Grand Canyon Travel: Heli Rides For Winter National Park Visitors
by Kate Reingold
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
Chopper tours depart from two locations: Las Vegas, NV, and Grand Canyon National Park Airport, AZ. Flights that originate from Vegas go to the West Rim, while Arizona-based trips explore the South Rim. There are helicopter flights between the rims. Vegas travelers who want the South Rim are advised to take fly by airplane and then transfer to a helicopter.
Also, be award of the climate differences between the two rims, as it is colder at the South Rim. That's because it has a higher elevation at 6700 feet. The West Rim, meanwhile, has an elevation of 4700 feet. December to March, the temperatures at the South Rim are about 40-50 degrees in the daytime and at night they plummet down to 18-25 degrees. The West Rim sees temperatures between 60-70 during the day and 40s at night during the winter months.
It's not even unusual to see know at the Canyon in the winter. The snowstorms usually pass through the Canyon quickly, so it's rare that a tour will be canceled because of bad weather. The snow is mainly confined to the South Rim, but occasionally you'll see light snow at the West Rim too.
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.
I especially recommend dressing for weather if you book a landing tour. These trips fly out exclusively from Las Vegas; South Rim helicopters are not allowed to fly below the rim and land. Landing options include going to the bottom of the canyon for a Champagne picnic, Colorado River boat rides and VIP Grand Canyon Skywalk tickets. These air-ground trips are very much in demand so make sure you book prior to arriving in Las Vegas.
Book Soon
So when should you book your tour? Well, during the winter, there are fewer helicopters in operation, and each chopper only holds six passengers, so to be safe, try to get your seats at least a week ahead of time. Don't forget to buy your seats from the tour operator over the Internet. The lowest rate available is the Internet rate, but you only qualify if you complete your purchase online, if you buy in person or over the phone, you'll have to pay more for your tour.
Grand Canyon specialist Kate Reingold recommends these <a href="http://www.grandcanyonhelicopter.org/best-grand-canyon-helicopter-tours.html"><b>hot Canyon helicopters</b></a>. She also suggests going here for vouchers that make these flights more cost-effective: <a href="http://www.grandcanyonhelicopter.org/grand-canyon-helicopter-tour-coupons.html"><b>http://www.grandcanyonhelicopter.org/grand-canyon-helicopter-tour-coupons.html</b></a>
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