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The best helicopter tours in Kauai

If you’re planning a Kauai vacation or Kauai honeymoon, you probably know that one of the best things to do in Kauai is to take a helicopter tour. These are the best helicopter tours in Kauai. Why is a helicopter tour in Kauai a must? Well, the island is only 10% accessible by car! You can access a bit more through hikes, but there are parts of Kauai that you’ll never see without a helicopter tour. 

Before we get started, let me introduce myself. My name is Amy, and I’m a Hawaii Travel Agent. I’m one of the top travel agents for Hawaii, and creating fantastic custom trips in Hawaii is my passion! Contact me today to help plan and book your Hawaii vacation.

Don’t miss my itineraries for Hawaii if you want insider tips for your vacation, but don’t need to work with a Hawaii Travel Agent.

DO I NEED A RENTAL CAR IN kauai?

You’ll definitely need a car in Kauai. Public transportation is limited, and you’ll want to get out and explore. You’ll find the best prices anywhere at Discount Hawaii Car Rental. 

Why Take a Helicopter Tour in Kauai?

It’s really simple, you’ll miss so much of Kauai unless you take a helicopter tour! Jurassic Falls (Manawaiopuna Falls) is accessible only by helicopter. Yes, it’s expensive, but it’s one of the best things to do in Kauai. 

In just one hour, you’ll go all over the beautiful island and see both how beautiful and diverse it is! 

How much does a Kauai helicopter tour cost?

Depending on the type of tour you choose, as well as the tour operator, a helicopter tour in Kauai costs anywhere from $300-$475 per person. I’ll share more of my favorites later in this post. 

The best helicopter tours in Kauai

Here’s one area where Kauai is better than larger islands like Maui, and especially the Big Island. Kauai is very small, so you can take a helicopter tour of the entire island in just an hour!

The best helicopter tour operators in Kauai

Let’s talk about my favorite helicopter tour operators in Kauai. I have two of them, and I only book these two. There are other helicopter tour operators in Kauai, but some have had some safety issues, and I do not recommend them. 

Blue Hawaiian Helicopters

• Kauai Eco Adventure Helicopter tour

I’ve done this one, and I highly recommend it! 

Mauna Loa Helicopters

Mauna Loa Helicopters is actually my personal favorite, so reach out to me if you’d like me to help you book this one! They have a private helicopter experience (for 2-3 people), and it costs the same as larger helicopter tours!

You can choose doors-on or doors-off. I recommend doors off for the best experience, but keep in mind that it will be cold and windy! Don’t worry, doors on is a great option if you just aren’t sure about taking the doors off. 

Kauai helicopter tour tips

As a Hawaii travel agent who has booked a lot of Kauai helicopter tours – and done a few of them myself – here are my best tips:

• Schedule your helicopter tour for the beginning of your trip. Rescheduling due to weather happens, so make sure to allow time for this.
• Wear dark colored clothes. You’ll get the best photos if your clothes are dark, so they won’t reflect on the windows.
• If you choose doors off, prepare to be cold! Bring a sweater or jacket, it gets chilly up there!
• If you have long hair, tie it up REALLY well for doors-off options. Trust me on this, it needs to be pulled back and very tight because otherwise it will be a mess and get tied up in your headset. Don’t ask me how I know. 

Alternatives to helicopter tours in Kauai

If you’re not sold on a helicopter tour in Kauai, whether due to a fear of heights or the cost, don’t worry! There are other options. While a helicopter tour is truly the best way to see Kauai, there are other ways to see some of the sights.

Consider a boat tour of the Na Pali Coast, or check out some of the best Kauai hikes. You can do these things even if you opt for a helicopter tour. Some of my favorite Na Pali Coast Sailing tours include:

• Daytime sail and snorkel with Holo Holo Charters
• Sunset dinner sail with Holo Holo Charters
• Ni’ihau and Na Pali Coast Snorkeling tour (the ONLY way to “go to” the Forbidden Island of Ni’ihau!) 

More things to do in Kauai

Here are more things to do during your Kauai vacation. 

• 10 Reservations you need to make before going to Hawaii
• The Best Snorkeling in Kauai
• 7 things to do in Hanapepe Kauai
• 50 things to do on Kauai
• The 8 best golf courses in Kauai

The best helicopter tours in Kauai

I hope you enjoyed this list of the best helicopter tours in Kauai! If you’d like a fully customized trip planned by a Hawaii expert, contact me! I’d love to help you plan the Kauai vacation or Kauai honeymoon of your dreams. 

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