[mixed review] Helicopter tour over the Grand Canyon South Rim with Maverick: Road trip in the American West #2
This article is part of our series on road trips in the American West. If you haven’t read the first travel diary yet, here’s the link.
For our road trip in the American West, we asked several friends for advice. One of them highly recommended a helicopter tour over the Grand Canyon, especially the one where the helicopter descends into the canyon and lands by the river.
After doing some research, we realized that this tour departs from the North Rim (not on our route) and it’s very expensive. So we opted for a cheaper tour, but still a hefty budget: Canyon Spirit by Maverick which departs from the south of the national park ($349/person). There are some things you only do once in a lifetime, and this tour is one of them.
Part 1: Travel Journal
Part 2: Practical Tips
Part 1: Travel Journal
Day 2
Because of the one-hour time difference between Las Vegas (Nevada) and Arizona, we had to be very careful with time zones, otherwise we risked missing our flight. Before setting our alarm, we had to make sure we had the correct time and time zone on our phone.
The reservation was made several months in advance, but we had to reconfirm 72 hours before. Of course, with travel and schedule changes, we forgot. When we finally remembered, the office was already closed, the phone rang unanswered, but our confirmation email had been received and confirmed.
For a 10 a.m. flight, we had to be there at 9:20 a.m. We had to weigh in and read the safety instructions. We were lucky to have splendid weather and not much wind.
Our pilot’s name is Paul, and he’s proud to take us to a French helicopter (made by Airbus). We share the helicopter with 4 other tourists. There are 7 seats in total: 3 in the front next to the pilot and 4 in the back (only 2 of which are by a window). Based on our weights, the computer assigns seats for maximum stability, and unfortunately, we had 2 seats in the back : I’m by the left window, and JB has one of the two “bad” seats in the middle, where his view is blocked by both the tourists in front and me on the left.
It’s unfair because other companies offer front seats for an extra fee, so those with bad seats could at least console themselves by paying less.
We start the flight by flying over a forest, while the Grand Canyon is just a hundred meters away. The pilot explains it’s to avoid disturbing other tourists (I imagine the park imposes a flight time on helicopters). Unfortunately, flying over the trees (round trip) takes 25 minutes of the 50-minute flight.
We arrive at the Grand Canyon from the east side, and the pilot explains it’s from this side that Europeans first discovered the Grand Canyon. They tried to reach the river, in vain. I admit the first seconds when the helicopter dives into the Grand Canyon are full of emotion.
We had never seen this national park before (we would visit it from the ground later) and we discovered an incredible spectacle. It’s so vast that at first we feel like the helicopter is stationary, because the scenery doesn’t change much.
Unfortunately, the distance to cover is so enormous that the pilot can’t spin the helicopter 360 degrees each time. Those seated in the back will have to settle for one side at a time. That’s what I find very regrettable, compared to the flights we’ve taken in New York or at Iguazu Falls. Sure, the route forms a diamond, so you eventually see the other side on the way back, but not exactly with the same view.
Seeing the Grand Canyon for the first time, you’re completely overwhelmed by its beauty and can’t quite orient yourself, despite the pilot’s explanations. I only understood later when visiting the park which places we had flown over (because I recognize some landscapes). I think the helicopter covers all the viewpoints offered by the national park (which we could have seen by bus or car), whether from the South Rim or North Rim. But it also offers unique viewpoints, especially over the Colorado River. You can only see the river for several kilometers by being in the middle of the canyon (i.e., trekking for several days or paying for a helicopter tour).
The river that crosses the Grand Canyon (and is responsible for its current shape) is connected to the lakes we would have the chance to visit, a precious thing in such a desert place. From the helicopter, you can see the color of the river (blue or green depending on the spot), and sometimes white traces (indicating strong currents). There are places where the river just snakes between two huge cliffs, and you see a thin line carving through the middle. Others where it looks like a hole formed on its own in the middle. And other completely flat areas where nothing grows, while just a few kilometers away, a lush green forest covers the entire surface.
It took quite a while for a European to cross and document the boat crossing from one end of the canyon to the other. Now, the crossing is done by rafting, and it’s an activity offered to tourists over several days. Just getting down to the river takes at least a day (not counting the return).
The colors are also surprising, and change from one spot to another, rather red here, rather ivory there, or in multicolor version, depending on the origin of the sediment layers. In any case, when flying over the Canyon, you realize that all around it’s completely flat (it was the ocean floor). The presence of numerous faults bears witness to the tectonic activity that has affected and still affects the Grand Canyon region, and the erosion phenomenon caused by the river gives us the canyon we see today.
At the end of the flight, the sun reflects on the window and my visibility is greatly reduced. I read on the internet that it’s indeed better to fly around noon to avoid this phenomenon, but even at noon, the sun isn’t really at its zenith, so I took the 10am flight to avoid the crowd. Even though the Grand Canyon is absolutely incredible, I’m not fully satisfied with this flight, having had shorter but more “complete” flights in New York and at Iguazu Falls. It’s related to the fact that the pilot doesn’t rotate the helicopter 360 degrees so all passengers can enjoy the view.
However, considering the flight time, the value for money is fair. If I had to do it again, I’m not sure I would have chosen this tour.
I’ll let you judge with the photos above. You’ll find the video of the flight here (I didn’t do any editing):
As for the flight from the North Rim down to the bottom, I saw a few helicopters doing that flight, I can’t comment on its quality, but I can’t afford to shell out $600 for that, clearly.
Discover the rest of our adventure at the Grand Canyon here
Part 2: Practical Tips
Budget
- 50-minute flight: $349/person
- Tip for the pilot suggested (about $5/person)
