Maverick Helicopters is a Las Vegas-based tour operator that operates excursions to the West Rim and the South Rim of Grand Canyon National Park. I recently had the pleasure of flying them to Grand Canyon West from Las Vegas. Here is a report on my journey:

Maverick Helicopters is a high quality supplier of helicopter trips. They pride themselves on quality and client service. I researched them on a couple of highly regarded travel forums. Customers unanimously praised their experience. Undoubtedly a good sign.

Maverick has a lot of excellent flights from which to choose, ranging from canyon sunset flights and river-rafting packages to glass bridge tickets and Valley of Fire flyovers. I scheduled an all-inclusive tour known as the Wind Dancer. It flies to the base of the canyon.

One important thing that differentiates Maverick from the pack is the location of its terminal. It's conveniently located on the south end of the Las Vegas strip. Transfer from hotel to the heliport usually takes minutes. Furthermore, due to its location, all Maverick trips include flying over the Las Vegas Strip.

The company's fleet of choppers is comprised completely of EcoStar 130 aircraft. The EcoStar's cabin is 25 percent larger than the typical chopper's. The extra space results in theater-style seating and plenty of leg-and-elbow room. Furthermore, it comes with a 180-degree wrap-around windshield and a Fenestron tail rotor that reduces noise. Travelers get their own headsets. This lets you plug in to the digital communication system and listen to a trip narration or talk with the pilot and the other passengers.

The flight over was brilliant. Grand Canyon West is a 45-minute flight from Maverick Helicopter's terminal. The flight plan takes you directly over Lake Mead, Hoover Dam, and the brand new Hoover Dam Bypass Bridge. Helis soar at a lower elevation than planes so the bird's eye view you will get of the Dam is breathtaking.

Our West Rim approach was stunning. I could see the Sky Walk gleaming beneath the desert sun. The 4,000-foot descent goes through 3 cycles of geological time before landing. Maverick's dirt helipad was near the well-known Colorado River. It's humbling when you consider that this river single-handedly produced the Grand Canyon. I pulled out of my reverie and joined the remainder of the group for a Champagne picnic.

Our pilot offered to guide us about the base (we were also able to explore on our own). I chose to go out with him. I'm glad I did. If not I would have had my head caught in my guide book. Maverick also offers a chopper trip that lets you prolong a bottom landing with a water rafting trip down the Colorado.

The flight back is fantastic. We re-visited Lake Mead and Hoover Dam and then veered northward and strafed the Valley of Fire. This area is made up of vibrant orange sandstone. It's really a surreal spot and I've never quite seen anything like it. One passenger said it reminded him of Moab, UT.

Our return took us over the Las Vegas Strip. This is one more of those Maverick benefits. We hovered over the sky line. To my left, I saw the Planet Hollywood, Paris, MGM Grand, the Wynn, and more. On the ground, I opted to buy my tour on DVD. The quality is great and definitely makes the perfect memento.

Select Maverick Helicopters if you are looking for a high quality Grand Canyon helicopter tour from Las Vegas. The client service is five-star. The aircraft are state-of-the-art. And the quality of the tour is peerless. Save money by booking their tours on the web. I did and I know for certain that I nipped off 20 percent. A visit to Las Vegas is not complete without a West Rim helicopter tour. So do it in style. Do it with Maverick Helicopters.