Kauai: Air Tour of Na Pali Coast and the Entire Island review
What the tour is like
This is a fixed-wing plane, not a helicopter. The GA8 AirVan is an Australian-built aeroplane with excellent fuel efficiency and good views. The small group (max 6) means you get a two-way intercom with the pilot, so you can ask questions and hear what you’re seeing. The route covers Waimea Canyon, the Nā Pali spires, the ridgeline behind Hanalei Bay, Hanalei Valley waterfalls, and the crater below Mount Waiʻaleʻale (weather permitting). In winter, whale sightings are possible. The flight is 65 minutes door-to-door experience. At $155 and with over 1,000 reviews at 4.9 stars, this is the single most-tested product on the site.
What works
- 1,062 reviews at 4.9 stars — the largest sample on the entire site
- Cheapest air option at $155
- Fixed-wing plane means half the hourly cost of a helicopter
- Two-way intercom with the pilot so you can talk to him
- Small group (max 6) means good views and personal attention
- Sees the parts of the island the road never reaches
- Free cancellation up to 24 hours
Worth knowing
- Fixed-wing plane cannot hover or get low into valleys like a helicopter
- Fixed-wing plane cannot land — if you want to land at Manawaiopuna Falls, you need the helicopter tour
- 65 minutes is short — you’ll see a lot but spend limited time at each view
- Weather can cause cancellations or route changes
Book this if you want to see the parts of Kauaʻi the road doesn’t reach, at the cheapest air price. The 1,062 reviews are your biggest confidence signal on the site. If you want to land at Manawaiopuna (Jurassic Park) Falls, you need a helicopter instead.
Who it’s for
Anyone interested in flying over Waimea Canyon and the Nā Pali Coast without spending helicopter money. People who want a small group and direct access to the pilot via intercom. First-time visitors to the island. Not for people who want to land somewhere (planes can’t land). Not for people who feel anxious in small planes. Want air travel without the small-plane feeling? The helicopter tour offers a different experience and includes the Jurassic Park waterfall by landing there.
Other tours to consider
Most bookedKauai: Full-Day Waimea Canyon & Wailua River Tour
Best reviewedKauai: Air Tour of Na Pali Coast and the Entire Island
Lands at the fallsLihue: Deluxe Waterfall Safari Helicopter Tour
Frequently asked questions
Is this a helicopter or a plane?
It’s a fixed-wing plane, a GA8 AirVan built in Australia. Planes are roughly half the hourly cost of helicopters and fly the same coastline, but cannot hover or land. See our plane vs. helicopter comparison for details.
Why does it have 1,062 reviews and other tours have 6–68?
This is the most-booked air tour on the site because it’s been around longest and is the cheapest. More bookings over time means more reviews. That large sample is your biggest confidence signal.
Can we land at Manawaiopuna (Jurassic Park) Falls?
No. Fixed-wing planes cannot land. Only the Deluxe Waterfall Safari Helicopter Tour lands at Manawaiopuna Falls, because helicopters can hover and land on private terrain.