Down To The Base of The Grand Canyon by Helicopter – Amazing

Wednesday, August 19th, 2009 at 8:34 am

On the Colorado River at the base of the Grand Canyon

I generally like to keep posts in some sort of chronological order. But I have fallen behind a bit while having way too much fun. But today was a highlight so I am going to add this post out of order. I know – but it just has to be done.

Last night we decided to take a trip to the Grand Canyon so I hopped online to check out what was available and found a company that seemed to have just what we wanted, and that was the Grand Canyon Air Tours from Las Vegas. We selected the Original Exclusive Indian Country Grand Canyon – Canyon West Do It All Freedom Tour.

I found the tour we wanted to do and although there is a discounted price on the website, with the petrol tax the tour came to $831 for the two of us. They had a vacancy for this morning and arranged a 9:50am pick up from outside the South Tower shuttle pick up point.

So after breakfast which we had at the Golden Nugget Buffet – well worth the money, we went and stood outside to wait.

The shuttle took us to Vision Tours airstrip where we signed in, got weighed and waited for the plane. We got chatting to a couple from Grimsley in the UK who had just arrived for their first trip to Vegas and are staying at the Luxor. So we are all pretty much first timers on the tour.

We have been given lunch in cardboard boxes which prove to be an absolute pain to carry and before long they start to fall apart and there is an added degree of frustration at trying to keep everything from falling out.

The Vision Holidays Aircraft I thought we were flying from Vegas in a helicopter but that was another company and they didn’t have the exact tour I wanted which was helicopter to the base of the Grand Canyon, the boat ride on the Colorado River plus the Skywalk.

The plane is little and the way is bumpy but we have been warned about this and there are sick bags supplied although no one needed to use them. Val is in seat A so he gets a view of the Hoover Dam and Lake Mead, I am on the other side of the plane in seat C and I get to see rocky outcrops, which are spectacular non the less. I thought I would get to see the Hoover Dam from my side on the way back but – No it wasn’t to be.

We land at the Peach Springs check in area and its not too long before we are put into groups of 6 to go to the helicopter. I am in the middle in the back so its a bit hard to see too much and impossible for me to take photos. But I am content to sit back and just be grateful that I am in a helicopter on my way to the base of the amazing Grand Canyon. Fortunately Val has a better seat and is able to take some awesome photos.

I am all keyed up expecting to feel an adrenaline rush as we fly out over the edge to enter the drop zone but there is nothing. What is going on!!!! Am I becoming an adrenaline junkie who needs extreme experiences to feel the fear, if so bring it on.

Arriving at the base of the Grand Canyon We travel along the face of the canyon and soon arrive at the drop off point to catch the boat to go down the river.

The walk down to the pier is rough, naturally, and quite difficult to navigate down. Our driver is a personable young man who chats about the sights as we motor a short way down the Colorado.

He tells us that the Indians say that to touch the river water brings luck and he pulls up a plastic bucket with some water in it. We have a family with two young girls on our tour and after looking in the bucket the girls refuse to put their hand in. Rod has put a realistic looking plastic frog in the bucket and at first the girls think it is real but as soon as they see it is plastic they are quite happy to have their photos taken with it.

We spend a short time bobbing on the river and then it is time to return. The boat drifts back and we take lots of photos and chat. Just before we arrive back at the pier, Rod takes everyone’s photo against the awesome back drop of the Grand Canyon. Then we arrive back and walk up the steep rocky outcrops to get back to the helicopter drop off point.

Before leaving for the helicopter ride we were all given bus passes to take us out to the Skywalk at Eagle Rock. The mountainous rocky outcrop looks just like an eagle with its wings spread out on either side. Lots more photo opportunities and then we go into the entrance to the Skywalk.

All bags, cameras and cell phones have to be handed in and they are safely locked away until you have had your turn. There is a short queue and we watch others who are already on the walkway. A teenage boy is lying down on the glass showing no fear at the height or the fact he is looking straight down god knows how many feet, through the glass.

We are given some paper slippers to place over our shoes and then it is our turn. At the start the ground doesn’t drop away very much but as you walk out further there is nothing between the glass and the canyon bottom way below. We have our photo taken with the Grand Canyon as a backdrop.

The sight is truly awesome and awe inspiring. You can walk around the skywalk at a leisurely pace but of course you need to be mindful of the many others queued up behind waiting for their turn.

We remove our bootees and leave through the gift shop where we pick up our photos and certificate. The its outside in the oppressive heat to watch the indians dance troupe perform. Val does his best heyhowareya impression and I figure its time to leave.

Back on the bus we decide not to get off at the next stop which is the Guano point as there is quite a tight time frame on this tour and I don’t want to miss the plane ride back. Guano for those who aren’t aware of what it is, it is bat droppings and it was once mined in the Grand Canyon area for use in gunpowder and mascara. As the bus driver said, when your parents told you to get that cr*p of you face, they weren’t wrong.

All too soon it is time to leave the Peach Springs stop and head home. The trip is quite uncomfortable as the air conditioning isn’t working and it is so hot. Everyone is complaining which of course doesn’t help the situation. And as I said previously I still didn’t get to see Hoover dam from the air.

This is a trip I would recommend for anyone who doesn’t have a lot of time in Vegas and want to experience the helicopter and boat ride at the Grand Canyon.

There is no doubt about it, the Grand Canyon is a magnificent sight to see.

Lake Mead and the Hoover Dam – on the right

Lake Mead with Hoover Dam on the right