Waikoloa Big Island Helicopter Tour: Is It Really Worth It?

Planning a trip to the Big Island? Right, then adding a helicopter tour to your itinerary could be just what you need to really up the vacation ante. These tours are sort of talked about for delivering views you simply cannot get any other way, right? So, you’ll want to see active volcanoes, lush rainforests, plus those impressive waterfalls, from up above. But the question many folks seem to have is, just is it actually worth the money? Is the ‘Waikoloa Big Island Spectacular Helicopter Tour’ seriously all that spectacular? Let’s have a look.

What to Consider Before Booking

Okay, first, think about what you seriously hope to get out of the experience. After all, not all helicopter tours seem the same, is that right? Some, it’s almost like they emphasize volcano viewing, whilst others focus on those remote valleys and cascading waterfalls that the Big Island does seem to do so well. Think, too, about when you might want to go, right? The early morning tends to bring calmer air, potentially creating a smoother ride, that is to say less chance of airsickness, plus what a sunrise view might get you, is that right? And, as I was saying, what time of year are you planning to go, and just how much does that time of year impact what’s viewable? Finally, consider just how much you are alright spending, okay?

Tour Options: What’s Out There?

Helicopter companies typically provide a range of options, differing in both tour duration and just where they take you, too. Now, you’ll usually see shorter tours, which often are an hour or less, covering some of the major highlights nearest to the departure point, very? Meanwhile, longer tours, those might be closer to two hours or more, often stretching out to the remote regions of the island. Like your tours of this kind usually end up hitting the Volcanoes National Park, the Kohala Valleys, plus the Hamakua Coast, okay?

• Circle Island Tour: Basically, this could give you the whole shebang, hitting basically every major site on the island. Very pricey, so just a heads-up.
• Volcano Special: Of course, if there is activity, then many tour operators just focus almost entirely on that, right? Smoke, lava, you name it, seriously.
• Kohala Valleys & Waterfalls: North Kohala’s valleys offer a dramatic setting with waterfalls.

Checking Out the “Spectacular” Tour Specifically

Alright, alright, alright, here we are looking specifically at one particular tour. ‘Waikoloa Big Island Spectacular Helicopter Tour’. That’s a mouthful, is that not the truth? Okay, so we have got a few bits of information, so what is worth keeping in mind, is that right? As a matter of fact, this tour is usually somewhere between 1.5-2 hours, meaning you can tick off a lot of Big Island’s “must sees” while airborne, very? You’re almost certainly going to pass over active volcanic areas if available (Kilauea is the typical focus), and various waterfalls along the Hamakua Coast.

Booking Tips: What to Do Before You Fly

Planning the best helicopter ride starts well before you get to the check in desk, that seems so. So here is what might be needed, is that not the case? Of course, you’ll be hitting up online reviews – trustpilot, that kind of stuff – to get an idea on specific companies’ operational reputations. Now, because visibility seriously matters on tours of this nature, that means weather is also a serious factor. Is that not the truth? If the conditions are seriously looking bad that day or are forecast to be bad, make sure that you can move dates around. In addition, most helicopter tour operators are seriously quite strict on weight restrictions (which they have to be, for very valid safety reasons), that’s almost certainly something to consider.

The In-Flight Experience: What to Expect

Right, it’s finally time to go up in the air. Helicopter rides, naturally, just feel seriously unlike going in an airplane, even when things are at their smoothest. Expect to have a bit more of a shaky experience during takeoff, but typically things are quite relaxing as you rise above the Big Island’s impressive geographical landmarks, yeah? In addition, modern touring helicopters have big windows, right? Every passenger typically gets one. Most of the touring companies supply headsets too, with the pilot delivering serious info about the areas you’re passing over, okay?

The Sights: What You’ll See

Okay, we know you want details. Volcanoes National Park: it’s almost certainly the first place you would hope to be passing over. Keep in mind that sometimes volcanoes do what volcanoes do, and their eruptions have subsided quite a bit (Kilauea hasn’t been doing too too much, so it might be a crater only view), still it might mean you might catch sight of active lava flows too, is that correct? That also affects safety parameters (basically, if they cannot ensure a safe enough distance from volcanic activity you’ll divert). The Hamakua Coast features views of multiple lush valleys and numerous cascading waterfalls. Some valleys, such as Waipio Valley, can usually only be accessed via seriously long hikes on foot, thus the helicopter ride seriously becomes the only way that most people can enjoy the area from anything other than a seriously tiny viewing area on the bluffs above, alright?

Photo Opportunities: Getting That Shot

You know, bringing along a very decent camera is highly advised when taking your helicopter ride. Sure, that fancy phone works well for social media. However, seriously being able to zoom in to get proper clarity is highly recommended, especially if you seriously hope to capture a volcano or particularly detailed rock structures in the Kohala valleys. Most tours are more than understanding about people seriously wanting to get some good shots. But there could be restrictions from time to time if you seriously plan to start swapping camera lenses in mid-air. Of course, that depends.

Potential Downsides and Considerations

Helicopter tours tend to come with a pretty big price tag, right? That’s very worth considering. Even a shorter tour option can just cost several hundred bucks per person, right? In addition, you will find that there are times when flights just get scrubbed, basically that means cancelled, right? And as such, you might have seriously structured your day around it. As said prior, weather plays a big role here, like your chances will also depend on the time of year (the winter months are typically more turbulent). Helicopter flights, sure, might not be for people who are quite prone to motion sickness, right? So take some meds beforehand.

Is It Worth the Splurge?

Okay, bottom line – is that “Waikoloa Big Island Spectacular Helicopter Tour” actually something that’s seriously worth what you will probably need to pay to go on it? For many, the unique perspectives and experiences really do make the helicopter ride worth it, if not life-changing, seriously. It may prove the only way to seriously get sight of certain waterfalls and remote areas. The convenience of covering vast distances quickly (seriously essential on a pretty big island) also makes it very useful to time strapped individuals. Sure, the expense means it might not prove within everyone’s holiday budget, but as they say, for something really, really special it will often pay off.

Key Takeaways:

• Check all options regarding routes and tours.
• Think about the weather. It could influence any route plan or the safety of passengers.
• If you can stomach it, it is an experience not to be missed!

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