Grand Canyon Airplane The Ultimate Way to See the National Park By Sabine Warner | http://www.grandcanyonairplanetours.net The dimensions of the Grand Canyon are staggering. It's depth averages one mile. Lengthwise, it's 277 miles. Most visitors see only a fraction of the "crack" when the tour the South Rim. If you want to see it all, book a flight on an airplane tour. South Rim flights leave daily from Grand Canyon Airport. The facility is located in a town called Tusayan just 10 minutes from the National Park's front gate. The airport is a flurry of activity (including helicopter) and functions as the main base for incoming and outgoing South Rim air traffic. Scenic Airlines is one of the primary operators of this popular "flightseeing" tour. These businesses and others use an aircraft called the Vistaliner. This aircraft seats 19 people and was designed specifically for sightseeing and features large viewing windows. In addition, most planes include in-flight narration about fascinating facts and history about the Grand Canyon as you fly above it. Standard air tours leave the airport and head due east along the South Rim. During this stage of the tour, you'll see such wondrous sights like Zuni Point and the Zuni Corridor, the Painted Desert, the Desert Watchtower, the expansive and solitary Navajo Indian Reservation, and the upper Colorado River. The aircraft will bank at this stage, crossing majestic Temple Butte, before flying to the North Rim (the distance between South and North Rim is 10 miles), where you'll be treated to fantastic views of the Kaibab Plateau and Kaibab National Forest. Imperial Point, the highest point in the Canyon, will come into view as the tour wends its way westward then south over Dragon Corridor, the widest and most open part of the Canyon, before you prepare for an exciting landing. Total tour time averages about 50 minutes. If you can, I suggest you get a window seat on the right side of the plane for the best views and pictures (seating is usually assigned at check-in). Tickets cost about $125 for adults and $90 for kids. Cheaper pricing can be found if you book online. Several operators offer air tours from Las Vegas, NV, to the South Rim, where you will deplane and board a sightseeing bus. The bus-tour segment is three hours with key stops at select Grand Canyon lookout points such as Mather Point, Yavapai Observation Center, and Hermit's Rest. Flight time to the South Rim is around one hour and ten minutes.
Grand Canyon plane tours are the #1 way to see the National Park in all its glory. You'll see more canyon in an hour that most travelers will experience in days on the ground. Flights leave from Grand Canyon Airport, which is conveniently located just 10 minutes from the rim. From a cost perspective, these trips are under-priced. To get the absolute best deal, shop the Internet. There are deals out there that take up to 35 % off the retail price. That is certain to change as more travelers discover these air tours. Until then, the sky's the limit! #30#