Best Kauai Helicopter Tours

Home to plunging canyons, isolated coasts, and precipitous sea cliffs, visitors only scratch the surface of all that Kauai has to offer when exploring by car or on foot. A large portion of Kauai’s beauty exists behind the veil of rugged terrain and inaccessible areas. From the gaping Waimea Canyon to the lush peaks of Mount Waiʻaleʻale, the only way to explore the interior of the northernmost main Hawaiian Island is from the seat of a helicopter.

Fortunately, there are many safe and reliable helicopter companies to bring you face to face with Kauai’s hidden beauty.  Here are the top 5 Kauai Helicopter Tours:

The Kauai Experience

 

This one-hour private helicopter tour whisks guests away to explore some of Kauai’s most famous and exclusive natural wonders. Departing from Lihue Airport, you’ll fly off to first explore the depths of Waimea Canyon. 10 miles long and up to 3,000 feet deep, this natural wonder has been dubbed the Grand Canyon of the Pacific, and most of the area is inaccessible.

On this flight, you’ll also be treated to views of the isolated Na Pali Coast. This rugged 17-mile coastline is famous for its remote grandeur. Here, towering emerald cliffs flecked with cascading waterfalls plunge into the sea, forming deep valleys and isolated beaches.

This tour also passes Manawaiopuna Falls, better known as Jurassic Falls. This magnificent waterfall was featured in the original Jurassic Park movie, and it is only accessible by helicopter.

Lastly, weather permitting, you’ll peer over the rainforest blanketed peak of Mount Waiʻaleʻale. Mount Waiʻaleʻale is one of the rainiest peaks in the world, seeing up to 40 feet of rain per year. This saturated peak feeds Kauai’s seven rivers.

Know Before You Go:

● This tour can accommodate a maximum of three passengers. Good news- everybody gets a window seat.
● Choose between a doors-off or doors-on excursion. Sorry kids, you have to be at least 12 years old to ride doors off.
● Pray for sunshine! Tours may be canceled at the pilot’s discretion due to inclement weather. It’s a bummer, but better than being in a chopper caught in a storm.

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Kauai Pro Photography Flight

Photographers, rejoice! There is a Kauai helicopter tour designed specifically for you. Well, to be more accurate, this tour is designed specifically by you. This excursion is entirely customizable, and you can choose what sites you visit and how long you stay. Whether you’d like to capture the magnificence of Waimea Canyon, the remote Manawaiopuna Falls, or simply hunt for humpback whales off the coast of Hanalei- the choice is yours. This excursion is open to both professional and amateur photographers. Regardless of your status, you’re sure to be bringing home a multitude of spectacular shots.

Know Before You Go:

● Choose your lenses wisely- loose items, including extra camera lenses, are strictly prohibited.
● The minimum flight time on this tour is one hour. Additional hours can be booked!
● Do your research beforehand to help you craft the perfect shot. After all, where you go is entirely up to you!

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Ohana Experience

Take to the skies aboard a Robinson R66 Helicopter with your family and friends for a private Kauai air tour. Throughout this 55-60 minute flight, you’ll witness some of the Garden Isle’s most stunning locations and inaccessible areas from a bird’s eye view. Unlike other helicopter tours, this excursion is entirely private and can accommodate up to four passengers of the same party. Thanks to the small group size of this excursion, you won’t be battling other passengers for views as you explore the Garden Isle’s natural wonders. This air tour visits some of Kauai’s most secluded areas, like the Na Pali Coast and Manawaiopuna Falls (Jurassic Falls).

Know Before You Go:

● Looking to add some thrill to your tour? This excursion can be booked doors off for no extra charge.
● Important info for thrill-seekers: if your tour is booked doors off, your phone and/or camera equipment must be secured by a strap to your wrist. You don’t want any loose items plummeting to the earth below.
● Children as young as seven are welcome aboard doors-on. For doors off, the minimum age requirement is 12.

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Ultimate Kauai Adventure

Waimea Canyon, Na Pali Coast, Hanalei Bay, Manawaiopuna Falls, Wailua Falls… whew. These famous sites only scratch the surface of the natural wonders you’ll see aboard the Ultimate Kauai Adventure tour. Kauai is home to a bounty of beauty, some of which is only visible from the seat of a helicopter. Luckily, this helicopter tour can bring you and your group face to face with some of the most remote natural wonders Kauai has to offer. This excursion traverses nearly the whole island, skirting along the coast from Lihue to Poipu, over the rugged west side to Waimea Canyon and the Na Pali Coast, then from the North Shore to the interior of central Kauai’s lush peaks and valleys.

Know Before You Go:

● These shared small group tours can accommodate up to six people.
● First-class seating at the front of the helicopter next to the pilot is available for purchase.
● Never forget your Kauai air tour! A video of your flight with pilot narration might be available to purchase. If you’re interested in taking home a video, ask for more information upon check-in.

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Private Kauai Helicopter Tour

 

The pilots on this Private Kauai Helicopter Tour know the Garden Isle like the back of their hands. Not only does this company have 32 years of flying experience under their belt, but they are also the only air tour company on Kauai owned by a Native Hawaiian family. Aboard this completely private excursion, you’ll not only witness some of the best-known sites on Kauai but lesser-known, equally breathtaking locations as well. From the famed Waimea Canyon to the remote Olokele Canyon, the rugged Na Pali Coast to the largest coffee farm on Kauai, you’ll be treated to views of the Garden Isle you won’t soon forget.

Know Before You Go:

● Ultra private, this tour can accommodate a maximum of three people. Every seat is a window seat!
● This tour runs one hour and can be booked doors off for unobstructed views.
● You’ll be exploring the island in a Robinson R44 craft, one of the most widely produced helicopters in the world.

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Looking for something else?

Check out what to do while visiting Kauai.