BEST 5 Sedona Helicopter Tours – Ranked for 2025

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Are you looking for the best Sedona Helicopter Tours? Look no further!

Sedona is beautiful to explore from the ground, but from the air – it is breathtaking!

Sedona is by far one of our most memorable places to adventure in, especially during the winter months when it isn’t as hot. Every year, we find ourselves wanting to come back.

Taking a Sedona helicopter tour is an exceptional activity that we always make sure to include on our itinerary when visiting stunning Sedona.

But with multiple different helicopter tours in Sedona available, how do you choose which one to take? 

We have all the details on what to look for in a Helicopter tour and the best helicopter tour operators in Sedona for your next visit! 🚁

Our Top 3 Picks: Sedona Helicopter Tours

#1 TOP PICK
A red Sedona helicopter flying over the rugged, verdant landscapes of a canyon on a Sedona Helicopter tour.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Desert Thunder Tour

βœ…30-35 Minutes

βœ…Guaranteed Window Seat

#2 PICK
A red helicopter hovers with a clear sky and expansive mesa backdrop during Sedona Helicopter tours.

The Wild West Tour

βœ…50-55 Minutes

βœ…All Sedona Sites

#3 PICK
A red helicopter flying over a striking rock formation and a vista of greenery below while treating visitors during a Sedona Helicopter Tour

Dust Devil Tour

βœ…20-25 Minutes

βœ…All Front Facing Seats

Top 5 Sedona Helicopter Tours 🚁

There are many Sedona Helicopter tours as well as operators in the area offering great packages and services.

We have vetted the best tour and operator combinations. When choosing, we recommend taking into consideration the style of the helicopter, the duration of the flight, and your budget.

Almost all the tours take off from the Sedona Airport. The view alone from the Scenic Lookout at the Airport is worth the drive.

Here are some of the top tours:

#1 – Desert Thunder Tour by Guidance Air

In the #1 spot is the fantastic Desert Thunder Tour by Guidance Air.

First, we love Guidance Air because their helicopters are set up so everyone is guaranteed a window seat AND you are facing forward! This is the winning combination when it comes to maximizing your helicopter experience.

The best Sedona helicopter tours are some of the most amazing experiences in all of Arizona

This tour is about 30 minutes in total and includes seeing the majority of Sedona’s top sites from a birdseye view.

We loved every minute of this adventure and look forward to doing it again soon. Way more fun than we imagined. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️-Review by Douglas_B (Read more reviews)

The sites include Cathedral Rock, Chapel of the Holy Cross, Bell Rock, Courthouse Butte, Snoopy Rock, Oak Creek Canyon, Devil’s Bridge, Secret Canyon, Mogollon Rim, Boynton Canyon, and the Anasazi cliff dwellings.

Plus, the fantastic pilots share the legends of the area as you pass the many points of interest which really enhances the experience.

We highly, highly recommend this experience if you want to maximize your helicopter adventure!

#2 – The Wild West Tour by Guidance Air

The Wild West Tour is also operated by Guidance Air. With Guidance Air’s Sedona helicopter tours, everyone is guaranteed a window seat AND to be facing forward which is the best-case scenario.

This tour is the longest tour at about 50 minutes, which is a long helicopter tour!

Don’t miss this helicopter tour!! Phenomenal flight seeing so many canyons and rock formations that would never be seen otherwise. Personal narration made it so much more interesting! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️- Review by Thelma_Y (Read more reviews)

The route for the Wild West Tour includes the Sycamore Canyon, Verde River, Robbers Roost, Mingus Mountain, the old mining town of Jerome, as well as Sedona itself.

If you want a comprehensive experience, we recommend choosing this Sedona helicopter tour. It’s the best one available.

#3 – Dust Devil Tour by Guidance Air

As with our top 2 tours, the Dust Devil Tour is the final tour operated by Guidance Air. On this tour, you are guaranteed to be facing forward and have a window seat!

This tour is the shortest tour at about 20 minutes and goes to some of Sedona’s top sites.

Beautiful sights!! Absolutely amazing, I’ve been to Sedona multiple times and this flight allowed me to see parts of the canyons I’ve never seen before! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️- Review by Ilse_M (See more reviews)

The Dust Devil tour takes you over the Anasazi cliff dwellings, Devil’s Bridge, Secret Canyon, Mogollon Rim, and Boynton Canyon.

Due to the guaranteed good seats with Guidance Air, we love this tour as a great option to see a number of the top sites while keeping the costs relatively low.

#4 – The Mystic Canyon Tour by Sedona Air Tours

Sedona Air Tours offers a unique helicopter experience – on this tour, the helicopter doors are actually off! This means there is nothing between your camera and the beautiful sites.

Unfortunately, you are not guaranteed a “window” seat but you can pay extra for a private tour.

At 35 minutes in duration, you will see Sycamore Canyon, historic Jerome, Boynton Canyon, Sinagua cliff dwellings, Lost Canyon, and Secret Canyon.

Sedona Air Tours starts their tours from the Cottonwood Airport, which is a little further away.

This tour is definitely a great option for photographers and thrill-seekers as a doorless helicopter ride can be quite exhilarating.

#5 – Everything Sedona Tour by Apex Air

Apex Air is another reputable Sedona helicopter tours operator.

Their helicopters are larger, allowing more people to ride at a time so they are great if you want to go together with a group.

The Everything Sedona tour is a quick tour of a number of Sedona’s highlights: Cathedral Rock, Bell Rock, The Praying Hands, Snoopy Rock, Steam Boat Rock, Thunder Mountain, Seven Canyons Golf Course, Boynton Canyon Vortex, and Cox Comb.

If you are looking for the most affordable option, this tour is the best bang for your buck!

The views from above in Sedona will blow you away

Are helicopter tours worth it?

Helicopter tours of Sedona are absolutely worth it!

From the air, you can experience stunning views of the red rocks and the surrounding desert landscape. It’s a great way to take in the beauty of the area and get an entirely new perspective.

Not only that, but helicopter tours can also provide access to certain parts of the area that are difficult to access otherwise.

Helicopter tours are one of the many reasons Sedona is worth visiting!

What is the best time of day to take a helicopter tour of Sedona?

There really isn’t a best time, mostly because the current weather conditions matter a lot.

The early morning can be the best time of the day to take a Sedona helicopter tour

In general, the morning is the best time of day to take a helicopter tour of Sedona. In the morning, you experience the beauty of the sunrise lighting up the red rocks and changing colors.

Early mornings tend to have the clearest air, providing excellent visibility for your tour. Plus, there is typically less turbulence in the sky at those times!

In the mornings, you want to be cautious of fog. If it is foggy in the morning (9 am), you may want to opt for a late morning timeslot!

In our travels, we have not seen sunset tours. Usually, the last tour of the day is one hour before sunset (6pm in summer and 4:30pm in winter).

If you can get one of the first or last tours of the day, we highly recommend it.

How long are Sedona helicopter tours?

That depends on the tour you pick! The shortest helicopter tours can be 10 minutes while the longer tours are an hour.

The Red Rocks in Sedona are world famous

Be sure to look at the length of the tour you are looking to book. And keep in mind, longer is not necessarily better!

If the 10-minute tour is what works with your budget, that 10 minutes of stunning views will still be absolutely incredible and well worth it.

Free Helicopter Tours in Sedona

Walking around Sedona’s uptown, we find that there tend to be people offering free or heavily discounted helicopter tours.

We are two people who do not turn down free things… so we chatted away with the salesperson to learn more.

In short, you will get a free 10-minute helicopter tour this way… but you will have to participate in a 2-hour timeshare presentation first.

For us, this was not worth the time on our vacation, so we moved on.

Other Top Sedona Tours ✨

Once you’ve completed the aerial adventure of a lifetime on a Sedona helicopter tour, be sure to check out the other epic Sedona tours!

Sedona is a mecca for outdoor activities and the local tour guides do an excellent job of making the experience memorable.

These outdoor tours are one of the reasons we prefer Sedona over Scottsdale.

Jeep Rental or ATV Tour

Outside of the helicopter ride, a Jeep or ATV tour is the best way to experience the sites of Sedona without hiking.

Plus, it is an exhilarating experience! We do recommend you are prepared for a very bumpy ride

Jeeps are fun and adventurous ways to explore Sedona.

We love the Arizona Safari Jeep Tours. This is a great way to experience the Jeep climbing the Red Rocks without the stress of operating the vehicle.

On your ride, you’ll be able to take photographs and learn information about the area’s history, rock formations, and local customs.

Want to be in control of your own vehicle? ATV is the perfect option! Just be ready to get a bit dirty. This ATV tour of Western Sedona is a fun-filled adventure! 

For about 4 hours, you’ll drive your ATV down a desert trail to see beautiful red-rock bluffs and steep canyons.

Vortex Tour

Make sure to experience Sedona’s famous Vortexes. If you don’t take a tour, it’s possible to walk by a Vortex without realizing it, just like we did.

Subway Cave in Sedona has a vortex

This tour by One Tribe Tours goes to multiple vortexes, has a guided meditation, and teaches you about the flora and fauna in the area with an all-inclusive package.

It’s a great opportunity to broaden your horizons during your visit to Sedona!

Sedona Wine Tour

Sedona is renowned for its wine. There are a few estate vineyards scattered on the hills near the city.

The high altitude of Sedona is perfect for growing ripe grapes that have intense flavors. The grapes typically cultivated in this region are syrahs, merlots, and chardonnay.

We recommend this tour to the Verde Valley. You will get transportation to 4 wineries, lunch, and some discounts at the wineries themselves!

Star Gazing Tour

Sedona is a fantastic place to see the stars due to the low light pollution.

While you can venture out to a dark spot at night to look at the stars, we recommend a tour since the guide will bring to life the stars and explain what you are seeing in detail.

We thoroughly enjoy this star gazing tour because it provides us with entertaining stories, engaging visuals, incredible cosmic knowledge, and unique perspectives on Sedona.

E-Biking Tour

While Sedona is renowned for its fantastic hiking trails, some of the trails can also be used for bikes! This E-bike tour is a wonderful way to venture around the red rocks.

You will be fitted for your own bike and then you can travel around Sedona and explore.

This is a particularly great way to visit the Chapel of the Holy Cross and Bell Rock since transportation in Sedona can sometimes be tricky!

Where to Stay in Sedona

When staying in Sedona, we highly recommend staying in the West Sedona area.

This area has easy access to major shuttle services, hiking trails, and grocery stores. Plus, the traffic in this area is relatively low.

A few of our favorite places to stay are:

  • Budget: Sedona Real Inn & Suites 
    • We had a great experience at this place! Even though our original rental house had an emergency, they were able to find us a room on short notice.
    • The location was superb, the place was clean, and they offered fun daily activities. Additionally, their breakfast had a good variety.
    • One of the best parts was that the hot showers were perfect for the cold December days. We can’t wait to stay here again!
  • Moderate: Sky Rock Sedona 
    • Sky Rock Sedona is a hotel situated at a convenient location. It provides beautiful views and is a great place to stay.
    • There is a bar area with a terrace and a firepit where guests can relax and unwind after a day of exploring the area.
  • Luxury: Enchantment Resort
    • Are you searching for a luxurious experience?
    • Enchantment Resort provides a range of extraordinary lodging options, plus a spa, pool, and delicious restaurants.
    • The resort is located in Boynton Canyon, which boasts some of the most incredible vistas. Additionally, have access to incredible hiking trails nearby.

Choosing between Sedona and the Grand Canyon?

An image compares the landscapes of the Grand Canyon vs Sedona side by side

When it comes to deciding between Sedona and the Grand Canyon, there are many factors to take into account. These two locations are highly sought-after tourist spots in Arizona, each boasting breathtaking vistas of the arid desert terrain, complete with towering cliffs, deep canyons, and vibrant rock formations.

We’ve personally visited both sites and put together a detailed comparison to help you determine which one is the perfect destination for your next adventure.

In Conclusion: Sedona Helicopter Tours

Overall, taking a Sedona helicopter tour is an amazing experience you will never forget.

Not only do you get to see the beautiful red rocks from above, but also learn about their history and local customs.

You should 100% take a Sedona Helicopter Tour if your time and budget allow

Be sure to pick the one that has the best view, route, and price for you! We love the Desert Thunder Tour by Guidance Air because we think it has the best of everything.

Once you are done with your Sedona helicopter tour, there are numerous other tours available in Sedona as well such as Jeep Rental or Tour, Vortex Tours, Wine Tasting Tours, and Star Gazing Tours which can all be enjoyed during your stay.

So what are you waiting for? Take off into the wild blue yonder and explore the beauty of Sedona!

We wish you the best travels, and don’t forget to set your β€œOut of Office!” 

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