Best of · SCENIC HELICOPTER FLIGHTS

The World’s 15 Best Scenic Helicopter Flights

48 flights  ·  from $42 a seat

The short sightseeing flight is the entry point to all of this: twelve to twenty minutes, one loop, no landing. These 15 are the ones worth the money, with the real air time and what the ticket does and does not include.

Helicopter Scenic Flight over Victoria Falls 12-13 minutes Flight - The safety briefing and helicopter setup
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Helicopter Scenic Flight over Victoria Falls 12-13 minutes Flight

1.Helicopter Scenic Flight over Victoria Falls 12-13 minutes Flight

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 1,391 reviews · from $135Our pick

Chikopokopo Helicopters takes you from your Victoria Falls hotel to a helipad in Zambezi National Park, then over Victoria Falls for 12 to 15 minutes. Bubble windows, looping passes, and possible buffalo or elephant sightings add plenty to a roughly 45-minute outing.

“Loved it all! 12-13 mins over the falls was priceless! (Granted latter flying out of Vic falls if you sit on right side of the plane gave you similar. But I am glad I did this helicopter tour!”

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Niagara Falls, Canada: Scenic Helicopter Flight - From the Whirlpool to the Rainbow Bridge
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Niagara Falls, Canada: Scenic Helicopter Flight

2.Niagara Falls, Canada: Scenic Helicopter Flight

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 1,068 reviews · 12 min · from $149

Fly from Victoria Avenue Heliport in an Airbus H130 over the Niagara River, Whirlpool, Rainbow Bridge, and all three major waterfalls. The 12-minute flight includes multilingual audio commentary, large windows, free parking, and a smooth route designed to give each passenger a good view.

“Stunning views from smooth ride in helicopter, not as noisy as expected.”

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Cairns: Great Barrier Reef Cruise & Scenic Helicopter Flight - The 35-metre Evolution makes the crossing easier
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Cairns: Great Barrier Reef Cruise & Scenic Helicopter Flight

3.Cairns: Great Barrier Reef Cruise & Scenic Helicopter Flight

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 1,003 reviews · 8h 30m · from $279

Spend a full day aboard the 35-metre Evolution, visiting Saxon and Hastings reefs for snorkelling or scuba. A 10-minute helicopter flight adds a sweeping view of the reef, while onboard guides, a BBQ lunch, and return wine make this a well-rounded Cairns outing.

“Absolutely fantastic from start to finish. Very well organised and staff very helpful and knowledgeable. The snorkelling was out of this world and the helicopter trip was sensational. Thank you all again for a fantastic day x”

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Cape Town: 12-Minute City Scenic Helicopter Tour - Check-in at Cape Town Helicopters
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Cape Town: 12-Minute City Scenic Helicopter Tour

4.Cape Town: 12-Minute City Scenic Helicopter Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 853 reviews · 12 min · from $165

Take a 12-minute Cape Town helicopter flight from Cape Town Helicopters, with an English-speaking pilot, Bose headset, and sweeping views of Table Mountain, Lion’s Head, Clifton, Camps Bay, and the Twelve Apostles. Pilots such as Dave and Ryan have been praised for clear commentary and calm handling.

“The pilot and all the staff were super friendly - we felt very safe from the very first second! The view from the helicopter was indescribable, we'd love to do it again.”

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New York Manhattan Scenic Helicopter Tour - Governor’s Island and the first view of the harbor
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New York Manhattan Scenic Helicopter Tour

5.New York Manhattan Scenic Helicopter Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 799 reviews · 20 minutes (approx.) · from $279

Fly from Downtown Manhattan Heliport in a Bell 407 with up to six passengers. Your pilot provides live commentary as you pass the Statue of Liberty, Ellis Island, Ground Zero, Central Park, Times Square, the Empire State Building, and the USS Intrepid.

“Fantastic female pilot brought us on a very smooth flight around NYC. Very pleasant flight with good information on the sights and great music on board too. Very helpful and pleasant staff in the waiting area. Highly recommend.”

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Sydney Harbour Scenic Helicopter Flight - What a 20-minute flight really feels like
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Sydney Harbour Scenic Helicopter Flight

6.Sydney Harbour Scenic Helicopter Flight

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 649 reviews · from $179

Fly from Sydney Airport over Botany Bay, Coogee, Bondi, the harbour, Opera House, and Harbour Bridge. Your pilot provides live commentary, and shuttle transfers are available from two central hotels. Shared flights carry up to six people, with private upgrades available.

“Brilliant and exciting way to see Sydney harbour and part of the coast . The pilot (from Kent ! ) was excellent, friendly and informative.”

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Mallorca: Scenic Helicopter Tour Experience - The eight-minute Palma flight
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Mallorca: Scenic Helicopter Tour Experience

7.Mallorca: Scenic Helicopter Tour Experience

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 496 reviews · 8 minutes - 1 hour · from $130

Fly above Mallorca with an English- or Spanish-speaking pilot from The Aviation Helicopter Centre. Choose an 8-minute Palma flight or longer routes over Valldemossa, Sóller, the Tramuntana mountains, Sa Calobra, Son Vida, and Andratx.

“Unforgettable experience worth every penny, great way to see the island”

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Mount Cook: Scenic Helicopter Flight with Alpine Landing - Seeing Aoraki Mount Cook from the air
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Mount Cook: Scenic Helicopter Flight with Alpine Landing

8.Mount Cook: Scenic Helicopter Flight with Alpine Landing

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 442 reviews · 25 min · from $226

You’ll fly from Mount Cook Aerodrome through the Tasman Valley, past a blue glacier lake, then land in the Southern Alps for mountain views and photos. Your English-speaking pilot provides commentary throughout. Snow landings happen most of the year, but summer conditions can change that.

“It was an awesome experience seeing the mountains and glaciers up close!”

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1000 Islands: 10, 20, 30, or 60-Min Scenic Helicopter Tour - Arriving at Gananoque Heliport
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1000 Islands: 10, 20, 30, or 60-Min Scenic Helicopter Tour

9.1000 Islands: 10, 20, 30, or 60-Min Scenic Helicopter Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 412 reviews · 10 minutes - 1 hour · from $93

Fly above the Thousand Islands from Gananoque Heliport in a small helicopter limited to six people, with no more than three passengers per aircraft. Pick a 10, 20, or 30-minute route for views of Gananoque, Boldt Castle, Singer Castle, bridges, beaches, and rocky islands.

“It was fabulous and would like to return for a longer time tour forsure. Staff were exceptional in customer service and made our minimal wait enjoyable.”

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Full Day Reef Cruise and 10 Minute Helicopter Scenic Flight - The 7:15 check-in at Cairns Reef Fleet Terminal
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Full Day Reef Cruise and 10 Minute Helicopter Scenic Flight

10.Full Day Reef Cruise and 10 Minute Helicopter Scenic Flight

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 340 reviews · from $283

Cruise from Cairns aboard Evolution to two outer reef sites, with up to five hours for snorkeling or scuba, a BBQ lunch, and a 10-minute helicopter flight over Hastings Reef. The friendly crew, including team member Eddie, keeps the busy day safe, clear, and fun.

“It's a long lineup at check in as they only have 2 counters checking in ~100 passengers. Once checked in, we boarded Evolution which is a very nice boat and we have the same assigned seats for the whole trip. The big problem is the organization with the 10min helicopter ride. We paid an extra $260 for this option. We were Group 3 of the helicopter ride and were told not to snorkel before the ride as there would be lots of time afterwards for snorkelling. NOT TRUE! By the time we came back from the helicopter ride, they were already announcing that people should get back to the boat…”

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Barcelona: Scenic Helicopter Flight - What you see along the Barcelona coast
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Barcelona: Scenic Helicopter Flight

11.Barcelona: Scenic Helicopter Flight

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 328 reviews · 7 - 40 minutes · from $128

Fly from Barcelona Heliport over the coast, Sagrada Familia, Port of Barcelona, Colón, and Torre Glòries. Choose a 7, 10, or 12-minute shared flight, or book the private 40-minute option to include Montserrat. Flights use three or five-seat helicopters.

“Une expérience à couper le souffle et découvrir la beauté de bercelone”

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Helicopter Scenic Flight over Victoria Falls 25-27 Minutes Game - The 25 to 30 minute flight over the Falls
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Helicopter Scenic Flight over Victoria Falls 25-27 Minutes Game

12.Helicopter Scenic Flight over Victoria Falls 25-27 Minutes Game

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 286 reviews · from $265

Chikopokopo Helicopters collects you from your Victoria Falls hotel, drives about 7 to 10 minutes to its Zambezi National Park helipad, and flies over the Falls, Zambezi River, and nearby wildlife areas. The longer flight may include elephants, giraffes, hippos, buffalo, and zebra.

“Very well organised, picked us up from our hotel, Fred our driver was great, told us all about the area. On arrival we were given a safety briefing and straight to the helicopter. The flight over and around the Falls was excellent and gave you a real perspective of the size and topography of the Falls. We then did a fight down river and over some of the national park, where we saw Elephant, Zebra and Antelope. It was a fantastic experience. And, we bought the video.”

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Douglas Lake View Scenic Helicopter Tour - Crossing the French Broad River
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Douglas Lake View Scenic Helicopter Tour

13.Douglas Lake View Scenic Helicopter Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 188 reviews · 6 to 10 minutes (approx.)

Take a 6 to 10 minute helicopter flight from Sevierville over the French Broad River to Douglas Lake, Douglas Dam, farmland, and the Smoky Mountains. Your English-speaking pilot uses a headset to point out sights. Flights run throughout the day and return to the same meeting point.

“This was my wife's first flight! We kept to the shortest trip available. Geoff's amazing sense of humor and professionalism helped put her at ease. She loved every moment and wants to go back for a longer flight. Thank you for making this a great memory!”

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Banff/Jasper: Canadian Rockies Scenic Helicopter Tour - The 20-minute flight and Abraham Lake
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Banff/Jasper: Canadian Rockies Scenic Helicopter Tour

14.Banff/Jasper: Canadian Rockies Scenic Helicopter Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 183 reviews · 20 min · from $202

Take a 20, 30, or 55-minute helicopter flight over Abraham Lake, Cline Pass, Wilson Icefield, and the Columbia Icefield. Your pilot provides commentary through a headset, with past flights led by pilots such as Will, Thor, Lynn, and Victoria. Flights carry up to six people.

“Best part of our trip through the Canadian Rockies ! I had never flown in a helicopter before so I was a little anxious. The pilot was very helpful and his comments were so informative. The ride was smooth and breathtaking! Would definitely recommend it highly”

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Hilton Head Island: Scenic Helicopter Tour - Choosing between Ocean View, Beach Cruiser, and Beach Bum
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Hilton Head Island: Scenic Helicopter Tour

15.Hilton Head Island: Scenic Helicopter Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 174 reviews · 3 - 10 minutes · from $42Best value

Fly over Hilton Head Island from Hilton Head Airport on a 3, 6, or 10-minute helicopter ride. Your English-speaking pilot points out beaches, waterways, and wildlife, with longer routes reaching Coligny Beach, Parris Island, and views toward Savannah.

“We completely enjoyed our ride. At first, we were a bit apprehensive (not ever being in a helicopter before) but our guide was very professional and it was smooth and enjoyable ride throughout, including the take off and landing. He was very knowledgeable about the island and pointed out interesting landmarks. He even was able to point out schools of fish in the water (Maybe even a shark and manta ray or two).”

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New in Scenic Helicopter Flights

★ 4.3Wellington Helicopter Scenic FlightFrom $10414 reviews
★ 5.0Melbourne City Scenic Helicopter RideFrom $20026 reviews
★ 5.0Discover Doubtful Sound // Helicopter Scenic Flight from Te AnauFrom $5868 reviews
★ 4.5Matterhorn helicopter tour – longest scenic flight from Bern over the Swiss Alps6 reviews
★ 4.9New York: Private Scenic Helicopter Charter with Champagne5 reviews
★ 4.4Porto’s Panoramic Helicopter Flight 10 MinutesFrom $17122 reviews
★ 5.03-Hour Hunter Valley Scenic Helicopter Tour Including 3-Course Lunch from CessnockFrom $29052 reviews
★ 4.5Christchurch Scenic Helicopter TourFrom $21721 reviews
★ 4.5Great Barrier Reef 30-Minute Scenic Helicopter Tour from CairnsFrom $32836 reviews
★ 5.0Broome’s Creeks & Coast: 45-Minute Scenic Helicopter FlightFrom $47211 reviews
★ 5.0Private Helicopter Scenic Tour of Brisbane – 25minFrom $17838 reviews
★ 4.9Broome: 30-Minute Scenic Helicopter FlightFrom $30325 reviews
★ 5.0Cape Town: 12 Apostles Scenic Helicopter FlightFrom $21863 reviews
★ 4.6Mauritius: Scenic Helicopter Flight with Hotel TransfersFrom $67062 reviews
★ 4.6Dubai: 30-Minute Scenic Helicopter TourFrom $48166 reviews

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