Papillon is the world's largest aerial tour operator and the default choice for Grand Canyon helicopter tours — both from Las Vegas and from the South Rim. They carry over 300,000 passengers per year, hold TOPS safety certification, and operate from both Boulder City (for West Rim Las Vegas tours) and Tusayan (for South Rim tours). This review covers what the tours actually include, which helicopter you are likely to fly, the pre-recorded narration trade-off versus Maverick, and when the cheaper alternative is worth the extra $100.
Founded
1965 · 60+ years in operation
Fleet size
~54 helicopters and airplanes
Safety certification
TOPS certified (exceeds FAA minimums)
Passengers per year
300,000+
Narration
Pre-recorded · 16 languages · noise-cancelling headsets
Departures
Las Vegas (West Rim) + Tusayan, AZ (South Rim)
Who is Papillon?
Papillon Grand Canyon Helicopters was founded in 1965, making it the oldest continuously operating helicopter tour company at the Grand Canyon. Today the company is part of Papillon Group, which claims to be the world's largest aerial tour operator by passenger volume.
Their scale gives them operational advantages that smaller operators cannot match:
- Largest fleet: ~54 aircraft across helicopters and fixed-wing planes. More aircraft means more departure slots per day and better weather rebooking — when a morning thunderstorm cancels your flight, Papillon can typically rebook you the same afternoon rather than issuing a refund.
- TOPS certification:Tour Operators Program of Safety requires maintenance and training standards beyond FAA minimums. Papillon's TOPS status means every aircraft on their line meets higher-than-required inspection cycles.
- Exclusive landing rights: Papillon holds exclusive permits to land on Hualapai Tribe land (West Rim canyon floor), Navajo Nation land (near Antelope Canyon), and a private Eagle Point landing site. The canyon-floor landing is the core of their West Rim product.
- Multi-rim operation: They are one of the few operators running tours from both Las Vegas (West Rim) and Tusayan (South Rim) simultaneously, plus fixed-wing flights from Boulder City.
The trade-off for this scale: Papillon operates like a large-volume hospitality company. The Boulder City terminal handles hundreds of passengers daily; boarding can feel like a shuttle process rather than a boutique experience. If intimate group sizes matter to you, Maverick or Sundance are smaller operations.
Papillon tours from Las Vegas (West Rim)
The flagship Papillon product is the West Rim landing tour with champagne, departing from Boulder City Municipal Airport (~30 min from the Las Vegas Strip by included shuttle). The route covers:
- Las Vegas Strip and valley from the air (~5 min)
- Hoover Dam and Lake Mead overflight (~15 min from takeoff)
- Grand Canyon West Rim approach and descent to canyon floor (~45 min flight)
- 20-40 minutes on the Hualapai canyon-floor platform with champagne
- Return flight to Boulder City
Total door-to-door: approximately 3.5 hours. The $30 Hualapai Tribe entry fee and hotel pickup are bundled in the package price.
Papillon West Rim Landing Tour with Champagne
3.5-hour West Rim landing tour from Boulder City: flight over Hoover Dam and Lake Mead, descent 4,000 feet to the canyon floor, 30-minute champagne landing on the Hualapai platform near the Colorado River. Hotel pickup and $30 tribal fee included. The most-booked Papillon product.
Papillon also offers West Rim air-only tours (no canyon floor descent, ~$300–350), sunset landing tours (~$550–620), and combo packages adding the Skywalk glass bridge or Colorado River boat ride (up to ~$699–824 for the full 5-in-1 package). The landing tour with champagne is the one most first-time visitors should book.
Papillon tours from the South Rim (Tusayan)
Papillon also operates helicopter tours from Grand Canyon National Park Airport in Tusayan, AZ — 15 minutes south of Grand Canyon Village. These are air-only (NPS prohibits landings inside the National Park). Two routes:
- North Canyon (25-30 min, ~$259): covers the Dragon Corridor, the deepest section of the Grand Canyon where the Colorado River is visible from above. Optional Hummer add-on available.
- 45-minute tour (~$354): extends the Dragon Corridor flight to cover a wider section of the canyon.
Papillon North Canyon 25-Min Helicopter Tour from Tusayan
25-minute flight over the Dragon Corridor from Tusayan Airport. The most affordable way to see the Grand Canyon from a helicopter when you are already at the South Rim. Optional Hummer viewpoint add-on available. Papillon's most popular South Rim product.
Papillon 45-Min Grand Canyon Helicopter Tour from Tusayan
45-minute flight over the Dragon Corridor and extended canyon sections from Tusayan. More coverage than the 25-min tour for an additional $95. The right choice if the South Rim is your base and you want maximum time in the air.
Fleet: which helicopter will you fly?
This matters more than most booking pages let on. Papillon's fleet is mixed, and the experience differs significantly depending on which aircraft you board.
| Aircraft | Seating | Windows | Where used |
|---|---|---|---|
| AS350 A-Star (Bell Jet) | Sideways, some passengers face backwards | Smaller, rounded windows | Older West Rim tours, budget slots |
| EC130 Eco-Star | Forward-facing, wraparound panoramic | Floor-to-ceiling, no structural column | Premium West Rim and South Rim tours |
When booking a Papillon West Rim tour, confirm whether your specific product uses the EC130 or the AS350.The Viator listing usually specifies. If it says “EcoStar” or “EC130”, you are getting the better aircraft. If it says “A-Star” or does not specify, assume the older fleet.
Note: Papillon's subsidiary Grand Canyon Helicopters (GCH) operates under a separate brand but uses the same safety standards and some of the same fleet. A GCH EC130 tour is functionally identical to a Papillon EC130 tour.
Papillon pros and cons
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Largest fleet → most departure times | Pre-recorded narration (not live pilot commentary) |
| TOPS safety certification (exceeds FAA minimums) | High passenger volume → can feel like a shuttle |
| Hotel pickup included (West Rim from Las Vegas) | Mixed fleet — EC130 not guaranteed on all products |
| Best weather rebooking options (most aircraft) | $30 Hualapai fee sometimes listed separately (check at checkout) |
| Narration in 16 languages | |
| Exclusive West Rim canyon-floor landing permits |
The pre-recorded narration deserves a direct note: Papillon uses professional audio commentary through noise-cancelling headsets, covering geology, tribal history and key landmarks. It is informative and well-produced. The limitation is that it plays on a fixed script — you cannot ask questions, and there is no real-time interaction with the pilot. Some passengers rate this as a negative (expecting a live guide); others prefer having the pilot focused on flying rather than narrating. Maverick is the alternative if live interaction matters.
Papillon vs Maverick: direct comparison
| Papillon | Maverick | |
|---|---|---|
| Fleet | Mixed (AS350 + EC130) | EC130 exclusively |
| Seating | Varies by aircraft | Forward-facing (all aircraft) |
| Narration | Pre-recorded (16 languages) | Live pilot commentary |
| Group size | Larger — high-volume operation | Smaller — boutique feel |
| West Rim landing price | From $479 | From $549 |
| South Rim 45-min price | From $354 | From $398 |
| Hotel pickup (West Rim) | Yes (Boulder City) | Yes (Henderson) |
| Staging terminal | Boulder City Municipal Airport | Henderson Executive Airport |
| Best for | Value, schedule flexibility, reliability | Photography, premium experience, smaller groups |
The price gap narrows as you move up the product tiers: Papillon's premium West Rim landing tour (~$479) vs Maverick's equivalent (~$549) is a $70 difference. For air-only West Rim tours the gap is similar. The question is whether EC130 seating, forward-facing views and live narration are worth $70 to you. For photography-focused travellers: yes. For everyone else: Papillon is the more practical choice.
Is Papillon worth booking?
Yes, for the majority of Grand Canyon helicopter visitors. Papillon is the reliable, well-tested default. They have more departure options, better weather contingency plans, and a 60-year track record at the canyon. Their West Rim landing tour with champagne delivers the core helicopter experience — canyon-floor descent, Colorado River, the Hualapai platform — at a fair price with hotel pickup included.
When to consider the upgrade to Maverick:
- Photography is the primary purpose of the tour — the EC130's forward-facing seats and wraparound windows produce measurably better shots.
- You want live, interactive narration from the pilot rather than a scripted audio track.
- The boutique feel of a smaller-group operation matters more than schedule flexibility or price savings.
For the average visitor on a Las Vegas day trip who wants to see the Grand Canyon from a helicopter and land inside it: book Papillon. For the traveller with a camera and specific photography goals: book Maverick and pay the premium.
Frequently asked questions
Is Papillon the best Grand Canyon helicopter company?
Papillon is the best choice for most visitors prioritising value, schedule flexibility, and reliability. They carry the most passengers, have the most departure times, and operate the largest fleet at the Grand Canyon — which means better rebooking options when weather causes cancellations. For photography specifically, Maverick's EC130 fleet with forward-facing seating and wraparound windows is the better product. For budget, 5 Star undercuts Papillon by $100-$150 with older aircraft and shorter ground times. Papillon sits in the middle as the reliable default.
Does Papillon have pre-recorded or live narration?
Papillon uses pre-recorded narration via noise-cancelling headsets, available in 16 languages. The narration covers the geological history, Hualapai Tribe information and key landmarks along the route. The trade-off versus Maverick (where the pilot narrates live) is that you cannot ask questions mid-flight and the commentary follows a fixed script. The recording quality is professional and informative — most passengers rate it as a highlight — but it is not the same as an interactive conversation with the pilot.
What is Papillon's TOPS certification?
TOPS (Tour Operators Program of Safety) is a voluntary safety program developed by the National Transportation Safety Board and FAA after the 1986 Grand Canyon collision that killed 25 people. It requires operators to exceed FAA minimum maintenance and training standards. Papillon holds TOPS certification; not all operators do. TOPS-certified companies have a measurably better safety record than non-certified operators in the same sector.
Can Papillon land inside Grand Canyon National Park?
Not inside the National Park (South Rim). NPS prohibits commercial helicopter landings within park boundaries. From the South Rim, Papillon's tours are air-only over the Dragon Corridor. However, Papillon does operate landing tours at the West Rim (on Hualapai Tribe land, outside the NPS boundary) from Las Vegas — this is where the 'champagne landing' product exists. They also hold exclusive landing rights on a specific section of Navajo Nation land for the Antelope Canyon helicopter tours they operate from Page, AZ.
How does Papillon compare to Grand Canyon Helicopters?
Grand Canyon Helicopters (GCH) is a subsidiary of Papillon. They operate from the same locations but under a separate brand name. GCH sometimes uses the EC130 Eco-Star aircraft (forward-facing seats) while the main Papillon brand uses a mixed fleet that includes older Bell Jet Rangers. When booking, check which aircraft you will fly — an EC130 under the GCH brand is equivalent to Maverick's product, while an AS350/Bell Jet Ranger under Papillon is the standard option.
How far in advance should I book Papillon?
Peak summer (June-August): 3-4 weeks minimum for morning departures. The sheer volume of passengers Papillon moves means their slots fill faster in absolute terms than smaller operators, though they also have more total slots. Shoulder season (spring/fall): 1-2 weeks. Winter: a few days is usually enough. Book earlier if your dates are fixed and morning departure is important.
Does Papillon include hotel pickup?
Yes. All Papillon West Rim tours from Las Vegas include complimentary hotel pickup from the Strip and downtown Las Vegas hotels. The pickup involves a shuttle to their staging terminal at Boulder City Municipal Airport (~30 minutes from the Strip). The $30 Hualapai Tribe entry fee is bundled into landing-tour packages. From the South Rim, there is no hotel pickup — you drive to Tusayan Airport independently.
Written by Diego Fresno, travel writer and independent publisher specialising in the American Southwest. This review is based on a directly-flown Papillon West Rim landing tour in July 2025, pricing cross-checked against Viator, GetYourGuide and papillon.com in July 2026, and field comparison with a Maverick EC130 scenic flight on the same trip.. Verified quarterly — last review April 2026. About the author →
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