Grand Canyon helicopter tour: the West Rim options
Two kinds of flights are sold for this part of the canyon. The first starts at Grand Canyon West itself, so you need to get there first. The second starts in the Las Vegas area and includes a hotel transfer. The price, the time away and the starting point differ a lot, so decide which one fits your day before you compare anything else.
The local package is the Helicopter Pontoon Package. The package descends 3,500 ft by helicopter, lands at the bottom and ends with a calm boat ride on pontoons. All-Access admission is included, and so is the shuttle between the viewpoints. Nothing in the price covers the drive from Las Vegas.
Our picks: helicopter flights
For a landing on the canyon floor, the 40-minute flight starts at Grand Canyon West and park entry is extra. From Las Vegas, the 4.5-hour tour with hotel transfer lands at the bottom too. The flight with the pontoon boat is for the river, but it is a boat ride, not rafting.
Hand-picked tours, booked through GetYourGuide. Prices are indicative starting prices in US dollars (as of October 2026). Tap a tour for live availability and the current price in your currency.
Helicopter landing tour from Las Vegas
- Canyon floor landing
- Lake Mead and Hoover Dam views
- Champagne and picnic snack
You can also drive to the Boulder City terminal yourself and check in 45 minutes before departure.
Check availability →Helicopter to the river and pontoon boat
- 5 to 7 minute flight
- Pontoon boat on the river
Fly down to the landing site, walk to the dock and ride a pontoon boat on the Colorado River. Park entry is not included, and it is a boat ride, not rafting.
Check availability →
Helicopter with canyon floor landing
- Canyon floor landing
- 20 minutes on the ground
The flight crosses Hualapai land and drops 3,500 feet below the rim. Park entry is extra, and you meet at Grand Canyon West itself.
Check availability →Grand Canyon helicopter tours
Helicopter flights with a canyon landing and packages from Las Vegas, with live prices and availability.
Helicopter tour packages compared
Prices are 2026 starting prices per person. They are not checkout totals, and taxes or fees may be added.
| Package | Starts at | Time | From |
|---|---|---|---|
| Helicopter Pontoon Package | Grand Canyon West | About 45 minutes for the tour | $418 |
| Grand Celebration with canyon landing | Boulder City, hotel transfer from Las Vegas | 4 to 4.5 hours hotel to hotel | $509 to $529 |
| Freedom Tour by airplane | Boulder City, hotel pickup optional | About 7 hours with hotel transfer | $359 |
| VIP helicopter, boat and Skywalk | Las Vegas area | About 2.5 hours at the canyon | $829 |
The Grand Celebration starts at $509 to $529, so plan with the higher number until your date is confirmed. For most visitors who stay in Las Vegas without a rental car, the Grand Celebration is the simplest helicopter option. If you already drive to the West Rim, the local package keeps the day short and adds the park admission.
Helicopter landing and pontoon boat at the bottom
What the two main flight types include.
Local flight from the West Rim
You fly and return from Grand Canyon West. The tour takes about 45 minutes in total. That is roughly 15 minutes in the air and 15 minutes on the water, plus time at the landing. Be at the helicopter terminal one hour before departure.
Grand Celebration from Boulder City
This flight leaves from Boulder City, not from the Strip, and the hotel transfer from Las Vegas is part of the package. The helicopter lands on a private plateau by the Colorado River. Expect about 30 minutes on the ground and 4 to 4.5 hours in total from your hotel and back.
Landing is not the Skywalk
A landing in the canyon does not include a visit to the Skywalk. The Skywalk comes with All-Access admission, which the local package includes. The combined helicopter, boat and Skywalk package lists the Skywalk by name. For a Las Vegas flight, read the inclusions line before you book.
Skywalk guide →What to check before you book
Several details are settled only on the booking page.
Taxes, fees and weight limits
The starting prices above do not show airport fees, taxes or weight surcharges. Look for these lines in the final total before you pay.
Age rules and flight times
Minimum age, child prices and the exact flight times differ by package. Confirm them for your date, because a starting price does not show open seats.
Weather
Wind, lightning, heavy rain or snow can stop attractions at Grand Canyon West for a while. Ask the operator how a weather change is handled. Our weather guide shows the seasons.
Coach instead of air
If the flight price is too high, a guided coach from Las Vegas includes All-Access admission and a Hoover Dam photo stop. See the Las Vegas tours page. If you drive yourself, the getting there guide has the route.
If you compare helicopter flights across the wider state, the Arizona guide covers Grand Canyon helicopter tours from several starting points. The Hoover Dam guide lists a helicopter tour from the Hoover Dam area.
Plan the rest of your visit
The flight is only part of the day.
Grand Canyon helicopter tour: frequently asked questions
How much is a helicopter tour at Grand Canyon West?
The local Helicopter Pontoon Package lists $418 per person in 2026, with All-Access admission included. Flights from the Las Vegas area start higher, at $509 to $529 for the Grand Celebration and $829 for the combined package with the Skywalk. Taxes and fees may be added.
How long does the tour take?
The local tour takes about 45 minutes, with roughly 15 minutes of flying and 15 on the boat. The Grand Celebration takes 4 to 4.5 hours from your Las Vegas hotel and back, including about 30 minutes on the ground.
Does the helicopter land in the canyon?
Both the local package and the Grand Celebration land below the rim. The local flight descends 3,500 ft and continues with a pontoon boat ride. The Grand Celebration lands on a private plateau by the Colorado River.
Do I get to the Skywalk on a helicopter tour?
The local package includes All-Access admission, which covers the Skywalk. A landing alone does not. Check the inclusions of any Las Vegas flight before you book.
Does the Las Vegas flight start at the Strip?
No. The Grand Celebration and the Freedom Tour by airplane leave from Boulder City. A hotel transfer from Las Vegas is part of the package, and for the airplane tour it is optional.
Is this website official?
No. This is an independent guide. It is not run by the Hualapai or by a tour operator, and you book on the operator's page or through a booking partner.