Amazing helicopter tours of the Grand Canyon (Papillon Grand Canyon Helicopters (Grand Canyon, USA))

Member Name: cheekee

Product:	Papillon Grand Canyon Helicopters (Grand Canyon, USA)
Date:	12/06/09 (67 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Much cheaper than competitors, door to door service, breathtaking views, get to walk in the Canyon

Disadvantages: May get impaired views if seated in the middle

I recently went on holiday to California and Nevada, which included a few days in Las Vegas. This gave me the opportunity to fulfill a lifetime wish and go to see the Grand Canyon. I'd seen that you could take helicopter flights out to the canyon, and decided that was the option for me.

Many of the helicopter tours on offer were extremely expensive (£350+ per person). Papillon were much cheaper - I think it worked out at around £180. After doing some research, they had some very mixed reviews but eventually I bit the bullet and took the risk.

As it turns out, I had nothing to worry about. The tour I went for was the 'Sunset Grand Celebration'. The company pick you up from your hotel (or a nearby one) at around 4.30pm and take you to the airport at Boulder City - around 30-40mins away. Once you check-in, you watch a short safety video and then the helicopter pilots come out and call out the names of their passengers - I think 6 helicopter went out at the same time.

Each helicopter seats 7 people - the pilot and 2 passengers in the front (you can pay extra to guarantee front seats), and 4 in the back. You are assigned a seat and have to stick to it - it 's all to do with the weight of the load and balance. This could cause problems if you are stuck in the middle, as it's is obviously better to sit by the window to appreciate the great view and get good photos. It was OK for me, as I was by the window with my girlfriend next to me - she could lean over me (I wouldn't suggest doing this to a stranger!) and get a good view too.

The flight passes over several sights such as the Hoover Dam and Lake Mead. The pilot acts as tour guide throughout - giving details about the flight, history of the area, facts about sights etc. Eventually you come to the Grand Canyon itself - and what a breathtaking sight. You fly along the top to begin with, and then start to descend into the Canyon - eventually landing at the base. At this point the sun is starting to set and the red colour in the Canyon is really intensified.

Once you've landed, you can get out and have a wonder around and take everything in - you end up just staring aghast at the wonderful views! In the meantime, the pilots bring out a small picnic (sandwich, water/coke, fruit, crisps and a glass of cheap Champagne!) and in total you spend about 20-30mins at the base.

The flight back to Boulder City (via a quick re-fueling at the top of the Canyon) is a bit of a non-event for the Sunset tour, as by this time it's completely dark. On the daytime tours you'd obviously get great views again. Once you're back at the airport, it's back into the bus for your lift back to the hotel. Door-to-door was around 4 hours in total.

I'm glad I went for this company in the end - we essentially paid the same for two people as we would have for one person with most of the other companies. I have read some horror stories on Tripadvisor from other people (unexpected fuel surcharges, sitting next to obese people), but from my experience it was great.

Summary: Once in a lifetime experience not to be missed