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Aerial view of green Waipiʻo Valley opening onto the ocean under light clouds, Hawaiʻi Island

Hilo, Kona & Waikōloa

Big Island Helicopter Tours, Compared

Kīlauea’s lava fields and the waterfall valleys of Kohala are easiest to see from the air. Where you take off decides what you’ll see.

See our picks Compare all 6
  • 6 tours compared
  • 6 with free cancellation
  • Live prices from Viator

The Big Island is larger than all the other Hawaiian islands combined, and some of its most dramatic country — the sea-cliff valleys of the Kohala Mountains, the remote lava fields of Kīlauea — is beyond the reach of any road.

Your departure point matters most. Flights from Hilo are closest to Kīlauea, so a shorter flight spends more time over the volcano. Flights from Waikōloa on the Kohala Coast suit resort guests and focus on the waterfall valleys, with longer circle-island options that reach the volcano. From Kona you can fly the coast and Hualālai, or charter a private full-island flight.

Weight policies are strict on every helicopter tour: expect to be weighed at check-in, with an extra-seat charge somewhere between 240 and 275 pounds depending on the operator.

Our picks

The right tour for how you travel

We compared every listing on itinerary, group size, reviews, and price. These are the ones we’d book.

Volcanic Safari Helicopter Tour from Hilo (tour photo) Best volcano flight 55 minutes

Safari Helicopters

Volcanic Safari Helicopter Tour from Hilo

4.55(590 reviews)

Hilo International Airport heliport (2220 Kekuanaoa St), Hilo

Free cancellation

From$419
Check availability

Booked securely on Viator

Why: Safari Helicopters’ 55-minute flight from Hilo, the closest base to Kīlauea — the most-reviewed Big Island helicopter tour on Viator, from a family-owned company flying for 35+ years.

Big Island Spectacular Helicopter Tour (tour photo) Volcano + waterfalls 2 hours

Blue Hawaiian Helicopters - Waikoloa

Big Island Spectacular Helicopter Tour

4.78(134 reviews)

Blue Hawaiian heliport, Waikōloa Rd, Waikōloa

Free cancellation

From$883
Check availability

Booked securely on Viator

Why: Blue Hawaiian’s two-hour circle-island flight from Waikōloa covers Kīlauea’s lava landscapes, the Hāmākua rainforest, and Kohala’s waterfall valleys — the do-it-all choice for resort guests.

Private Big Island Helicopter Experience (tour photo) Private splurge 2 hours

Mauna Loa Helicopter Tours - Big Island of Hawaii

Private Big Island Helicopter Experience

4.98(93 reviews)

Kona International Airport (Uʻu St), Kailua-Kona

Free cancellation

From$671.48
Check availability

Booked securely on Viator

Why: A private two-hour full-island charter from Kona for 3–4 passengers, rated near-perfect at our last check.

Side by side

Helicopter Tours: every option side by side

  • Best volcano flight

    Volcanic Safari Helicopter Tour from Hilo

    Safari Helicopters

    Length
    55 minutes
    Rating
    ★ 4.55
    From
    $419

    Hilo-side visitors wanting the best-value volcano flight

    Check dates

  • Discover Hilo Helicopter Tour

    Blue Hawaiian Helicopters - Hilo

    Length
    50 minutes
    Rating
    ★ 4.38
    From
    $519

    Comfort-first flyers wanting the premium Eco-Star cabin

    Check dates
  • Volcano + waterfalls

    Big Island Spectacular Helicopter Tour

    Blue Hawaiian Helicopters - Waikoloa

    Length
    2 hours
    Rating
    ★ 4.78
    From
    $883

    Kohala Coast guests who want volcano and waterfalls in one flight

    Check dates

  • Kohala Waterfalls & Valleys Helicopter Tour

    Blue Hawaiian Helicopters - Waikoloa

    Length
    Varies
    Rating
    ★ 4.93
    From
    $499

    Kohala Coast resort guests who want waterfalls rather than lava

    Check dates

  • Kona Coast & Hualālai Doors-Off Helicopter Tour

    Rainbow Helicopters

    Length
    1 hour
    Rating
    ★ 4.77
    From
    $640

    Kona-based photographers wanting a doors-off flight

    Check dates
  • Private splurge

    Private Big Island Helicopter Experience

    Mauna Loa Helicopter Tours - Big Island of Hawaii

    Length
    2 hours
    Rating
    ★ 4.98
    From
    $671.48

    Small groups who want a private, full-island splurge from Kona

    Check dates

Ratings, review counts, and from-prices are live from Viator and refresh daily. Prices are per person unless the listing says otherwise and change with the date you pick. Booking links go to Viator, where availability and cancellation terms are shown before you pay. We may earn a commission if you book, at no extra cost to you. Affiliate disclosure.

Ratings across review sites

How each tour rates on Viator and Tripadvisor

Viator lists reviews from its own travelers and from Tripadvisor. Here they are separately, so one site can’t hide a weak score on the other.

Tour ratings by review site
TourViatorTripadvisorAll reviews
Volcanic Safari Helicopter Tour from HiloSafari Helicopters4.56331 reviews4.54259 reviews4.55590 reviews
Discover Hilo Helicopter TourBlue Hawaiian Helicopters - Hilo4.4586 reviews4.2339 reviews4.38125 reviews
Big Island Spectacular Helicopter TourBlue Hawaiian Helicopters - Waikoloa4.7268 reviews4.8566 reviews4.78134 reviews
Kohala Waterfalls & Valleys Helicopter TourBlue Hawaiian Helicopters - Waikoloa4.8520 reviews5.0023 reviews4.9343 reviews
Kona Coast & Hualālai Doors-Off Helicopter TourRainbow Helicopters5.0014 reviews4.388 reviews4.7722 reviews
Private Big Island Helicopter ExperienceMauna Loa Helicopter Tours - Big Island of Hawaii5.0014 reviews4.9779 reviews4.9893 reviews

Figures from Viator’s partner API, refreshed daily. Google reviews aren’t included.

More options

Also worth a look

Discover Hilo Helicopter Tour (tour photo) 50 minutes

Blue Hawaiian Helicopters - Hilo

Discover Hilo Helicopter Tour

4.38(125 reviews)

Blue Hawaiian heliport, Hilo

Free cancellation

From$519
Check availability

Booked securely on Viator

Kohala Waterfalls & Valleys Helicopter Tour (tour photo) Varies

Blue Hawaiian Helicopters - Waikoloa

Kohala Waterfalls & Valleys Helicopter Tour

4.93(43 reviews)

Blue Hawaiian heliport, Waikōloa Rd, Waikōloa

Free cancellation

From$499
Check availability

Booked securely on Viator

Enjoy a doors off or on helicopter tour around the Kona Coast 1 hour

Rainbow Helicopters

Kona Coast & Hualālai Doors-Off Helicopter Tour

4.77(22 reviews)

Kona International Airport area (73-4370 Paʻoʻo St), Kailua-Kona

Free cancellation

From$640
Check availability

Booked securely on Viator

Hilo, Kohala, or Kona?

  • Hilo (Safari, Blue Hawaiian Discover Hilo): the shortest flights to Kīlauea, plus rainforest waterfalls. Best value for the volcano.
  • Waikōloa (Blue Hawaiian): Kohala Mountain waterfalls, sea cliffs, and Waipiʻo Valley — or the two-hour circle-island flight that adds the volcano.
  • Kona (Rainbow, Mauna Loa Helicopters): the Kona coast, Kealakekua Bay, and Hualālai, or a private full-island charter.

Doors off or doors on?

Rainbow Helicopters offers a doors-off option from Kona — great for photographers, with a jacket, closed-toe shoes, and hair ties required. Blue Hawaiian flies the Airbus Eco-Star with forward-facing seats and wide windows; wear dark clothing to cut reflections. The private Mauna Loa charter is doors-on only.

Before you fly

  • Check in 30–60 minutes early, depending on the operator.
  • Most operators don’t allow bags or large cameras on board.
  • No scuba diving in the 24 hours before a Blue Hawaiian flight.
  • Flights can be rescheduled for weather — book early in your trip.

Prefer the ground?

Lava glowing orange in a crater at night in Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park
Volcano

Volcano Tours

Kīlauea’s summit is about 4,000 feet up and a long drive from the Kona resorts. A guided tour handles the driving, the timing, and the park’s ever-changing list of closures.

Compare 7 tours

FAQ

Questions people ask before booking

Which Big Island helicopter tour is best for the volcano?

Leave from Hilo. It’s the closest base to Kīlauea, so even a 50–55 minute flight spends real time over the volcano. Safari Helicopters’ Volcanic Safari was the most-reviewed Big Island flight on Viator at our last check.

Can you see lava from a helicopter?

Only during an eruptive episode. As of October 18, 2026, Kīlauea’s summit eruption was paused after episode 55. Flights still show the caldera, steaming vents, and vast recent lava fields, but flowing lava isn’t guaranteed.

Are there doors-off helicopter tours on the Big Island?

Yes — Rainbow Helicopters offers doors-off or doors-on flights from Kona along the coast and Hualālai. Bring a jacket, closed-toe shoes, and hair ties.

What are the weight limits?

They vary: Blue Hawaiian requires an adjacent seat above 240 lb, Safari above 250 lb, and Rainbow charges a fee from 250 lb and requires an extra seat above 275 lb. The private Mauna Loa charter allows up to 275 lb per person. You’ll be weighed at check-in.

How much does a Big Island helicopter tour cost?

When we checked on October 19, 2026, Viator from-prices for shared flights ranged from $419 for the 55-minute Hilo volcano flight to $883 for the two-hour circle-island flight. Prices vary by date.

Read before you go

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Lava glowing orange in a crater at night in Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park
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Stargazing

Maunakea Stargazing

Watch the sun set above the clouds beside some of the world’s largest telescopes, then stargaze through a telescope on the mountain astronomers chose for its skies.

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Captain Cook Snorkel

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Photo: Micah Alameda via Unsplash

Volcanic Safari Helicopter Tour from Hilo

From $419

Check availability