Grand Canyon Helicopter Tour and Skywalk: Is the Combination Worth It?

1. Maverick Skywalk Odyssey

Best for: travellers who want the helicopter and the Skywalk without a full-day itinerary

Maverick’s Skywalk Odyssey is one of the cleanest versions of the idea, from about $639 per person on Maverick’s own site. Its itinerary covers:

• departure from Maverick’s Las Vegas Strip terminal;
• the Hoover Dam;
• Lake Mead;
• Grand Canyon West;
• expedited admission to the Skywalk;
• VIP ground transport at the West Rim;
• the return flight over the Las Vegas Strip.

Maverick puts it at about 45 minutes of airtime each way, about 60 minutes on the ground and around 2.75 hours in total. That matters: this is not a full West Rim day. It is an express helicopter-and-Skywalk trip.

This site does not list Skywalk Odyssey by name. The equivalent we carry is Maverick’s Skywalk Express helicopter tour at $609, rated 4.8 from more than 560 reviews. It flies the same corridor from the Strip, includes expedited Skywalk admission, VIP ground transport and a souvenir photo, and gives you about 45 minutes on the ground in a 2.5-hour trip. Our tour page has the detail.

Who should book it?

Choose the express Skywalk flight if:

• you are short on time;
• the Skywalk is on your must-do list;
• you want to avoid a long coach day;
• you like the convenience of a Strip helicopter terminal;
• you want to be back in Las Vegas within a few hours.

2. Maverick Western Journey

Best for: travellers who want more than the Skywalk

Maverick lists Western Journey from around $549 per person direct. Unlike Skywalk Odyssey, the point is not to fly in, walk the glass bridge and leave. Maverick builds it around time on the ground at Grand Canyon West, with Eagle Point, the Skywalk area and Guano Point, which makes it more satisfying if you want to feel you visited the West Rim.

This site does not list Western Journey by name. The Maverick rim flight we carry follows the same plan: the Grand Canyon West helicopter tour at $509, rated 4.8 from 80 reviews, with about three hours at Grand Canyon West covering Eagle Point, Guano Point and the Hualapai Ranch. Skywalk admission is bought separately on the day.

Why might it suit you better than Skywalk Odyssey?

Because the Skywalk is only one attraction. Grand Canyon West also gives you:

• Eagle Point;
• Guano Point;
• wider rim views;
• more time for photographs;
• a less rushed visit.

If your goal is Grand Canyon West plus a helicopter, and not just the Skywalk plus a helicopter, this is the stronger fit.

3. Papillon VIP at the Rim + Skywalk

Best for: Papillon travellers who want helicopter transport and rim sightseeing

Papillon lists its VIP at the Rim helicopter-and-Skywalk option from around $614 per person. Its published details include:

• Las Vegas to Grand Canyon West by helicopter;
• hotel transport;
• rim sightseeing;
• the Skywalk;
• the return by helicopter.

Papillon puts the Skywalk version at about 4 to 4.5 hours from hotel pickup to hotel drop-off, which places it between Maverick’s express flight and the big multi-activity packages.

Who should choose it?

Choose it if:

• you want the Skywalk;
• you want some time around the West Rim;
• Papillon has the better availability or price on your date;
• hotel transport matters to you.

This site does not list VIP at the Rim. The closest flights we carry are the Skywalk Express at $609, which has no hotel transfer, and Papillon’s own VIP Heli, Boat & Skywalk below, which includes hotel transfers and a great deal more.

4. Papillon VIP Heli, Boat & Skywalk

Best for: travellers who want the biggest West Rim package

This is where a helicopter-and-Skywalk trip becomes a much bigger day. Papillon’s VIP Grand Canyon Heli, Boat & Skywalk costs from $829 per person, rated 4.6 from 81 reviews. It combines:

• the Las Vegas helicopter flight, from Papillon’s terminal in Boulder City;
• Hoover Dam views;
• Grand Canyon West;
• a helicopter descent to the canyon floor;
• a pontoon boat ride on the Colorado River;
• the Skywalk;
• rim sightseeing.

Papillon says visitors spend about 2.5 hours at the Grand Canyon.

Is it better than a $600 Skywalk tour?

Only if you want the extra activities. The additional money pays for:

• access to the canyon floor;
• the boat ride;
• more complex logistics;
• a broader West Rim day.

If the helicopter and the Skywalk are the only things you care about, this package is probably more than you need. For two adults the starting price already comes to about $1,658.

5. An aeroplane and the Skywalk instead of a helicopter

Best for: travellers who want the Skywalk but find helicopter prices too high

Papillon lists a Grand Canyon Experience with Skywalk from around $379 per person, flying an aeroplane instead of a helicopter. You still get:

• an air transfer from the Las Vegas area;
• Grand Canyon West;
• the Skywalk;
• sightseeing on the ground.

What you give up is the helicopter. For a couple, $379 each against $600 or more each is a saving of several hundred dollars, so if the Skywalk matters more than the aircraft, this deserves serious consideration.

This site does not list the aeroplane-only tour. The closest product we carry is the Grand Canyon West plane, helicopter and boat tour at $624, rated 4.6 from more than 220 reviews: an aeroplane from Las Vegas, a helicopter to the canyon floor and back, a boat ride, and a hop-on, hop-off shuttle to Eagle Point and Guano Point, with Skywalk entry available as an option.

Is the Grand Canyon Skywalk worth adding to a helicopter tour?

It depends on why you are going to Grand Canyon West. The Skywalk is a glass horseshoe at Eagle Point, cantilevered about 70 feet beyond the canyon edge with the canyon floor some 4,000 feet below, so you look straight down through the glass. That is a very different experience from an ordinary rim overlook.

It is most worthwhile if:

• heights do not bother you;
• you like unusual viewpoints;
• this is your only visit to the West Rim;
• you want Grand Canyon West’s best-known attraction.

It is less compelling if:

• the helicopter is your real priority;
• you already plan a canyon-floor landing;
• you dislike crowded attractions;
• you prefer natural viewpoints such as Guano Point;
• adding it raises the price a lot or cuts your helicopter time.

Skywalk vs canyon-floor landing: which is better?

This is the comparison that matters most.

Skywalk

You are:

• standing at the rim;
• looking down through glass;
• at Eagle Point;
• doing one of Grand Canyon West’s most famous things.

Canyon-floor landing

You are:

• descending below the rim by helicopter;
• stepping out inside the canyon;
• surrounded by canyon walls;
• having an experience only a helicopter can give you.

If the helicopter itself is the reason for the trip, we would usually put the canyon-floor landing first: Maverick’s Wind Dancer at $499, rated 4.9 from more than 1,100 reviews, and Papillon’s Grand Celebration at $489 with hotel transfers are the two to compare. If you have always wanted to walk on the Skywalk, the Skywalk package makes more sense. The two cannot be had on the same short flight: the Skywalk Express lands at the top of the rim, not on the canyon floor.

Can you do both the Skywalk and a canyon-floor landing?

Yes, on the bigger West Rim packages. They work by combining several stages:

1. the helicopter flight from Las Vegas;
2. the descent to the canyon floor;
3. a landing or a boat ride;
4. the return to the rim;
5. the Skywalk;
6. more rim sightseeing;
7. the return to Las Vegas.

On this site that means Papillon’s VIP Heli, Boat & Skywalk at $829, or Maverick’s dual landings tour (Indian Territory) at $739, rated 4.7 from 49 reviews, which lands on the canyon floor and then on the rim, with the Skywalk as an option. If you are already near Grand Canyon West, the whitewater rafting, helicopter and Skywalk day from Peach Springs at $689 includes a Skywalk All-Access Pass, but it has only 4 reviews so far.

The experience is far more complete. It is also much more expensive and takes longer, which is why “includes everything” is not automatically the best value.

What else is at Eagle Point?

The Skywalk sits at Eagle Point, one of the main Grand Canyon West stops, with wider canyon views beyond the bridge itself. Many West Rim packages also include, or give access to:

• Hualapai cultural attractions;
• viewpoints;
• food and shops;
• shuttle transport.

Some passes also include onward travel to Guano Point. If you are paying hundreds of dollars for a helicopter, check whether your tour lets you see more than the glass bridge.

Is Guano Point better than the Skywalk?

They are very different.

Skywalk

Best for:

• the famous attraction;
• the glass-floor experience;
• looking straight down;
• first-time West Rim visitors.

Guano Point

Best for:

• natural scenery;
• panoramic canyon views;
• photography;
• visitors who prefer landscapes to attractions.

Many travellers find Guano Point the more impressive view, while the Skywalk is the more unusual one. The best West Rim packages let you do both, and the Grand Canyon West helicopter tour gives you the time for it.

Helicopter and Skywalk vs bus and Skywalk

This is mostly time against money.

Helicopter

Choose it if:

• your time is limited;
• the flight is part of the attraction;
• you want the Hoover Dam and Lake Mead from the air;
• you want to avoid several hours on the road.

Bus

Choose it if:

• budget matters;
• you want a much cheaper day;
• you want plenty of time on the ground;
• you are travelling as a family or a group.

A helicopter turns Grand Canyon West into a half-day premium trip. A coach makes it far more affordable, but a bus day trip from Las Vegas runs 12 to 15 hours, most of it on the road.

Helicopter and Skywalk vs aeroplane and Skywalk

This comparison is closer, because both replace most of the long road journey.

Helicopter advantages

• a smaller, more intimate aircraft;
• lower-level sightseeing;
• a more dramatic experience;
• canyon-floor landings on some packages.

Aeroplane advantages

• cheaper;
• still an air transfer;
• a good choice if the Skywalk is the main attraction.

If you are choosing mainly for the Skywalk, the aeroplane can be the better-value product. If you specifically want a helicopter, the aeroplane is not a true substitute.

How much does a helicopter and Skywalk tour cost?

A useful benchmark:

• around $500 to $650: helicopter tours focused on the West Rim or the Skywalk;
• around $800 and up: helicopter, canyon-floor, boat and Skywalk combinations.

Examples:

• Grand Canyon West helicopter tour (Western Journey’s equivalent here): $509, with Western Journey $549 direct
• Skywalk Express: $609, with Skywalk Odyssey $639 direct
• Papillon VIP at the Rim + Skywalk: about $614 direct
• VIP Heli, Boat & Skywalk: $829

The spread is wide because these are not the same product. Our prices guide breaks every band down.

Who should book a helicopter and Skywalk tour?

The combination works best for:

• first-time Las Vegas visitors;
• people who specifically want the Skywalk;
• travellers with limited time;
• couples or small groups comfortable with premium prices;
• visitors who want to avoid a long road trip.

Who should skip the combination?

Skip it if:

• the Skywalk does not interest you much;
• a canyon-floor landing matters more;
• you are already driving to Grand Canyon West;
• you are on a tight budget;
• you would rather spend more time at natural viewpoints;
• the helicopter alone is already a stretch financially.

If you are driving to Grand Canyon West anyway, the local canyon floor landing at $279 gives you the helicopter without the Las Vegas transfer, and you can buy Skywalk admission there yourself. Our West Rim helicopter tours guide covers the local options.

Which helicopter and Skywalk tour should you choose?

Best express option

Maverick Skywalk Odyssey, or the Skywalk Express here. Choose it for a compact premium helicopter-and-Skywalk trip.

Best for broader West Rim sightseeing

Maverick Western Journey, or the Grand Canyon West helicopter tour here. Choose it if Eagle Point and Guano Point matter as much as the Skywalk.

Best Papillon option

VIP at the Rim + Skywalk. A straightforward helicopter, West Rim and Skywalk combination with hotel transport. Not listed here.

Best all-in-one package

Papillon VIP Heli, Boat & Skywalk. Choose it only if you want the river and the canyon floor too.

Best lower-cost alternative

An aeroplane and the Skywalk. A good compromise if the Skywalk matters more than flying by helicopter.

Is the combination worth it?

For the right visitor, yes. A helicopter solves the biggest problem with visiting Grand Canyon West from Las Vegas, which is travel time, and the Skywalk gives you a recognisable attraction on the ground instead of flying to the canyon and turning straight round. The pairing works especially well if you only have a few days in Las Vegas.

But the Skywalk is not an automatic upgrade. If landing below the rim is the dream, spend the money on a canyon-floor landing; our canyon floor landing tours page lists every flight that does it. If standing on the glass bridge is the dream, choose a focused Skywalk package and avoid paying for extras you would not have chosen.

Bottom line

A helicopter and Skywalk tour is worth considering when both parts matter to you.

For a focused premium trip, Maverick’s Skywalk Odyssey starts around $639 direct, and the Skywalk Express here at $609. For more West Rim exploring, Western Journey starts around $549 direct, and the Grand Canyon West helicopter tour here at $509. Papillon’s helicopter-and-Skywalk options start around the low $600s, and its full helicopter, boat and Skywalk package rises to $829.

The best value is not the package with the most inclusions. It is the one that gives you the two or three experiences you would have chosen separately anyway.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long do you need at the Skywalk?

Papillon says a Skywalk visit can take around 1 to 2 hours, depending on the season, the queues and your group size. A helicopter package that gives you about 45 minutes to an hour on the ground, such as the Skywalk Express, keeps the visit efficient with expedited admission. A longer West Rim itinerary gives you time for the other viewpoints too. So when you compare products, do not just ask whether the tour includes the Skywalk. Ask how much time you get at Grand Canyon West.

Why is Skywalk Odyssey more expensive than Western Journey?

Tour prices are not set only by how long you spend at Grand Canyon West. The departure terminal, premium access, expedited Skywalk entry, the flight schedule, the total airtime, demand and the exact itinerary all play a part. Skywalk Odyssey is an express Skywalk trip from a Strip terminal with about 45 minutes of airtime each way and the Skywalk included. Western Journey is built around broader West Rim exploring, with the Skywalk as an optional extra. Compare the type of experience, not just the hours.

Is the Skywalk scary?

If you are uncomfortable with heights, it can feel intense. The bridge extends beyond the rim and the glass floor shows you what is beneath your feet. But you are walking on a purpose-built structure, not standing at an unprotected cliff edge. If heights already cause you real anxiety, do not feel obliged to add the Skywalk because it is famous. Grand Canyon West has plenty of views without it.

Can you take photos on the Skywalk?

Phones are now allowed on the bridge: the Hualapai Tribe relaxed its long-standing ban during 2026. Personal cameras, including DSLR, compact and action cameras, still go in a locker, along with backpacks, bags, tripods and selfie sticks, and you wear protective shoe covers on the glass. That is why the Skywalk Express includes a souvenir photo taken by the on-site photographers. Rules can change, so check them before your visit if photography is a big part of why you want to go.

Does a Skywalk helicopter tour land on the canyon floor?

Not the focused ones. The Skywalk Express lands at the West Rim, at the top, and goes no lower. To get the canyon floor and the Skywalk in one day, you need a larger package such as the VIP Heli, Boat & Skywalk or the dual landings tour with its Skywalk option.

See live dates and prices on the Skywalk Express helicopter tour, or compare every flight on our tours page.

Related reading: West Rim helicopter tours · best tours from Las Vegas · helicopter tour prices · is a landing tour worth it