Best of · PRIVATE DRIVERS
Four-seat aircraft and one weather window a day mean the good private transfer & helicopter days go early. Below: the 15 to book ahead, what each includes and how they differ.
Meet at Port Vell, take a 15-minute boat to Barcelona’s heliport, then fly over the coast, Old Town, Olympic Port, Agbar Tower, Gaudí’s Eixample and Port Forum. The small-group flight carries up to three passengers, includes a flight video, and lasts only a few minutes in the air.
“Great experience of a helicopter ride. Thoroughly enjoyed the view”
Fly from Franz Josef over rainforest and rugged peaks, land on Franz Josef Glacier, then spend 2.5 hours exploring crevasses, ice caves, and changing blue ice with an English-speaking guide. Guides such as Ryan, Sarah, Drew, and Abbey are praised for clear safety help and lively stories.
“Great experience. I wish we were given time to take photos while we were walking . It felt like we were in a rush, the only time we stopped walking was when we were waiting for the helicopter.”
Fly onto a remote part of Fox Glacier, then spend up to three hours following ice steps through caves, arches, crevasses, and frozen rivers. Guides such as Billy, Kate, and Keeley explain how the glacier moves while you walk in boots and crampons. Return by helicopter when weather allows.
“Taylor our guide was excellent, finding plenty things to see on the glacier and explaining a lot about the terrain and glaciers in general.”
You’ll fly with Maverick Helicopters over Lake Mead, Hoover Dam, Fortification Hill, and Temple Rock to Grand Canyon West. Spend about three hours visiting Eagle Point, the Skywalk, a Hualapai village, Guano Point, and Highpoint Hike. Hotel pickup is included within five miles of the Las Vegas Strip.
“It was awesome to be able to visit different spots at the Grand Canyon with a bus.”
You begin at the Bus Nautic stop in Port Vell, ride by boat for about 15 minutes, and take an 11-minute helicopter flight over Barcelona. Expect views of the coast, old town, Port Forum, Blue Museum, Camp Nou, and Agbar Tower, with English or Spanish guidance and a flight video included.
“hatten Sonntag gebucht 12 Minuten mit flug über die City, schlechtes Wetter, verschoben auf Dienstag, dann nur entlang des Strandes 6 Minuten. Geld gabs für die lange version zurück, trotzdem schade”
You’ll meet at Port Vell, take the Bus Nautic to the heliport, then board a helicopter for a seven-minute coastal flight over Barcelona. The route gives you a quick fix on the port, old town, medieval walls, and Eixample grid. Bring photo ID, arrive 20 minutes early, and expect weather-related changes.
“The experience was amazing! We were skeptical at first whether the time would be enough, but every minute was magical! First time flying in a helicopter, and it was safe, fun and memorable! Thank you.”
You’ll fly from Queenstown to Milford Sound with an English-speaking pilot, land in remote alpine country, then board a two-hour boutique cruise. The 6-person group keeps the outing personal, while the helicopter route offers views of glaciers, lakes, waterfalls, and Fiordland’s steep fjords.
“Absolutely superb. Our pilot flew an amazing route, not just through valleys but over the highest peaks and into dead end gorges to spiral up. Thrilling. And a time efficient way to see Milford Sound, eliminating the long drive. That's my first bucket list item ticked off.”
Fly over Mount Etna from Fiumefreddo in a small group of no more than five. Pilot Marcello provides clear English commentary as you see ancient craters, the north-side ski resort, the 1865 crater group, lava fields, and nearby towns. Round-trip car transfer is included.
“Hands down the BEST thing you can do in Sicily. It is hard to put into words how incredible the sight of Mount Etna is from above. It will take your breath away. We saw red hot lava flows from the air, the three main craters, and lava flows from the 19th century. Then we had an exhilarating ride over the 40 square kilometre lava field and on to Taormina to see the amphitheater from above and the awesome surrounding villages. Our wonderful pilot narrated our trip so we knew what we were looking at. Truly a once in a lifetime experience. Don’t hesitate to book!”
Start with downtown Niagara Falls hotel pickup, then ride Maid of the Mist, visit Goat Island and Cave of the Winds, and finish above the Falls with Rainbow Air. Groups are capped at seven. Guides such as Mark or Suzanne add history and help with photos.
“Suzanne notre guide a été super : des explications sur tout de manière très intéressante , le tour en hélicoptère vaut le détour ! Maid of the mist incroyable aussi et the cave of the winds extra!”
You’ll board the Bus Nautic at Port Vell, cross to Barcelona’s heliport, then take a 10 to 11 minute helicopter flight along the coast. The flight is capped at nine people and includes a video, though seating and the short time in the air are worth considering.
“It was a great experience, easy accessible, fantastic view Barcelona city with it's coastline, 3 travelers and 1 pilot.”
Take a 45-minute sunset helicopter flight over Rio with pickup from selected hotels or the cruise port. See Sugarloaf, Copacabana, Maracanã, and Christ the Redeemer from above, then return by car. Drivers and pilots may speak several listed languages, but language availability should be confirmed.
Take a Maverick Helicopters flight from Long Beach’s Queen Mary Terminal to Avalon in about 20 minutes. You’ll see the Queen Mary, Pacific Ocean, and Catalina’s harbor from above. The flight carries up to seven passengers, with seating assigned after check-in and an original photo ID required for adults.
“It was not as scary as I thought. It was nice to do this with my family. Super easy to arrive, park and set up.”
Spend up to six hours on Franz Josef Glacier with an English-speaking guide, learning ice-climbing skills in a group limited to four. Your day includes a safety briefing, climbing gear, waterproof clothing, boots, socks, a small pack, and helicopter transfers with mountain views.
You’ll fly by private helicopter from Mileo Mykonos to Santorini in about 40 minutes, enjoying views of the Aegean, Cyclades, and volcanic islands. Your group of up to four has the aircraft to itself, followed by a complimentary car or van transfer to your Santorini hotel or villa.
“I had one of the smoothest and most relaxing experiences on my Helicopter ride from Mykonos to Santorini. The sights were absolutely beautiful and the pilots were very friendly and knowledgeable, as well. They were very nice to tell me brief fun & historical facts about each of the islands we passed and it was a truly enjoyable experience!”
You’ll leave from a Santorini helipad after pickup from your hotel, Airbnb, airport, or ferry port, then fly privately to Mykonos in about 40 minutes. The charter suits up to four people and offers spectacular Cyclades views, though weather can affect departure.
“Amazing experience!!!!! Very professional and friendly service and the scenery was simply magnificent breathtaking!!!!!”
By what you want moving underneath the aircraft.
