VIP Grand Canyon Heli, Boat & Skywalk Tour

The VIP Grand Canyon Heli, Boat & Skywalk Tour packs three of Grand Canyon West’s big draws into one day: a helicopter landing at the bottom of the canyon, a pontoon float on the Colorado River and VIP entry to the Skywalk. The Airbus H130 Ecostar leaves Papillon’s terminal in Boulder City and crosses Hoover Dam and Lake Mead on the way.

From the landing site you walk down to the river for a calm float, then the helicopter lifts you back up to the rim. The All Access pass that comes with the tour covers the park shuttle to Eagle Point, where the glass horseshoe reaches 70 feet past the edge, about 4,000 feet above the canyon floor, and on to Guano Point.

Expect about 2½ hours at the canyon, 70 minutes of flying in all, and 6½ to 7 hours from hotel pickup to drop-off.

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.

Only small bags (a purse, a fanny pack, a diaper or medical bag) go into the park, through metal detectors; leave bigger ones at the terminal or check them on arrival. Phones and cameras are allowed on the Skywalk.

Passengers of 300 pounds or more pay for an extra comfort seat at check-in. Children 2 to 11 have their own fare, under-2s fly free on a lap, and everyone 12 and up pays the adult fare.