Grand Canyon Airlines' Grand Canyon Deluxe airplane tour departs from Las Vegas and goes to the South Rim of the National Park in Arizona. The trip is 277 miles, which is a nightmare if you go by car or bus. Take the plane and it's a walk in the park, which is the very reason why this trip has become wildly popular with travelers from around the world.

The Flight

Flights depart from the Vegas metro area every day of the year including all major American holidays. The number of scheduled tours decreases during winter when demand slows. Planes head east and before you know it your flying over Lake Mead, the largest man-made reservoir in the United States, and Hoover Dam, the engineering marvel that controls the mighty Colorado River.

You'll then fly over Grand Canyon West before maintaining a course south of the Colorado River. In less than an hour, you'll start your descent, which will be directly over the Kaibab National Forest in Arizona, home to the largest stand of Ponderosa pine in the U.S.

Grand Canyon National Park Airport, elevation 6,000-feet-plus, is located in the quaint town of Tusayan (pop. 600), which is situated just 10 minutes from the main entrance gates to Grand Canyon South. In addition to the main airstrip, you'll see several heliports, owned and operated by Papillon Helicopters, Maverick Helicopters and Grand Canyon Helicopters.

From the plane you'll transfer to a deluxe tour bus. These coaches are super-modern and come with on-board restrooms, oversized viewing windows, recliner-style seats and personalized A/C units. These vehicles are extremely quiet and offer the utmost in comfort as you cruise inside the National Park and start your 2+-hour ground tour.

The Ground Tour

The motor coach stops at all key points of interest, including Yaki Point, Yavapai Point and Mather Point. Of course, stops will vary, but these are the main pullouts. The ride will conclude at historic Grand Canyon Village, which is home to museums (Kolb Studio), lodges (El Tovar, Bright Angel) and gift shops (Verkamp's). Lunch is included in this tour but you're free to dine at any of the Village's restaurants, the best of which is the diner inside Bright Angel Lodge.

The bus ride from the Village to Grand Canyon Airport takes no more than 15 minutes. Don't forget to take your belongings as you get off the coach and transfer to the aircraft. I've known way too many travelers who leave sunglasses, iPods and hats behind. In the event you do misplace something, it will be flown back to Vegas on the next flight and placed in the "lost and found box" at the terminal in Vegas.

The flight back to Vegas follows the same route back. It will be later in the day and sunlight will play differently over the National Park. Personally, I love the early morning and evening light. The former brings clarity to this majestic wilderness while the later gives it more shades and depth.

Total tour time: 9.5 hours

The Airplane

There's a misperception that the planes used on Grand Canyon Deluxe tours are small like a two-passenger Cessna. That's not the case. These trips deploy only 19-seat, customized deHavilland Otters, which, because of their extensive outfitting, have been re-christened as "Vistaliners."

The planes come with all the accoutrements and include large cabins, robust A/C, spacious seats, oversized viewing windows and wings that are attached to the top of the plane's body so travelers are ensured of unobscured views of the canyon below. Each aircraft also boasts the latest navigational equipment and are famous for their "quiet-ride" engines.

Safety First

In addition to being fun and exciting, Grand Canyon airplane tours are safe. The first thing you'll notice is that each aircraft is commandeered by two pilots, both of whom are certified by the Federal Aviation Administration. Further, both have passed Grand Canyon Airlines' brutal certification program, which must be re-taken every year. Take all this into consideration (along with the aircraft itself) and it's easy to see that you are in "good hands."

What to Wear

This is a great question because you start in Las Vegas and land at the South Rim, two places that are very different in terms of climate. Summer will always be 10 to 15 degrees hotter in Las Vegas. Regardless, be prepared for the heat. I always recommend that travelers bring water, sunglasses, a hat, sun block, lightweight long-sleeved shirt and running shoes.

The situation reverses in winter because the South Rim is about 4,000 feet higher than Las Vegas. This time of the year, the National Park is cold and there's sometimes snow. I recommend you wear a hat, medium-weight jacket, sunglasses, pants and sturdy shoes. Don't wear shorts. It seems obvious but I've seen Vegas travelers show up in them and it doesn't work.

RSVP

The Grand Canyon Deluxe airplane tour is super popular, as it's the preferred way to see the South Rim from Las Vegas. Knowing this, do not wait until the last minute to book your reservation. My rule of thumb is to purchase your seats no less than three days from your desired departure date. Cut it close and there's a strong probability that you won't get on the flight.

Deals

Don't purchase your tour in Las Vegas or at the destination. Many travelers think this will save them money. In fact, the opposite is true: you will pay more. Where are the deals? Online! I've seen prices cuts that reduce the costs of air tours by up to 35 percent. This isn't the case everyday but when you're booking a group of people the savings really add up. Lastly, in addition to going online direct, get your seats direct from the tour operator on their website. Follow my process and you'll have a good chunk of extra spending money.

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Have a GRAND day,