Published by H5 Helicopters | Scottsdale Airpark, Arizona

If you’re planning a trip to Arizona and searching for the ultimate outdoor adventure, chances are you’ve already looked at ATV rentals, off-road UTV tours, or jeep excursions through the desert. They’re popular. They’re well-marketed. And they show up everywhere online when you search “things to do in Scottsdale” or “outdoor adventures near Phoenix.”

But here’s the question most visitors never think to ask: What if you could skip the bumps, the dust, and the brutal desert heat — and see ten times more of Arizona in the same amount of time…from the air?

That’s exactly what a private helicopter tour with H5 Helicopters delivers. And once you understand the difference, the choice might be easier than you think.

What Is an ATV or Off-Road UTV Excursion?

ATV (all-terrain vehicle) and UTV (utility terrain vehicle) excursions are guided or self-guided rides through desert trails, washes, and rugged backcountry terrain. Companies typically operate in areas around the McDowell Mountains, Tonto National Forest, and the Cave Creek area north of Phoenix. You’re strapped into a vehicle, handed a helmet, and sent bouncing through dry desert landscape at ground level.

For the right traveler, it’s genuinely fun — especially if you love the tactile, physical feeling of off-roading. But there are real trade-offs, particularly during Arizona’s long summer season.

What Is a Private Helicopter Tour?

A private helicopter tour is an aerial sightseeing experience conducted aboard a helicopter, typically a small aircraft accommodating up to four or five passengers. H5 Helicopters operates an Airbus AS350-B2 A-Star — a premium aircraft used worldwide by film crews, search-and-rescue teams, and VIP charter operators — departing from Scottsdale Airpark.

Tours range from a 35-minute local flight over the Valley to full-day Grand Canyon experiences, Sedona canyon flybys, Antelope Canyon aerial tours, and custom routes across the entire state. The aircraft cruises at around 150 mph, meaning places that would take hours to drive to — or that are completely inaccessible by road — become easy destinations.

Head-to-Head: Helicopter Tours vs. ATV/UTV Excursions

The Heat Problem — Arizona’s Biggest Hidden Factor

Let’s address the elephant in the room: Arizona is hot. Dangerously, relentlessly, scorchingly hot, especially between June and September, when temperatures routinely hit 110°F to 118°F in the Phoenix metro area.

ATV and off-road excursions operate entirely outdoors. You’re exposed to direct sun, radiant heat bouncing off desert rock, engine heat from the vehicle beneath you, and thick dust kicked up from the trail. Most operators require full protective gear — helmets, goggles, long sleeves — which traps even more heat. Even on a “mild” 95°F spring day, an hour on a desert trail in full PPE is physically exhausting and potentially dangerous.

H5 Helicopters flies in a fully climate-controlled, air-conditioned cabin. You step out of the Phoenix heat, board the helicopter, and within seconds you’re at altitude, looking down at the desert in comfortable airconditioning. This makes aerial tours one of the best warm-weather activities in Arizona — a genuinely cool experience on the hottest days of the year. For summer visitors and families with children or older guests, this isn’t just a convenience. It’s a safety consideration.

Searching for things to do in Scottsdale in the summer? A helicopter tour is one of the only premium outdoor-style experiences that’s actually more enjoyable in June, July, and August than it is in peak tourist season.

Coverage and Perspective

An ATV tour covers a few square miles of trail. You see what’s immediately around you — close-up desert textures, saguaro cactus, dry riverbeds. That’s genuinely beautiful, but it’s a narrow slice of what Arizona has to offer.

A helicopter tour covers Arizona. In a single 35-minute local flight, you’ll see the full Phoenix skyline, Camelback Mountain, the McDowell Mountains, Scottsdale’s resort corridor, and the vast Sonoran Desert stretching to the horizon. On longer tours, you’re flying over the rim of the Grand Canyon, skimming red rock formations in Sedona, or banking over the copper waters of Lake Powell.

The perspective is simply incomparable. There is no ground-based adventure activity — no ATV, no jeep, no horseback ride — that puts you above a place the way a helicopter does.

Accessibility and Physical Requirements

ATV and off-road excursions typically require participants to be in reasonable physical condition — able to grip handlebars, manage vibration, and hold on through rough terrain. Many operators have age minimums, weight limits, and restrictions for guests with back or neck issues. If you’re traveling with mixed-age groups, elderly relatives, or guests with mobility concerns, off-roading starts to get complicated.

Helicopter tours are accessible to nearly everyone. Boarding is straightforward, seating is comfortable, and there’s no physical exertion involved. H5 Helicopters has flown guests ranging from young children experiencing their first flight to grandparents celebrating milestone birthdays. The only practical consideration is the aircraft’s 850 lb total weight limit across all passengers.

The “Wow” Factor

Be honest: which story are you telling at Thanksgiving dinner?

“We drove some ATVs through the desert” — or — “We flew a private helicopter over the Grand Canyon and the pilot banked down into the canyon and we were eye-level with the South Rim”?

Helicopter tours generate the kind of memories that define a trip. Guests regularly describe their H5 experience as the best thing they’ve done in Arizona — period. It’s the type of activity that makes non-adventurous travelers feel like they did something truly extraordinary.

Value Comparison

ATV rentals typically run $150–$300 per person for a 2–3 hour guided tour. You pay per person, often have add-on fees for insurance, gear, and fuel, and you’re in a group with other guests on a fixed route.

H5 Helicopter tours are priced per flight — not per person — which means the more guests in your party, the better the per-person value. A 35-minute local adventure flight starts at $1,850 for up to five passengers, breaking down to $370 per person for a full aircraft. The Grand Canyon Experience — H5’s most popular tour — flies a longer route with stunning canyon views and runs $8,950, which across five passengers works out to $1,790 per person for a multi-hour premium experience you simply cannot replicate by any other means.

For solo or duo travelers, the per-person cost is higher — but the experience is private, customized, and completely yours.

So Which Should You Choose?

Both experiences have their place. If you love the raw, tactile thrill of off-roading, want to get into the dirt, and plan to be out in mild weather with a physically active group, an ATV excursion is a solid choice.

But if you’re visiting Arizona during the summer — or any time you want to maximize what you see, travel in comfort, and walk away with a truly unforgettable experience — a helicopter tour from H5 Helicopters is in a different category entirely.

And if you’ve never considered a helicopter tour before reading this, that’s exactly the point. Most visitors don’t. They book the ATV ride or the jeep tour because that’s what comes up first in search results. The luxury aerial option doesn’t occur to them.

Now it has.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I book a helicopter tour in the summer in Arizona? Yes — and it’s one of the best times to fly. The H5 Helicopters cabin is fully air-conditioned, making summer tours comfortable and enjoyable regardless of outside temperatures.

How many people can fly in the helicopter? The Airbus AS350-B2 seats up to five passengers with a combined weight limit of 850 lbs. Tours are private — you will not be combined with strangers.

Where do tours depart from? H5 Helicopters operates from Scottsdale Airpark, located at 16114 N 81st Street, Scottsdale, AZ 85260. Guests are asked to arrive 20 minutes early for check-in, a hangar tour, and safety briefing.

Do I need to make a reservation? Yes. H5 operates exclusively by reservation. Contact Sean directly at sean@h5helicopters.com or call (480) 272-1100.

What is the cancellation policy? Tours cancelled within 24 hours are subject to a full charge. There is no charge for cancellations due to weather.

H5 Helicopters is a veteran-owned, family-operated aerial tour and charter company based at Scottsdale Airpark. Founded in 2008, H5 has flown film crews for AppleTV, Netflix, IMAX, and Discovery Channel — and thousands of guests who wanted to see Arizona the right way.

Ready to see Arizona from above? Book your tour today.