A new proposal from the National Park Service would limit the number of daily air tours over the Grand Canyon to 364, and encourage the implementation of quieter technology. Nearly 5 million people visit the Grand Canyon every year, and many people enjoy aerial views from helicopters and small airplanes.

The Park Service's goal is to restore natural quiet to 67 percent of the Grand Canyon for three-fourths of the day or longer, up from 53 percent. But the United States Air Tour Association said any goal of more than 50 percent would damage the industry.

Restoring the natural quiet to the Grand Canyon.

All TourGuy.com operators operate the Eco-Star EC130, which provides automatic control over the rotor RPM and significantly reduces operating noise levels. (Lower than the National Park Service's imposed standards, which are the strictest in the world.) These are the same helicopters used by some police departments for stealth operations.

The most popular tour includes a 35-minute scenic flight and landing 3,200 feet below the rim outside the National Park Service area. The landing takes place on Hualapai Indian land, which also limits the number of flights to the Grand Canyon.

The Grand Canyon Helicopter Landing provides some of the best photo opportunities of Boulder City, Lake Mead, Hoover Dam, and the Mojave Desert. It also includes a champagne picnic lunch. There are only five departure times daily.

The second most popular helicopter tour is part of an exclusive adventurer's dream come true package. In addition to a 35-minute scenic flight to the West Rim of the Grand Canyon, adventurers enjoy a 20-minute riverboat tour, bus tour, and lunch at the world famous Skywalk, which is a glass-bottomed observation walk that reaches 70 feet beyond the rim of the Grand Canyon.


This second tour is limited to one flight per day through March 13, and four times per day after March 14. The tour includes a barbecue lunch provided by the Hualapai people.

For other unique Las Vegas attractions that take you above and beyond the Las Vegas Strip, visit TourGuy.com. Helicopter excursions to the Grand Canyon also tend to be among the most popular Las Vegas attractions during any long weekend and special holidays like Valentine's Day.