Six Las Vegas helicopter tours you can’t miss
Sometimes, the bird’s eye view isn’t for the birds.
To truly take in the sights of Las Vegas and the beautiful surrounding desert, you have to reach for the skies. And the best way to do that is in a helicopter.
When visiting Las Vegas, don’t make the mistake of staying inside for your entire vacation. Sure, the casinos are great and have AC, but you need to get some fresh air and sunlight, and even a bit of adrenaline. Even locals should take to the air. Nothing is better for a kid’s party than a tour of their hometown, from high overhead.
To help you find the right deal, we’ve collected both traveler opinions and expert input to find the best helicopter tours in town.
Sundance Helicopters – Las Vegas City Lights
Sundance Helicopters will fly you right over the Strip. You’ll see the Bellagio fountains, the Luxor’s pyramid, the New York-New York skyline and more.
It doesn’t take long, either. The 12- to 15-minute flight is just right to get what you need without taking up the entire day. Your pilot will share casino history and quirky facts. He might even get a chuckle from you.
And don’t fret, this tour knows how to cater to your needs. With limousine-class, round-trip transportation from select Las Vegas hotels to the helicopter departure site, everything is taken care of in style.
Flyers rave about the tour, loving the photo opportunities along the Strip. Of course, the quality of views will depend on your seat. So, make sure whoever has the camera sits up front.
Tours depart several times every evening, with tickets around $100 per person. Sundance Helicopters conducts several other tours, including trips to the Hoover Dam.
Maverick Helicopters – Wind Dancer Air and Landing Tour
If you have the time, this four-hour tour takes you over Lake Las Vegas, Lake Mead, Fortification Hill, the Hoover Dam and more before stopping to land 3,500 feet into the Grand Canyon.
For the climax, once you land, you’ll be served sparkling wine or other beverages and light snacks, and given a moment to soak in the beauty of Nevada in the raw. On your return, you’ll take in the views of the canyon’s rock formations before descending past the glittering lights of the Strip.
The trip includes hotel pickup and drop-off, which is an added plus. But it will cost, with tickets ranging from $470 to $550 per person depending on departure time. Reviewers say the flight is exhilarating and well worth the money. It’s a great pick for couples, and proposals.
Maverick Helicopters offers other sightseeing flights, including a Vegas Nights Tour and a flight to the Grand Canyon Skywalk.
GC Flight – Grand Canyon Helicopter Floor Landing Tour
Like the other longer tours, this incredible aerial experience of the Las Vegas surroundings will take you past the glam and glitz of the Strip to Lake Mead, the Hoover Dam, the Mike O’Callaghan–Pat Tillman Memorial Bridge and the Grand Canyon.
When you arrive at the Grand Canyon, you’ll stop at a private landing site to enjoy sparkling wine and snacks.
As part of the package, you will also receive hotel pickup and drop-off from Las Vegas Strip and downtown hotels. Travelers enjoy their trips, but have rated this one slightly worse than Maverick Helicopters. Tours start at $377 per person.
Grand Canyon Helicopters – King of Canyons Sunset
The most expensive of the helicopter tours, this one will last four hours once you set off, so be prepared for a long haul.
You are picked up from your hotel in a limousine, and given the VIP treatment. In the air, you will enjoy views of the Colorado River and the Grand Canyon before stopping at the canyon floor for a picnic with sparkling wine. They provide the best light fare of any tours, and give you a bit of extra time to enjoy your respite.
Afterwards, you’ll take in more views of the canyon, the desert landscape and the Strip set against the brilliant colors of sunset. Reviewers give this tour high marks. The scenery is stunning, amazing and breathtaking, but so is the price. The tour is $549 per person.
Helicopters depart around 5:30 pm daily. Grand Canyon Helicopters flies several other helicopter tours of both the Grand Canyon and Las Vegas.
Papillon Grand Canyon Helicopters – Highlights Air Tour
This is a great mid-tier option. Clocking in at 70-minutes, you’ll fly over the Hoover Dam, the Colorado River and Grand Canyon West, among other sights. You’ll also enjoy audio commentary and round-trip transportation between most Las Vegas hotels.
Many reviewers considered this trip a bucket-list opportunity and lauded the incredible flight experience. However, a handful of reviewers complained about poor customer service, so beware. Tour depart several times each day, and start at $149 per person. The full trip will take four hours from start to finish, so keep that in mind if you have any plans later in the day.
Papillon Grand Canyon Helicopters also offers several other tours of the Grand Canyon in both helicopters and airplanes.
5 Star Grand Canyon Helicopter Tours – Grand Canyon Eagle Point Rim Landing Tour
The longest available tour, this one lasts over four hours. The journey includes hotel pickup and drop-off, live commentary from an expert pilot and stellar views of the Grand Canyon, the Hoover Dam and more.
Plus, you’ll have 30 minutes to explore the scenery at Eagle Point Rim. There, you can add on access to the Grand Canyon Skywalk for an additional fee. It isn’t for the feint of heart though.
Reviewers are generally pleased with the tour. Some have given shout-outs to the fun and informative pilots, saying they are the highlight of the trip. Tickets cost approximately $400 per person.
Tours depart several times a day. In addition to Grand Canyon tours, the company offers helicopter tours of Las Vegas proper.