Grand Canyon Helicopter Tour & Optional Hummer Ground Excursion

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Free cancellationTravelers' pick

1/8

Duration25m–4h 30m

GroupUp to 36

Audio guideEN · DE +7

Mobile ticketAccepted

Aerial Views Most People Never See

You get a 25-30 minute helicopter flight over the South Rim, North Rim, Colorado River and Kaibab Forest in a luxury Bell helicopter. If you upgrade to the Hummer option, add roughly two hours of ground stops at rim viewpoints with a guide. Arrive 30 minutes early; international visitors on the Hummer option should budget for the $100-per-adult park entrance fee (as of January 2026).

25m–4h 30m

Step-by-step itinerary

Helicopter tour and optional Hummer excursion

Arrive at air terminal near park
Board luxury sightseeing helicopter
Fly over South and North Rims
View Kaibab National Forest and Dragon Corridor
Land and disembark helicopter
Optional: Take 2-hour Hummer tour
Stop at Moran Point and Grandview Point
Explore other canyon rim viewpoints

The Experience

What does the Grand Canyon actually look like from inside it? That's the question that gets answered the moment the helicopter lifts off from the South Rim heliport. The 25-30 minute flight takes you over striped canyon walls that shift color as the light moves, down to the Colorado River cutting through the deepest part—the Dragon Corridor—and across to the North Rim most visitors never reach on foot. You're in a state-of-the-art Bell helicopter with a professional crew, and the only thing between you and the view is a window.

If you add the optional Hummer excursion, the day extends into a ground tour that hits Moran Point, Grandview Point, and other rim lookouts over roughly two hours. Your guide handles the stops and the history; you handle the camera. The helicopter part is the rare thing—those angles and that depth—but the Hummer lets you stand at the edge and feel the scale in a way no photo from above can quite capture. One note: if you're not a U.S. resident and you book the Hummer option, Grand Canyon National Park charges an entrance fee as of January 1, 2026—either a $250 pass or $100 per adult (kids 15 and under are free). That's separate from the tour price and payable to the park.

Logistics are straightforward. You arrive 30 minutes before departure to check in at the air terminal near the park entrance. Infants sit on a lap (specialized seats are available); kids five and under get a car seat or booster if you choose the Hummer. Anyone over 300 pounds needs to buy an extra seat for weight and balance—that's a conversation with the operator on the day. Government photo ID is required for everyone 18 and up. The helicopter handles all fitness levels, so age or mobility isn't a barrier, just the time commitment and the willingness to be in the air.

What’s included

Your experience includes the helicopter flight aboard a state-of-the-art Bell helicopter with a professional crew.
If you select the Hummer option, you also get approximately two hours of ground touring with stops at multiple rim viewpoints and a knowledgeable driver-guide.
The helicopter departure is from the South Rim heliport near the park entrance.

Good to know

Easy physical levelInfant seats availableInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Papillon Helicopters

Is this one for you?Right for travelers who want to see the canyon's interior geography and the North Rim without a multi-day backpacking trip. The helicopter is the only way to access those aerial views; the Hummer adds ground time but also adds the park entrance fee for international visitors, so factor that into your budget if you're not a U.S. resident.