Combining Cirque and Canyon: A Smart Choice for Travelers

Combining Cirque and Canyon: A Smart Choice for Travelers Two of the most memorable features of the American Southwest are located just a short distance away from each other by air: the natural majesty of the Grand Canyon and the manmade glamor of Las Vegas. Besides its legendary array of gambling options and destination hotels, Las Vegas frequently plays host to one of the true wonders of the entertainment world: Cirque du Soleil. Due to the convenient proximity of these two attractions—Cirque and Canyon—an intelligent vacation option is to combine both into one unforgettable trip.

The Origin of a Legend Now one of Las Vegas’ signature attractions, Cirque du Soleil originally grew out of the esoteric arts culture of Quebec in the early 1980s, in a small but vibrant village called Baie-Saint-Paul. A performer named Gilles Ste-Croix founded an acrobatic troupe called Les Échassiers de BaieSaint-Paul (“The Stiltwalkers of Baie-Saint-Paul”) which not only featured stiltwalkers, but also jugglers, dancers, fire-breathers, musicians and performers with all manner of odd talents. To commemorate the 450th anniversary of the European discovery of Canada by French explorer Jacques Cartier, a tour of the province of Quebec was organized for this unique show. This provincial tour marked the relatively humble beginning of a touring show that is now famous all over the world.

The Formation of a Monument 450 years may seem like a long time, but the amount of time that has gone into shaping the grandeur of the Grand Canyon is truly staggering. Since the first rocks of its lowest reaches were formed approximately 1.84 billion years ago, there has been a unique confluence of geological events that needed to take place in order to create what is now one of the most famous tourist destinations on earth. The Colorado River has slowly been cutting an inexorable path through the surface of the Colorado Plateau for the last 70 million years, resulting in the natural masterpiece now known as the Grand Canyon.

A Unique Opportunity The geographic closeness of the Cirque and the Canyon means that Grand Canyon helicopter tours from Las Vegas offer an ideal way to experience both on the same trip. It is possible to see the waters of the Colorado River deep in the depths of the Grand Canyon by day, and the aquatic acrobatics of the Cirque du Soleil’s “O” by night, when travelers book the “O at Bellagio” package from Papillon. Papillon is a premier source of aerial sightseeing tours of many of the region’s most iconic sights, and this particular tour is a great way to combine two of them. The Canyon’s proximity to the thrills of Las Vegas is an opportunity too good to pass up.

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