las Vegas
- Price from: $399
4. VIP at the Rim Helicopter Tour, another popular Grand Canyon West helicopter tour from Las Vegas
This VIP heli tour was the most enjoyable flight over Grand Canyon West that I’ve ever experienced. We began our journey with a helicopter ride from Las Vegas to the West Rim. Along the way, we took amazing photos of the Hoover Dam, Lake Mead, and the Colorado River.
As we approached the Grand Canyon, we could see the Skywalk from above. But the adventure doesn’t end there. Once you land at the Grand Canyon West airport, the adventure continues on the ground. We hopped on an air-conditioned shuttle bus to explore the viewpoints along the rim.
4. VIP at the Rim Helicopter Tour, another popular Grand Canyon West helicopter tour from Las Vegas
One of the highlights of this tour is the optional Skywalk upgrade. You can also visit the Indian Village at Eagle Point to learn about the rich cultural heritage of the Hualapai Tribe. Next, the shuttle takes you to Guano Point, where you can enjoy 360° views and see the historical remains of an aerial tramway. Both Eagle Point and Guano Point are among the most picturesque viewpoints in the Grand Canyon.
This aerial helicopter tour of Grand Canyon West concludes with a flight back to Las Vegas.
- Highlights: Helicopter flight over Hoover Dam, Lake Mead, and Grand Canyon West; shuttle bus to West Rim lookouts; Skywalk (optional)
- Duration: 7 hours (70-minute flight)
- Departure: Las Vegas
- Price from: $559
5. King of Canyons, one of the best Grand Canyon West Rim helicopter tours with landing
The King of Canyons Tour is the best choice for couples looking for a luxurious experience. This 5-star Grand Canyon West flight tour departs from Las Vegas, offering stunning aerial views of famous landmarks along the way.
Once you reach the West Rim, you’ll make a descent of over 3,200 feet to a private plateau on the canyon floor. There, you’ll be greeted with a champagne picnic and close-up views of the Colorado River and canyon walls in front of you. There is no doubt why we consider it one of the top Grand Canyon helicopter tours from Las Vegas. Besides, we took the sunset upgrade to enjoy the canyon in the golden hour glow and it was magical!
5. King of Canyons, one of the best Grand Canyon West Rim helicopter tours with landing
The itinerary is well-timed, giving you about 30 minutes at the bottom of the Grand Canyon to explore the rugged rock formations, unique desert plants, and beautiful scenery along the river. No surprise, it’s considered one of the most popular tours to the Grand Canyon West Rim.
- Highlights: Helicopter flight over Hoover Dam, Lake Mead, and Grand Canyon West; below-the-rim landing; champagne picnic; sunset flight (optional)
- Duration: 4-4.5 hours (70-minute flight)
- Departure: Las Vegas
- Price from: $569
6. Grand Voyager, a Grand Canyon West tour by helicopter, airplane, and boat
If you’re looking for a comprehensive yet affordable air tour to Grand Canyon West, don’t hesitate to book this excursion. It’s one of the best helicopter tours from Las Vegas, with a convenient hotel pick-up service and a short transfer to the Boulder City Terminal. From there, you’ll board a private sightseeing airplane for a 35-minute flight to Grand Canyon West, so you’ll be able to see iconic formations and viewpoints along the way.
6. Grand Voyager, a Grand Canyon West tour by helicopter, airplane, and boat
Once you land at the Grand Canyon West Airport, you’ll descend 4,000 feet to the canyon floor to board a pontoon boat for a leisurely cruise along the Colorado River. After the boat ride, you’ll take the helicopter back to the rim of the canyon. Here, an air-conditioned motorcoach will transport you to some of the best viewpoints in the West Rim. You’ll even have time to explore the Skywalk if you opt for the upgrade.
With an exciting chopper ride to Grand Canyon West, you’ll have plenty of opportunities to capture breathtaking photos and explore the area. This all-encompassing excursion is one of my favorite Grand Canyon tours since it allows you to experience the canyon from top to bottom, combining airplane, helicopter, boat and bus.
- Highlights: Airplane flight over Hoover Dam and Lake Mead; helicopter tour of Grand Canyon West; below-the-rim landing; Colorado River cruise; shuttle bus to West Rim lookouts; Skywalk (optional)
- Duration: 7 hours (70-minute flight)
- Departure point: Las Vegas
- Price from: $594
7. West Rim Highlights, the best Grand Canyon West air tour for family trips
If you’re on a tight budget and schedule but want to fully appreciate the beauty of the canyon, consider this tour. This affordable chopper tour to Grand Canyon West includes pick-up from your Vegas hotel and a ride in a sightseeing airplane. You’ll enjoy breathtaking aerial views of the famous viewpoints and the Skywalk.
7. West Rim Highlights, the best Grand Canyon West air tour for family trips
It’s also one of the most budget-friendly tours from Las Vegas to the Grand Canyon. Don’t worry if you were set on taking a helicopter; the views from the airplane are just as good since it has panoramic windows that allow for plenty of photos.
- Highlights: Airplane flight over Hoover Dam, Lake Mead and West Rim
- Duration: 4 hours (70-minute flight)
- Departure point: Las Vegas
- Price from: $244
Grand Canyon West Rim helicopter tours price comparison
Below, you can see the prices of the Grand Canyon West helicopter tours I mentioned, as well as durations, included transportation, and highlights:
TOUR | PRICE FROM | DEPARTS FROM | DURATION | TRANSPORTATION | HIGHLIGHTS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
$169 | Grand Canyon West | 20 minutes | ✈️ | • Grand Canyon West |
|
$289 | Grand Canyon West | 1 hour (15-minute flight) | 🚁🛥️ | • Grand Canyon West |
|
$399 | Las Vegas | 3-4.5 hours (70-minute flight) | 🚁 | • Hoover Dam |
|
$559 | Las Vegas | 7 hours (70-minute flight) | 🚁🚐 | • Hoover Dam |
|
$569 | Las Vegas | 4-4.5 hours (70-minute flight) | 🚁 | • Hoover Dam |
|
$594 | Las Vegas | 7 hours (70-minute flight) | ✈️🚁🛥️ 🚐 | • Hoover Dam |
|
$244 | Las Vegas | 4 hours (70-minute flight) | ✈️ | • Hoover Dam |
|
BEST GRAND CANYON WEST RIM HELICOPTER TOURS |
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As you can see, if you’re looking for the cheapest Grand Canyon West helicopter tours, it’s better to take an airplane tour. After all, the views are pretty much the same. Regarding the different airlines offering these tours, I love the Papillon helicopter tours because their prices are very competitive, and they give maximum flight time.
I have done three heli trips with this company and so far, so good. They have a wide variety of itineraries for exploring different areas of the Grand Canyon (including the South Rim), Las Vegas, and many other locations, so I’m sure you’ll find one you like.
FAQs – Best Grand Canyon West Rim helicopter tours
Here are some of the most frequently asked questions about the best helicopter tours to the Grand Canyon West Rim.
What is the best Grand Canyon West Rim helicopter tour?
This excursion is the best Grand Canyon West Rim helicopter tour. It’s a comprehensive excursion with a landing at the canyon floor, combined with a boat ride and optional Skywalk experience.
How much is a Grand Canyon West Rim helicopter tour?
The cost of a Grand Canyon West Rim helicopter tour is typically between $200 and $500 per person, depending on the duration and included activities.
What is the cheapest Grand Canyon West Rim helicopter tour?
This flight is the cheapest helicopter ride over Grand Canyon West. If you’re planning a budget-friendly trip to this natural wonder, don’t miss our guides on cheap Grand Canyon hotels and cheap flights to the Grand Canyon.
When is the ideal time to take a Grand Canyon West Rim helicopter tour?
The best time to visit the Grand Canyon for a helicopter tour of the West Rim is spring or fall. These seasons offer milder temperatures, fewer crowds, and optimal visibility for spectacular views. As for the time of day, the morning is best because it’s cooler and clearer. Alternatively, a sunset tour lets you see the canyon at golden hour.
How long is a typical Grand Canyon West Rim helicopter tour?
A typical Grand Canyon West Rim helicopter tour lasts between 30 minutes and 2 hours, depending on the tour package and additional activities included. If your flight departs from Las Vegas, it will be at least 3 hours.
Are Grand Canyon West helicopter tours safe?
Yes, Grand Canyon West helicopter tours are safe, with well-maintained aircraft, and experienced pilots, and operators adhering to strict safety regulations.
Is a Grand Canyon West Rim helicopter tour worth it?
Absolutely! A Grand Canyon West Rim helicopter tour is worth it for the unique aerial views, thrilling experience, and the opportunity to see the Grand Canyon from a new perspective.
And that’s all about the best Grand Canyon West Rim helicopter tours. I hope you found it informative and inspiring! If you have any questions or want to share your own experience taking a chopper ride over the West Rim, please leave a comment below. I’d love to hear your stories.
Safe travels!
