Helicopter tours are an exciting way to reach many of Kauai’s inaccessible sights within the lush valleys or get a full-scale view of the coastline and Waimea Canyon. There are a number of different companies that offer chopper tours that all start at around $250 per person. Longer tours that explore areas in more detail or have special options like stopovers on the neighboring island of Ni’ihau are also available if you ask around and are willing to pay upwards of $350.
The tours all travel clockwise around the island, but can be vastly different depending on the company visitors choose, as each pilot has their own unique narration to go along with the scenic flights. With this activity growing in popularity each year, rest assured that you will be in good hands basically every company. Most pilots have had some sort of military training to ensure a safe, smooth flight as well. Helicopter options range from enclosed unit with air conditioning, to more open accommodations in older choppers, which make picture-taking much easier because there is no glare from obstructing windows. They come in a variety of sizes and tours start at every time of day so there are multiple options to consider when working this exhilarating ride into vacation time.
Plan accordingly to your main accommodations; most chopper tours fly out of Lihue Airport, with two flying from Burns Field in Hanapepe, and one stationed in Princeville Airport.
