Booking choice: The Deluxe Waterfall Safari, from $336 per person. Check dates Compare the options below
The Deluxe Waterfall Safari is a doors-on flight in an air-conditioned A-Star with big windows. Several Kauai operators take the doors off instead, usually in smaller helicopters.
Neither is better for everyone. It depends on whether photos or comfort come first.
The quick answer
Choose doors on (like the Deluxe Waterfall Safari) for comfort, quiet, music and air conditioning, and for nervous fliers or young children. Choose doors off (Air Kauai, Jack Harter, Mauna Loa) for photos without reflections and a more intense ride, usually at a higher price and with stricter rules on loose items.
How do the two compare?
Doors on is calmer and cheaper; doors off is better for photos and more of an adventure.
| Doors on (Deluxe Waterfall Safari) | Doors off | |
|---|---|---|
| From | $336 | $384 to $460 |
| Photos | Through glass; reflections possible | No glass, no reflections |
| Comfort | Air conditioning, music, quieter | Wind, louder, cooler at height |
| Loose items | Phone or camera allowed | Everything strapped or stowed |
| Best for | Families, first-timers, nervous fliers | Photographers, thrill seekers |
Leaning towards comfort? Check your date for the Deluxe Waterfall Safari.
Check dates for the Deluxe Waterfall SafariAre doors-off photos really better?
Yes: with no window there are no reflections, which is the most common complaint in doors-on reviews.
On doors-on flights, light clothing reflects in the glass, and the rear middle seats see least. Doors-off seating puts most passengers next to an opening.
Is doors off scary?
Less than people expect: you are strapped in, and most reviewers say the nerves fade within minutes.
It is louder and windier, and the drop below is very visible. If anyone in your group is anxious about flying, doors on is the gentler start.
Which doors-off tours run on Kauai?
Air Kauai's six-seat doors-off tour, Jack Harter's four-seat MD500 and Mauna Loa's private doors-off flight.
Air Kauai flies about 50 minutes from $402; Jack Harter gives a full hour in a small MD500 from $460, for ages 10 and up; Mauna Loa sells a private doors-off flight from $384.
Want every seat by an open door? The MD500 carries just four passengers.
Explore Jack Harter's doors-off MD500What are the rules on doors-off flights?
Nothing loose: phones on straps, hats and sunglasses secured, and usually a minimum age.
Operators lend phone wrist straps, and some ban loose cameras entirely. Wear layers: it is cooler with the wind at altitude.
Can children fly doors off?
Usually only older children: Jack Harter's 60-minute MD500 tour is for ages 10 and up.
On the doors-on Deluxe Waterfall Safari, lap infants under two fly free and children 7 and under sit in the rear.
Which should you book?
First visit with family: doors on. Serious photos: doors off. Want a window guaranteed: a private flight.
- Families and first-timers: the Deluxe Waterfall Safari.
- Photographers: Jack Harter's MD500 or Air Kauai doors off.
- Couples who want privacy: Mauna Loa or Ali'i private flights.
- Budget: a small plane, from $159.
Made up your mind? Check dates for the Deluxe Waterfall Safari.
Check dates for the Deluxe Waterfall SafariFrequently asked questions
Is a doors-off helicopter cold?
Cooler than doors on, especially high over the mountains. Bring a light layer.
Can I use my phone on a doors-off flight?
Yes, on a wrist strap or tether; operators lend them.
Is the Deluxe Waterfall Safari doors off?
No. It is a doors-on A-Star with large windows and air conditioning.
Ready to book
Choose your flight
Free cancellation up to 24 hours before on every option. Prices are from-prices in USD and move with the season.
Deluxe Waterfall Safari: 55-Minute Helicopter Tour
- 55-minute A-Star helicopter flight from Lihue with pilot narration
- Waimea Canyon, Na Pali Coast and the Mount Waialeale crater, weather permitting
- Six passengers: two beside the pilot, four in the rear
Jack Harter 60-Minute Doors-Off MD500
Four passengers, every seat by an open door
Air Kauai Doors-Off Helicopter Tour
Doors-off photos in a six-seat cabin
