WHY A HELICOPTER TOUR IS A MUST DO ON YOUR TRIP TO MAUI

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1 SOAR OVER THE MOUNTAINS, PLUNGE INTO THE VALLEYS, AND EXPERIENCE MAUI AT ITS FULLEST IN A HELICOPTER. Do you want to see Hawaii in a totally unique way? Are you a thrill seeker looking for a new adventure? Want to make your friends jealous? Then a helicopter tour of Maui is exactly what you are looking for. Helicopter tours of Maui will take your visit of the island to a whole new level of awesome. You ll have the opportunity to see the famous sites and beautiful natural formations from a rare perspective. They are the best way to see Maui, giving you a unique and exciting look at the remarkable natural landscape. WHY A HELICOPTER TOUR IS A MUST DO ON YOUR TRIP TO MAUI Maui is a popular tourist destination and for good reason. People flock from around the world to explore the 30 miles of red, white and black sand beaches, spot whales in the clear blue ocean, and investigate the lush rainforest interior. From gorgeous beaches to soaring mountains, there really is an endless number of things to do and see on this 727 square mile island in the middle of the Pacific. With so many things to do though the options become overwhelming. How can you even begin see everything that Maui has to offer in one vacation? The answer is a helicopter tour.

2 Whether this is your first trip to Maui or your fiftieth, a guided helicopter tour will give you an appreciation of the island that so few people ever get. You will be able to see the beaches, whales, and forests from an extraordinary point of view. Instead of spending your money on another attraction that only gives you a limited perspective of the island, give yourself the unique gift of experiencing Maui in all its glory. There are multiple helicopter tours to choose from for a tour of Maui, but four in particular stand out. Based on customer reviews, pilot experience, safety precautions, and price point, these are the best options that you can choose from. TOUR ONE: BLUE HAWAIIAN HELICOPTERS WEST MAUI MOUNTAINS If you have a busy schedule or are only visiting Maui for a short period of time, this 30-minute tour is perfect for you! Blue Hawaiian s West Maui Mountain helicopter tour is the cheapest and shortest tour on this list. That doesn t mean that you ll miss out on the famous sights though!

3 You can start your trip by taking a short a tour of the popular shoreline, where you can wave to your friends who chose to stay on the ground! You ll see the famous beach-side hotels of Maui as well as the popular spots for tourists to hang out, all from an exhilarating and exclusive point of view! After waving goodbye to the beachgoers, you will rise over the water and glimpse the grandeur of Maui. As you sail over the blue waters, you might even see some whales just below the surface! The whales are only the start of your journey. After leaving the beaches you will move into the lush green interior of the island to explore the jagged mountains some only see on postcards. Explore the Waihee Valley from above, a well-known strenuous hike that leads you into the clouds. View Kahili Golf Course from above. You won t be disappointed in this trip! Make your way through the famous valleys and over the towering peaks in one of two aircraft with Blue Hawaiian: the A-Star or the Eco-Star helicopter. Pricing is varied based on which aircraft you choose and your booking method. The A-Star, the industry standard in Hawaii, is the cheaper option on all Blue Hawaiian flights. It features 180 degree views and a spacious interior with bench seating. Flights in this craft usually run at $173.81, but if you book online five or more days in advance the price drops down to $152.95! The other option is the state-of-the-art Eco-Star, which has 23% more cabin space than the A-Star and over 65 feet of glass for unobstructed views. The Eco-Star also offers individual seats, an added bonus for personal space. As one reviewer noted, there really is a difference between the two aircraft.

4 Eco-Star tours start at $225.31, but reserving early and online gives you a $40 discount, bring the price to $ We definitely recommend booking early online to receive steep discounts! With pilots who are certified tour guides and who also undergo extensive training before flying, your tour will be both safe and informative. Blue Hawaiian has even implemented a Safety Systems Management Program to ensure all aircraft are fit to fly. Even if you are nervous about flying in a helicopter, their experienced staff will be sure to guide you safely through your tour. This tour is a great option if you are limited on time or have a smaller budget. Though 30 minutes might be on the shorter side of the tours we mention, you will still have plenty of time to see the amazing sights in the West Maui Mountains!

5 For a quick review, here are the highlights for the Blue Hawaiian West Maui Mountain tour: 30 minutes Two different aircraft: smaller A-Star or the more spacious Eco-Star Price ranges from $ to $225.31, depending on aircraft and booking time. Explores beaches and mountains of West Maui Highly trained pilots who are all certified tour guides by the State of Hawaii To get more information (or reserve online for the hefty discount!), visit Blue Hawaiian s West Maui Mountain tour here. TOUR TWO: BLUE HAWAIIAN HANA/HALEAKALA TOUR If you have a little more time to spare and want to see more of the amazing island of Maui, Blue Hawaiian has a longer tour that explores the Hana/Haleakala regions of the island. After all the safety protocols, you ll embark on a wild adventure of some of the most popular tourist sights on Maui. You will see Haleakala National Park, the Haleakala Crater, Manawainui, Oheo Gulch, Hana Town and the Hana Rainforest Preserve, all in approximately 50 minutes!

6 These major tourist destinations can get crowded with people visiting, but you will have the opportunity to see them from a completely different perspective! Watch the cascading waterfalls in Oheo Gulch s Seven Pools in their full majesty. Observe the massive Haleakala Crater, spreading over seven miles across, in its entirety. Forge your way into the Manawainui Canyon and float effortlessly in the air above pools of water. The focus of this tour is on the Eastern region of Maui, so you will explore some of the most popular tourist sites of the island in the comfort of a private aircraft. If you are looking for an in-depth tour of Eastern Maui, this is definitely the tour for you! This tour is also priced depending on which aircraft you plan on taking and when you book. The A-Star costs $ per person if booked online in advance, and $ if booked otherwise. The Eco-Star is slightly more expensive, running at $ per person if reserved early and online and $309 if reservations are made outside of those parameters. To review, here are the highlights of Blue Hawaiian s Hana/Haleakala tour: Approximately 50 minutes Two different aircraft: smaller A-Star or the more spacious Eco-Star Price ranges from $ to $309, depending on aircraft and booking time Excellent views of famous tourist attractions in East Maui including the Haleakala Crater, Oheo Gulch, and Manawainui Canyon Highly trained pilots who are all certified tour guides by the State of Hawaii If you want to live your life on the road less traveled, and avoid masses of tourists at popular destinations at the same time, this tour might be the right option for you. For more information, click here.

7 TOUR THREE: BLUE HAWAIIAN MAUI SPECTACULAR HELICOPTER TOUR The Maui Spectacular is the most comprehensive tour offered by Blue Hawaiian in Maui. At 90 minutes and covering the entire island, it allows you to see all of Maui in its glory! With the Spectacular tour, you don t have to pick and choose which amazing sites you want to see. This tour combines the West Maui Mountain tour with the Hana/Haleakala tour, so you ll see all of the amazing places that Maui has to offer in half a day! After exploring western Maui, you will make a brief stop at Blue Hawaiian s exclusive landing site at the scenic Ulupalakua Ranch, located on the rolling slopes of the dormant Haleakala volcano. During this stop you will have about twenty minutes to take in the breathtaking views and enjoy some refreshments.

8 One of the highlights of this tour is the Wall of Tears, an awe-inspiring cliff face with as many as 17 waterfalls crashing over it from heights of up to 1600 feet. This attraction is only accessible by helicopter and is truly stunning. This 90 minute trip is the perfect way to spend a morning or afternoon taking in all the sights that you possibly can. Rather than simply a tour, this flight is more of an event that includes champagne and beautiful views. You won t feel rushed while trying to take in the views! The early bird/online discount is priced at $ per person and $ per person for the A-Star and Eco-Star respectively. If you book over the phone or in person those prices rise to $ and $ Here s a review of the major highlights of the Maui Spectacular tour: 90 minutes Stop halfway for refreshments and champagne on the beautiful Ulupalakua Ranch Two different aircraft choices: the smaller A-Star or the larger Eco-Star Prices range from $ to $ per person, based on aircraft choice and reservation method In-depth exploration of BOTH West Maui and East Maui Highly trained pilots who are all certified tour guides by the State of Hawaii The views you will see and the memories you make mean that this tour is truly priceless! To learn more about the Maui Spectacular Tour, click here. TOUR FOUR: AIR MAUI S DOORS-OFF HELICOPTER TOUR Are you a thrill-seeker? What about an adrenaline junkie? Do you like to live life on the edge? Then Air Maui s doors-off helicopter tour is what you have been looking for!

9 As the only doors-off tour in Maui, this 45-minute adventure will get your heart pumping. With nothing between you and the world outside, you ll experience Hawaii in a way that so few people do. This tour covers the mountains of western Maui and then carries over to Molokai, one of the other major Hawaiian Islands. This doors-off tour gives you an unobstructed view, perfect for spotting whales as you travel between the two islands! So not only will you see the famous Iao Valley, a national monument that is home to the Iao Needle, and the beaches of Maui, but you ll even get to explore another island! Molokai is home to many sites, including the Pelekunu Valley, Okala Island, and the famous 1,300 foot tall Papalaua Falls! This flight is sensory in a way that the other flights are not. Rather than just seeing the splendors of Hawaii you will also be able to feel and hear them. As you pass through rain showers your skin might get wet with the sprinkle. When you glide past a waterfall you ll hear the thunder of water hitting the rocks below you. Even though the doors are off of the helicopter, the staff is very safety conscious, as one Tripadvisor reviewer noted: This tour with Air Maui comes at one price: $325 per person. It is also only available to children above the age of 10, who must be accompanied by an adult if they are under 18. Because of the nature of the flight, no hats or cameras are allowed on board, but the restrictions are well worth the amazing experience.

10 Here are the highlights of Air Maui s Doors-Off tour ONLY Doors-Off tour in Maui 45 minutes $325 per person Explores West Maui and Molokai Not suitable for children under the age of 10 To book your trip, visit Air Maui here. THERE IS A HELICOPTER TOUR FOR EVERYONE IN MAUI Both Blue Hawaiian and Air Maui are highly reputable companies that are guaranteed to offer an amazing experience. Each company has over 1,000 highly positive reviews on Tripadvisor, strict safety protocols, and comparable pricing for the experiences. Ultimately, it comes down to what you want from a tour rather than which company is better. Whether you want something that is more family-friendly or thrill seeking, shorter or longer, even more exploratory or leisurely, there is an option out there for you! So what are you waiting for? Book a Maui Helicopter tour today!