The Solo Scale:

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Viva Las Vegas! If you’re going for more than a few days, you might be starting to wonder how much viva you’ve got left in you. Sure, the hotel lobbies are gorgeous, there’s more fantastic food than you’ve got stomach space, but eventually, it begins to blend together and after all the shows and the casino floors, you might start seeking something new.

Luckily, with Vegas’ proximity to the Grand Canyon, you can take a day trip out there via helicopter and experience the fantastic sights from a viewpoint that many will never get to see. If you’re not afraid of heights (or helicopters) and you’re willing to pay a little more for a fancy excursion, then a Grand Canyon tour from Vegas might be the option for you. There are many options, but the one our group picked included the helicopter tour, a landing in the Grand Canyon, and a lunch (including champagne). You can get booking details here, but it’s far from the only option.

The tour departed from our Vegas hotel in the morning (and if you’re hoping to sleep in, you might need a coffee stop because this did leave at a relatively early hour before the Strip even got going). If you want a nap, though, there’ll be some time on the drive to the terminal.

Checking In

Upon arrival, it’ll feel like you’re just at the airport — and really, you are, only it’s just for helicopters. Eventually, it will be your turn. That’s when you get processed at the check-in station and each person in your party weighed. This is so that they can balance the helicopter by weight and ensure that you’re at your safest — but always weigh in mind that you are still taking a risk with flying in a helicopter, so make sure you take your comfort with that risk into account.

Taking Flight

Once you get airborne, the first part of the journey isn’t much to look at — flat plains with Vegas behind you. Within minutes, you arrive at the Hoover Dam and get a unique bird’s eye view of the Dam and Lake Mead. When we flew, the lake was experiencing a fair amount of drought and from the sky, it’s incredible to see the colour variations in the rock between the normal area and the typically-submerged sections.

Around an hour later, we began our descent into the portion of the Grand Canyon that we’d be having our lunch in. This is where you get an absolutely spectacular view, including the dissonance of having so many helicopters parked in a natural vista. You’ll get a packed lunch and a glass of champagne (neither are anything to write home about), but there’s also plenty of time to wander in the area you’re in for pictures or simply to explore.

After lunch, you’ll make your return trip — and this time, admittedly, the best of the trip will be behind you, leaving flat desert for most of the journey until you return back to Nevada.

When you’re ready to take flight, pick your option and enjoy the flight! You’ll also want to make sure you do your research and weigh whether you’re willing to take the inherent risks that come of helicopter flying. It can be dangerous, but well-worth it with a trusted company and a professional pilot.