The 5 Best Maui Helicopter Tours

Note: Some tour providers on this list may have limited or ceased operations due to COVID-19. Check with your tour operator about availability before you book.

Maui’s lush green rainforests, colorful beaches and impressive Haleakala Crater are breathtaking from land, but just imagine how awe-inspiring the views are from the air. Relying on expert opinion and traveler input, U.S. News selected five of Maui‘s best helicopter tours. Admire dramatic and panoramic scenery as you enjoy the thrill of a lifetime.

Pacific Helicopter Tours – Complete Isand

Thrill-seekers will appreciate Pacific Helicopter’s exciting doors-off private helicopter tour. This 90-minute tour features the best attractions of Maui, including the Road to Hana, the Haleakala Crater and the Ke’anae Peninsula, among other photogenic sights. If you’d prefer not to fly with doors off, you can also book this tour with the doors on. Cliffside landings are also available at an additional cost. Reviewers say this tour was their best experience on Maui and the highlight of their trip. They also say the pilots are very informative and make safety a priority. Flights depart Monday through Friday at 7:30 and 9:30 a.m., as well as 12:30 and 2:30 p.m. Tours cost $2,175 for up to three passengers. Pacific Helicopter Tours also offers flights over Hana and west Maui, among other options.

Air Maui Helicopter Tours – Hana & Haleakala

Soar high above the most notable attractions in east Maui with Air Maui’s Hana & Haleakala tour. This 45-minute flight features panoramic views of one of the world’s largest dormant volcanoes, Haleakala Crater. Flying over the lush Hana rainforest, with its wide and spectacular waterfalls that flow into the sea, is another highlight. Along the way, your pilot provides narration of the sights. Reviewers say this trip is one of the best ways to see the stunning landscape of Maui and describe it as a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Tours depart daily from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tickets start at $229 per person. West Maui and Molokai flights are also available, among other options.

Blue Hawaiian Helicopter Tours – Waterfalls of West Maui & Molokai

On this roughly 50-minute tour, you’ll fly over the world’s tallest sea cliffs along 88 miles of pristine coastline and waterfalls on Molokai’s north shore. Listen to the pilots describe Maui’s rich culture as you soar above rainforests and valleys and the dramatic peaks of the cloud-shrouded West Maui Mountains. Reviewers say this an experience not-to-be-missed while in Maui. They also praise the pilot’s professionalism and attention to safety. Tours are offered several times a day starting at 7:30 a.m. Tickets start at $344 per person. Blue Hawaiian also offers helicopter tours of Hana and Haleakala, as well as 90-minute tours of the whole island.

Maverick Tours – Molokai Voyage

Soar high above two islands on this 55-minute flight. As you fly above West Maui, you’ll enjoy an eyeful of the West Maui Mountains and the Kapalua, Lahaina and Kaanapali resort developments. Molokai offers even more incomparable sights, including the Halawa Valley and Kahiwa Falls. Reviewers say this is an incredible experience, even the highlight of their trip, and that the pilots are very knowledgeable about the history and terrain of Hawaii. Tours, which start at $309 per person, are offered multiple times daily starting at 9 a.m. Flights over the Hana Rainforest are also available.

Sunshine Helicopters – Molokai Deluxe Tour

The Molokai Deluxe Tour is a 55- to 65-minute flight that heads out over west Maui before crossing the Pailolo Channel en route to Molokai’s remote north shore, which is home to some of Hawaii’s tallest waterfalls. During the return journey, the helicopter flies over Maui’s ancient Hawaiian fishponds as well as the longest fringing coral reefs in the United States. Travelers offer praise for the smooth flight and beautiful views. Tours are offered four times daily beginning at 7:30 a.m. Tickets start at about $330 per person. Tours that fly over the Haleakala Crater are also available, among other options.