King of Canyons

King of Canyons is Papillon’s Grand Canyon landing tour that starts in Las Vegas itself, at a VIP terminal just off the Strip, so there’s no drive out to Boulder City. The helicopter heads over Hoover Dam, the Colorado River and Lake Mead to Grand Canyon West and lands 3,200 feet below the rim.

You get about 30 minutes on the canyon floor, with champagne and light refreshments: cheese, crackers, cookies, fruit and fig bars, water. The flight home comes in over Downtown, then runs the length of the Strip past the STRAT, the Sphere, the Bellagio fountains, the Eiffel Tower at Paris and the Luxor pyramid. That’s about 90 minutes of flying in all.

Count about 3½ to 4 hours from hotel pickup to drop-off. Transport is offered from a limited list of Strip and Downtown hotels, 60 to 90 minutes before the flight; if you drive yourself, be at the terminal 45 minutes before departure.

Everyone 18 and over needs an original REAL ID-compliant license or a passport; without one, Papillon refuses check-in and refunds no one in the booking.

Check in 45 minutes before flight time, or the booking is cancelled as a no-show. Changes are free until 72 hours before departure. Cancelling by then gets you a credit voucher for the full price, good for a year, not a refund; inside 72 hours, no changes or refunds. Reconfirm by phone a day or two ahead.

A bottle of water is fine but stays closed in the helicopter, and selfie sticks aren’t allowed in or around it. Light layers work from March to September; bring a jacket from October to mid-March.

Passengers of 300 pounds or more pay for an extra comfort seat at check-in. Children 2 to 11 have their own fare, and under-2s fly free on a lap.

During Formula 1 race week, hotel pickups move to Excalibur, Resorts World, Westgate and the Golden Nugget.