My Travel Backpack

5 days in Las Vegas but our best souvenir is not in Vegas itself… it’s in the sky over the famous Grand Canyon, a steep-sided gorge carved by the Colorado River.

We definitely wanted to see the Grand Canyon (even though we’ve seen a part of it from our plane) and after discussions with friends who went to Vegas and who told us “you MUST take an helicopter tour”, we didn’t have the choice. The helicopter tour is about 2 to 4 times the price of a bus tour but it lasts 4 hours instead of 14. Sometimes longer is better, but when you stay in a city only 5 days, every hour counts. Well, in this case, we should have skipped the time-share condos presentation (I should write in details my thoughts about that in another post but for now just remember not to go there).

From the 5 helicopter tour companies going in the canyon from Vegas, we chose Las Vegas Helicopters. In fact, their stars and stripes helicopters are just awesome… it’s a bit cliché but they have such a great look… I knew it would give us great shots !

Thursday 7am (7am… that’s SOOOO early for a morning in Las Vegas but the colors in the Canyon totally worth it), Darryl, driver for LV Helicopters, picked us at our hotel and drived us to Boulder City airport. We had a great time talking with Darryl, this guy was very funny. From the moment we met him, we knew that all this was gonna be a great adventure.

Less than 1 hour later, we were sitting in the helicopter, our headsets on, ready for take-off. And here we go….

Lake Mead

Hoover Dam

The magnificient Grand Canyon

… and us trying to seize every minute walking in one of the most impressive places we’ve seen in our lives… for the first, and probably, last time. I just can’t find words to describe you how we felt down it the Canyon, it was just amazing.

Thanks to Curtis our pilot, a Vietnam veteran, who helped making our tour extraordinary by all the info he gave us about the Canyon.

Overall, this was such a great experience and yes “you MUST take an helicopter tour” to the Grand Canyon when you’re in Vegas.

Note that Las Vegas Helicopters kindly provided me with a complimentary flight for the purpose of this article, but it doesn’t have any influence on this review. In fact, I wouldn’t have told you this if it would have had any influence. ha! ha!

How I wish that there were more
Than the twenty-four hours in the day
cause even if there were forty more
I wouldnt sleep a minute away

I totally agree with Elvis on this (not that we disagree usually… we were good friends. Well. No. Umm. Anyway.) : Viva Las Vegas !

First of all, we got a 555$/ea package for a fly from Burlington to Las Vegas and 4 nights at the Excalibur, couldn’t be cheaper. Excalibur was okay, but I’ll definitely try another hotel next time. ‘Cause yesss, there will be a “next time”!

Here are the highlights of this trip:
O by Cirque du Soleil
KÀ by Cirque du Soleil (I slept for a couple of minutes – shame on me – but my friends enjoyed it a lot!
Moon Nightclub at the Palms
Poker tournament at Excalibur (ended 5th on 60)
Grand Canyon Helicopter Tour with Las Vegas Helicopters
Dinner at Mon ami Gabi enjoying the Bellagio Fountains
Dinner at Olives (Bellagio)
Visit of the Dolphin Habitat at the Mirage
Free drinks in casinos!

You can find pictures on Flickr

 Trekking in the Grand Canyon is the dream of many backpackers I know. I’m sure you’re all jealous to know that we will go to the Canyon next thursday. Guess what, we’ve decided not to walk into the Canyon but fly over it. You’re right, we’ve just booked an helicopter tour with Las Vegas Helicopters. We chose the Adventurer tour which is a 4 hour tour over Boulder City, Lake Mead, Hoover Dam and, obviously, THE Grand Canyon. We are so excited about it! We just can’t wait to fly in one of their stars and stripes helicopter!!!

Only 4 days left ’til we arrive in Vegas! 

 In a couple of days, I’ll fly to Las Vegas. 5 days of shows (O, KÀ), casinos (poker!), pool and other adventures (Grand Canyon!)

If you have any suggestions, please comment or send me an email.

“This is a picture of Mike and I making our way to rifugio Lavarella in the Dolomites during an 8 day trip there with friends. This was the longest day of the trek, but the hike was well worth it when we finally made it to the top of that mountain and saw an amazing view. We were all surprised by an elderly man in his sixties who made it to the top before us, a bunch of eighteen yr. olds! “ - Becky

Backpack brand: Salewa
Backpack model and capacity:SIKKIM II 60+10
The location where you took the picture: Dolomites, Italy
Trip Length: 8 days

Thanks to Becky Laufer

MyTravelBackpack.com’s 2nd Photo Contest, sponsored by 100% Pure New Zealand, is over.Thanks for everyone who submitted pictures of the them and their backpack somewhere cool in New Zealand! Here are the finalists :

John Walking the Tongariro Crossing

Jeremy Enjoying an Amazing Scenery on the Routeburn Track

Mark and His Friend on Their Way to the Top

Martin Walking the Kepler Track

Heather Enjoying an Amazing Scenery in Nelson Lakes National Park

Karsten Napping in Whirinaki

Nick Walking in the Tararua’s

… and the winner is…

Ben Ridge

Heather Enjoying an Amazing Scenery in Nelson Lakes National Park

See full resolution picture here.

Ben wins a Kelty Tahoma daypack sponsored by 100% Pure New Zealand!!!

“On behalf of 100% Pure New Zealand, we’d thank everyone for participating in the MyTravelBackpack photo contest, and wish a congratulations to the winner, Ben with his fantastic Nelson Lakes National Park photo. The choice was a difficult one, as we received some gorgeous and masterfully shot photos, but in the end, Ben’s panoramic photo captured the sweeping beauty of New Zealand’s landscapes in a way that would make any backpacker want to get up and go. Enjoy the daypack, Ben. Here’s hoping that it’s part of many great photo-taking expeditions to come!” – Eric Hansen

Thanks everyone and keep submitting pictures to MyTravelBackpack.com! ; )

“Nick (shown in photo, with his absolutely beautiful Macpac Torre – A genuine antique.) and I met in Nelson Lakes NP when I came to NZ to do some tramping. That trip changed me – From then on I knew that NZ would just keep calling me back. What an amazing place. Nick told me to ring him next time I was over, and I did. He organised a 2-day walk in his stomping ground – the Tararua’s. An amazing walk – quite different to the walks I did in the south island. (One thing was in common – rain!)
I’ll be back again though. I can feel it calling me!” – David

Backpack brand: Macpac
Backpack model and capacity: Cascade, 90L
The location where you took the picture: Tararua’s, New Zealand
Trip Length: 2 days
More pictures at: http://www.flickr.com/photos/dave_gwyther/

Thanks to David Gwyther, the photographer.
Should David win our New Zealand photo contest?

“I had the pleasure of meeting some good friends in New Zealand last spring for four weeks of epic tramping around the North Island. I fell in love with the country, and it is by far the most beautiful place I have ever been. After a four day trip around the Tongariro Northern Circut, one of the group fell lame with a toe injury, which rendered a trip through Whirinaki impossible. I decided to rent my own vehicle for a few days and explore for myself, as I had heard from a hut warden at Mangetepopo that Whirinaki was not to be missed. And she was correct. I spend a quick two days in Whirinaki, in complete awe at the gigantic podocarp trees, and stunned by the songs of the birds which echoed through the grand cathedral. I met some possum hating locals, and some rain hating europeans. I even managed to go out at night to find some glow-worms, with great success. This picture encompasses everything that two days was for me. The sheer bliss of being in a lush, green, paradise…such a long way from home.” – Karsten

Backpack brand: ARC’TERYX
Backpack model and capacity: Bora 50, 50L
The location where you took the picture: Whirinaki Forest Park, North Island, New Zealand
Trip Length: In Whirinaki, 2. In New Zealand, 24.
More pictures at: http://www.karstosis.com

Thanks to Karsten Klawitter.
Should Karsten win our New Zealand photo contest?

See full resolution picture here.
“We quit our jobs to live and travel in New Zealand for 9 months. Mt. Angelus was one of the highlights.” – Ben

Backpack brand: REI
Backpack model and capacity: Venus
The location where you took the picture: Nelson Lakes National Park, New Zealand
Trip Length: 2 days trip, part of 9 months in New Zealand
More pictures at: http://www.wanderaround.com/

Thanks to Ben Ridge, the photographer.
Should Ben win our New Zealand photo contest?

“This was one of the hightlights of 5 months traveling through NZ. Awesome!” – Martin

Backpack brand: Jack Wolfskin
Backpack model and capacity: Agadir 2, 65+10l
The location where you took the picture: Kepler Track, Fiordlands, New Zealand
Trip Length: 4 days
More pictures at: http://nightflight.terminal-eins.de

Thanks to Martin Stratmann.
Should Mark win our New Zealand photo contest?