Wind Dancer

The Wind Dancer is Maverick Helicopters' flagship Grand Canyon landing tour from Las Vegas. Guests fly in an EC130/H130 ECO-Star helicopter — wraparound glass, theater-style forward seating and noise-canceling headsets — from Maverick's Strip terminal out to Hualapai Indian land on the canyon's West Rim, then descend right into the canyon rather than just circling the rim.

The route crosses Lake Mead, the Hoover Dam and the extinct Fortification Hill volcano before dropping roughly 3,500 feet below the rim to land on a private bluff about 300 feet above the Colorado River, where the pilot pours a champagne toast with light snacks and drinks. The return leg swings over Downtown Las Vegas and the Strip. Flying time is about 45 minutes each way, with the whole outing — hotel shuttle included — running close to four hours.

Go in with clear eyes: it is a genuine splurge, the champagne-and-snacks stop is not a meal, and summer heat, winter cold or desert haze can all dull the landing experience, so a clear, cooler morning is best. Passengers over 300 pounds must buy an adjacent seat for balance, and the ground time is short. For travelers who want the once-in-a-lifetime canyon-floor landing and don't mind the price, it is one of the best helicopter tours running out of Vegas.