Bucket list experience:
Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona, United States of America (USA)
There are few more jaw-dropping landscapes in the world than the ‘Grand Canyon’ – the mighty 277-mile long, 1-mile-deep gash, carved into the Arizona rock by the Colorado River.
Given its gargantuan scale, you need height and distance to appreciate its scale and majesty. Helicopter tours afford flyers a bird-eye view, and are able to descend thousands of feet below the canyon’s rim. Some tours even land at the canyon’s base for sunset cocktails.
Without question one of the world’s greatest helicopter flights and unmissable.
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Destination Guide >The shortest tours, with flights of 20-30 minutes, depart from landing sites inside the park. Another popular option is to fly from Las Vegas.
The Grand Canyon is roughly 250 miles – or just under an hour’s flight away from Las Vegas. Most Vegas-departing tours range anywhere from four hours to all-day affairs. They also usually include flyovers en-route of other notable sights, like Lake Mead, the Hoover Dam, and the sandstone rock formations in the Valley of Fire.
There’s no minimum age, but it’s not really suitable for children under 12.
Though generally cheaper than helicopter tours, plane tours don’t offer as intimate or personalised an experience. Planes can’t descend into the canyon, and many passengers – even frequent flyers – get airsick from the windy, bumpy ride.
Our selection of the best Viator tours of this attraction or activity
Las Vegas
$300 | Rating 4.66 / 5 [42 ratings]
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Las Vegas
$350 | Rating 4.90 / 5 [91 ratings]
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Las Vegas
$499 | Rating 4.56 / 5 [592 ratings]
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Las Vegas
$549 | Rating 4.80 / 5 [141 ratings]
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Destination guides including or relevant to this experience
Arizona, United States of America (USA)
One of the world’s great natural wonders and unsurpassed geological phenomenon – a 277-mile long, 1-mile-deep gorge carved into the Arizona bedrock over billions of years by the Colorado River.
Our writer’s recommendations of other bucket list experiences our writer says you must do in this destination, closest first
Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona, United States of America (USA)[15.1 miles]
A 7-mile each-way trail, departing from the South Rim, is a popular (but long) single-day hike that gets you out into the scenery, down to the floor of the Grand Canyon.
Best for ages: 13+ | Free | 1 day
Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona, United States of America (USA)[19.3 miles]
The vertiginous South Kaibab Trail is a stunning hike on a well-maintained dirt trail. Stops at Ooh-Aah Point (1 mile), Cedar Ridge (1.5 miles) and Skeleton Point (3 miles).
Best for ages: 13+ | Free | 1 day
Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona, United States of America (USA)[48.7 miles]
A spectacular 23-mile drive takes you along the southern rim of the Grand Canyon with regular viewpoints (with parking) along the way. Jaw-dropping views of Canyon landscapes are guaranteed.
Best for ages: 6+ | Free | 2 hours
