My Review of Papillon Grand Canyon Helicopters

Papillon Helicopters is renowned for it's Grand Canyon National Park trips. I was in charge of the family's canyon trip this holiday season. Naturally, I booked with Papillon. Here is a quick write-up on my trip:

There was six among us. We stayed at El Tovar in Grand Canyon Village, which is located in the boundaries of the National Park. I highly recommend this hotel. It can be expensive, but it's more than worth it as you are seconds from the rim's edge.

I believe you can make plans with Papillon Helicopters to be picked up. Otherwise, you are able to set up a pick up at the transportation desk inside the Bright Angel Lodge. I leased a Chevy Tahoe for our trip. I loaded the gang inside and made the 10-minute drive to Grand Canyon Airport.

Grand Canyon Airport is situated just outside Tusayan. It's hard to miss it. There's a lot of activity. Helicopters and planes arrive and depart from it often. The Papillon terminal is the largest. I parked the SUV and got us checked in (incidentally, the coffee there is delicious!).

The atmosphere is very friendly. I met lots of travelers from Germany, Canada, and the United Kingdom. The main receiving area is comfortable. We were up late yesterday evening so I slipped in a power nap. I woke up to my sister tugging on my jacket and telling me it was time to fly.

Choppers hold up to six people (if you weigh in excess of 275 pounds you could be asked to get what they call a "comfort seat."). As this was family, I upgraded all of us to the EcoStar 130, which has 25% more cabin room, theater-style seating, and a 180-degree wraparound windshield for better views.

Furthermore, I reserved us on the extended flight. Papillon Helicopter's typical South Rim chopper trip is 30 minutes. That's plenty for most people. I estimate that what you see in half an hour would take a few days on the ground. But I wanted more (it's not every day you fly the canyon), so I went with trip that gave us between 45-50 minutes of airtime.

Take off was extraordinary. Our helicopter, nose forward, blasted from the runway making a low-altitude flight over Kaibab National Forest, which hosts the biggest stand of Ponderosa Pine on the planet. In ten minutes, we said good-bye to the edge and found ourselves front and center in the Dragoon Corridor, the broadest ,deepest section of the Grand Canyon.

It was an amazing sight. The Colorado River was below us. So was the Temple of Ra. The buttes and spires were surreal. There were no clouds on the horizon. Our pilot explained that our visibility was about 140 miles as opposed to 30 for people on the ground! The chopper powered towards the stately North Rim. Here we turned back, enjoying Hopi Point and Grand Canyon Village as we made our descent.

Papillon Helicopters records all flights using cameras on the exterior and interior of the helicopter. Make sure you purchase a copy of your trip on DVD. I did. The quality was great. I made duplicates for all of us. They loved it. Definitely a great memento of our chopper tour.

Papillon Helicopters Grand Canyon South Rim tour gets two thumbs up from us. It was a tour of the South Rim. I'm glad we did the extended flight. The additional airtime was worth every penny. Our pilot was fantastic and entertained us with facts and stories of the area. He made the destination come alive for us. This was definitely a trip highlight for my clan and me. We'll undoubtedly be doing this air tour again.

About the Author

Mr. Kravitz is a travel writer who reviews Grand Canyon tours. Go here for his latest review of <a href="http://www.grandcanyonhelicoptertourreviews.com/papillon-helicopters.htm"><b>Papillon Helicopters</b></a> and his Top 3 air tour operators.

What to Bring on a Grand Canyon Helicopter Tour

You've reserved your Grand Canyon helicopter and you're excited as heck to get up in the air. Before you buckle up, You should first make a list of items to bring. Here's what I recommend you take to help make your trip picture-perfect:

All Climates And Seasons

Extra batteries. It's a picture-taking gold mine up there. Load up on batteries. Digital cameras and camcorders burn through them. Make sure your memory stick is empty or has lots of space left, and bring an extra.

Extra Film. Depending when you go, you will be dealing with various lighting conditions, take film with different ISO speeds. Be ready to shoot no less than a roll both before and after the flight. Allocate a minimum of three rolls for aerial shots.

Hat & Sunglasses. The Arizona sun is bright and strong. Pack strong UV sunglasses, preferably ones that wrap along the contour of your face. Include a brimmed hat to safeguard against sunburn - many of today's helis use 180-degree windshields.

Sun block lotion and Chap Stick. Bring SPF 50 sun block, even on over cast days. Use liberally. Climatic conditions can be dry and windy - a perfect combination for chapped lips.

Summer Season

Comfy walking shoes. You may be able to get by with flip flops on air-only trips. I'd be cautious and wear a good pair of walking shoes or cross-trainers, particularly if you take a excursion that comes with, for example, the Grand Canyon Glass Bridge, a smooth-water float trip, or a flight to the bottom.

Light-weight, loose clothing. The Grand Canyon is hot, particularly in July. I would recommend wearing a shirt made of wicking fabric. Avoid tank tops. Jeans will also protect you from sun and wind. Windbreakers are usually a good idea.

Drinking water. I can not over-emphasize bringing water. Temperatures are regularly over 100 degrees Fahrenheit. Take a quart or more. Not staying hydrated can lead to lethargy and possibly heat stroke.

Winter

Gloves and Scarf. The Grand Canyon can get wicked cold. You want to keep as much of your own body heat as you can.

Head wear. Your head is responsible for probably the most heat loss. Cover it. I suggest bringing a "beanie" that you can roll down over your ears. Try to get one manufactured from wool or fleece.

Coat. I've seen people turn up in t-shirts. Not a good idea. The canyon's average elevation is 5,000 feet. Snow is common. Bring at the very least a medium-weight coat.

Layers. An example of this is wearing a t-shirt, shirt, sweatshirt, and jacket. In case the weather warms, you take off a layer. It's a very efficient means of keeping comfortable while in cold weather.

Final Words About Weather

Choppers used for Grand Canyon trips include climate-controlled cabins. These systems are amazing against heat and cold. Whatever the case, it's essential to still come prepared because:

1. You'll be outside making the switch to the aircraft

2. If your trip features a ground segment, you'll be subjected to either heat or cold.

Summing Up

Flying in a Grand Canyon heli above the West Rim or South Rim is definitely the trip of a lifetime - if you are prepared. Triple check your camera equipment and make certain you have extra batteries, film, and memory sticks. Throughout the summer, it is all about protecting yourself from the sun and staying hydrated. During wintertime, dress yourself in layers to stay warm. Take time to come up with a checklist of things to bring. Doing so nearly guarantees you will end up comfortable before, during, and after your flight.

About the Author

Mr. Kravitz is a travel journalist who writes about Grand Canyon tours. Go here for his list of the Top 3 Grand Canyon Helicopter tour operators. Ratings are based on quality, safety and price. His reviews have saved a lot of people a lot of money. Time for you to benefit from them, too.

Grand Canyon Helicopters: The Best Way to See South Rim

If you need to see as much of the National Park as you can in 1 day, go on a Grand Canyon heli tour of the South Rim. These flights are breathtaking and take you into the heart of the canyon, delivering unforgettable aerial views that you will cherish forever.

Helicopter tours leave every day from Grand Canyon Airport in Tusayan, small town that is a fast 10-minute drive from the National Park's main entrance. These rides sell out so book upfront (FYI - More than 5 million people visit the canyon each year, and many do heli rides!). Morning tours provide the best visibility. Sunset trips are available, too.

Grand Canyon South Rim airspace is thoroughly regulated. There aren't any bottom-landing flights. Those are only available out of Las Vegas and are done at the West Rim. Currently, there are no flights that hook up Grand Canyon National Park with Grand Canyon West.

Grand Canyon National Park helicopter rides begin with a low-altitude flight above the Kaibab Plateau, home to the largest stand of Ponderosa Pine on the planet. I calculate that it requires about ten minutes to leave the rim and go into the Dragoon Corridor, the widest, deepest part of the canyon.

In the corridor, you will see the Plateau Point Mule Trail, the Tower of Ra, Phantom Ranch, Grand Canyon Village and the Colorado River before turning back at the majestic North Rim. Helping put what you will see into perspective, consider this:

1. Ground visitors see only 30 miles of the 277 that make up the park. Airborne travelers see 140 miles!

2. It requires at least five hours to drive a car from the South Rim to the North Rim.

For those who have 1 or 2 days at the South Rim, it's clear to me that a heli trip is the only way to go.

You will find three businesses that operate air tours: Papillon, Maverick and Grand Canyon Helicopters. Papillon has the best prices. Maverick is more aimed toward luxury. Grand Canyon falls in the middle.

Grand Canyon National Park helicopter flights last between 30 and 50 minutes. Most use A-Star helis. If you've got the budget, I suggest you step up to the EcoStar 130. It is really an elite bit of machinery. It features a cabin that's 35 percent bigger than its rivals and theater-style seats. It is also quieter and comes with 180-degree wraparound windows.

Each trip comes with a set of personal headphones. Utilize these to listen to the pre-recorded ride narration (10 languages!). Or chat with your pilot and fellow passengers. The entire flight is captured by cameras connected to the front of the helicopter as well as in the cabin. The recording is ripped to a DVD and can be bought.

Don't ever pay full list price for chopper tours. Shop the net. Please. I have been finding bargains that cut prices by 35 percent Caveat: To obtain these special prices, you must carry out the purchase online. Understand that commissioned sales agents man the "customer service" numbers and will upsell you to more expensive priced package.

Grand Canyon helicopters to the South Rim are the most effective and exciting way to see the National Park. The Rim is a big place. In case you explore it on foot, you will see just a sliver of it. Get airborne and you will see four-times as much. That's a major difference. It's also the reason that's making helicopter tours the runaway success that they are today. See you up there!

About the Author

Mr. Kravitz is a travel journalist who writes about Grand Canyon tours. Go here for his list of the best Grand Canyon helicopter tours. Flights that make this list ar handpicked by Kravitz based on quality, safety and price. Browse this list and see if there's a heli tour for you.