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.
Departure Points
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.
What to wear during this season deserves consideration. Dressing in layers is the best way to go. Specifically, find a good base layer. This might be a t-shirt or a polyester shirt that wicks moisture and keeps you warm. You probably have tops like that already and won't need to buy anything new. Over that, I'd wear a sweater and then a Parka-like jacket. A pair of gloves, a scarf, long pants, wool socks and a pair of sturdy shoes are also suggested.
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.
Departure Points
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.
What to wear during this season deserves consideration. Dressing in layers is the best way to go. Specifically, find a good base layer. This might be a t-shirt or a polyester shirt that wicks moisture and keeps you warm. You probably have tops like that already and won't need to buy anything new. Over that, I'd wear a sweater and then a Parka-like jacket. A pair of gloves, a scarf, long pants, wool socks and a pair of sturdy shoes are also suggested.
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.
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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