Labor Day will soon be here, and that means the opportunity for a summer airplane tour of the Grand Canyon is about over. Lots of people are taking their last vacations of the summer, so the tours will fill up fast.

Airplane Tours Departing From Vegas

Heading from Vegas, travelers can take air tours that go to either the West Rim or the South Rim of the canyon on a tour plane. It takes about a half hour to fly from Vegas to the West Rim and around an hour to fly to the South Rim. When you consider it can take almost six hours to drive to the South Rim, you save quite a bit of time.

There are two kinds of airplane tours. One is a landing tour and the other is an air-only tour. Both will fly you above Lake Mead, Hoover Dam and the Colorado River, before flying over the canyon. The tours that are marked air only will only take you in a loop over the canyon, while a landing tour will let you explore it.

If you need to watch your budget, then an air tour is ideal since it is the least expensive. However, you'll see more if you do a landing tour. The airplane tour that lands at the West Rim is especially popular. It's exciting because you can upgrade the tour to include a helicopter descent to the bottom of the canyon and a boat ride along the Colorado River that wends it's way along the base of the towering rock walls.

Another landing tour option is to buy VIP passes to the famous Skywalk. The Skywalk is a huge bridge made from glass panels that allows you to stroll beyond the edge of the rim for 70 feet. You can see the canyon floor an amazing 4000 feet underneath you. It's scary and thrilling at the same time.

Touring The South Rim

The plane tour of the South Rim gives you about 45 minutes of flight time. The tour takes off from the Grand Canyon National Park Airport in Tusayan, Arizona. The plane takes you over the pristine wilderness area of the North Rim as well as the land that borders the eastern edge of the park. Then you'll head back to the South Rim and have witnessed 75% of the park after all is said and done.

The airplanes used on these flights are designed to hold up to 19 people. Two FAA certified pilots are on each tour to offer you a safe and fun experience. You'll be comfortable on the plane too. They include oversized windows, cabins, and wings that won't obstruct the views. You can feel confident when you book your tour that you'll have the best views possible from one of the airplanes.

Plane Tours Are More Affordable

Airplane tours follow the same paths that you take on a helicopter tour. The difference is they are cheaper and will accommodate more people, while flying at a higher altitude. If you'd rather fly with a smaller crowd, then you can take a similar tour on a chopper instead. However, you'll pay about 50 percent more if you do.

Labor Day weekend is always one of the busiest times at the Grand Canyon. So, buy your tour as soon as you can, and you can buy it conveniently online. Don't wait until the day you want to fly. After all, you might miss a seat and you'll definitely pay more.

Conclusion

Now you should know what to expect if you want to take an airplane tour of the Grand Canyon over the Labor Day holiday. Choose the rim you want to see and buy your tour as soon as you can. Buy your tickets early and get them online for the best deal on a flight you'll never forget.