No matter where you have been and the sights and sounds you have seen, you have not seen anything yet until you have had a bird’s eye view of the Grand Canyon. You are able to go on a helicopter tour of the Canyon from various departure points. One choice that guarantees you views you will take in with delight and remember with fondness is South Rim helicopter flights.

There are other tour options like taking a hike, driving through, biking and even taking a mule ride but nothing beats an aerial view. You'll become among the 5 million visitors that go to the Canyon annually since it was formally recognized as a national park in 1919.

Helicopter trip options can be done according to how long you want to tour for, the point you want to depart from, the number of passengers that'll be on-board the flight and if extras like champagne will be included. Different tour companies have different options and prices for the tours they offer and it's also worth it to take the time to compare them.

One option for a Grand Canyon South Rim helicopter tour begins from Vegas. You can get to the Canyon on a luxury coach during which you make a stop at the Hoover Dam where you get the opportunity to take photographic mementos of your trip. After this your tour starts. The tour takes 35 minutes and it takes you over the Grand Canyon South Rim.

Another tour choice is taking off from Grand Canyon Airport situated in Arizona. The 45-minute tour will lift you above the 1.6 million-acre Kaibab National Forest where the world’s biggest ponderosa pines grow. You will circle the Colorado River and you will catch sight of the Desert View Watchtower and the Painted Desert, which is recognized as a Historic Landmark.

You can also go over the Marble Canyon and Point Imperial, which is the North Rim summit, and then the flight continues on through the Canyon, over the North Rim and then turns southwards over the Dragon Corridor, the deepest and broadest area of the Canyon. From here, the journey back to the airport begins.

Yet another choice is a twenty-five minute, rim-to-rim tour. This one begins at the Grand Canyon Airport in Arizona as well. The flight covers the Kaibab National Forest, passes through the Dragon Corridor and Colorado River before reaching the North Rim. On the return leg through the Dragon Corridor, you can spot the Tower of Ra and Vishnu Schist.

When you pick a helicopter tour package, keep some factors in mind. One is the option of the choppers themselves. Some are lavish, with extras like wraparound windows that offer clear views of the Grand Canyon and a serving of champagne. Look at costs too; choosing what suits your budget based on the flight duration and how many people will be taking the flight. Also be sure to make early bookings because the Canyon is a very popular tourist destination.