We've read that Kauai is the best island for helicopter tours. Anyone have recommendations, and prices? We'll also be in Maui, so if there's a better helicopter tour there, I'd be glad to hear about it. Thank you!

Hi Jess

My husband and I were in Kauai in the fall and did the helicopter tour with Inter-Island Helicopters. We did the tour where you set down at a waterfall and have a private lunch and get to swim in the waterfall. It was out of this world beautiful and exciting, definately the highlight of our trip.

I just can't recommmend Inter-island highly enough. They are very very professional and are the only ones who land at a waterfall. They do NOT have doors on the helicopter which makes for fabulous pictures and excitment. You are firmly straped in so don't worry. They only carry 4 passengers so it is an imtimate group. It was expensive but worth every single penny, dime and dollar.

When we go back to Kauai we will do this trip again and do without meals if we have to

If you send me you email address [email protected] I can send you the address to look at our pictures on Shutterfly.

Kay

We were there last July and took a helicopter tour with Jack Harter - very knowledgeable pilot and great tour - we didn't land anyplace, but it was also the highlight of our trip - and the price was $169 per person. I'm sure the scenery is better than Mauai, due to the canyon and cliffs.

I agree with Kay, but do want to point out something important about Inter-Island. The trip is great and not having doors on the helicopter makes for great photo opportunties, but that being said, please keep in mind that Inter-Island also conducts search-and-rescue operations in Kauai. We had a reservation made ahead of time, got there, and they couldn't take us out because they needed the helicopter for a rescue.

The group before us had to come back after only 20 minutes in the air and needed to reschedule. We also needed to reschedule and could not get the waterfall landing flight the second time around.

I would advise making the reservation early during your stay, so if this happens to you, you can reschedule for another day. We met another couple later on in our trip that missed out altogether, because they didn't have any days left to reschedule their trip when Inter-Island cancelled it. They DO NOT call you in advance to tell you if the trip is cancelled.

Otherwise, the trip was great like Kay said, I just think they should make people aware that this might happen to them with this particular tour operator.

Melissa

Good point. TLhey did email us once we had paid and confirmed the trip to call them to check as soon as we got on the island or the day before which ever came first. We had schedule the ride early in our stay on Kauai because you never know when disaster can stirke.

I heard that Blue Hawaiian just started running tours on Kauai.

They are without doubt the best company in the islands.

My wife and I toured with them on both the Big Island and on Maui. They are professional, fun, safe, and seem to have the most state of the art helicopters. Some of those other companies have helicopters that look like they'd shake apart at any moment...

This apparently isn't just our opinion...Blue Hawaiian was recently named by the Travel Channel as the number one helicopter tour operator in the country.

We just took the helicopeter tour with Inter Island last week. Great trip and with no doors, everyone has a great view for picture taking. One piece of advice: we did the first trip in the morning so it would be calmer and it was calm and very clear but chilly. A pair of light gloves would be a good idea if you're taking an early flight, along with a windbreaker. It was so clear we wetn to the top of the highest moutnain and had great views of the whole island.

to Sherry1: Can you tell me what time that the first helicopter flight was in the morning????

Also, ladies - take a hair tie - your hair is all over the place up there! You won't really be able to talk to each other b/c you wear headphones and talk thru those. Well worth the price - the excitement is priceless!!!

We had to be there at 6:40 and took off about 7:10.

We went with Island Helicopters. They were very good. My parents just got back from Hawaii and used them too and loved it. Go on their web site and receive a discount. Make sure to do an AM tour, better viewing conditions.

No doubt....use InterIsland!

Just follow the advice of the other posters. Book early in your stay in case you need to reschedule.

We're booked for the inter-island helicopter flight at 9:50 am. We realize weather can be unpredictable, but would this flight time seem ok for picture taking.

We took a helicopter tour in Kauai last year and it was truly great. It was the best way to really get close to the wettest place on earth with over 400 inches of rain annually. The deep rippled ridges of green along the Napali Coast are truly the most beautiful place I have seen. We have seen Oahu, Maui,Lanai, Big Island and feel that nothing compares to the beauty of the Napali Coast and inter island mountains.

Jess

I am sure 9:30 will be fine. WE did the flight at 1:30 in the afternoon and had perfect weather so it really all depends on weather the day you fly. You should be fine. Do remember to wear warm clothes over swimsuites and secure those locks or you will spends days getting the tangles out

We used Inter-Island and loved them. We did a mid-morning flight and it was breathtaking. Like others have suggested, wear a windbreaker, tie back long hair, and don't spend too much time trying to focus thru a camera or videocamera - it can make you a bit sick to your stomach!

Inter-island sound great. Unfortunately, there will be 5 of us, and they only can take 4 passengers.

Are there no other companies that offer waterfall landings? Would it be worth it to split into 2 groups and take the tour at different times?

The Ultimate Kauai Guidebook also recommends Jack Harter and Air Kauai. I'm sure they are great too, but the Inter-island experience sounds too good to pass up.

Hi lvk

You will have to decide if the waterfall landing is important enough for you to split into two groups.

We would not have missed it for the world as it is definately unique.

As far as I know Inter-island is the only company doing it. Our pilot John told us that Inter-island has an aggreement with the owner of the land and their helicopters are the only ones small enough to fit in the the landing area anyway.

I have pictures of our Kauai trip including the waterfall landing if you would like to email me at [email protected] I will send you the link. Seeing the pictures will probably make you want to do it for sure. I wish I couldshow you the pictures I took with our water camera but they are not up on my web site yet.

tina, u mentioned that we can go on interisland's website to receive a discount on the tour, where do u see it on their website? the price is $250pp for a 2 hour tour, right? is that the discount or am i missing something? thanks.

We did a helicopter tour in Maui with Blue Hawaiin helicopters. It was great - we flew over Haleakala and Hana and the coastline. We felt much better about skipping the long drive to Hana after doing the ride. And we saw all these waterfalls that we would not have been able to see from the road.

The pilot flew the copter so smoothly; I've been on amusement park rides that were tons worse.

That said, everything I've heard states that Kauai is THE place to do a helicopter ride.