Be sure to take everything you'll need whether kayaking or rafting (sunscreen, sunshirts, hat, towels if wanted, water bottles). Rafting got us up close and personal to Dam.
Grand Canyon Helicopter Tour and River Raft or Emerald Cave Kayak





At a glance
- Duration
- 11 hours
- Price from
- $699 / person
- Rating
- 4.6 / 5 · 263 reviews
- Languages
- EN
- Group
- Small group, up to 24
- Cancellation
- Free cancellation
- Hotel pickup
- Available
- Confirmation
- Instant
Prices checked on Sep 11, 2026Things to do in Las Vegas
Description
Embark on an unforgettable adventure with a Grand Canyon helicopter tour combined with either a peaceful river raft float or an exhilarating kayak tour on the Colorado River. Enjoy a 90-minute scenic flight over Hoover Dam, Lake Mead, and the Grand Canyon's West Rim before exploring Black Canyon or the breathtaking Emerald Cave with a knowledgeable guide. This incredible day tour includes round-trip transportation to your Las Vegas hotel for a seamless and exciting experience. Please note: The order in which you do the activities may differ.
Tour Options
Itinerary
After hotel pickup, board your state-of-the-art helicopter at the VIP Helicopter terminal, just minutes from the Las Vegas Strip for a 90-minute (round-trip) scenic air tour of Grand Canyon's West Rim. Enjoy panoramic, 180-degree views of the impressive Hoover Dam, the Bypass Bridge and Black Canyon, while flying past the vibrant and extinct volcano, Fortification Hill.
Fly around the iconic Hoover Dam Bypass Bridge on this unforgettable helicopter tour. Experience breathtaking aerial views of this engineering marvel as you soar above the Colorado River and the stunning landscape surrounding the dam.
Fly over the extinct volcano known as Fortification Hill during your Grand Canyon helicopter tour. Marvel at the unique geological features of this colorful, ancient volcanic formation as you soar above the landscape surrounding the Colorado River and Hoover Dam.
Descend beneath the rim of the Grand Canyon as you fly over the mighty Colorado River, passing awe-inspiring, million-year-old geological rock formations. Experience the grandeur of the canyon from a unique perspective, with breathtaking views of the ancient rock layers that tell the story of Earth's history.
Make sure to have your camera ready, as every turn unveils cathedral-like buttresses and towering pillars adorned with vibrant natural colors. After departing the Grand Canyon, continue your journey with stunning aerial views of other remarkable natural wonders nestled within the rugged Mojave Desert.
If you choose the River Float option, after landing in Las Vegas, you'll be transported to the Hoover Dam Lodge in Boulder City to board a comfortable river raft at the base of the iconic Hoover Dam and Bypass Bridge. Enjoy stunning views of the Black Canyon, spot wildlife such as desert bighorn sheep and osprey, and take a refreshing swim or paddle in the Colorado River before finishing your adventure at Willow Beach, where you can shop for souvenirs before returning to your Las Vegas hotel.
If you choose the Kayak option, your adventure begins with hotel pick-up, followed by a scenic drive to Willow Beach on the Colorado River, just downstream from Hoover Dam. Paddle 4 miles (approximately 3 hours) along the riverbanks, with opportunities to spot local wildlife like mountain goats, bald eagles and desert bighorn sheep, before reaching the stunning Emerald Cave. Please note: lunch is not included in this option. After your kayaking trip, you'll soar through the skies on an unforgettable helicopter tour of the Grand Canyon.
Highlights
What's included
Pickup Locations & Times
Pick-up and drop-off from all Las Vegas hotels is offered. Hotel pickups begin approximately 90 minutes before your scheduled flight time.
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
- Not recommended for pregnant travelers
- Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
- Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
- Minimum age is 2 years
- Due to comfort and weight / balance of the aircraft, passengers weighing over 250 Lbs (112 kg/17.9 stones) will be required to purchase an additional seat. This is payable directly to the tour operator on the day of the tour.
- Please note if you choose the Kayak Tour it does not include lunch and you will start from Willow Beach not the base of the Hoover Dam and will not see the Hoover Dam from the river.
- We recommend you bring sunglasses, sunscreen, towels & hats
- Valid Government ID is required to board the flight. ID must match the names on the ticket. It is a Federal crime to board an FAA Approved air carrier with a fraudulent ID
- Physically challenged passengers must be accompanied by an able bodied person capable of lifting the physically challenged passenger 42 inches into the helicopter
Frequently asked questions
How long does this tour take?
Grand Canyon Helicopter Tour and River Raft or Emerald Cave Kayak lasts about 11 hours. The itinerary has 7 stops.
How much does this tour cost?
Prices start at $699 per person for this Las Vegas experience, booked through Viator with the price shown before checkout. There are 2 booking options, so the final price depends on the option you choose.
Can I cancel this tour for free?
Yes. Cancel at least 1 day before the start for a full refund. Later cancellations are non-refundable.
Is hotel pickup included?
Yes, pickup is offered. Pick-up and drop-off from all Las Vegas hotels is offered. Hotel pickups begin approximately 90 minutes before your scheduled flight time. Pickup points include MEET_AT_DEPARTURE_POINT, CONTACT_SUPPLIER_LATER, LOC-6eKJ+or5y8o99Qw0C8xWyBErUbGdD0ZjHLRL1BPQaZ0=.
What languages is this tour offered in?
The experience is available in EN.
Is this a private or a group tour?
It is a small-group experience with a maximum of 24 participants.
Will my booking be confirmed immediately?
Yes, bookings are confirmed instantly.
Is this tour worth it?
Travellers rate it 4.6 out of 5 across 263 verified reviews; it is run by 5 Star Grand Canyon Helicopter Tours. Most-mentioned highlights: 90-minute (approx.) round-trip flight in a state-of-the-art helicopter; Round-trip transportation by deluxe van; All taxes and fees.
Reviews(263)
Fun day viewing the Hoover Damn, Lake Meed, Grand Canyon and the Vegas Strip by Helicopter. Kayak trip was really well managed and fun.
We had such a fun day visiting the Emerald Cave. Don, our guide, made the trip so fun and informative. He took lots of pix for us all. We got the chance to swim in the river (cold but oh so good), and just generally enjoy the scenery.
5 star helicopter company is amazing with great people, awesome experience! The kayak trip was also awesome with amazing people. Highly recommend
Had a great time with awesome views. Our guide Nico shared everything about the area and it's history along with great snacks too
The pilot was horrible. He took unexpected nose dives and flipped the helicopter from side to side. We were so sick unable to do the raft. He cost us several hundred dollars. The company did not refund us. He said he has someone to throw up on each trip and I was that one on this trip
Excellent tour, highly recommend! Our day began early with a helicopter ride from Vegas to the grand canyon. While in the air, the pilot pointed out landmarks and gave us information on the history of the area we were flying over. After returning to the a airport we took a van to the colorado river where we met our guide Salah. We kayaked to emerald cave, took photos in the cave, stopped for a tasty lunch that was supplied to us, hiked up to an old guage house, and saw some longhorn sheep before we returned to shore. We were vanned back to our hotel by the helicopter company. Everyone was so friendly and knowledge. We had a wonderful time and plan on booking the full day kayak tour next time we come back to Vegas.
It was forecast to be 42 degrees Celsius the day of our trip! Us being Irish people were worried, but thankfully, there was no need to be. This was by far the highlight of our whole trip and I would recommend this to anyone. It’s nice to get away from the city and learn something and come back home with stories and videos from an absolute amazing once in a lifetime experience. We were picked up from our hotel by an amazing guy called Joe R, he was a wealth of knowledge regarding the area as he has lived here all his life. He was a massive reason that we had such a good time, my husband got sick during the trip and he went above and beyond to make sure he was ok, even offering to drop him home mid trip and buying him a seltzer to sooth his stomach, he is a funny kind gentleman and I wish him the best. Then we went on the helicopter, this was amazing! Our pilot was called Eddie, he was So confident and this immediately put me at ease! He speaks plainly too which I love. He is also a resident and was able to provide so much history and stories on our helicopter ride! He threw in a few surprise attractions and i can now officially say I am no longer afraid of heights. Then we were collected for our kayaking tour with Don. I didn’t think anything could overshadow the helicopter ride, but this came close. We had the best time, he made us feel so comfortable. In 42 degree Celsius heat, we were so glad to be out in the water. Don was also a wealth of knowledge and we were lucky to see a bald eagle and a long horned sheep and a Lizard during our kayaking trip. The emerald cove was amazing and the dip we had the river to celebrate was the highlight . They also provide an amazing lunch. Honestly if your looking for something different, for an 11 hour trip that feels like 10 minutes (time flies when your having fun) then book this trip. You won’t regret it!
Excellent views and very smooth flight. Would recommend to anyone interested in seeing the sights while in Vegas.
This was a trip in a lifetime for us. Wonderful organization and guides. We were picked up & dropped back to our hotel which took the worry away of how to get somewhere. The nearly 90 minutes helicopter ride was truly amazing - flying parallel to the Strip and heading over to the Hoover Dam and the awe inspiring views of the Grand Canyon. We opted for the river raft on the Colorado River from the Dam to our eventual destination down stream (3 hrs later). It was also fantastic. With an extremely knowledgeable guide (Sarah). We swam in the river a couple of times (nice fresh cold water). Overall the combination of both tours was outstanding. The only thing we didn’t get right was that we were on a pontoon boat rather than a raft/tube. In NZ rafting is not on a boat.
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