Las Vegas Helicopter Tours 2026: Strip Flights & Grand Canyon

Helicopter tours from Las Vegas come in two very different forms: a short flight over the lights of the Strip, and a half-day trip to the Grand Canyon, often with a landing deep inside it. This guide compares the tours the three main sightseeing operators sell, using the prices and policies on their own sites in September 2026.

Prices are "from" prices: operators say they vary with the season, demand and time of day, and sunset slots usually cost more. Check the total at checkout before you pay.

Tours at a Glance

Strip Flights

A Strip flight is short (about 10 to 15 minutes in the air) and is the cheapest way to see Las Vegas from a helicopter. Maverick's Vegas Views route, for example, passes the Sphere, The STRAT, Fremont Street, the Bellagio fountains, Allegiant Stadium, Caesars Palace, the High Roller and Wynn, covering both the Strip and downtown.

• Night or sunset? Night flights show the Strip lit up; a sunset slot catches the desert light and the lights coming on, and usually costs more. Maverick sells a sunset option on its Neon & Nature tour.
• What the price includes. Check whether hotel transport is included. Papillon's Vegas VIP After Dark ($129) adds champagne and hotel transport to the Strip flight; its basic Strip Highlights flight is cheaper.
• Where you depart. Maverick and Papillon fly Strip tours from their Las Vegas Strip terminals. 5 Star flies from its heliport at Harry Reid International Airport, which it says is about 10 minutes from the Strip resorts.

If a Strip flight is mainly about the view, compare it with the ground-level alternatives in our photo spots guide and the observation decks in our things to do guide.

Grand Canyon Tours

Helicopter tours from Las Vegas go to Grand Canyon West, on Hualapai tribal land in Arizona, not to Grand Canyon National Park's South Rim. Grand Canyon West is owned and operated by the Hualapai Tribe, and landing tours touch down on Hualapai land below the rim. On the way, most routes pass Hoover Dam and Lake Mead.

Canyon floor landing tours

These are the tours most people mean when they talk about a Grand Canyon helicopter trip. The helicopter descends below the rim and lands near the Colorado River for a short stop with a drink and snacks.

• Maverick Wind Dancer (from $599): about 45 minutes' flying each way from Maverick's Strip terminal, and about 30 minutes on a private bluff 3,500 feet below the rim, roughly 300 feet above the river, with champagne, drinks and light snacks.
• Papillon Grand Celebration (from $529): departs Boulder City, 4 to 4.5 hours from hotel pickup to drop-off, with a champagne toast and refreshments near the river and a meal; hotel transport included.
• Papillon King of Canyons (from $569): departs from Papillon's Strip terminal, 3.5 to 4 hours, canyon floor landing with champagne, plus views of the Strip on the flight.

The practical difference is where you leave from. A Strip departure saves the drive to Boulder City.

Air-only tours

Air-only tours fly over the canyon without landing. They are cheaper and shorter: 5 Star's West Rim Discovery starts at $269, and Papillon's Golden Eagle, which takes in Hoover Dam and the Colorado River, starts at $409 for 3.5 to 4 hours door to door.

Combining with the Skywalk

The Skywalk at Grand Canyon West is a 10-foot-wide, horseshoe-shaped glass bridge that extends 70 feet over the rim. It is included in Grand Canyon West's $99 All-Access Pass. You must leave personal belongings, including phones and cameras, in a free locker; professional photographers sell photos instead. A few operator packages combine the flight with rim time, such as Papillon's VIP at the Rim (from $574, about 7 hours). For driving to the West Rim yourself, see our Grand Canyon West guide, and for all the options, the Grand Canyon tours guide.

The Operators

• Maverick Helicopters says it runs the world's largest fleet of Airbus 130 helicopters. Its Vegas Views flight carries up to six guests in theater-style leather seats with wrap-around windows.
• Papillon runs the widest range: Strip flights, landing and air-only canyon tours, and longer packages that add an airplane, boat or Hummer tour. All its tours include hotel pickup from major Las Vegas properties.
• 5 Star Helicopter Tours flies Airbus AS350 B2 helicopters with forward-facing seating from its airport heliport, with Strip, Grand Canyon, Red Rock Canyon and Valley of Fire flights. Its prices start at $99 for a night Strip flight and reach $799 for a private VIP Strip flight.

Sundance Helicopters, still named in older guides, says it no longer offers sightseeing tours and now does only utility and charter work.

Weight, ID, Children and Cancellations

These are Maverick's published policies; other operators have similar rules, so check yours.

• Weight: a maximum of 300 pounds per person on Las Vegas and Grand Canyon West flights. Guests over the limit must buy an extra seat. Seats are assigned at check-in for weight and balance, so you can't pick yours.
• ID: everyone 18 or older needs a physical REAL ID or passport; digital copies are not accepted.
• Children: infants under 2 can sit on an adult's lap with proof of age; from age 2 a child needs a seat. Under-18s must fly with a parent or guardian.
• Check-in: 45 minutes before departure for Grand Canyon and Red Rock flights, 30 minutes for others.
• Cancellations: free changes up to 72 hours before your flight; after that, no changes or refunds, and no-shows are charged in full. Maverick sells optional Ticket Assurance that allows cancellation up to 24 hours ahead.
• Weather: flights depend on conditions. Maverick suggests booking early in your trip so there is time to rebook if yours is cancelled.
• Photos: encouraged, but no flash.
• Tips: Maverick says pilot tips are accepted and appreciated.

Which Tour Should You Book?

Tips for Your Flight

• Book early in your trip so weather cancellations can be rebooked.
• Read the cancellation terms. A 72-hour cut-off means plans that change on the day cost you the whole fare.
• Bring a physical ID if you are 18 or older.
• Wear closed-toe shoes for any landing tour, and dark clothing to cut window reflections in photos.
• Turn off your flash and shoot through the glass at an angle to reduce glare.
• Prone to motion sickness? Take your usual remedy beforehand and look at the horizon.

Planning a day trip by road instead? See our guides to Hoover Dam and Valley of Fire.