It's winter again and a great time to visit the Grand Canyon National Park. The temperatures have cooled down to the low 40s, there is occasional snow, and the air is crystal clear. The conditions are perfect for taking a helicopter tour over this amazing national landmark.
Where To Start Your Tour
There are two locations for taking a helicopter tour, and one of them is in Vegas, while the other is in Arizona. Helicopters that depart from Vegas fly to the West Rim and the choppers that depart from Tusayan fly to the South Rim of the Canyon. Just so you know, there are no flights between the two rims. Vegas travelers who want the South Rim are advised to take fly by airplane and then transfer to a helicopter.
The South Rim is colder than the West Rim. This is due to its elevation, which is 6,700 feet. The West Rim's elevation is 4,700. Thus, from December to March, the South Rim's temps will range from 40 to 50 degrees during the day and 18 to 25 degrees at night. By contrast, the West Rim's temps during these months will range from 60 to 70 degrees during daytime and in the 40's during night.
During winter, there's a strong chance there will be snow on the ground. The snowstorms usually pass through the Canyon quickly, so it's rare that a tour will be canceled because of bad weather. The West Rim is usually snow-free, but once in a blue moon it will get lightly dusted.
Tour Refunds
In the rare event your helicopter tour is canceled because of bad weather, your tour operator should give you a 100 percent refund of your money. However, if you buy your tour from a tour consolidator, you may run into trouble because they often remove the refund policy since they are in the business of filling empty seats. So, to be safe, buy your tour directly from the tour operator and avoid sites like Priceline, HotWire, and Expedia.
Another thing to think about is what you will wear on your tour. It's best to dress in layers. Start with a base layer. This might be a t-shirt or a polyester shirt that wicks moisture and keeps you warm. These tops are easy to find and inexpensive. Top your shirt with a sweater and then a parka or other jacket. Accessories you'll need include gloves, wool socks, long pants, and sturdy shoes.
If you plan to land at the Canyon, you definitely want to dress for the weather. The only place you can take a landing tour is from Vegas to the West Rim, since the helicopters at the South Rim can't land at the Canyon. When you take a landing tour, you can add on tickets to the Skywalk, enjoy a Champagne picnic, or take a boat ride on the Colorado River. Landing tours are very popular, so you want to book your seats in advance.
Take Action!
How far in advance should you make your reservations? A week ahead of time is a good idea, or earlier if you can, because each helicopter only holds six people, and during the winter, some choppers are pulled from service. Further, and I mentioned this earlier in the article, book your flight direct from the operator on the Internet. The best deals are clearly on the Web, but, in order to make sure you get them, you must fully complete your transaction online (lots of people fail to do this and end up getting billed the retail rate!).
Where To Start Your Tour
There are two locations for taking a helicopter tour, and one of them is in Vegas, while the other is in Arizona. Helicopters that depart from Vegas fly to the West Rim and the choppers that depart from Tusayan fly to the South Rim of the Canyon. Just so you know, there are no flights between the two rims. Vegas travelers who want the South Rim are advised to take fly by airplane and then transfer to a helicopter.
The South Rim is colder than the West Rim. This is due to its elevation, which is 6,700 feet. The West Rim's elevation is 4,700. Thus, from December to March, the South Rim's temps will range from 40 to 50 degrees during the day and 18 to 25 degrees at night. By contrast, the West Rim's temps during these months will range from 60 to 70 degrees during daytime and in the 40's during night.
During winter, there's a strong chance there will be snow on the ground. The snowstorms usually pass through the Canyon quickly, so it's rare that a tour will be canceled because of bad weather. The West Rim is usually snow-free, but once in a blue moon it will get lightly dusted.
Tour Refunds
In the rare event your helicopter tour is canceled because of bad weather, your tour operator should give you a 100 percent refund of your money. However, if you buy your tour from a tour consolidator, you may run into trouble because they often remove the refund policy since they are in the business of filling empty seats. So, to be safe, buy your tour directly from the tour operator and avoid sites like Priceline, HotWire, and Expedia.
Another thing to think about is what you will wear on your tour. It's best to dress in layers. Start with a base layer. This might be a t-shirt or a polyester shirt that wicks moisture and keeps you warm. These tops are easy to find and inexpensive. Top your shirt with a sweater and then a parka or other jacket. Accessories you'll need include gloves, wool socks, long pants, and sturdy shoes.
If you plan to land at the Canyon, you definitely want to dress for the weather. The only place you can take a landing tour is from Vegas to the West Rim, since the helicopters at the South Rim can't land at the Canyon. When you take a landing tour, you can add on tickets to the Skywalk, enjoy a Champagne picnic, or take a boat ride on the Colorado River. Landing tours are very popular, so you want to book your seats in advance.
Take Action!
How far in advance should you make your reservations? A week ahead of time is a good idea, or earlier if you can, because each helicopter only holds six people, and during the winter, some choppers are pulled from service. Further, and I mentioned this earlier in the article, book your flight direct from the operator on the Internet. The best deals are clearly on the Web, but, in order to make sure you get them, you must fully complete your transaction online (lots of people fail to do this and end up getting billed the retail rate!).
About the Author:
Grand Canyon National Park authority Kate Reingold recommends these hot Canyon helicopters. She also recommends going here for discounts that make these flights more affordable: http://www.grandcanyonhelicopter.org/grand-canyon-helicopter-tour-coupons.html
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