Papillon Helicopters - Grand Canyon
Tour Operator

Papillon Helicopters - Grand Canyon

Aerial views of the Grand Canyon you can't get from the rim

(3,683)
Grand Canyon Village, AZ

About

There's no faster way to grasp the scale of the Grand Canyon than from a helicopter, and Papillon is the outfit most South Rim visitors end up booking with. Flying out of Grand Canyon Airport in Tusayan, their tours run over the canyon's rim and down toward the Colorado River, giving you a bird's-eye view that no overlook can match. With a 4.6 rating from nearly 3,500 Google reviews, it's one of the most-reviewed operators in the area.

What to expect

Flights typically run about an hour on EC130 helicopters, with a soundtrack synced to the scenery and a pilot narrating geology, wildlife, and canyon history along the way. Reviewers consistently single out the pilots by name for turning a scenic flight into something closer to a personal tour — pointing out rock formations, talking through wildfire management in the forest below, and keeping nervous flyers calm through any turbulence. Seating position matters: reviewers note the front seats offer the best views, so ask about seat assignment when booking.

Good to know

  • Location: 3568 Airport Rd, Grand Canyon Village (Tusayan), at Grand Canyon Airport
  • Hours: daily, 8:00 AM – 5:30 PM
  • Booking tip: reserve ahead — a few reviewers reported delays or last-minute mechanical cancellations during high season, so build flexibility into your schedule if possible

Most fliers describe it as one of the highlights of their trip, especially for anyone whose itinerary won't include a rafting or backcountry trip to the canyon floor.

Reviews (3,683)

See all on Google
4.6

3,683 reviews

Write a review
Bob ROBERTS
Bob ROBERTS

4 months ago

This is a fantastic company that provides such a really good view of the canyon that you really shouldn't go anywhere else. Everyone we met and interacted with their staff was fabulous. Their facility is excellent. Everything from the front desk to the safety area for briefings to the lounge. Waiting made you feel comfortable and confident that they were going to do a good job. The ground crews really knew how to get you going onto the craft and were very attentive in making sure that you were correctly seated and belted in. Our pilot, Torie, was a real delight and had total control at all times. She gave us real good insights as to what we are seeing and how we would be flying in and out of the canyon. Though at times the ride was a little bumpy, she did a great job of keeping us on course and confident in her ability. The flight itself was spectacular, you really shouldn't miss this because the view from the rim roads is one thing, but being in the canyon and seeing it at a different perspective and seeing far more of it is well worth doing. My wife wanted to go again right away!

David Ikeda
David Ikeda

2 months ago

Wow…. Just wow…. I’d driven to the west side of the rim and was totally blown away - but this - this is the way to see this magnificent wonder of the world… pilot Cate was EXCELLENT. Knowledgeable and reassuring, our group was really really pleased with this memorable day. Thank you all!!

Xinyi Xie
Xinyi Xie

2 weeks ago

Cate was an amazing pilot! She was very experienced, professional, and made us feel safe and comfortable throughout the entire flight. Such a great experience, highly recommend!

Heather A
Heather A

3 months ago

Wow! From the ease of booking, the girls at the check in, our incredible Pilot Frederick and even the wonderful man at the gift shop, you need to book now. Highly recommend and do yourself a favor and pick the 45 minute tour. It went by so fast and was amazing!!!

Amalia Frank
Amalia Frank

7 months ago

Absolute height of professionalism. The company focuses on safety, everything was clean, well kept, and our pilot made the trip even more incredible. We did the hour-long tour on the ec130 helicopter and were able to experience majestic views of the Grand Canyon during the afternoon light. We even went through a rainstorm which was also awesome. Our pilot, Albert Kim, was incredibly knowledgeable on not only what we were seeing down below but also local wildlife, geology, vegetation, and wildfire management. It really rounded out the whole flight experience. It was also just simply one of the most spectacular experiences to see the Grand Canyon from the air. My husband is not a big flyer and Albert was able to calmly talk him through bit of turbulence and what we were experiencing making it a trip much more enjoyable for him. We were worried by some reviews saying if you get stuck in the middle seat it's not worth the price and I can say being up front is absolutely key to the experience. I looked at a ton of different helicopter companies and eventually landed on this one because we ran into a former pilot for Papillon who now works in Page, Arizona while we were there. He suggested this place, saying it is top notch, specifically saying the soundtrack they play while you're flying makes it, and I can agree, it creates a cinematic experience.

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