From its headquarters at Sedona Airport, Guidance Air offers an assortment of helicopter tours of the greater Sedona area; these spectacular rides are an unforgettable way to see this breathtaking part of the Southwest United States. Prices at Guidance Air vary widely according to how long a helicopter tour you want to take, but broadly speaking there are rides available at a variety of different price points. Shorter tours run for just 10-15 minutes and cost around $100 per person, while a more expansive ride can be in the air for almost an hour, at a price of almost $400 per ticket. Private helicopter tours are even available for just groups of two, but they’ll cost you a pretty penny.
Popular Guidance Air Helicopter Tours
Guidance Air only operates Robinson helicopters, which have an industry reputation for being reliable and providing passengers with remarkable access to terrific views. Neither of the Robinson helicopters used by Guidance Air—the R44 (a four-seat helicopter) and the R66 (which seats 5)—feature any sort of cabin-area divider, meaning the view forward is unobstructed. In particular, every single seat in the R44 is a window seat!
Anasazi Helicopter Tour
This popular tour option leaves Sedona and heads northwest toward scenic Devil’s Bridge and Scenic Canyon, before dramatically turning to cover the beautiful area around Boynton Canyon. The Anasazi tour usually lasts 20-25 minutes, and costs nearly $170 per person.
Cathedral Helicopter Tour
Guidance Air’s Cathedral tour is the Skyline and Anasazi tours combined into one single unforgettable airborne experience. It usually runs between 30 and 35 minutes, with tickets costing around $230 per person.
Dreamcatcher Helicopter Tour
Running approximately 55 minutes, with tickets around $360 per person, the nearly hour-long Dreamcatcher tour is perfect for those visitors with the time, money, and desire to see the entirety of the greater Sedona region from a most unique vantage point. Highlights of this deluxe helicopter tour include such iconic sights as Robbers Roost, Mingus Mountain, and the mining community of Jerome, and more.
Skyline Helicopter Tour
This short tour is the perfect introduction to the stunning Sedona area—by air, of course! Running anywhere from 12-15 minutes, with tickets priced at approximately $100 per person, the Skyline tour lets you see iconic regional attractions like Cathedral Rock, Bell Rock, Courthouse Butte, Chapel of the Holy Cross, and Snoopy Rock like you have never seen them before.
Things to Know & Insider Tips
- If you enjoy your Guidance Air experience, it is customary to tip your guide and/or pilot. Gratuities are not included in the price of a tour ticket, and typically run approximately 20%.
- Children under the age of 2 years old may ride on a Guidance Air tour without purchasing their own individual ticket, so long as they can sit securely on an adult’s lap.
- In most instances, ticket reservations may be altered and/or refunded with notice of at least 24 hours before your ride’s scheduled departure. Cancellations due to weather conditions also usually result in full refunds, but make certain to check Guidance Air’s website for more details.
- Even though Guidance Air is providing brief scenic tours, and not taking passengers from destination to destination, it is still subject to all FAA rules and regulations. As a result, make sure to come prepared to your tour with some form of government-issued photo ID, as you will need a driver’s license or passport in order to board your ride.
- As a general rule, you are expected to arrive at the airport for your Guidance Tour helicopter ride no less than one half-hour before your scheduled departure time.
Is Guidance Air for You?
If you want to see Sedona by air, the reality is that you are going to pay a significant amount of money for not that much actual tour time. Guidance Air provides you with a good helicopter tour option, on account of its fleet of Robinson helicopters—which provide passengers with unrivalled views—and also the fact that it offers several different tours. This means that no matter whether you just want the experience of being airborne over Sedona for a quarter-of-an-hour or so, or you want to soar around the fabled red rocks for nearly an hour, you’ve got that choice covered at Guidance Air.
