Grand Canyon Helicopter Tour with Champagne Toast

We took this Grand Canyon trip after reading reviews and picking this one because we wanted to make the best of the time we had. We added the strip flyover extra to our tour. What a great tour it was too. The communication from the tour provider was great with clear instructions. Make sure you pay attention to this too! We were picked up from our Las Vegas hotel on time and taken to the heliport in Las Vegas. There is a fuel surcharge to pay on the day and this was not a surprise as it is mentioned in the exclusions prior. Before we boarded we were advised that there are no toilet stops until you return back to the heliport. If you have a weak bladder this is not for you. We were weighed with everything we were travelling with and your seating position is determined by this for balance. This is non negotiable as it's about safety which is totally fair! The flight there takes you over the Nevada desert as a reminder that Las Vegas is situated in the desert. You fly past the Hoover Dam and it doesn't matter which side you sit on the helicopter as the pilot will turn so everyone gets a good look. It takes between 35 and 45 minutes depending on winds to get to the landing zone down inside the Grand Canyon. It was such an amazing feeling and view flying over the edge and down into the Canyon. Pictures cannot do this place any justice as only the human eye can truly appreciate the scale of it all. Once landed you get some time to take pictures before having the little picnic and champagne. Probably the best views you'll ever have for a picnic in your life! The picnic is basic but bear in mind that it is all shipped in with you in the helicopter. Where you land is not accessible by any means other than air so remember that everything around you got there by air. Little things (like no toilet) become insignificant when you take a look around you and taking the wonder of the place. Be respectful and take everything you came with back with you. The flight back takes in more views and is more direct. Our pilot, Jeremy, was excellent and gave us a good commentary on what was around. There is turbulence and it is normal. Jeremy gave us a heads up when it was coming too so it calms any flying nerves you might have. When arriving back for the sunset flying over the strip you get a good view of downtown Las Vegas as well as the massive resorts of the strip. You do fly to one side of the strip so some get better views than others but you still see so much. On landing you are taken back to the terminal building and you are under no pressure to tip or to purchase any photos which is good considering the cost of the trip. Out in the Canyon you are able to plenty of photos of your own but the photos taken before departure are good. There are plenty of people to help and we were advised on our transfer back to our hotel or pickup location. The buses do make several stops and these are all traffic dependant. You can make your own way to the heliport as it's close to the strip but the bus took 15 minutes max and we were the last drop off. All in all it was a great experience to fly to the Grand Canyon and add on the extra strip flyover. I would recommend this to anyone who wants to do this experience with a little bit of extra style.