There’s a lot to see on Hawaii’s Big Island. One of the best ways to really take it in is from the air on one of these top helicopter tours.
(Photo: Getyourguide.com)
Big Island is exactly what it says it is: the biggest Hawaiian island and the third biggest Polynesian island (the two main islands of New Zealand take up the top two spots). Volcanic activity is common, constantly shaping a dramatic landscape, over which the verdant natural world takes abundant root. We’ve compiled this little list of the three best tours currently helping travelers experience Big Island and Kona in the most memorable way imaginable: by helicopter.
Experience Hawaii Big Island by helicopter from Kona
For a chance to see active lava flows, steep cliffs where waterfalls plunge into the Pacific Ocean and the giant volcanic peaks of Mauna Loa and Mauna Kea, rising up to over 4000m, check out this excellent helicopter tour. During the two-hour flight from Kona there’s a real chance to experience and witness much of the natural wonder, including 11 different climate zones, that Big Island offers. Daily departures are available from 7:30am to 1:30pm. From $632 per person.
Big Island spectacular helicopter tour
(Photo: Viator.com)
When the active volcanoes of the Big Island are getting a little bit frisky, this exciting two-hour helicopter ride will be there, gliding over the lava-churning craters. Kilauea Volcano has been erupting almost continuously since the 1980s, and the devastation of the 2018 eruption still remains fresh on the land. You will also glide over the waterfalls and rainforests, deep valleys and black sand beaches during the flight over this remarkable island. From $733 per person.
Volcano and Kohala landing Big Island chopper tour
If you’re really looking to go all out and get the most out of your helicopter flight, this three-hour tour not only gives you a bird’s-eye perspective of the Big Island, but will also touch down in a remote valley, which is virtually inaccessible by any other form of transport. You will have roughly an hour to then explore this castaway section of the island before jumping back on board to see volcanoes and the Kohala Coast from above. This tour starts and finishes in Kona International Airport. From $759 per person.