If we had to recommend you one of the most beautiful places on Earth, it would be Kauai. If we had to recommend you one of the most beautiful ways of seeing Kaui, it would be by helicopter.
The arial views are unlike anything else, offering you vistas that truly let you appreciate the area’s varied and dramatic landscapes that few other locations have.
There are a ton of tours out there, but we’ve done the hard part by investigating ourselves. Without further ado, we answer the question: what is the best Kauai helicopter tour that is well worth your time and money! Let’s hop right in!
Best Helicopter Tours in Kauai
Kauai Island Highlights Helicopter Tour | "PRIVATE" Kauai Helicopter Tours with "NO MIDDLE SEATS" | Kauai Waimea Canyon, Jurassic Falls, & More Helicopter Tour | |
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Departure: | 3225 Akahi St, Lihue | 3745 Ahukini Rd, Lihue | 3225 Akahi St, Lihue |
Start: | 11:00 AM, 1:00 M | Between 7:30 AM - 4:45 PM | 8:00 AM, 9:30 AM, 2:00 PM, 3:30 PM |
Duration: | 1 hour | 1 hour 15 mins | 1.5 hours |
Includes: | Pilot and guide, helicopter tour | Lanyards for cell phones, 10 minute pilot safety briefing | Helicopter tour, pilot, land at the movie-famous Jurassic Park Falls |
Quick Answer: The 5 Best Rated Kauai Helicopter Tours For 2023
- Kauai Island Highlights Helicopter Tour
- “PRIVATE” Kauai Helicopter Tours with “NO MIDDLE SEATS”
- Kauai Waimea Canyon, Jurassic Falls, & More Helicopter Tour
- Amazing Air Kauai Helicopter Tour
- Kauai ECO Adventure Helicopter Tour
Kauai Helicopter Tour Reviews
1. Kauai Island Highlights Helicopter Tour
- Duration: 1 hour
- Departure: 3225 Akahi St, Lihue
- Departure Time: 11:00 AM, 1:00 M
- Includes: Pilot and guide, helicopter tour
If you know anything about Hawaii, youāll know that its natural beauty is endless. While hiking, ziplining, and boat rides are certainly great ways to see it all, helicopters are still king in that regard.
The Kauai Island Highlights Helicopter Tour is one of the best around, offering views that look like something from a dream! Lasting just an hour, youāll cover a ton of ground (and water), yet still be able to work the tour into a busy schedule without issue.
With a maximum group size of just 6 participants, itās perfect for couples, families, friends or even solo travelers! Upon arrival to the tour headquarters, youāll be greeted by your professional pilot/guide who will give a safety briefing and all equipment necessary.
Hop onto your helicopter, put on your headphones and take off over the breathtaking Hawaiian wilderness.
One of the first iconic locations youāll pass by are the thundering Jurassic Falls, which were actually featured in the Jurassic Park movie! Next, soar over the red hills and valleys that mark the Waimea Canyon, and then the Na Pali Coast.
As you pass over each location, your guide/pilot will make sure to tell you all information about them so you know just how significant each one is.
Youāll have the perfect view for snapping pics and videos and showing them to those who didnāt take the tour! We really enjoyed this tour, complete with music that was perfect for accompanying this gorgeous island. Educational, entertaining, and definitely beautiful!
More Information & Tour Booking
100% refund for cancellations within 24 hours of tour experience
2. “PRIVATE” Kauai Helicopter Tours with “NO MIDDLE SEATS”
- Duration: 1 hour 15 mins
- Departure: 3745 Ahukini Rd, Lihue
- Departure Time: Between 7:30 AM – 4:45 PM
- Includes: Lanyards for cell phones, 10 minute pilot safety briefing
If youāre looking for some of the most incredible views in Hawaii, look no further. One of the complaints people have about helicopter tours is that they may get stuck in a middle seat without much access to the windows.
Thatās not a problem with the Private Kauai Helicopter Tours with No Middle Seats! Everyone gets their perfect window view here for a full hour and 15 minutes with no disappointment to speak of.
Well, not a window really as you can fly with the door off which means no window glare or obstructing the scenery! The tour guide/pilot is always professional and knows the area like the back of their hand.
Not to mention, theyāre highly trained and offer a 10-minute safety briefing beforehand to ensure everyone stays safe and comfortable.
We thought it was really thoughtful of the company to provide lanyards for everyoneās cell phones before takeoff as well, just to make sure no incidents happen.
Set off and soar over Manawaiopuna Falls, aka āJurassic Park Fallsā. The 400-foot giants sit in the middle of a wooded valley in a way that the falls are only visible by helicopter!
Youāll also get to see the Olokele Canyon, Waimea Canyon, Na Pali Coast, North Shore, Waiāaleāale crater, and so much more. As you cruise around, your pilot will offer an interesting educational commentary telling you fascinating stories about each location.
Theyāll not only give you a top-notch narration of the island, but offer an interactive adventure where you can ask all the questions you want.
More Information & Tour Booking
100% refund for cancellations within 24 hours of tour experience
3. Kauai Waimea Canyon, Jurassic Falls, & More Helicopter Tour
- Duration: 1.5 hours
- Departure: 3225 Akahi St, Lihue
- Departure Time: 8:00 AM, 9:30 AM, 2:00 PM, 3:30 PM
- Includes: Helicopter tour, pilot, land at the movie-famous Jurassic Park Falls
Have you ever wondered where so many movies film these insanely beautiful scenes? The answer for many of those (most notably, Jurassic Park) Blockbuster films is Kauai!
With the Kauai: Waimea Canyon, Jurassic Falls, & More Helicopter Tour youāll be able to see and learn firsthand about how they chose the locations, behind-the-scenes anecdotes, and more.
This 1.5-hour tour will take you all over the island to enjoy that unmatched beauty very few are able to witness. Youāll see why so many Hollywood directors have tried to capture or even replicate the area, but that itās never really as incredible as in real life.
Once you arrive on site, youāll meet with your pilot who will be there to make sure everyone is safe and has on proper equipment. Youāll start with one of the most famous attractions of the bunch: the Manawaiopuna Falls, colloquially known as āJurassic Park Fallsā.
This is due to its feature in the hit movie, as you may recall. Next, check out Olokele Canyon known for its endangered plants, Waimea Canyon with its jagged cliffs, and the Na Pali Coast with its lush green scenery covered by a light fog.
The birdās eye views of these rich jungles, green contrasting with the red canyons, intensely blue seas, and more is out of this world. It really is hard to believe that what youāre witnessing is real life. After all, 80% of what youāre witnessing isnāt even accessible by car!
If it does sound interesting to you, we recommend booking soon as these tours sell out for months in advance!
More Information & Tour Booking
100% refund for cancellations within 24 hours of tour experience
4. Amazing Air Kauai Helicopter Tour
- Duration: 45 minutes
- Departure: 3651 Ahukini Rd, Lihue
- Departure Time: Between 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM
- Includes: Helicopter tour, pilot
Are you searching for an unforgettable experience to share with your loved ones? Perhaps youād like to really get out into the Hawaiian wilderness where thereās not a person to speak of aside from others in your party?
If that sounds like a good time to you, check out the Amazing Air Kauai Helicopter Tour that will take you on the ride of your life!
If youāve never been on a helicopter before, we can tell you that itās a load of fun! However, you donāt have to be an adrenaline junkie to enjoy this excursion. Photographers and movie directors are notorious for trying to capture Hawaiiās beauty with these arial perspectives.
Itās difficult to really appreciate Hawaiiās diverse landscapes in under an hour without the help of a helicopter. Youāll be in the hands of an expert pilot who knows how to navigate with precision and keep everyone safe.
As you cruise along the Garden Isle, theyāll tell you all about the different locations as well as interesting stories and anecdotes.
Feel free to take photos and videos as you pass over the Waimea Canyon State Park, Na Pali Coast State Park, and Jurassic Park Falls.
Waimea Canyon is known for its dry and jagged landscape which contrasts quite dramatically against the surrounding green landscape the state is more recognized for.
Seeing the bright blue ocean, streams, and waterfalls jetting off of steep cliffs is a sight for sore eyes, too! Overall, this is an experience that canāt be missed! From the scenery, to the smooth ride, to the staff ā everything is impeccable.
More Information & Tour Booking
100% refund for cancellations within 24 hours of tour experience
5. Kauai ECO Adventure Helicopter Tour
- Duration: 50 minutes
- Departure: Lihue Airport, 3730 Ahukini Rd #8, Lihue
- Departure Time: Between 8:30 AM – 3:30 PM
- Includes: Bose Aviation-grade, electronic noise-cancelling headsets, use of microphones with 2-way communication with pilot, State of Hawaii Certified Tour Guides
While itās important everywhere, Hawaii definitely seems to be more aware of humansā effects on nature. This means that a lot of their tours have become more eco-friendly to keep nature and animals healthy and unharmed.
The Kauai ECO Adventure Helicopter Tour is one that falls into that category, making it that much more pleasant! This 50-minute adventure is super easy to fit into a busy schedule, as there are so many start times available throughout the day.
If youāre looking for a high-quality, professional-grade experience this one is one of the top-rated. Every pilot/guide is certified by the state of Hawaii, and their professionalism is apparent in every aspect.
Youāll be able to use Bose aviation-grade, noise-cancelling headsets so you can perfectly hear your pilotās captivating commentary on every location you pass by. They also have microphones with 2-way communication enabled so you can speak to your pilot and ask them questions, too.
They always do their best to entertain and accommodate, and that was half of why we were so impressed by this tour.
Seeing Hawaii in any capacity is always a pleasure, but seeing it from up above is really taking things to new heights. The Manawaiopuna Falls, for example, is really only accessible by helicopter. You can see how itās perfectly wedged between the deep green Hanapepe Valley and stands hundreds of feet tall!
The Na Pali Coast is just magical, with 3,000-foot sea cliffs which tower high above the magnificent, turquoise Hanalei Bay. Waimea Canyon is known as the āGrand Canyon of the Pacificā but also boasts dozens of stunning waterfalls.
If the weather allows for it, youāll be able to see the dormant shield volcano of Mt. Waiāaleāale which is the second wettest place on earth!
More Information & Tour Booking
100% refund for cancellations within 24 hours of tour experience
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The Kauai Island Highlights Helicopter Tour is our Editors Choice for the best helicopter tour in Kauai