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By Luke Plunket

If you desire to take a Grand Canyon chopper ride, you must choose between the West Rim and the South Rim. Difficult decision because both are breathtaking. Here’s a breakdown of the rims designed to make your choice easy:

The West Rim

The West Rim is 120 miles west of Vegas on Hualapai Indian tribal lands. It will take a chopper 45 minutes to get there, making it a terrific excursion if you’re tight on time and can just spare half a day. It is also well-known for this: The Grand Canyon Glass Walkway and chopper tours that land at the bottom.

The “glass bridge” consists of 44 specially made glass panels that cost $250,000 each. This glass observation deck stretches 70 feet beyond the edge and suspends you 4,000 feet above the Colorado River. An engineering miracle, the bridge is able to endure magnitude 8 earthquakes and wind gusts in excess of 100 miles per hour. Cameras and other personal electronics are forbidden; photographers are around to take your picture. Tip: Be sure that the Glass Walkway is bundled into your helicopter tour at time of purchase. It’s cheaper.

The helicopter ride to the bottom is intense. The descent is 15-minutes in length and puts you in direct contact with the canyon’s steep cliffs and twisted rock formations. The exposed rock represents four eras of geological time, making it the oldest exposed material on the Planet’s surface. Helicopters land on exclusive landing pads. Here, you will deplane and revel in a Champagne toast under an authentic Indian Ramada. Next, go and check out surrounding area and the nearby Colorado River.

The marketplace for West Rim helicopter tours is very competitive – shop for best deals. Should you book using the web, be ready to save up to 35 %. Total round-trip time is 4 hours and incorporates hotel pick up and drop off and lunch. There are many activities that you can add to your trip, like horse riding, kayaking, Hummer 4×4 tours, and ATV trail riding. Total trip time four hours. Packages start between $235 and $335.

Grand Canyon National Park (South Rim)

All helicopter trips originate from Grand Canyon Airport in Tusayan, a town 10 minutes from the Park’s main entrance. From Phoenix and Sedona, it is a two-hour and four-hour drive, respectively. From Vegas, you must purchase an air-ground deal, which is done onboard a fixed-wing Vistaliner aircraft and takes 45 minutes.

Upon arriving at the rim, you’ll transfer to a chopper and head out above the Kaibab Plateau until you get to the Dragoon Corridor, the widest, deepest section of the canyon. Other landmarks include the Painted Desert, the North Rim, the Zuni Corridor and Temple Butte. The Vegas package also includes ground transfer to the South Rim, where you will enjoy several hours exploring the Park, including the restaurants and gift shops at Grand Canyon Village.

The South Rim is the place where the most famous pictures and images of the canyon have been taken. Chopper trips last approximately 40 minutes. Total Las Vegas trip time, including helicopter ride and coach transfer to Grand Canyon Village, is six hours, and includes hotel pick up and drop off and lunch. South Rim heli trips start at $135 a person. The Las Vegas package starts at $360 per person.

Let’s Go!

The Grand Canyon is 190 miles in length and encompasses at least 1,900 square miles. On foot, you’ll see 45 miles of canyon – flying, 140 miles (even more if you fly from Vegas to the South Rim). If you really want to enjoy the canyon, flying is option number one. Next up: Choosing between the West Rim and the South Rim. The West Rim is packed with things to do, and it is near to Las Vegas. The South Rim boasts the best viewpoints, hiking trails, and guest amenities. The 3 top tour operators – Sundance, Maverick and Papillon – offer helicopter and air-helicopter-ground trips to both rims, varying in price from $135 per person to $360 per person. To find the best deals, always book online. Now, with this information in mind, you’re cleared for lift off.

About the Author: Mr. Plunket is a travel writer who reports on all things Grand Canyon. He recommends readers click Grand Canyon helicopter tours for the best deals on flights to the West Rim and South Rim of the National Park.

Source: isnare.com

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