Locomotoring

Small aircraft flight between Las Vegas and Grand Canyon

After the rafting trip through Grand Canyon, this was utterly lame and I am ashamed to admit that I loved every minute of it.  The helicopter trip cost as much as a dinner at the French Laundry but it was far easier to get a reservation. The only part that I didn’t like was waking up at 3 in the morning in Las Vagas – it essentially meant not going to bed at all.

A bus picked us up at our hotel on the strip, drove us for nearly 45 minutes, and finally arrived at the local airfield. However much they would like you to believe otherwise, Las Vagas is morning hours is like any other city – its brilliantly lit hotels were quiet. The small aircraft flight that took us from Las Vegas to South Rim went over the Hoover Dam and Lake Mead and the edges of the canyon. From the private helipad at the South Rim, a helicopter flew us over the canyon.

View of Grand Canyon near South Rim from a helicopter

I won’t quibble about the quality of the tour. When you do something touristy, you should be glad when you don’t get fleeced. I did a lot of riding in the bus, and waiting at the airport but when I saw Grand Canyon from up there, every other thought melted away.

Although the chopper ride lasted only a few dozens of minutes, it felt very personal. It was like being engulfed by the canyon. Only jarring bit was the noise. When I was rafting in the river below,  I remember feeling something akin to dislike for the choppers that were breaking the rhythm of the river and paddles. If I could glide, I would.

Travel Note: Budget permitting, this is the second best thing you can do in Las Vegas. First being watching a Cirque du Soleil show. I used Papillon tour operators.

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