If you want to get from east to west on the Hawaiian Island of Kauai, you have to drive all the way around the island. There’s one single road that circles this deep green island because much of the terrain consists of mountains and canyons. So there are large portions of Kauai that can’t be seen except from the air.
You can take an airplane ride, but I recommend a helicopter, which has the ability to get closer to the mountains and the waterfalls. We flew through a fairly narrow passage between two mountain peaks, and it was one of the most exciting moments of the ride. We even saw a rainbow over the famed Jurassic Falls, which were used in the original “Jurassic Park” film.
My ride was with three other women friends, and we all cried from the sheer beauty of it. We are also all well-traveled around the world, yet this experience was one of our all-time favorites. I have visited six continents and almost 50 countries at this point, but I’ve never seen a landscape like Kauai.
So I consider a helicopter ride to be a MUST when you visit this island, and I actually feel that Kauai is a must if you get to Hawaii. It’s considered special for good reason.
There are a number of companies that run helicopter rides on Kauai, which will cost you anywhere from $150 to $450, depending on the outfitter you choose and the time of year of your visit.
If you tend to get motion sickness, try taking Bonine, which I’ve found to be much more effective than Dramamine. Here are some more photos from my memorable helicopter ride over Kauai.
Melanie Votaw is the Publisher and Executive Travel Writer of LuxuryWeb Magazine. She has visited more than 50 countries on 6 continents and written for such magazines as Executive Travel, Just Luxe, Business Insider, South China Morning Post, Travel Mindset, and more. She is a member of the International Food, Wine & Travel Writers Association, New York Travel Writers Association, and International Travel Writers Alliance. Melanie's photography has won awards, and she has also written 46 nonfiction books as either the author or ghostwriter.
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