Jack Harter’s Helicopter Tour

Seeing Kauai’s rugged beauty from the sky is an experience like no other.  From cascading waterfalls to the breathtaking Napali Coast, this hour long scenic tour shows you the entire island.  Our pilot was so knowledgeable, and we can’t recommend Jack Harter’s helicopter tour enough.

One of our favorite experiences on the island was a doors-off helicopter tour with Jack Harter Helicopters.  The views from the air were incredible.  From booking to landing, here’s what to expect.

Booking

On their website, you’ll select a tour option.  Jack Harter Helicopters provides the doors off experience and a luxury experience.  The luxury experience has a 60-minute tour option and a 90-minute tour option.  If you prefer the doors to be on the helicopter, the luxury option has floor to ceiling windows, so you won’t miss any of the sights.  After you select a tour option, you’ll enter a desired date for your tour.  Within 48 hours, they will call to confirm your scheduled tour.  Total payments will be made when you check in for your tour.

What to Wear

Close toed shoes are required.  It is recommended to bring a jacket as it is cold and windy in the air.  Hats are not allowed, but you can bring sunglasses.  We also decided to wear pants, but we saw lots of people in shorts too.

Check-In

They do ask that you arrive about 45 minutes prior to departure to check-in and listen to a safety briefing.  At check-in, you will be weighed to determine seating arrangements.  There are four seats in addition to the pilot, so you will be with some other people.  Any cameras and phones must be attached to you via a neck or wrist strap.  If you forget one, they have some for you to use.  Any loose items must be left in your car, but they will hold car keys in the office.

Safety Briefing

Before you head to the heliport, you’ll listen to a quick safety briefing.  They’ll go over how to enter and exit the helicopter, life preservers, motion sickness, etc.

Shuttle Ride

After the safety briefing, you’ll be shuttled to the heliport.  When you arrive, you will don your life preserver before being taken to your helicopter via golf cart. 

Take Off

It’s almost time for take off!  You will be seated in the helicopter, strapped in with a four point harness, and given Bose headphones to hear your pilot and communicate throughout the tour.  Once everyone is ready to go, your tour begins. 

Tour

The moment you’ve been waiting for…The hour will go by so fast, so take it all in.  Be sure to check out the views on both sides of the helicopter.  Our pilot was so knowledgeable and informative and answered any questions we had throughout the tour.

Landing

When your tour is over, you’ll land back at the heliport, leave your life preserver, and ride back to the office.  Here you can pick up your keys and leave a gratuity for your pilot. 

Additional Info

-If you have long hair, you might want to wear it pulled back, so it’s not hitting you in the face.  I wore mine in a ponytail, but it still managed to wrap itself around the headphones.

-If you get motion sick, take something before the flight.  I’ve never had a problem on a plane, but the last 20 minutes of the flight were kind of miserable for me.  Thankfully, I didn’t actually get sick, but if you do, there are bags behind the seats.

We loved our helicopter tour and are so glad we chose the doors off option.  It was an unforgettable experience!  If you’re looking for more things to do and see in Kauai, check out our Kauai bucket list post here!