Grand Canyon West Heli Tour with Boat Ride & Optional Entry Pass
Overview
Available languages
40 minutes
Mobile ticket
Sightseers at the Grand Canyon West can experience the park with this exciting helicopter and boat adventure. At our nearby air terminal, you'll board a luxury helicopter and descend a breathtaking 4,000 feet to the canyon floor. Your helicopter will land near the bank of the Colorado River rushing nearly a mile below the canyon rim.
You'll then board a pontoon boat and enjoy a smooth water cruise along this ancient river, which continues to erode and carve the canyon to this day. You'll witness the changing colors and textures of the stone walls on either side of you as you float peacefully between the Grand Canyon West.
After your boat tour, you'll board your helicopter to be returned to the canyon rim.
Additional Info
Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Infant children are considered a lap child if they are under the age of two and have proof of age, such as a passport or a copy of their birth certificate
All passengers 18 years of age and older must present government-issued photo ID
For comfort and weight/balance of the aircraft, passengers weighing 300 lbs or greater will be required to purchase an additional seat. This is payable directly to the tour operator on the day of the tour
Cancellation Policy
If you cancel at least 3 full day(s) before the scheduled departure time, you will receive a full refund.<br>If you cancel within 3 day(s) of the scheduled departure, you will receive a 0% refund.
What‘s Included
Pontoon Boat Ride
Helicopter flight to the bottom of the Grand Canyon
All local taxes and fees
Gratuities
Hotel pickup and drop-off
Park entrance fees (Upgrade Optional)
What To Expect
Experience the Grand Canyon West from the rim to the canyon floor by helicopter, ground transfers, and a boat trip on the Colorado River.
Options
Add Park Entry & Skywalk
Heli, Boat, Entry & Skywalk: Heli, Boat with Park Entry into Grand Canyon West for self-guided tour. Also, general admission to Skywalk Bridge included.
Helicopter & Boat Tour
Helicopter & Boat Tour: Helicopter flight to the floor of the canyon with 15-minute pontoon boat ride. Entrance passes is not included.
Add Park Entry & Meal
Meal Voucher
Heli, Boat, Park Entry & Meal: Heli, Boat with Park Entry into Grand Canyon West for self-guided tour. Also, meal voucher included.
Add Park Entry
Heli, Boat Tour & Park Entry: Heli, Boat with Park Entry into Grand Canyon West for self-guided tour.
Add Park Entry, Meal & Skywalk
Heli, Boat with Park Entry into Grand Canyon West for self-guided tour. Also, meal voucher and Skywalk pass included.
Reviews
40 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
Helicopter to Floor of Canyon
T5169KEdonnaf,
Sep 23, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
4.00The flight itself was great! Neither pilot on either trip was communicative - I was also surprised we didn’t wear proper headphones. So it was a quick, quiet trip down and a quick, quiet trip back after the boat ride on the Colorado River. Pilots were safe and did a good job flying the helicopters. Part of our trip included a short boat ride on the river and our driver was awesome! Full of great history and facts about the region.
Great experience!
jayandlacey,
May 28, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Helicopter ride was absolutely stunning! I cried going down into the Grand Canyon - soooo beautiful and a smooth ride. Pilot was quiet but not rude. And the pontoon boat driver was kind and offered to take pictures of us on the boat. Glad we got selfies of us with the helicopter in the background as they were not offered.
Wonderful experience!
Catherine L,
Apr 18, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00We booked this tour for our 20th wedding anniversary. Overall service provided by Papillon was excellent and I would highly recommend them. From our initial booking they were very helpful with any queries we had. On the day of our tour we enjoyed a visit to Guano Point before our helicopter tour. This really was the highlight of our whole holiday. As it was our anniversary the staff arranged for just the 2 of us to be in the helicopter travelling down. The pontoon trip along the Colorado River was amazing - so scenic - and the guide provided us with interesting information along the way. There was water available after the pontoon trip while we waited for our helicopter trip back up and staff here had everything well organised. I would definitely recommend booking with Papillon - thank you so much!
Helicopter and pontoon
Dawn D,
Apr 16, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00Experience was too notch :) guides were amazing. Had such a great time. Will definitely do it again.
Such an amazing...
Raniqua K,
Jan 13, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00Such an amazing experience! The guides were great and the guide that drove the boat took extra time for our pictures and videos
Viator SCAM. It does not answer for service charges that I do NOT complete.
Arthurperr,
Dec 10, 2024
- Review from Tripadvisor
3.00Great disappointment after the helicopter tour. They didn't meet the ADD-ON's. Even greater disappointment is that Viator does not want to answer for U$S 220 charged. Looks like a fraud.
Great experience with limited time
761michellea,
Aug 13, 2024
- Review from Tripadvisor
4.00My husband had never been to the Grand Canyon and I had explained to him that you had to see it with your own eyes to appreciate the view. We were on a road trip with limited time and drove to the west rim from Vegas. The heli and pontoon ride from start to finish took about 1 1/2 hours. Our helicopter pilot did not converse with us but we were lucky to be the only ones in the vehicle going into the canyon and had a great view. We had to ask where to go for the pontoon boat but the boat guide was very knowledgeable and pleasant. Well priced for what we did.
Good experience
311geethaa,
Jul 12, 2024
- Review from Tripadvisor
4.00Helicopter pilot wasn't friendly. Not even a hello or any informative narration during the entire ride. No photo opportunity with Helicopter like the picture in tour fliers. It was a hush hush entry and exit. Ride was smooth though. Boat tour was fun and the driver was informative.
Awesome experience
Scuba-SSG,
May 11, 2024
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00We took the Grand Canyon helicopter tour and boat ride in the Colorado river. There no optional meal so skip that part. This trip was AWESOME. Started with a hotel pick-up and shuttle to Boulder for a light plane ride on a Cessna Caravan. Great and friend pilot Riley. We landed by the GC and switched to a helicopter ride down 4000 feet to land by the Colorado River. Then to a pontoon boat for a ride on the river with a great local guide (wish I could remember his name). Then back to the helicopter to ascend. The helicopter pilots and crew were amazing. We felt safe every step of the way. Once on surface we too a shuttle ride to the Skywalk. Honestly this part can be skipped. Nice idea but simply not worth it. But the view from the canyon rim is only beaten by our next stop at Guano point. Then back to the plane with Pilot Riley and shuttle bus back to Vegas. Professional and well organized operation every step of the way. About 7 hours total. Expensive but a once in a life time experience. Highly recommend.
Totally different way to see Grand Canyon
Aparna B,
Nov 25, 2023
- Review from Viator
5.00What an amazing experience! The helicopter ride was only a 7 min long but the view of the Grand Canyon was spectacular. we landed at the bottom of the canyon, took some stairs to take the boat tour on the Colorado river which was great! We had about twenty mins on the water and returned back. Highly recommend the tour.
Related Experiences
Operated by Papillon Helicopters