Air Tours

Flights by plane and helicopter over the canyon are offered by a number of companies, departing from the Grand Canyon Airport at the south end of Tusayan. Though the noise and disruption of so many aircraft buzzing around the canyon is controversial, flightseeing remains a popular, if expensive, option. You'll have more visibility from a helicopter, but they’re louder and more expensive.

Tours

Grand Canyon Airlines. This company offers a variety of plane tours, from a 45-minute fixed-wing tour of the eastern edge of the Grand Canyon, the North Rim, and the Kaibab Plateau to an all-day tour that combines "flightseeing" with four-wheel-drive tours of Antelope Canyon and float trips on the Colorado River. Grand Canyon Airport, Tusayan, Arizona, 86023. 702/835–8484; 866/235–9422; www.grandcanyonairlines.com. From $159.

Maverick Helicopters. This company offers 45-minute tours of the South Rim, North Rim, and Dragon Corridor of the Grand Canyon, the widest and deepest part of the canyon. Grand Canyon Airport, Grand Canyon, Arizona, 86023. 702/261--0007; www.maverickhelicopter.com. From $299.

Papillon Grand Canyon Helicopters. Leaving from Grand Canyon Airport, Papillon Grand Canyon Helicopters operates in tandem with Grand Canyon Airlines to offer combination fixed-wing plane and helicopter tours of the canyon. Add-on options include off-road jeep tours and smooth-water rafting trips. Grand Canyon Airport, Tusayan, Arizona, 86023. 928/638–2764; 888/635–7272; www.papillon.com. From $139 for fixed-wing plane; $299 for helicopter.