Make Aircraft Private
Privatize the entire aircraft for your party of up to 6 passengers. Enjoy comfortable seating, climate control, oversized windows for photography, and headset communications between the passengers and the pilot.
Departs from Grand Canyon National Park · Helicopter 
Helicopter
Grand Kingdom Helicopter Tour
Helicopter 
Duration Approximately 40-50 minutes
Travel mode Helicopter
Departs Grand Canyon National Park
Destination Grand Canyon National Park
Narration 
What you'll see
The flight path, end to end.
On our longest Grand Canyon helicopter tour, you'll fly over the most spectacular sights of both the South Rim and the North Rim to discover aerial sights of the most impressive rock formations, the Kaibab Forest, the Eastern region of the canyon, and the Colorado River. The EcoStar helicopter features panoramic windows for ideal photography opportunities!
Papillon's longest Grand Canyon helicopter tour departs from the Grand Canyon National Park. You'll lift off from the nearby air terminal and soar over the most impressive regions of the Grand Canyon South Rim, including the widest and deepest sections. You'll see ancient rock formations - the oldest exposed geology known to man - and see the roaring Colorado River beneath you. You'll pass the Eastern region of the canyon for unparalleled views of the rock walls. As you reach the Grand Canyon North Rim, you'll fly over the lush greenery of the Kaibab Forest.
Your Grand Canyon tour takes place aboard an EcoStar helicopter, which offers comfortable seating, headset communications, and oversized windows for the best photography opportunities. The aircraft also features quiet technology, which preserves the natural soundscape of the Grand Canyon National Park and causes no disruption to the local wildlife.
If you want to maximize your sightseeing during your Grand Canyon vacation, this extended flight offers the best way to see it all from the sky!
Your day, step by step
From start to finish.
1
Arrive at the Papillon terminal 30 minutes prior to the departure time for check-in.
2
Fly in a state-of-the-art EC-130 Eco-Star helicopter with forward-facing, theater-style seating. Each passenger will have noise-cancelling headsets with voice activation microphones allowing you and the pilots to interact during your excursion. Each helicopter is air-conditioned and offers 180 degree unobstructed viewing area.
3
Lift off on a narrated air-only helicopter sightseeing tour over the North Canyon, South Rim, Dragon Corridor, Eastern Gorge, and Imperial Point.
4
Return to the Papillon terminal with photos and memories to last a lifetime.
5
Total flight time is approximately 40-50 minutes.
On this tour
What's included
- Helicopter tour on EcoStar EC130 Aircraft
- Oversized windows and stadium-style seating
- Multilingual narration
- Aerial tour of the Grand Canyon
- Oversized windows and stadium-style seating
- Headset narration
- Amazing aerial views of East and North canyon rims of the Grand Canyon National Park
The aircraft
The helicopter for this tour is the Airbus EC130 EcoStar.
Sightseeing is the only job this aircraft does. The Airbus EC130 EcoStar was built for it — and on this tour it is the only aircraft you can be assigned.
- Aircraft Airbus EC130 EcoStar
- Passengers Up to 6 guests
- Windscreen 180° wraparound
- Seating Forward-facing, stadium-tiered
- Cabin 23% more space than an A-Star
- Headsets Noise-cancelling · 11 languages
- Cabin climate Air-conditioned
- Tail rotor Shrouded Fenestron — quieter
Which seat do I get?
Seats are assigned by weight-and-balance, not by booking order — it is an aviation requirement, not a sales tactic. Stadium-tiered seats face forward toward the wraparound windscreen.
| EC130 EcoStar — ours | A-Star AS350 | |
|---|---|---|
| Seating direction | Forward-facing, stadium-tiered | Forward-facing, flat |
| Windscreen | 180° wraparound | Narrower forward view |
| Cabin volume | 23% more than an A-Star | Baseline |
| Guests carried | Up to 6 | Up to 6 |
| Air-conditioned cabin | Yes | Varies by operator |
| Narration languages | 11 | Varies |
What this means
Some canyon tours are sold without naming the aircraft, and guests find out at the terminal that they are flying a smaller machine with a different cabin layout. On this tour there is one aircraft type and no substitution — if we cannot fly you on an EC130, we do not fly you, and you are rebooked or refunded.
Make it yours
Optional Grand Kingdom Tour Upgrades
Add Hummer Tour
Add a Hummer ground excursion to your Grand Canyon tour. Travel on an open-air Hummer vehicle to multiple South Rim lookout points. The perfect way to see the Grand Canyon South from every angle! Learn more about the required passes and fees for international visitors.
Add Sunset Hummer Tour
Enjoy additional sights aboard a military-style, open-air sunset Hummer tour that stops at multiple famous lookout points along the canyon's edge while the sun sets over the canyon landscape.
Optional upgrade
Request a Front Seat on your Helicopter Tour
Fly first class and experience the pilot's point of view with a front seat upgrade for only $60 per person! While every seat aboard our helicopters provide incredible views, the front seats offers a panoramic perspective and unobstructed photo opportunities.
All passengers are free to request a front seat upgrade, although availability is limited. Front seat upgrades are not guaranteed, but are assigned once the passenger check-in process is complete and seating aboard the helicopter is determined. If your request for an upgrade is confirmed, payment will be processed at the check-in counter prior to departure.
Charge to Request: Free
Charge if Confirmed: $60
Gift certificates
Shop this tour as a gift This tour is available as a gift.
Send a Papillon flight for birthdays, anniversaries, holidays, and groups. Digital delivery makes it easy to surprise someone.
Before you book
Grand Kingdom Tour FAQs
The round-trip flight duration from Papillon’s Grand Kingdom Grand Canyon Helicopter Tour is approximately 40-50 minutes.
The Grand Kingdom Grand Canyon Helicopter Tour narration is offered in Chinese - Mandarin & Cantonese, Dutch, English, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, and Spanish.
Guests visiting Grand Canyon National Park South Rim have easy access to the departure point for this special tour. Papillon’s Grand Canyon Airport South Rim terminal is the closest airport to the Grand Canyon (Grand Canyon Airport - GCN, AZ). This airport is located right at the entrance to the National Park. The address is 3568 Airport Rd, Grand Canyon Village, AZ 86023.
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Every suggestion leaves from your departure point, so you're never sent hours away.
Since 1965Six decades flying the canyon
NPS preferred providerNational Park Service authorized
FAA Part 135 certifiedMaintained by our own engineers
250,000+ flyers a yearThe world's largest aerial tour company
