A Guide to Grand Canyon Vacations
Grand Canyon Vacation Packages
A Grand Canyon vacation is perfect for families, couples, and friends! There is truly something for everyone at this magical landmark of the American Southwest. There are two primary regions of the canyon offering a variety of different activities, lodging options, restaurants, and sightseeing opportunities: the South Rim and the West Rim. No matter which rim you choose for your Grand Canyon vacation, every moment of your trip will be packed with action, adventure, and memories to last a lifetime.
Grand Canyon National Park Vacations
The Grand Canyon National Park (also known as the South Rim) is the most developed and tourist-friendly region, offering plentiful lodging and historic hotels, as well as camping, several restaurants, souvenir shops, and museums. Here one can hike, ride a mule, or see the widest and deepest regions of the canyon aboard an airplane or helicopter tour. You can also enjoy a ground excursion to multiple lookout points along the canyon's edge aboard a modified military-style Hummer vehicle.
Grand Canyon West Vacations
The Grand Canyon West Rim is the more rugged, wild alternative to the South Rim. This region is the home of the world-famous Skywalk Bridge and is also the only area of the park where helicopter tours can land on the canyon floor next to the Colorado River. Overnight visitors will find nearby lodges, cabins for rent, as well as campgrounds and RV parks. There are also several dining options within the park, including a Hualapai fusion restaurant at Hualapai Point - a Native American cultural center that features handmade crafts, a shooting gallery, and a zipline.
Visit the Grand Canyon from Las Vegas
You can also visit the Grand Canyon on a day trip from Las Vegas! Papillon's Grand Canyon helicopter tours and airplane tours can transport you from the Strip to the South Rim or West Rim and beyond. We offer a wide variety of Grand Canyon tours from Vegas and combination packages that you can experience in just a few hours or in an entire day.
Top Grand Canyon Activities & Add-Ons
Whether you're planning to visit the South Rim or the West Rim, you'll find plenty of exciting sightseeing experiences and activities to keep you busy during your entire trip. So how do you decide the best way to experience the Grand Canyon? Here are our top suggestions for the most unique Grand Canyon activities:
Grand Canyon South Rim Activities
Hummer Ground Excursion
The fastest way to visit the most stunning lookout points across the Grand Canyon National Park is on a ground excursion. At the South Rim, you can board a customized military-style Hummer vehicle and enjoy transport to several of the most recognizable viewpoints, with time to explore and take photos at each.
Flights from Las Vegas to the Grand Canyon can also include a Hummer tour upon landing at the Grand Canyon Airport.
Grand Canyon National Park Helicopter Tour
The views of the canyon landscape are beautiful when standing on the edge, but nothing compares to flying over the South Rim in a Grand Canyon helicopter tour! You'll fly through the stunning striped rock walls and over the deepest and widest canyon gorges. Find aerial views of unique rock formations, the Colorado River, and the Kaibab National Forest.
If you're visiting the Grand Canyon from Las Vegas, you can add a helicopter tour onto your flight to the South Rim. Upon landing at the Grand Canyon Airport, a state-of-the-art sightseeing helicopter will be waiting to take you into the skies over the most incredible landscape in the United States.
Day Tour to Antelope Canyon
If you find yourself with a free day in your Grand Canyon vacation, you can continue your sightseeing adventure on a day tour to Page, Arizona - home of some of the most impressive natural landforms in the world. Start with a scenic flight from the Grand Canyon National Park to the Page Municipal Airport, where ground transportation will bring you to Lower Antelope Canyon. Enjoy a guided tour of its depths and take photos of these world-famous sandstone walls. Your tour will also stop at Horseshoe Bend for photo opportunities before your return flight to the Grand Canyon National Park.
Grand Canyon West Activities
Land at the Bottom of the Canyon
The West Rim is the only region of the park where helicopters can land on the bottom of the Grand Canyon. You can board a Grand Canyon helicopter tour and land nearly a mile below the canyon rim on on a private plateau near the Colorado River. Here you can enjoy a light picnic and a champagne toast with plenty of opportunity for photos and exploring.
If you'd like to experience even more of the Grand Canyon from the very bottom, add a Colorado River boat ride to your helicopter tour! Feel the fresh spray of the cool river water as you float between the colossal ancient stone walls of the Grand Canyon.
You can land on the bottom of the Grand Canyon in a helicopter during your trip to the West Rim, or you can fly from Las Vegas to the Grand Canyon West on a day tour and experience a landing on the very bottom!
Skywalk Bridge
The Skywalk is one of the world's most famous pieces of construction! Located in the heart of the West Rim, this glass-bottomed bridge juts out over 70 feet past the edge of the canyon, allowing visitors to truly feel like they're standing in the air! You can buy your own ticket to enter or you can book a combination tour that includes Skywalk Bridge entry in your helicopter tour from Las Vegas.
Book with Papillon Today!
Whether you're visiting the Grand Canyon or Las Vegas, you can book your Grand Canyon vacation package with Papillon! When it comes to your family's trip, we know you have your choice when deciding on your activities and sightseeing adventures. Here are a few things that make Papillon the best option for your visit to the Grand Canyon:
Locally Owned & Operated
Papillon is the largest and longest-running helicopter tour company in the world, with daily flights to the Grand Canyon and beyond. We operate out of Las Vegas and at both the Grand Canyon National Park and the West Rim. Aside from helicopter tours, we offer airplane tours, Hummer tours, Antelope Canyon tours, and Bryce Canyon tours, with customizable packages that include dining, museum entry, and private excursions.
Over 600,000 Passengers Flown Annually
Since 1965, Papillon has shared the joy of the Grand Canyon with passengers from around the world. We fly over 300,000 people every year to the Grand Canyon, Antelope Canyon, Valley of Fire, and even over the Las Vegas Strip. We look forward to the opportunity to share the beauty of the American Southwest with you and your family.