The video states the full experience is 4.5 hours from hotel door to hotel door. This includes ground transportation to and from Boulder Airport, safety briefing, the flight itself (which features approximately 20 minutes in the Grand Canyon), and a lunch break at the landing site.
At a glance
Length
3 min
Channel
Mimi and G | Travel Tips & Reviews
Video from
Apr 2023
Rating
⭐⭐ Great video · 2/2
Best for
First-time helicopter tour flyers and Grand Canyon seekers wanting aerial views.
What this video answers
How long is the actual flight time?
Can I request a front-row seat?
What should I do if I feel motion sickness during the flight?
Are cameras allowed on the tour?
Why is accurate weight important when booking online?
Reads the guide aloud in your browser — free, no account.
What to Expect on the Papillon Grand Celebration Helicopter Tour
The Papillon Grand Celebration Tour is a helicopter experience that departs from Boulder Airport near Las Vegas and takes you on a scenic flight over some of the Southwest's most iconic landmarks. The video documents Mimi and G's first expedition on this tour, revealing what a full day experience looks like from hotel pickup to landing back at your accommodation. The tour is ideal for travelers who want dramatic aerial views of the Hoover Dam, Lake Mead, and the Grand Canyon without the physical demands of ground-based hiking or the time commitment of multi-day trips.
This is a guided scenic flight that combines transportation, an aerial journey, and an on-site lunch experience in the canyon itself. The entire outing takes 4.5 hours door-to-door, making it manageable for travelers on a moderate schedule. Whether you're a first-time flyer seeking an adrenaline rush or a photographer hunting for unique vantage points, this tour delivers close-up views of geological wonders that are simply impossible to replicate from the ground.
Key Moments
Key Sights and Moments on the Flight Route
The Hoover Dam viewed from the air—a perspective that reveals why the concrete is still drying years after construction
Lake Mead and the point where the Colorado River meets the lake, including views of the distinctive mud patterns
A 20-minute flight into the Grand Canyon itself, with the Grand Canyon Skywalk visible on your right as you descend
Blooming wildflowers and cacti that attract hummingbirds near the landing and lunch area—a seasonal bonus for spring visits
Multiple photo opportunities at the rough, rocky picnic site where you'll eat lunch during the experience
The motion-sickness remedy pilot tip: looking at the horizon during takeoff helps steady your mind if you feel queasy
Important Details Before Booking Your Flight
Total Duration: 4.5 hours from hotel door to hotel door, including pickup, flight, lunch, and return
Front-Row Seating: Available for a $50 upcharge if requested at check-in and space allows
Transportation: Papillon provides hotel pickup via bus to Boulder Airport
Required Documents: Bring a government-issued ID
What to Wear: Sneakers or hiking boots are mandatory; open-toed shoes are not permitted due to rough, rocky, and uneven ground at the picnic site
Clothing by Season: Winter weather layers for October to March; layered clothing recommended the rest of the year
What to Bring: A water bottle, cameras, and phones (all encouraged); no selfie sticks or extended camera poles allowed
Weight Disclosure: You'll be weighed at the airport on a mat during check-in, so report your weight accurately online
Safety Briefing: You'll receive a safety briefing and a life-preserver belt before takeoff
Frequently Asked Questions About This Grand Canyon Helicopter Tour
How long is the actual flight time?
The video states the full experience is 4.5 hours from hotel door to hotel door. This includes ground transportation to and from Boulder Airport, safety briefing, the flight itself (which features approximately 20 minutes in the Grand Canyon), and a lunch break at the landing site.
Can I request a front-row seat?
Yes, front-row seating is available for an additional $50 fee, provided you request it at check-in and the helicopter has availability to accommodate your request.
What should I do if I feel motion sickness during the flight?
The video includes a tip from the pilot: focus your gaze on the horizon as you take off. This visual anchor helps steady your mind and reduce the sensation of motion sickness.
Are cameras allowed on the tour?
Yes, cameras and phones are not only allowed but encouraged. Make sure to carry your camera with you to lunch, as there are many photo opportunities at the landing site, especially if wildflowers and cacti are in bloom (which attracts hummingbirds).
Why is accurate weight important when booking online?
Weight information affects helicopter weight distribution for safety and balance. At the airport, you'll stand on a mat that weighs you during check-in, so the number you provide online should match your actual weight to ensure proper seating and load distribution.
A 4.5-hour guided helicopter excursion from Boulder Airport that includes aerial views of the Hoover Dam, Lake Mead, and the Grand Canyon, culminating in an on-site lunch.
Boulder Airport
The departure point for the helicopter tour, located near Las Vegas, where passengers board after hotel pickup.
Grand Canyon Skywalk
A glass-bottomed walkway on the Hualapai Reservation that extends into the Grand Canyon; it appears on the right side of the helicopter during the canyon portion of the flight.
Life preserver
Safety equipment provided before takeoff, worn as a belt during the flight in compliance with aviation safety protocols.
This video is genuinely helpful because it walks you through the entire experience in chronological order, so you know exactly what happens from the moment the bus picks you up until you're dropped back at your hotel. The hosts don't gloss over practical details—they explain the weight mat system, the seating upcharge, the gear restrictions, and the rough terrain you'll encounter, giving you a clear picture of what to prepare for.
What I appreciated most was the specific route breakdown: crossing the Hoover Dam, viewing Lake Mead, flying into the canyon, and spotting the Grand Canyon Skywalk. It's honest, warm, and packed with actionable tips. If you're considering this tour, this video delivers the real story. I'd absolutely recommend booking this experience.
Years on the front lines of helicopter tour coordination — not as a travel blogger, but as the person responsible for making every guest experience go right. Managed 2,000+ cruise guests weekly as Shore Excursions staff aboard the Pride of America in Hawaii
Personally coordinated with helicopter tour operators to confirm age, weight, and safety requirements.
Grand Celebration Tour Our First Helicopter Tour What A Way To Go. Mimi and G really enjoyed our time on Grad Celebration Tour. There are many highlights to this trip. Tune in and enjoy the ride.
Script
Papillon Grand Celebration Tour.
This was our first helicopter tour.
It was a good
One. It really was. Papillon supplies a bus to pick you up at the hotel, and then you go to Boulder Airport and you get on your helicopter there. If you wanna sit in the front row, make sure to tell them when you check in,
If they can accommodate your request. It will be a $50 upcharge.
You'll have a safety briefing and a lovely belt. That's a life preserver.
Now that's a package.
Then you take off. And a trick that the pilot told us as we were taking off was if you felt a little bit of motion sickness, look out at the horizon. That will help steady your mind.
I Always need my mind steady. Me too. Yes. First you cross the river down. It is an unreal view from the air. Did you know the concrete is still drying in the dam?
Next is Lake Mead. This point is where the Colorado River meets Lake Mead.
Look at the mud. After 20 minutes of flying, you will swing into the Grand Canyon.
As you go through the canyon, the Grand Canyon Skywalk will be on your right. And before you know it, your chopper will start to descend to the landing area where you will eat lunch.
Make sure you carry your camera with you to lunch. There are many photo opportunities,
Right? I love the flowers and the cactus were in bloom while we were there. The
Cool thing about the flowers is they bring out the hummingbirds,
And that is a nice shot.
Sometimes it's right place, the right time.
Exactly. It is.
We loved our helicopter tour. So how long does it actually take?
It's four a half hours from hotel door to hotel door.
What should you bring?
Make sure you bring your government-issued id a bottle of water. Cameras and phones are allowed and
Encouraged. Winter weather clothing from October to March. Layered clothing is recommended the rest of the year.
And sneakers and hiking boots are highly recommended. Open-toe shoes are not allowed.
The ground at the picnic site is rough and rocky and uneven. So yeah, you definitely want those open toed shoes as a No.
Exactly. You cannot bring selfie sticks or extended camera poles.
Suppose when you're filling out your ticket online and it asks you your weight, you may want to get close because as you can tell, I would probably wanna fudge that number and maybe I did. When you get to the airport and you're in line, you're actually standing on a mat that's weighing you. So you kind of want those two numbers to line up just in tip. Yeah.
Wanna Raft the Colorado River instead of flying? Watch this review.
00:00 Grand Celebration Tour
00:15 Sitting in Front
00:31 Pilot Tip
00:41 Hoover Dam
00:58 Swing into the Canyon
01:16 The Flowers
01:38 What You Should Bring
02:11 G's Special Tips
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Video transcript for “We Took A Helicopter To The Grand Canyon And It Was Insane” Accessibility
A full written transcript of this video, provided for accessibility. Select any timestamp to jump the video to that moment.
Papillon Grand Celebration Tour. This was our first helicopter tour. It was a good one. It really was. Papillon supplies a bus to pick you up at the hotel, and then you go to Boulder Airport, and you get on your helicopter there. If you want to sit in the front row, make sure to tell
them when you check in. If they can accommodate your request, it will be a $50 upcharge. You'll have a safety briefing and a lovely belt that's a wife preserver. Now, that's a package. Then you take off, and a trick that the pilot told us as we were taking off was if you felt a little bit of motion
sickness, look out at the horizon. That will help steady your mind. I always need my mind steady. Me, too. Yeah. First, you cross the Hoover Dam. That is an unreal view from the air. Did you know the concrete is still drying in the dam? Next is Lake Mead. This point is where the Colorado River meets Lake Mead.
Look at the mud. After 20 minutes of flying, you will swing into the Grand Canyon. As you go through the canyon, the Grand Canyon Skywalk will be on your right, and before you know it, your chopper will start to descend to the landing area, where you will eat lunch. Make sure you carry your camera with you
to lunch. There are many photo opportunities. Right. I love the flowers and the cactus were in bloom while we were there. The cool thing about the flowers is they bring out the hummingbirds. And that is a nice shot. Sometimes, it's right place, the right time. Exactly, it is. We loved our helicopter tour. So, how
long does it actually take? It's 4 and 1/2 hours from hotel door to hotel door. What should you bring? Make sure you bring your government-issued ID, a bottle of water, cameras and and phones are allowed and encouraged. Winter weather clothing from October to March, layered clothing is recommended
the rest of the year. And sneakers and hiking boots are highly recommended. Open toed shoes are not allowed. The ground at the Pee League site is rough and rocky and uneven, so you definitely want those open toed shoes as a no. Exactly. You cannot bring selfie sticks or extended camera poles.
Suppose when you're filling out your ticket online and it asks you your weight, you may want to get close because as you can tell I would probably want to fudge that number and maybe I did. When you get to the airport and you're in line, you're actually standing on a mat that's weighing you. So you
kind of want those two numbers to line up. Just a little tip. Yeah. Want to raft the Colorado River instead of flying? Watch this review.
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