HELICOPTER RIDES AROUND THE WORLD

Last Updated on 24th January 2019 by Bejal

A recent tidy up of my hard-drive, meant I rediscovered a whole bunch of travel snaps and there was a noticeable amount on helicopter trips. Clearly I’m a little partial to a helicopter ride or few! So, my first thought was wow, I’ve been on quite a few helicopter rides but I’m going to use these experiences wisely and share them with you. Following my first helicopter ride in the Grand Canyon, it seems I developed a bit of a penchant for the heli flight life! So without further ado, get prepared for the flight of your life…

A GRAND CANYON PROPOSAL, NEVADA

My very first helicopter ride was when Dr C proposed to me with a champagne picnic at the base of the Grand Canyon. Now how does a girl say no to a man who can arrange that! It was truly a special day as the company, Sundance helicopters arranged a limousine pick-up, which took us from our hotel to the air strip. The flight was a long one but so worth it as you make your way through the Grand Canyon, above the skywalk and land at the base of the Colorado River.

The whole trip lasted about 3-4 hours as it took about 45 minutes to get to the base of the Canyon and  we were there for half an hour or so before returning. During the return flight, we flew over the main strip in Vegas and you get a spectacular view of the landmark hotels.

If you are short of time then this is a quicker way to see the Grand Canyon rather than flying out and if you’re an adrenalin Junkie like me, then it’s also quite an exhilarating way to travel!

 

Sundance Helicopters

5596 haven Street

Las Vegas

NV 89119

USA

Tel +1 702-736-0606

MINI-MOON AERIAL VIEW OF THE BIG APPLE, NEW YORK

After our idyllic honeymoon to Thailand had to be cancelled, Dr C booked us a mini-moon to New York. Well they do say that your honeymoon is supposed to be the best holiday you’ll ever have so there was an excuse if we ever needed one to book a helicopter ride over NYC. An amazing experience where you are literally eye to eye with the Statue of Liberty herself! You can book directly with Liberty Helicopters and they depart from Pier six in downtown Manhattan, where they have  their heliport.

The helicopter takes six people so if you go in a pair then at least one of your party will get a window seat. I was lucky enough to get a seat next to the pilot (min-moon perks!), which made the 20 minute flight time even more amazing. The pilot gives you a running commentary of the sights as you soar above the Hudson river and take in the New York, New York you’ve seen in the movies!

 

Liberty Helicopters

6 East River Piers #212,

New York,

NY 10005

USA

Tel + 1-800-542-9933

 FOX GLACIER HIKING IN SOUTH ISLAND, NEW ZEALAND

During our road trip of New Zealand, we wanted to complete a glacier Hike, however weather conditions were not the greatest and for safety reasons the hike was cancelled but the following day we could still take an early morning helicopter flight to Fox Glacier with Glacier Helicopters and actually step out onto the snow. Fox Glacier is in the Tai Poutin National Park and is named after Sir William Fox, who visited the Glacier when he was Prime Minister of New Zealand in 1872. The Glacier is quite special in that it lies close to both an ocean and rainforest.

Its unique setting means that Fox Glaciers speed of ice flow is up to three meters a day, producing breath taking ice formations.

The flight is about 20-30 minutes and you fly over the dynamic falls then land above the actual Fox Glacier and set foot on a largely inaccessible area and take in the pristine alpine air. It is a view like no other and photos alone just can’t do it justice. We travelled in a group of four, so the pilot made sure that both couples had a chance to sit up front with him.

 

Glacier Helicopter Ltd

Main Road

Fox Glacier

New Zealand

Tel +64 3 751 0803

 

CHRISTMAS TIME WITH AERIAL VIEWS OF IGUAZU FALLS, BRAZIL

If you’ve read my post on 5 ways to experience Iguazu falls, you will have seen the aerial views of the 256 falls is just incredible. This is truly a once in a lifetime experience and in my opinion, if you are short of time, the best view to experience the mighty Iguazu Falls.

The flight time is roughly 10 minutes (about three minutes is actually spent over the falls themselves!) with the heliport for Helisul Helicopters located close to Iguazu airport and opposite the famous bird park! Again the helicopters seat six and the company makes sure that at least one of the pair has a guaranteed window seat. The flight takes you from the heliport to the surrounding Iguazu National park, the dam, over the Belmond hotel das Cataratas (where we were lucky enough to be staying!) and finally the awe-inspiring view of the falls themselves.

Trust me, this is a view and once in a lifetime experience you will not forget in a hurry! My advice, don’t go chasing waterfalls, unless it’s with a birdseye view in a helicopter!

 

Helisul helicopters

Av. das Cataratas, 11130

Nucleo São João, Foz do Iguaçu

PR, Brazil

Tel +55 45 3529-7474

 

So, which was my favourite helicopter ride? I can’t decide but me being me, I’m not done yet and O have a few more planned across the globe so watch this space!

 

Tell me, have you ever been on a helicopter ride on your travels and where? Please let me know in the comments below how you got on.

 

            

Á Bientôt…

 

 

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