A helicopter tour is a great way to explore the Grand Canyon South Rim.
You soar through the skies and experience the steep-sided Canyon carved by the Colorado River in Arizona, over millions of years.
Besides the helicopter ride over one of the natural wonders of the World, visitors also enjoy a lot of activities at the South Rim.
In this article, we share everything you must know before booking your Grand Canyon helicopter tour over the South Rim.
Top Grand Canyon South Rim helicopter tours
# Bus Tour with Optional Helicopter flight
# Helicopter tour over the Rim from Tusayan
Table of contents
Best Grand Canyon South Rim helicopter tours
Since South Rim is further than the West Rim, it isn’t accessible by helicopters.
However, once you reach South Rim, you can board one of the latest sightseeing helicopters for breathtaking aerial views of the Grand Canyon.
We list some of the most highly-rated South Rim tours.
Bus Tour with Optional Helicopter flight
This 14-hour trip is a Grand Canyon South Rim tour starting from Las Vegas.
You get picked from your Las Vegas hotel, and then board an air-conditioned, luxury motor coach, which passes through the Mojave Desert, Black Mountains, Grand Wash Cliffs of Arizona on its way to the South Rim.
Upon reaching the Grand Canyon, you relax over lunch and then start exploring the Southern Rim of the natural wonder.
You make scenic stops at Bright Angel Lodge, Mather Point, etc., and understand the Canyon’s history, geology, and wildlife.
You upgrade for a 25-minute helicopter flight over the South Rim of the Grand Canyon.
Departure: Pick up from your hotel in Las Vegas
Tour timings: Starts early, 14 hours long
Tour Operator: Gray Line Las Vegas
Cost of the tour (2+ years): US$426 / person
Helicopter tour over the Rim from Tusayan
This 45-minute trip is one of the most popular helicopter tours over Grand Canyon and takes off from Grand Canyon Village, in Tusayan, Arizona.
This ECO-Star helicopter with huge panoramic windows takes off from South Rim and goes up to the North Rim.
You get to see the Painted Desert, Desert View Watchtower, Marble Canyon, Point Imperial, Dragon Corridor, Colorado River, etc.
Departure: 107 Corsair Dr, Grand Canyon Village, AZ 86023, USA
Tour timings: 8 am to 4.45 pm
Tour Operator: Maverick Helicopters
Cost of the tour (2+ years): US$349 / person
25-min Grand Canyon South Rim EcoStar Helicopter Tour
This Grand Canyon experience takes you on a tour of the South Rim, exploring the Arizonian natural wonder and giving to memories for years to look back upon.
The 25-minute tour is customizable by allowing you to choose from a 25- or 45-minute flight.
Gaze over the Tower of Ra, Dragon Corridor, Kaibab National Forest, and the mighty Colorado River.
Departure: Papillon Grand Canyon Helicopter Tours, 3568 Airport Rd, Grand Canyon Village, AZ 86023, USA.
Tour timings: 30 minutes
Tour Operator: Papillon Helicopters
Cost of the tour (2+ years): US$314 / person
Grand Canyon South Rim bus tour
After you get picked up from your Las Vegas hotel, you board an air-conditioned, narrated 14-hour long bus tour to the Grand Canyon South Rim.
The coach winds its way through the Mojave Desert, Black Mountains, Grand Wash Cliffs of Arizona, offering various sights.
At the South Rim, you make scenic stops at Bright Angel Lodge and Mather Point, taking in the Canyon’s charm.
You can either upgrade for a 25-minute helicopter flight over the South Rim or opt for a Hummer two-hour tour.
Departure: Pick up from your hotel in Las Vegas
Tour Operator: Gray Line Las Vegas
Cost of the tour (2+ years): US$121 / person
Bonus recommendation: This Grand Canyon National Park VIP Tour from Las Vegas is highly rated. Unfortunately, it doesn’t include a helicopter tour over the South Rim.
Grand Canyon South Rim map
Why Grand Canyon South Rim
While planning a helicopter trip over the Grand Canyon, it is customary to wonder ‘Grand Canyon South Rim or West Rim’?
Even though South Rim is twice the distance from Las Vegas (approximately 5 hours by road), it is the best choice for first-time visitors.
The Grand Canyon South Rim is the more picturesque of the two and consists of the most expansive and deepest parts of the natural wonder.
Visitors prefer South Rim for its beautiful views, numerous visitor services, and family-oriented activities.
Grand Canyon South Rim is also recommended for tourists with young children, as there is more for them to do.
It also helps that the South Rim is open year-round.
Go ahead and find out everything you can do at South Rim.
Grand Canyon West – what you will miss
Grand Canyon West is on the Hualapai Indian Tribal Lands and is NOT a part of Grand Canyon National Park.
Even though it is closer to major cities such as Las Vegas (two and a half hours by road), we don’t recommend it for first-timers.
Some of the popular Grand Canyon West attractions you may miss by opting for the South Rim are – Skywalk, Hualapai Ranch, and Guano Point.
The Grand Canyon Skywalk, which is sometimes called the glass sky bridge, glass walkway, etc., is the main attraction of West Rim.
It is the second most visited location at the Grand Canyon and gets around 1 million visitors annually.
However, if you love adventure activities, helicopter tours to Grand Canyon West are better suited for you.
Grand Canyon South Rim from Flagstaff
There are no direct Grand Canyon South Rim helicopter tours that take off from Flagstaff, Arizona.
However, you can book an airplane tour of Grand Canyon South Rim from Phoenix.
Phoenix to South Rim flight
Flights take off from the Deer Valley Airport in Phoenix, two hours drive from Flagstaff.
Visitors travel in either a Cessna Caravan or T207, both of which are high-winged airplanes ideal for sightseeing from the air and taking photos. Find out more
However, if you don’t want to drive to Phoenix and then board the airplane, you have yet another workaround.
Reach the Grand Canyon South Rim either by coach or train and take off in a helicopter from the Grand Canyon Village, separately.
Every day numerous helicopter tours take off from the Grand Canyon Village in South Rim. Our favorite is the 45-minute ECO-Star helicopter tour offered by Maverick Helicopters.
Here are two of the most popular tours to get to Grand Canyon South Rim –
Grand Canyon Railway Adventure Package: You board the historic Grand Canyon Railway from Williams, 48 kms (30 miles) from Flagstaff. On the way, you get entertained by musicians and cowboys.
Small-Group Grand Canyon Tour: This 11-hour tour starts at 7 am from Flagstaff and is limited to 14 people to ensure a personalized Grand Canyon experience.
Sedona to Grand Canyon South Rim
There are no direct Grand Canyon South Rim helicopter tours that take off from Sedona, Arizona.
Sedona to Phoenix to South Rim
Every day at 8 am, Grand Canyon flights take off from the Deer Valley Airport in Phoenix, which is 160 kms (99 miles) from Sedona.
You can cover the distance in approximately 90 minutes.
The whole tour is 7 hours long, during which you also get down on the South Rim and explore further. Find out more
Some of the adventurous tourists reach the Grand Canyon South Rim either by coach or train and take off in a helicopter from the Grand Canyon Village.
Our favorite South Rim tours from Sedona are the small-group Grand Canyon tour and the Grand Canyon Deluxe Day Trip, both starting at 7 am.
Some of the visitors prefer the Sunset tour of Grand Canyon from Sedona, which starts later at 10 am.
Bonus recommendation: Verde Canyon Railroad Adventure may not take you to Grand Canyon, but it is one of Sedona’s most popular family-friendly experiences.
What to do at Grand Canyon South Rim
Visitors can indulge in numerous Grand Canyon South Rim activities.
Viewpoints along South Rim
All the viewpoints along the South Rim of the Grand Canyon are spread over its three sections – Desert View Road, Grand Canyon Village, and Hermit Road.
While all of them offer stunning views, some of the spots are better than the rest.
Mather Point is the most popular viewpoint on the South Rim and attracts the biggest crowds.
If time permits, you can visit all of them.
Viewpoints on Desert View Road: Shoshone Point, Grandview Point, Moran Point, Lipan Point, Navajo Point, Desert Viewpoint
Viewpoints in Grand Canyon Village: Mather Point, Yavapai Point, Yaki Point, Ooh Aah Point,
Viewpoints on Hermit Road: Powell Viewpoint, Hopi Viewpoint, Mohave Viewpoint, The Abyss, Pima Point, and Hermit’s Rest.
South Rim village
Grand Canyon village in South Rim has three zones – the Visitor Center, the Market Plaza, and the Historic District, home to the railroad depot.
The village has some of the best scenic overlooks in the park, including Yavapai Point.
Some of the places of interest at the village are the Visitor Center, Bright Angel Lodge, El Tovar Hotel, Buckey O’Neill Cabin, Hopi House, Lookout Studio, Kolb Studio, etc.
Besides the Yavapai Museum of Geology, the village offers many activities such as helicopter tours, horseback rides, scenic train ride, and mule trips.
Mule rides
Mule rides along the Grand Canyon South Rim are offered all through the year.
The 2-hour Canyon Vistas Rim Ride gets booked 15 months in advance, so you may have to plan.
Riders must be at least nine years of age, be at least 57 inches (4’ 9”) tall,
weigh less than 102 Kgs (225 pounds), and be able to understand instructions in English.
Grand Canyon sunrise
Watching the Grand Canyon South Rim sunrise is one of the finest things you can do early in the morning.
Grand Canyon tours
# Grand Canyon helicopter tours from Las Vegas
# Grand Canyon West Rim helicopter tours
# Grand Canyon South Rim helicopter tours
# Best Grand Canyon helicopter tours
# Grand Canyon helicopter tours at sunset
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# Why helicopter tours are worth it
# FAQs about Helicopter tours