This “Random Act of Travel” was inspired by our desire to take on a whirlwind Las Vegas weekend in order to review some Las Vegas attraction favorites for our readers. The highlight of this trip to Vegas was a helicopter flight with Serenity Helicopters into the Grand Canyon for a sunset dinner! As you can imagine, this Grand Canyon excursion was, fun, exciting, and gorgeous.
We chose the dinner tour which we knew would be a group flight/dinner in the Grand Canyon for us and up to two other couples.
A large comfy van picked us up at the designated location across from our hotel and we met our fellow helicopter travelers. As it turned out, we had a young Russian couple from Canada and a mother and adult daughter from England as our travel companions and everyone promptly began to get to know each other.
We were a friendly fun group of six including Jim and I and I remain a firm believer that if you have great traveling partners you can’t go wrong.
We chose the dinner tour which we knew would be a group flight/dinner in the Grand Canyon for us and up to two other couples.
A large comfy van picked us up at the designated location across from our hotel and we met our fellow helicopter travelers. As it turned out, we had a young Russian couple from Canada and a mother and adult daughter from England as our travel companions and everyone promptly began to get to know each other.
We were a friendly fun group of six including Jim and I and I remain a firm believer that if you have great traveling partners you can’t go wrong.
While the helicopter sat on the tarmac waiting, we were checked in at the small airport hanger/office, warned to use the toilet as there is not one at the canyon site and given our life vests. I know…. life vests in a desert? This puzzled us until, when settled into the helicopter, headphones donned, we watched the safety video, and were advised that since we would be traveling over rivers and reservoirs and we needed to be prepared for a water landing. It was amusing to imagine this as we looked out over the parched landscape.
The safety video was soon pushed to the back of our minds as we took off up into the blue sky and soared over the desert toward the Grand Canyon and oh-yes....we definitely were flying over water. We were accompanied by a second helicopter carrying a group who were planning to have a champagne-toast in the canyon.
The safety video was soon pushed to the back of our minds as we took off up into the blue sky and soared over the desert toward the Grand Canyon and oh-yes....we definitely were flying over water. We were accompanied by a second helicopter carrying a group who were planning to have a champagne-toast in the canyon.
Everyone was glued to the fabulous view and exclaiming in awe at the beauty of the amazing desert topography as we made our way over Lake Mead, Boulder Dam and finally on to the Grand Canyon.
Our very capable pilot Matteo was in charge of taking us on this magical tour and not surprisingly, it was wonderful and he was engaging, informative and made us feel very safe during our trip. As he told us all about the area and its geology and history, we soaked up the awesome natural scenes below us.
We soared over the canyon and hovered and dipped next to its steep cliffs.
After this wonderful flight, we landed at our dinner site half-way down into the canyon, which was located on a small cliff plateau.
As we jumped out of the helicopter, we saw a few tables with sun-umbrellas scattered across the scrub dotted space and soon our pilot/dinner host, had our table decorated with flowers and set for dining with a table cloth lovely linen napkins and wine glasses.
As we jumped out of the helicopter, we saw a few tables with sun-umbrellas scattered across the scrub dotted space and soon our pilot/dinner host, had our table decorated with flowers and set for dining with a table cloth lovely linen napkins and wine glasses.
While all this set up was taking place, we took pictures of each other and the fabulous view of the cliffs rising above us and enjoyed the peaceful silence of the desert breeze while exploring the plateau and peering over the edge down into the steep canyon river bottom far below.
When we booked the trip with Serenity Helicopters, we were given three menu choices, Chicken Cordon Bleu, Beef Bourguignon and Vegetarian White Lasagna. We both chose the Beef Bourguignon and it was delicious! We were also given a choice of one drink including the choice of a soft-drink, wine, beer or champagne and I must say, drinking that glass of red wine while looking out at the majesty of the Grand Canyon made this lovely dinner even more perfect.
Not surprisingly, Matteo also turned out to be a fabulous maître d’ for our sunset canyon dinner. A true man of many talents! We all swapped stories while eating dinner and too soon it was time to leave our stunning view to return to the city.
Not surprisingly, Matteo also turned out to be a fabulous maître d’ for our sunset canyon dinner. A true man of many talents! We all swapped stories while eating dinner and too soon it was time to leave our stunning view to return to the city.
Fortunately for us, as we winged our way back, the brilliant sunset was waiting to highlight even more beautiful desert formations now purpled in deep shadow and gilded in golden light.
The Serenity Helicopter trip was wonderful and we would highly recommend this experience to everyone!
Be sure to click on the link above to learn more about how you can book this incredible experience!
Be sure to click on the link above to learn more about how you can book this incredible experience!
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