Spring 2013 will be here before you know it. So it is time to book a seat on a helicopter tour of the Grand Canyon for your spring vacation. There are several options when it comes to planning Spring 2013 tours because a variety of tour operators offer various package deals.

One of the major decisions you must make is whether you will pick a tour to the South Rim or one to the West Rim. If your trip takes you to cities in central Arizona, you probably want to book a tour to the South Rim. If you'll be coming from Vegas, the West Rim is close by, only 120 miles away.

Grand Canyon helicopters don't fly from Vegas to the South Rim because of the distances involved. But don't be discouraged if that's the rim for you - you can take a bus or plane from Vegas to the South Rim and then transfer to a chopper there. I strongly recommend the plane because it's so much quicker and more convenient than the bus.

The West and South Rims are very different from each other. The South Rim is where to go if you're looking for magnificent natural vistas. The West Rim has cornered the market on thrills and adventure. The high-altitude South Rim (7,000 feet) is cold and often snowy during winter, while daytime temperatures at the lower-altitude West Rim (4,000 feet) routinely soar above 100 degrees F during summer.

Winter is off-season at the National Park, and fewer Grand Canyon helicopters fly then. When spring rolls around and the weather gets warm, tourists return and tour operators fill the demand with a variety of tour options. Summer is the peak tourist season, and chopper flights sell out quickly at that time of year.

As stated earlier, the South Rim is known for its magnificent beauty. The Park's main gates are there, and many visitors call it the real or the official Grand Canyon. The Park is so huge, it covers more than a million acres, that the only way you can truly appreciate it is to see it from the air in a helicopter.

There are two types of South Rim helicopter tours. One is in the air for 50 minutes, while the shorter version gives you 30 minutes of airtime. The short tour flies you to the North Rim and back. The longer tour adds on a side trip to the East Rim. That is where you can see Zuni Corridor and Imperial Point.

You won't be allowed to land on the floor of the canyon while at the South Rim, the only place the government allows that is at the West Rim. That's one of the reasons this part of the canyon is known for excitement and adventure. For example, you could enjoy a fun champagne picnic while on the canyon floor or go for an exciting raft ride on the Colorado River.

One particular tour package lets you do the picnic, the float trip, and take an exciting stroll on the Grand Canyon Skywalk - the famous glass bridge at Grand Canyon West. At the end of it, you will be standing on a glass sidewalk 70 feet beyond the edge, peering down into the canyon to the floor thousands of feet below.

That sums up the helicopter tours that are available for spring 2013. By the time you go there may even be other options to choose from. Tour operators are always looking for new ways to help travelers see and experience the glory of this natural wonder.

The best deals on chopper tours are always on the Internet, so book your flight online. You can even get an internet discount when you book and pay for your tour online. Doing that will help you save up to 30% off the price of your flight.