Privétours in Las Vegas

Gewoon prachtig!! Het enige wat ik jammer vind, is dat er niet meer uitleg werd gegeven over de namen en betekenissen van de formaties, maar ik ben zo blij dat we zijn gegaan, ik vond het geweldig!

Het was fantastisch... alles, van de kleine terminal tot het grondpersoneel en Tori, onze piloot. Zelfs de muziek in de helikopter maakte de ervaring zo onvergetelijk. De canyon binnenvliegen was zo adembenemend... zal een van de beste herinneringen aan deze reis zijn. Heel erg bedankt.

My experience with Papillon Helicopters was absolutely fantastic—I could not have hoped for anything better! From start to finish, the staff made everything smooth and enjoyable. The check-in process was easy, the team was professional and friendly, and safety was clearly a top priority.The helicopter ride itself was unforgettable. The views of the Grand Canyon from above were breathtaking—seeing the canyon walls, the river, and the vast expanse from that perspective was truly once-in-a-lifetime. I was pleasantly surprised when Corey, our pilot, started playing the main Star Wars theme just as we were ascending. That made it even better! Canyon. If you want an experience that combines adventure, beauty, and top-notch service, this is it!

Iedereen, en dan bedoel ik ook iedereen, de receptie, het grondpersoneel en de piloot waren super. Ze waren professioneel, beleefd en zeer behulpzaam. Eenmaal in de lucht was de tour ongelooflijk. Je kon dingen zien die je vanaf de grond nooit zou zien. Het verhaal van de piloot was erg nuttig en zijn muziekkeuze voegde een beetje humor toe aan de ervaring. Mijn vrouw en ik zouden het iedereen aanraden. Het was elke cent waard.

What an incredible experience! Words can’t quite capture the feeling of the helicopter taking off, flying for a few minutes, and then suddenly, the world drops away as you soar over the canyon rim into the canyon itself! The flight lasted about 45 minutes, but it flew by in an instant. The pilot narrated points of interest during the flight, but honestly, it didn’t register as I was simply in awe of the majestic scenery. Visiting the Grand Canyon and taking a helicopter flight was on my bucket list, so being able to do both together was amazing. If you have the chance to do this, don’t hesitate; it’s truly life-changing and worth every penny!

Let’s be honest, the 40-45 minute trip along the Grand Canyon isn’t cheap. In our case, the 20% drop in the value of the pound didn’t help! However, this could be the best $299 per person you ever spend. I’ve always wanted to see the Grand Canyon; in fact, it’s the only item left on my travel bucket list. Trust me, seeing the Grand Canyon from a helicopter won’t disappoint! This is one of those once-in-a-lifetime experiences you’ll never forget. Our pilot, Marshall, was fantastic and pointed out all sorts of features along the Canyon. I liked that they took photos of everyone before boarding the helicopter and offered the usual superimposed pictures for purchase at the end of the trip. They also allowed us to take our own photos with our cameras and even took some for us. We didn’t buy any of their photos, but they do offer a DVD of your flight that’s of much better quality than what I captured on my camcorder, and for $40, I think it’s worth it. If you do nothing else during your Grand Canyon visit, this trip is a must!

On Thanksgiving Day, my husband and I, along with two other unrelated couples, enjoyed an amazing Grand Canyon Maverick Helicopters tour at noon, departing from the Tusayan airport near the south rim. Our helicopter held seven guests, so we had one extra seat, which was nice. The seating is arranged by weight, so you might not get your preferred seat. (I would have chosen to sit next to the pilot, but I ended up in a side window seat in the back row, which was fine since we didn’t land again until the end.) Our pilot, B.J., was calm, experienced, and personable. During the flight, he shared just the right amount of facts about the canyon and surrounding park, while a fitting soft rock soundtrack, curated by B.J., played through our headphones, changing with each phase of the flight. The gray leather seats were comfortable (though not rotating), and we enjoyed excellent views, both near and far, as we flew over the sunny south rim, the snowy north rim, and mostly in between, gazing down at the cliffs and the Colorado River far below. The 30+-minute canyon tour was a perfect length for appreciating the canyon’s grandeur, although I could have easily spent all day gliding over those views! The takeoff and landing were incredibly smooth, and the spacious Maverick waiting area (with a fireplace & restrooms) and gift shop were top-notch. They took photos of us at the start and end, standing by the helicopter, and then offered us an official photo and DVD to remember our flight. It was certainly a memorable Thanksgiving Day! (One photo tip: wear black if you don’t want to see yourself reflected in the windows while taking pictures.)

As we planned our trip to the Grand Canyon, we looked into various add-on options. In the end, the only one we set up ahead of time was a helicopter ride. We opted for this since it was our first visit to the Grand Canyon, and likely our only one given our packed travel itinerary. After some research, we chose Maverick Helicopters and booked the Canyon Spirit flight. While it was pricier than some other flights (there are shorter options), the flight lasted around 45 minutes. Plus, it was convenient that Maverick operates from Grand Canyon Airport on Hwy 64, just a quick 5-minute drive from our stay at the Best Western Grand Canyon, allowing us to maximize our trip time. Initially, our travel agency informed us that we couldn't guarantee a specific flight time. Still, we requested an early flight to catch the views in the best light and leave the rest of the day open for exploring the area. As our departure approached, we contacted Maverick and found out that, weather permitting, our flight would be the first of the day at 08:00 am, requiring us to arrive 30 minutes early. We also called the day prior to confirm our check-in. On the day of the flight, we arrived at 07:20 am, checked in, and got weighed as part of the process, then waited with anticipation. Just before our flight, our pilot Daniel called our names along with the other passengers - 6 in total, leaving one seat vacant. We were led out to the tarmac, where Maverick took photos of us with the pilot in our family groups before assigning our seats and conducting a safety briefing. It seemed the seating was arranged to balance the group's weight, which avoided any chaos over seat selection. The ECO-Star (EC130) helicopter, built by Airbus Helicopters, accommodated eight people - the pilot and six passengers, arranged in two rows of four. My wife sat up front next to the pilot, while I took the seat behind him by the window. However, every seat offered fantastic views. Since we wore headphones to communicate, we could interact with the pilot, who provided a great commentary. The entire flight was recorded using a camera mounted at the front of the helicopter, allowing those interested to purchase a copy along with a nice plaque featuring our pre-flight photo. After taking off, we left the Grand Canyon South Rim, flying over the Kaibab National Forest before reaching the canyon's edge, which dropped away dramatically below us. The sight was breathtaking and exhilarating. While flying over the canyon, we could see for miles. The North Rim and eastern edge came into view, which many visitors miss and we likely would have too without this flight. We followed the Colorado River and saw the water flowing at the canyon's base. As we flew through the canyon's widest and deepest areas, we snapped as many photos as we wanted, and I even recorded some GoPro footage throughout the flight. After crossing the Colorado River, we left the Grand Canyon and returned to base. Once we landed and it was safe to exit, we took some photos around the helicopter, including with our pilot. Back at the terminal, those interested could buy a DVD of the flight or a plaque with our pre-flight photo as a keepsake. We usually skip such purchases, but this experience was so special that we wanted to relive it with friends and family. We left with wonderful memories and incredible photos. It was a remarkable, beautiful, and absolutely fantastic experience that we would highly recommend. If you're considering this, don't wait until it's too late - plan ahead to secure your flight. Huge thanks to Daniel, our pilot, for making our experience so enjoyable.