Grand Celebration with Black Canyon River Raft
Helicopter, Raft 
The flight path, end to end.
Combine a Grand Canyon helicopter tour and an 11-mile raft tour, and you have one of Papillon's most exciting full excursions. Fly and float to fun aboard the Grand Celebration with Black Canyon River Rafting tour.
The Grand Celebration with Black Canyon River Raft pairs a helicopter landing at the bottom of the Grand Canyon with a smooth water float trip down the Colorado River in Black Canyon. Guests will receive hotel transportation to our Boulder City air terminal and depart via a luxurious helicopter to Grand Canyon West and land at Papillon's exclusive landing site on a plateau adjacent to the Colorado River. Here, guests will enjoy a light picnic and champagne toast, have time to take photos and explore the bottom of the Grand Canyon before heading back to our terminal. Upon arrival, guests are then shuttled to the base of the Hoover Dam to take part in an 11-mile motorized raft trip down the Colorado River through Black Canyon. Experience impressive views of the Hoover Dam, wildlife, and several geological wonders aboard your watercraft and a guide to narrate your journey. The raft will dock at a private river beach where passengers can swim and enjoy a meal. After your epic voyage, guests return to Las Vegas via shuttle.
From start to finish.
Complimentary hotel pick-up and shuttle service.
Check in at the Papillon terminal 45 minutes prior to flight.
Lift off on a narrated helicopter tour over the Grand Canyon and the experience of a lifetime!
Witness spectacular views of the volcanic Black Mountains, Hoover Dam, Lake Mead, and Grapevine Mesa before crossing the Grand Wash Cliffs and into the Grand Canyon.
Descend 3,200 feet to the floor of the canyon, landing alongside the Colorado River.
Soak in the scenery while enjoying champagne, a light picnic and approximately 30 minutes inside one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World.
Return to the Papillon terminal with photos and memories to last a lifetime!
Check in at the hotel transfer desk located in the terminal lobby to meet your Black Canyon River Adventures guide for ground transfer to the base of the Hoover Dam.
A motorized raft will be waiting for you at the base of Hoover Dam. (Motorized raft is not an exclusive raft)
Enjoy the 11-mile smooth water float trip through Black Canyon and down the Colorado River. Stop at a private beach to enjoy lunch. A box lunch and beverage will be provided. Swimming is an option for passengers.
The float trip will come to an end at Willow Beach.
Complimentary shuttle service from Willow Beach to your hotel is provided by Hoover Dam Raft Adventures.
What's included — and what's not.
Included
- Helicopter
- Land at the Bottom
- Raft trip down the Colorado River
- Box lunch
- Multilingual Narration
- Roundtrip Hotel Transportation
- Breathtaking views of the Grand Canyon.
- Flight over and views of Hoover Dam and Grand Canyon.
- Land at the bottom of the Grand Canyon 3,200 feet below the rim.
- Exploration time.
- 11-mile float trip down the Colorado River.
Every seat is a window seat. Here is the proof.
Sightseeing is the only job this aircraft does. The Airbus EC130 EcoStar was built for it — and on this tour it is the only aircraft you can be assigned.
- Aircraft Airbus EC130 EcoStar
- Passengers Up to 6 guests
- Windscreen 180° wraparound
- Seating Forward-facing, stadium-tiered
- Cabin 23% more space than an A-Star
- Headsets Noise-cancelling · 11 languages
- Cabin climate Air-conditioned
- Tail rotor Shrouded Fenestron — quieter
Which seat do I get?
Seats are assigned by weight-and-balance, not by booking order — it is an aviation requirement, not a sales tactic. Every seat has its own window and an unobstructed forward view.
| EC130 EcoStar — ours | A-Star AS350 | Bell 206 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Seating direction | Forward-facing, stadium-tiered | Forward-facing, flat | Some seats face rearward |
| Window at every seat | Yes — 180° wraparound | Yes, narrower | Partial |
| Cabin volume | 23% more than an A-Star | Baseline | Smallest of the three |
| Guests carried | Up to 6 | Up to 6 | Up to 4 |
| Air-conditioned cabin | Yes | Varies by operator | Rarely |
| Narration languages | 11 | Varies | Varies |
What this rules out
Some canyon tours are sold without naming the aircraft, and guests find out at the terminal that they are flying a smaller machine with rear-facing seats. On this tour there is one aircraft type and no substitution — if we cannot fly you on an EC130, we do not fly you, and you are rebooked or refunded.
Request a Front Seat on your Helicopter Tour
Fly first class and experience the pilot's point of view with a front seat upgrade for only $60 per person! While every seat aboard our helicopters provide incredible views, the front seats offers a panoramic perspective and unobstructed photo opportunities.
All passengers are free to request a front seat upgrade, although availability is limited. Front seat upgrades are not guaranteed, but are assigned once the passenger check-in process is complete and seating aboard the helicopter is determined. If your request for an upgrade is confirmed, payment will be processed at the check-in counter prior to departure.
Charge to Request: Free
Charge if Confirmed: $60
This tour is available as a gift.
Send a Papillon flight for birthdays, anniversaries, holidays, and groups. Digital delivery makes it easy to surprise someone.
Grand Celebration with Black Canyon River Raft FAQs
Yes - As the only full-service luxury helicopter operator in Las Vegas, Papillon Helicopters offers a premium aerial touring experience. Tours departing from the Boulder City Terminal feature organized pickup locations along the Las Vegas Strip, providing convenient and dependable transportation options for guests.
Black Canyon is literally and figuratively the “coolest” day trip you can experience from Las Vegas. Only 45 minutes from the Las Vegas Strip, the area is famous for the scenic Black Canyon Water Trail. This 30-mile section of the Colorado River snakes through Lake Mead National Recreation Area between the famous Hoover Dam and Arizona’s Willow Beach.
On this calm float trip, guests stop at a sandy beach-like cove and may see plentiful of wildlife, including bighorn sheep, coyotes, and many large raptor birds, including bald eagles.
The round-trip flight duration from Papillon’s Grand Celebration with Black Canyon River Raft is approximately 70 minutes. The total tour duration is about 10 hours, hotel-to-hotel.
