This blog may contain affiliate links. Read our disclosure policy for more info.
Las Vegas is famous for two main things: crazy nightlife, and the Grand Canyon!
Taking a helicopter tour to the Grand Canyon is one of the best and most famous things to do in Las Vegas, so of course, we just had to book one! But helicopter tours definitely don’t come cheap, so we’re here to help you decide whether or not it’s worth it.
In this blog, we’re going to share our honest thoughts about the helicopter tour that we did. Keep on reading to find out what we liked, what we didn’t, and whether the tour was ultimately worth it.
What Grand Canyon helicopter tour did we do?
We chose this half-day helicopter tour, and it appealed to us for a few reasons. For one thing, it includes hotel pickup and drop-off so we didn’t need to worry about getting ourselves to the helicopter terminal. And since it’s only a half-day tour, it was easy to fit into our busy schedule!
We also really liked the itinerary of the tour, as we got to fly over the Hoover Dam, the Mojave desert, and below the rim of the Grand Canyon. The tour also includes a visit to Eagle Point, a stunning lookout point with a glass Skywalk over the canyon. We knew this would cost extra on the day, but we were still really keen to go.
And then what really sold this tour to us was the amazing reviews! The tour has 230+ 5-star reviews, so we knew we were in good hands. We also made sure to book a tour that offered free cancellation, since helicopter tours aren’t cheap!
Read all the reviews and book this exact helicopter tour here!
What I loved about this tour
The sights
Where do I even start? Flying over the Grand Canyon and actually getting to dip below the rim was truly amazing – it’s the kind of thing you really have to see to believe! Seeing the Hoover Dam was incredible, too, and we loved flying over the Las Vegas strip!
Pilot’s expert commentary
Our pilot, Will, delivered fantastic commentary throughout the tour and we loved listening! It was so interesting to learn more about the history of the Grand Canyon and some fun stories about Vegas and the Mojave desert.
How long we flew
We were in the air for about 90 minutes in total on this tour, so we got a great amount of time in the air! Some helicopter tours are really short and don’t give you that long of a flight, but with this tour, we flew about 45 minutes each way, so we spent over an hour in the air. We were so impressed by this and for us, it made the price of the tour more than worth it.
Reserve now, pay later options
We booked this tour through Viator, which meant we were able to take advantage of the “reserve now, pay later” option. This allowed us to secure our spot on the tour ahead of time, but we only had to pay 48 hours before the tour. We think that this option is really helpful for an expensive tour like this one!
Easy to fit into a busy itinerary
Most people only go to Vegas for a few days at a time, but there’s a ton to do here! So we like the fact that this is a half-day tour because it leaves you with plenty of time to enjoy other Vegas activities. There are several time slots available, too, so it’s easy to fit in!
Amazing reviews
With 250+ positive reviews (which you can read here!), we felt confident booking this tour – and now, we can safely say that it lived up to the hype. As you can imagine, there are lots of helicopter tours available in Las Vegas, but not many of them have a perfect 5-star rating. However, this one does!
Related Read: Planning a quick trip to Vegas? Check out our guide to spending 2 days in Las Vegas!
What are the highlights of this tour?
Grand Canyon
Of course, the Grand Canyon is the main attraction on this helicopter tour! Seeing it in real life is truly a jaw-dropping experience. Photos just can’t quite capture how vast it truly is. Flying over it and getting to fly below the west rim was truly a once-in-a-lifetime experience.
Hoover Dam
The Hoover Dam is probably the world’s most famous hydroelectric dam, and it’s also one of the most popular tourist attractions in the whole of the USA, so I think it’s safe to say that it’s a must-see while in Vegas!
Built in the 1930s, it remains one of the tallest dams in the world, as it’s around the equivalent of 60 stories! But honestly, we didn’t really appreciate just how impressive it was until we flew over it. It’s pretty mind-blowing to see from above!
Fly over Las Vegas (twice!)
We loved flying over the city of Las Vegas and its famous strip on the tour, especially because we got to do it twice: both on the way out and the way back. Seeing all of the flashy, themed hotels, as well as the hustle and bustle of the strip from above was so much fun.
Grand Canyon Skywalk
One of the highlights of the tour was visiting the Skywalk at Eagle’s Point, which has glass floors and panels, and protrudes over the edge of the canyon’s rim! Walking along it was surreal and the views were absolutely beautiful. Tickets cost us $23 USD extra each on the day, and it was totally worth it.
Ready to book? Grab your spot on this bucket list tour of the Grand Canyon here!
How long did we spend in the helicopter?
It was a 45-minute flight each way, so we got 1.5 hours in the helicopter in total. This is a lot longer than most of the helicopter tours we’ve done, so we were really happy with this. We have paid the same amount for half of the time in the air before, so we really felt like we got our money’s worth with this tour.
What I didn’t like about this tour
I will preface this by saying that we were really happy with the tour that we did. There wasn’t anything major that we didn’t like, or anything that would put us off of doing the tour again. However, there were a few things that just could have been a little better.
It can be very hot in the cabin
The Grand Canyon is in the middle of the desert, so be prepared to sweat! Now, this really isn’t anything to do with the tour itself, as it’s not like they can control the weather, but it is something to be aware of if you struggle with the heat. During the summer, it can get very hot in the helicopter, so bear that in mind and dress in cool, comfortable clothing.
Could have used a little more time at Eagle Point
We got about 30 minutes at the Eagle Point lookout, which was just about enough, but honestly, I would have liked more time! We were transferred here by road from the Grand Canyon West airport where we landed, and then had to purchase our Skywalk tickets separately on the day, so I wish we had stayed a bit longer to really make it worth it. The views from the Skywalk were really beautiful so it would have been nice to have more time to enjoy them.
Options to land at the bottom of the canyon
Again, this isn’t really a criticism of this tour per se, but some tours like this one land at the bottom of the Grand Canyon, whereas ours landed on the edge. Don’t get me wrong, this was still a unique experience and we loved the views. However, since we got plenty of aerial views from the flight itself, if we were to go again, we would choose a tour that lands at the bottom of the canyon to get a different perspective!
Would I do this tour again?
Yes, we loved the tour but if truth be told, I think that the next time we do a Grand Canyon tour we’ll go with this deluxe helicopter tour instead. It has even better reviews than the tour that we did, and it lands at the bottom of the Grand Canyon instead of the top.
I can only imagine how exhilarating it would be to fly down right into the canyon and be able to explore down there, so that’s definitely what I want to do next! And as if that weren’t enough, you even get champagne and snacks down there – how cool is that?
Related Read: Another cool experience is the High Roller Ferris Wheel in Vegas – read our review!
Where to Stay in Las Vegas
There are about a million options to stay in Las Vegas, so it really comes down to your budget, location preference, and what you want to do! Keep in mind that prices can fluctuate by season or if there is a big event going on! But to help narrow down your options, here are our top three picks on the Vegas Strip.
Bellagio – $$$
There’s no doubt that the Bellagio is the premier hotel and casino on the Vegas Strip. So if your travel budget allows, I can’t think of a better place to stay for a lavish experience! Centrally located in the heart of the Strip, you’ll find multiple restaurants and bars, 5 pools, a spa, a huge casino, and amenities to make you feel like royalty.
Rooms are available varying from an average hotel room up to multi-bedroom strip-view suites, but even the “average” room is fitted with marble features. Regardless of what you choose, it will be luxurious and the service is top notch.
Prices range from $240 USD to $1,600+ USD, depending on the time of year and which room you select. Book your stay at the Bellagio on Booking.com
The LINQ – $$ (where we stayed!)
We stayed at The LINQ Hotel last time we were in Vegas and loved it! It’s centrally located on the Vegas Strip which means it’s super easy to visit the best casinos and restaurants. We also liked that it has direct access to the LINQ Promenade which is a huge open-air district with shopping, restaurants, and the huge High Roller Ferris Wheel which we hopped on one night!
The rooms are modern with artsy touches and if you can, try to get one that faces the strip or the High Roller Wheel for the best views! Prices can go as low as $50 USD, but average more around the $100 USD mark and can go higher depending on availability. Book The LINQ online here!
Excalibur – $
Just because you’re staying on the Strip doesn’t mean you have to blow your budget. Excalibur is a great choice to stay within budget and still get that Vegas resort feel. Located on the south end of the strip, it’s a short walk to the main attractions. You won’t be compromising quality with spacious, comfortable, and clean rooms, 4 onsite pools, 14 restaurants, and a large casino.
Best of all, rooms start at $21 USD! Check availability and book the Excalibur on Booking.com.
Don’t Forget Travel Insurance!
If you’re looking to save money on travel insurance, we currently use and recommend SafetyWing. We’ve been using their coverage since 2018 and they’ve had our backs when we needed emergency flights and got sick overseas.
SafetyWing is one of the cheapest providers out there and covers everything from medical costs to lost luggage, travel delays, and emergency flights. A huge difference we’ve found between them and other companies is that they let you take out a policy AFTER leaving your home country. We’ve also found it handy that it’s a monthly payment rather than a lump sum, and you can get a refund for unused time.
SafetyWing has helped us out in some scary situations before and their affordable coverage has given us peace of mind. You can read our honest review of SafetyWing for all the pros and cons.
Thanks for reading!
There’s so much to do in Vegas, but if you can squeeze in this helicopter flight, it’s totally worth it! The views were insane and it felt very VIP to fly to the Grand Canyon in a helicopter. Plus, who knows, maybe you’ll win big at the casinos and be able to treat yourself to this epic experience!
For more help planning a trip, all our blogs on the United States will come in handy. Along with Vegas, we’ve explored other must-see US destinations like New York City, Philadelphia, and Washington, DC.
How to Spend the Best 3 Days in Las Vegas