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    Urban Bliss Life » Travel » Hawaii » Oahu Helicopter Tour: A Stunning Door's Off Adventure

    Published: July 19, 2016 / Updated: May 2, 2022 by Marlynn Jayme Schotland · This post may contain affiliate links.

    Oahu Helicopter Tour: A Stunning Door's Off Adventure

    18 shares

    If you're looking for a breathtaking scenic adventure while in paradise, consider an Oahu helicopter tour. And don't be afraid to go "doors off!" 

    Helicopter Ride over Oahu Island, Hawaii. Amazing scenic photos on UrbanBlissLife.com

    It was seeing the USS Arizona clearly and in full peeking out beneath the waters, below the memorial.

    Or maybe it was our first approach toward Diamond Head, and seeing the massive majestic beast of Oahu up close.

    Perhaps it was looking down in wonder at how so very clear the aqua blended smoothly into the teal into the cerulean blue.

    No, it was all of it. Every minute of it.

    The 60-minute helicopter ride over Oahu was an awe-inspiring experience from beginning to end. 

    Jump to:
    • Oahu helicopter tour
    • Facebook live video from the air
    • Oahu helicopter tour travel tips
    • Novictor Helicopters
    • More Hawaii travel ideas

    Oahu helicopter tour

    Helicopter Ride over Oahu Island, Hawaii. Amazing scenic photos on UrbanBlissLife.com

    While I was working on Oahu recently to cover the 14th Annual Spam Jam, graciously hosted by presenting sponsor Outrigger Waikiki Beach Resort, I had some time to explore on my own. I took a couple of hours one day to walk from the hotel over to Diamond Head. I contemplated surf lessons, but the timing never seemed right. One suggestion by the helpful concierge at Outrigger Waikiki Beach Resort was to take a helicopter ride over the island.

    In my 42 years on this beautiful earth, I had never ridden in a helicopter. Crazy, right? This Oahu helicopter tour was the (picture) perfect opportunity! I was SO excited! It was an easy decision: booked and done.

    The next morning, I enjoyed my Portuguese sausage & fried rice at Duke's famous breakfast buffet, then headed out to meet the complimentary shuttle that would take me and guests from other hotels to Novictor Helicopters, about 30 minutes away from Outrigger Waikiki Beach Resort.

    red helicopter

    I had chosen to do the 60-minute Royal Crown of Oahu Day Tour, with doors OFF. That means exactly what you think it means: the doors are off and you're sitting there with the open air by your side for the whole flight. You can also choose to do a doors ON tour, if you are apprehensive about riding with doors off. However, I can tell you from experience: if you want the best, unobstructed photos/videos, and the best experience EVER -- opt for doors off. You won't regret it!

    After a safety briefing, we walked out to the helicopters and settled in for take off. Three passengers are allowed on the helicopter, so it was me and a lovely couple from Australia.

    I GOT TO SIT SHOTGUN! Best seat in the house, aside from the pilot! This is also when I learned that the woman seated behind me was deathly afraid of heights. That's right. I thought, "well, this should make for an interesting flight!"

    Helicopter Ride over Oahu Island, Hawaii. Amazing scenic photos on UrbanBlissLife.com

    Our pilot was Fred, and he's pretty much everything you imagine a Hawaiian helicopter pilot to be: super tan, fit, and extremely laid back. Maybe too laid back for the woman who was afraid of heights... We were each given a set of headphones to wear throughout the flight so that we could easily chat with one another or ask Fred questions, because it gets quite a bit noisy up in the helicopter.

    Take-off was surprisingly smooth and I had to glance down a couple of times to be sure we had actually lifted off the ground. Once we achieved a high enough altitude to cruise a little, however, that's when things could get bumpy.

    Oahu from a helicopter
    oahu helicopter tour view of cruise ship

    Our Oahu helicopter tour first took us past the city. I love these shots because so many people who have never been to Oahu don't realize how truly populated it is, and how cosmopolitan Honolulu is. These are the tallest buildings allowed on any of the Hawaiian islands, and because the port is so slim, I was told you will usually only see one cruise ship docked at a time.

    oahu helicopter tour - view of honolulu

    We rounded out to Waikiki and Fred pointed out many of the important buildings and talked about the history along the way.

    oahu helicopter tour - waikiki beach

    Breathtaking. I was smiling so hard throughout this whole trip. How could I not? LOOK at these views!

    oahu helicopter tour - ocean
    Helicopter Ride over Oahu Island, Hawaii. Amazing scenic photos on UrbanBlissLife.com

    We closed in on Diamond Head, which is an incredible sight from the ground, but is even more jaw-dropping from the air.

    oahu helicopter tour - diamond head
    diamond head

    We flew by Hanauma Bay and million dollar mansions on perfectly sculpted cliffs that dove into the ocean.

    Helicopter Ride over Oahu Island, Hawaii. Amazing scenic photos on UrbanBlissLife.com
    Helicopter Ride over Oahu Island, Hawaii. Amazing scenic photos on UrbanBlissLife.com
    oahu helicopter tour

    Fred pointed out several spots where popular movies and television shows were filmed, as well as the military practice base that consisted of entire fake community with building shells. So cool!

    oahu helicopter tour
    Helicopter Ride over Oahu Island, Hawaii. Amazing scenic photos on UrbanBlissLife.com
    oahu helicopter tour - ocean



    To watch the landscape change from city to beach to suburb to cliffs to mountains, and to see how it all flows out to the most gorgeous ocean that is more perfect than any painting could ever do justice... it's so incredible that these words, these pictures will never fully capture the whole breathtaking experience.

    Helicopter Ride over Oahu Island, Hawaii. Amazing scenic photos on UrbanBlissLife.com
    Helicopter Ride over Oahu Island, Hawaii. Amazing scenic photos on UrbanBlissLife.com
    hawaii waterfall

    One of my favorite moments was when we flew right into the mountains and got a very close-up look at Sacred Falls.

    Very close up. So close at times that I felt like I could reach out and touch the mountain. Of course, that would have been close enough that we would have crashed so obviously we were not THAT close. We were, however, close enough to make the helicopter bumpier than the rest of the rise. And, I'm pretty sure the woman behind me was close to having a very real panic attack onboard in that little helicopter.

    There used to be roads up to see Sacred Falls but apparently they ruined the land too much so this is the only way you can see Sacred Falls nowadays: from the sky. I've seen some amazing waterfalls in my life, but Sacred Falls truly tops them all.

    Helicopter Ride over Oahu Island, Hawaii. Amazing scenic photos on UrbanBlissLife.com

    We continued to fly all around to the North Shore, and then over the Dole Plantation (pictured above). I didn't visit the Dole Plantation on this last visit, but I did on a previous visit and I recommend it if it's your first time to Oahu. Or, you could go on a more private coffee plantation tour and get to pick a pineapple from the ground like I did. ;)

    As our helicopter ride was close to the end, we reached a more somber and thoughtful time of our trip as we flew over Pearl Harbor.

    Helicopter Ride over Oahu Island, Hawaii. Amazing scenic photos on UrbanBlissLife.com

    There's the USS Missouri, pictured above.

    According to Fred, the flight pattern we took going in was the same one the Japanese took when they bombed Pearl Harbor. It's knowledge that was a little disconcerting at the time of our flight.

    oahu helicopter tour - USS Arizona

    I was absolutely in awe of the sight of the USS Arizona beneath the waters. It's one thing to see it from the observation areas on the floating memorial (the white structure you see above). But to see it from the sky, where you can make out the full outline of the sunken ship and see the trail of oil still seeping into the ocean... there are no words. Just look at that picture.

    Facebook live video from the air

    Somehow, I managed to snag internet connection while in the air, and I did a quick 1-minute Facebook Live video, showing you what it was like to be riding shotgun on that helicopter over Oahu.

    Oahu helicopter tour travel tips

    If you are thinking about taking one of the many different helicopter rides available from Novictor Helicopters, here are some tips to help make your experience amazing:

    • Bring your camera. Photography is encouraged! But make sure your expensive camera has a solid neck strap on it. You can also bring your cell phone with you.
    • Dress casually and wear comfortable athletic shoes. This is not the time for heels, and in my opinion, even flip flops are a bit iffy, because you can easily lose one over the ocean. Wear secure, closed toed shoes.
    • Dress in layers and wear long pants. A lightweight sweater, sweatshirt, or jacket is perfect. You may be flying on the hottest day of the year, but up in the sky, it gets cold and windy. It even rained a bit when we were out.
    • Empty your pockets before flight, take off your hat, and be prepared to leave your purse/bag behind. The staff will also go over this with you during the safety check beforehand. You want to make sure you don't have anything loose that can fall out of the helicopter during flight. Your valuables can be stored in a locked cabinet and returned to you after the flight.
    • Bring some cash to tip your shuttle driver and to tip your driver.
    • If you have long hair, put it back in a ponytail or braid (or manbun, you hipster traveler, you).
    • Enjoy every second of your trip. Honestly, every single second - not just minute, not just moment, but every second - held a new opportunity for wonder, for appreciation, for bliss.

    Novictor Helicopters

    While I said the decision to book this helicopter ride was an easy one, it also came easily after I had quickly researched reviews of Novictor Helicopters online. After all, any time you are placing your life in someone else's hands several thousand feet in the air, it's nice to know you're in capable hands.

    I highly recommend booking a tour with Novictor Helicopters. Their entire staff is warm, welcoming, fun, and extremely knowledgeable and experienced. I felt completely safe the entire time, which allowed me to have the best time of my life.

    They have day tours, sunset tours, and city lights tours available, all at different prices. I dug deep into my hard-earned cash and splurged on the $285 60-minute Royal Crown Tour, and can attest that it was worth every penny, but there are shorter trips at different, lower price points available as well.

    Novictor Helicopters is located at the Castle & Cook Aviation Building at the Honolulu International Airport
    155 Kapalulu Pl. Ste. 197
    Honolulu, HI 96819
    1-888-779-7724
    1-808-492-8706
    http://novictorhelicopters.com/

    You guys. The 60-minute doors off tour over all of Oahu was truly one of the most breathtaking experiences of my life. It gave me such an appreciation for the island that I wouldn't have felt just from my visits on the ground. I can look back on each moment of that tour, and feel the adrenaline rush mixed with gratitude and sprinkled with feelings of pure bliss.

    Have you done a helicopter tour before? If so, where, and what was your experience?

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      Reader Interactions

      Comments

      1. Raz says

        July 20, 2016 at 11:51 pm

        Omg!!! That's so cool! One of my Wishlist, my husband is from Hawaii I will bug my husband to do that!

        Reply
        • Marlynn Jayme Schotland says

          July 25, 2016 at 12:37 am

          It is SO worth it, Raz! I hope you get to experience this someday, too!!

      2. Monica Louie says

        July 20, 2016 at 5:16 pm

        Wow!! I have never been on a helicopter ride, but after seeing your pictures, reading about your experience, and watching your FB Live video, I'm adding this to my bucket list!! When my husband and I pay off our mortgage in a few years, I think we'll deserve a special trip for just the two of us, and Hawaii sounds perfect!!

        Reply
      3. Willow says

        July 20, 2016 at 12:33 pm

        Beautiful! I don't know if I am brave enough to go up in a helicopter. I am fine in airplanes, but I have a fear of heights like the lady sitting behind you. Great experience for those who are fearless!

        Reply
      4. Corde + Co. says

        July 20, 2016 at 3:53 am

        Thank you for the helicopter preparation tips.

        I've had the opportunity to travel quite a bit but I'm always a bit afraid to try the helicopter tours. Hopefully, I can muster enough nerve to try it during our next vacation.

        Your pictures are stunning.

        Reply
      5. Rachel says

        July 19, 2016 at 10:31 pm

        This is such a cool experience! Hawaii is so beautiful - totally doing this if/when I get back there!

        Reply
      6. Mary says

        July 19, 2016 at 5:34 pm

        Ahhh you are so much more of a trooper than I am! I took a helicopter ride on the Big Island a few years ago with my husband and I was such a mess. I closed my eyes through most of it because I'm such a wuss about heights and the movement! Granted, I will agree with you 100% that it's such a ridiculously incredible way to see the island (SO SCENIC!!!), and of course I would totally recommend it to anyone wanting views only achievable via helicopter. But I am such a scaredy cat!

        Though right now my kids are completely obsessed with all things airplanes and helicopters, so if I have the opportunity to take them up on one I'm sure I'll have to suck it up and hide my fears and do it again! Maybe I'll get over it that way (via seeing the joy on my kids when they get to experience it??). We shall see :)

        Reply
      7. Mariah says

        July 19, 2016 at 4:47 pm

        Oh my gosh your photos are stunning! There are so many bright colors!

        Reply
      8. Bre | Maintaining Me says

        July 19, 2016 at 3:51 pm

        I was born and raised in Hawaii and it really is amazing!

        Reply
      9. Lauren says

        July 19, 2016 at 2:36 pm

        Wow! That is beautiful - I really want to go!!

        Reply
      10. cara says

        July 19, 2016 at 12:09 pm

        Wow such gorgeous views! It's amazing how different everything looks from up above!

        Reply
      11. Madeline says

        July 19, 2016 at 12:05 pm

        This looks like a complete dream!! I need to get to Hawaii ASAP.

        Reply
      12. Erin @ Platings and Pairings says

        July 19, 2016 at 12:02 pm

        How stunningly beautiful! What an amazing experience Marlynn. Your pictures capture it beautifully!

        Reply
      13. Catherine says

        July 19, 2016 at 10:15 am

        This is not an experience for me—I got vertigo just looking at your photos—but for those who aren't terrified of heights, that looks so cool! I would be tempted to go for the sights, including that unforgettable view of the USS Arizona. How powerful.

        Reply

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      Hi! Thanks for stopping by! I'm Marlynn - a cookbook author, writer, photographer, and mom of two teenagers + a lovable lab retriever. Here you'll find my fast, easy, and delicious recipes, wine pairings, and travel guides. I hold a WSET 2 with Distinction in wine, and am a member of Society of American Travel Writers (SATW) and the International Food, Wine, and Travel Writers Association (IFWTWA).

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