Grand Canyon Sunset Helicopter Tour with Las Vegas Strip Return

helicopter

Duration
about 2.5 hours from the terminal (Maverick) to 3.5-4 hours hotel to hotel (Papillon)
Price
from $629 per person (Maverick Wind Dancer Sunset; Maverick says prices vary by season and demand)
Departs from
Terminals just south of the Strip: Maverick at 6075 S. Las Vegas Blvd.; Papillon's Las Vegas terminal (hotel transfers included on Papillon)
Age policy
No minimum age at Papillon or Maverick. Under 2 on a parent's lap; 2 and up need a seat; Maverick requires under-18s to fly with a parent or guardian. Adults need a physical REAL ID or passport.

About

This is one tour, not two. Operators time an afternoon Grand Canyon landing flight so that the return leg crosses the Las Vegas Strip as the sun goes down. Neither operator reviewed here sells a separate daytime canyon flight plus a later Strip night flight as a single combo package.

The outbound leg crosses Hoover Dam and Lake Mead on the way to Grand Canyon West, on the Hualapai Reservation. The helicopter lands at a private site below the rim, where guests get champagne and light snacks. On the way back, Maverick's route passes the Bowl of Fire rock formations before reaching the city.

Departure times move through the year with sunset, so the exact start is set close to your date.

What to expect

Check in at the terminal at least 45 minutes before a Grand Canyon flight at Maverick. Everyone is weighed, and seats are assigned for balance, so parties may not sit together. Papillon collects guests from selected Strip and Downtown hotels 60 to 90 minutes before departure.

The flight to the canyon takes about 45 minutes. After landing you have roughly 30 to 40 minutes on uneven ground near the Colorado River, with a champagne toast. The return is timed so that you cross the Strip and Downtown around sunset. Papillon lists landmarks on its Strip route including the Luxor, the Bellagio fountains, the High Roller and the Sphere.

Who runs it

Several companies run this tour from Las Vegas. These are the published terms on each company's own site; we don't rank them or earn anything from them.

  • Maverick Helicopters - Wind Dancer Sunsetfrom $629 per person · about 2.5 hours; about 45 minutes each way; 30-40 minutes landed · Landing 3,500 feet below the rim, champagne, beverages and light snacks, sunset return over the Strip and Downtown
  • Papillon Grand Canyon Helicopters - King of Canyons Sunsetfrom $699 per person · about 3.5-4 hours hotel to hotel; about 90 minutes of flying; 30 minutes on the ground · Round-trip hotel transport, landing 3,200 feet below the rim, champagne and refreshments, headset narration, sunset flight over the Strip

Good to know

  • Departure time shifts with the season; Maverick says it may adjust the time based on the day's sunset.
  • Weight: Maverick's limit for Grand Canyon West flights is 300 lb per person, with an extra seat required above it. Papillon charges for an extra seat at 300 lb or more.
  • Cancellation: no changes or refunds within 72 hours at either operator. Maverick sells optional ticket assurance allowing changes up to 24 hours before.
  • Maverick says some flights make a brief fuel stop depending on gross weight.
  • Wear closed-toe shoes for the landing site. Maverick notes cabins are climate-controlled but can only cool to about 85°F in summer heat.
  • Selfie sticks and extending poles are banned in and around Papillon aircraft.

Questions about Grand Canyon Sunset Helicopter Tour with Las Vegas Strip Return

Is this two separate flights?

No. The sunset tours from Maverick and Papillon are a single flight. You fly to Grand Canyon West in the afternoon, land below the rim, and return to Las Vegas over the Strip as the lights come on. If you want a separate night flight over the Strip, it is sold on its own.

When does the sunset tour leave?

It depends on the time of year. Maverick says its sunset flights leave at different times through the year and that the departure time may be adjusted based on sunset on your tour date. Papillon says its departure is timed so the return reaches Las Vegas as the sun sets. Expect the exact time to be confirmed near your date.

How long is the landing?

About half an hour. Papillon lists 30 minutes on the ground for King of Canyons Sunset. Maverick's Wind Dancer Sunset page lists about 30 to 40 minutes, and its FAQ says about 45 minutes. The landing site is a private spot below the rim with champagne and light snacks.

Do I get picked up at my hotel?

Papillon includes round-trip hotel transport from selected Strip and Downtown hotels, with pickup 60 to 90 minutes before departure. Maverick's tour page names its Las Vegas Strip terminal as the departure point and does not state hotel transport, so check with Maverick when booking.

What ID do I need?

Every passenger 18 or older needs an original, physical REAL ID-compliant driver's license or a passport. Maverick and Papillon both say digital or photocopied ID is refused. Papillon says a guest without valid ID is denied check-in and no one in the booking gets a refund.

Similar tours

  • Grand Canyon West Rim Helicopter Landing Tour from Las Vegasabout 2.3 hours terminal to terminal (Maverick Wind Dancer) to 4-4.5 hours hotel to hotel (Papillon Grand Celebration) · from $529 per person (Papillon Grand Celebration, taxes and fees included per Papillon; a fuel surcharge may apply at check-in)
  • Las Vegas Strip Helicopter Flight10-15 minutes in the air; about 1.5 hours hotel to hotel when transfers are included (Papillon VIP After Dark) · from $99 per person, flight only, no hotel transfers (Papillon Strip Highlights); a fuel surcharge may apply at check-in