The Grand Canyon is more than 1 million acres in size. Ground tours let you "sniff" the park. If you want the maximum National Park experience, take an airplane tour. Flights go over the most beautiful and significant parts of the canyon, and, if you choose a landing tour, you'll get up close and personal with parts to which few have bore witness. It's because of how extraordinary these air tours are that I urge you to try one. To get you started in the right direction, here's a list of the best trips being offered today.

From Las Vegas

#1

Indian Adventure A crowd favorite. Direct, 25-minute flight from Vegas to Grand Canyon West Airport. Full access to the Park, including its free shuttle service. Points of interest include Guano Point, Eagle Point, Colorado River, and the Skywalk (additional cost). Comes with a juicy BBQ lunch. Make sure to check out the Indian Cultural Center and amphitheater for live, traditional Indian performances. Click for Prices & Flight Times

#2

Indian Adventure w/ Skywalk Don't see the canyon. Skywalk it! This package includes all-access, VIP pass to the internationally famous Glass Bridge, which lets you go 70 feet past the edge while being suspended 4,000 feet over the bottom. Afterward, hop the shuttle & check out Guano Point, a spectacular lookout that used to be a fully functional guano mine. This tour also comes lunch prepared by the Hualapai Tribe as well as complimentary access to the Indian Cultural Center. Click for Prices & Flight Times

#3

Grand Voyager Do this tour and you've nearly see it all! Flight from Vegas to West Rim. Transfer to helicopter for 4,000-foot descent to bottom. Board a steel pontoon boat for a thrilling ride down the legendary Colorado River. The ascent back to the top is equally exciting. Comes with plenty of time to explore all key West Rim points of interest. Lunch and cultural center access included. This truly is the most comprehensive air tour currently being offered. Click for Prices & Flight Times

From Grand Canyon, Arizona

#1

Grand Discovery Air Tour The mother of all South Rim air tours. Takes off from Grand Canyon Airport, AZ, then heads east over Desert Watchtower, through the Zuni Corridor and over the Colorado River confluence (where the rivers join). And it doesn't stop there. The return follows the majestic South Rim before cutting through the Dragoon Corridor and passing stately Grand Canyon Village en route to a thrilling landing. If you only have a day or two at the National Park, this flight is a "must-do." Click for Prices & Flight Times

West Rim or South Rim?

Las Vegas travelers will most likely fly to the West Rim, which is 120 miles to the east (20 minute flight). There's a Vegas to South Rim flight cthat leaves daily and takes 45 minutes. Do a South Rim tour if you are coming up from Phoenix, Sedona or Sedona.

The rims have very different geography. The West Rim is high desert while the South Rim, elevation 6,000 feet, is ponderosa pine. The West Rim is famous for thrills, adventure and Indian culture while the South is internationally famous for its scenic beauty. More information about the history of the canyon can be found at the National Parks Service.

South Rim Airplane Tour From Vegas The South Rim is a work of art. Most likely any pictures you've seen of the canyon were taken here. But getting there from Vegas is no picnic as it's 277 miles away. Enter the Grand Canyon Deluxe tour, which gets you there in 45 minutes and comes with a 2-hour plus ground tour inside the National Park. This is one of the all-time best Vegas airplane tours out there. If you're going to make the trek, do it this way.

Landing Tours

These packages are only available out of Las Vegas. All South Rim flights are airborne. Landing tours are a great value as they bundle in helicopter flights, boat rides, Skywalk passes and coach tours. The most spectacular is the one that includes the helicopter ride to the bottom. This is a West Rim exclusive.

Everything Included

Only Vegas flights are all-inclusive. Most of these packages come with free hotel shuttle service, grab-and-go breakfast (a.m. starts only), lunch and a professionally guided ground tour. If you are flying out of the South Rim airport, you must provide your own transportation.

A Special Kind of Airplane

Many folk are under the impression that these air tours are conducted aboard a four-seat Cessna. Not true. In most cases you'll be flying aboard a deHavilland that's being thoroughly customized for canyon sightseeing. These planes, called Vistaliners, feature over-sized viewing windows, comfortable seats, climate-controlled cabins and quiet-flight technology.

Safety First!

Canyon air tours are monitored under the auspices of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). This also applies to airspace above the National Park. Two, FAA-trained and certified pilots man each flight, and all aircraft are equipped with the newest navigation and communications equipment. Put it all together and you're in good hands.

Quick Tips

1. RSVP. Book your tour online at least three days before departure. Obviously, the more days out the better.
2. Fly in a.m. Try to get a morning flight. Visibility is best at this time and the ride is smoother.
3. Book Online. The best deals are officially on the Internet. I get up to 35 percent off regularly. You can, too.
4. Seating. Sit on the left en route to the canyon for better views of Lake Mead, the Hoover Dam and the Colorado River.
5. Do a Landing Tour. The best air tours are topped off with a ground tour. My preference is the one that includes the helicopter to the bottom.

Make It a Grand Day!