Helicopter Options

Private Helicopter Charters in Asia

A private helicopter charter is an exciting yet often overlooked option for luxury holidays in Asia. Whether you want to dramatically slash transfer time between two cities, take a day trip to a destination you'd otherwise have to pass up, or simply add an aerial perspective to your ground touring, helicopters can be an excellent and economical solution. Remote Lands currently offers chopper charters in Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, Nepal, India, Sri Lanka, Mongolia, Indonesia, the Philippines, Hong Kong, and Japan.

Thailand

The temple ruins of Thailand's ancient kingdoms are easily accessible by helicopter from cosmopolitan Bangkok, turning time-consuming drives into short, exciting day trips. Sukhothai and Ayutthaya, two fascinating remnants of the kingdom of Siam, emerge from the rural Thai landscape as you touch down in privacy and comfort. Another option is a day trip to Kanchanaburi, a sleepy town at the cusp the Mae Klong river, infamously known as the site of the "Bridge on the River Kwai." Here, you can go rafting, elephant trekking, and visit the free-roaming, tame tiger adults and cubs of the Tiger Temple. Finally, it's no accident that Hollywood keeps returning to film on location in the waters of southern Thailand, a magical marine destination marked by steep karst outcrops shooting up from emerald seas. A quick chopper ride from Bangkok brings you low over the waters of Phuket's Phang Nga Bay, with its forested valleys, mangroves and estuaries and such legendary sights as James Bond Island.

Vietnam

The rugged hills of Sapa boast stunning terraced rice fields in the lap of verdant mountains. A short helicopter trip from Hanoi avoids the overnight train ride (in both directions) that typically proves prohibitive to travelers, while also giving you an unparalleled perspective of this remote region. Similarly, a chopper trims the trip to Mai Chau, known for its attractive scenery and removal from modernity, from three hours to about 30 minutes.

Cambodia

Angkor Wat has rightfully become one of Southeast Asia's tourist Meccas, yet few visitors avail themselves of an opportunity that its Khmer architects could only have dreamed of – an exhilarating bird's-eye view of the monumental complex and surrounding landscape. A helicopter tour, whether a quick 15-minute jaunt or a longer excursion with a landing for lunch, is a thrilling addition to any Siem Reap itinerary. Helicopters in Cambodia also open up off-the-beaten-path locales like Battambang, a tiny enclave of French Indochina; the Cardamom Mountains, filled with lush jungles and haunting abandoned temples; and Kep, once the beachfront resort of the Khmer elite and European expats.

Nepal

Few of us have the time or the inclination to go trekking up one of the enchanting yet imposing Himalayan peaks, but that doesn't mean you can't see them up close. A private helicopter tour can easily be added to your Nepal itinerary, allowing you to experience the country's most iconic sights with ease and comfort. A one-hour "flightseeing" tour around Mount Everest offers extraordinary and unique views not only of the world's highest mountain, but also four other "eight thousanders" (8,000-plus meter high peaks) as well as four more Himalayan peaks that top 23,000 feet. When visiting the beautiful valley of Pokhara, meanwhile, a similar helicopter jaunt takes you along the 34-mile Annapurna massif, including Machapuchare, a sacred, unclimbed peak whose jagged outline has earned it the nickname "the Matterhorn of Nepal."

India

Delhi to Agra – two points on India's "Golden Triangle," and deservedly atop many travelers' lists of must-visit destinations. The trip from India's capital to its greatest monument, the Taj Mahal, however, is a five-hour drive that can consume vital time from one's itinerary. A 45-minute helicopter ride, however, turns a half-day journey into a pleasurable jaunt, leaving you more time to explore the grandeur of the Taj, nearby treasures like Fatehpur Sikri, or the cultural riches of the adjacent state of Rajasthan. Further south, from your base in Mumbai, you can charter a helicopter to the awesome Ajanta and Ellora caves, UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Maharashtra whose stellar frescoes and sculptures are considered masterpieces of Buddhist heritage.

Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka's diverse and stunning geography ranges from world-class beaches, to lush rolling tea fields, to stately mountains. The drives between each environment, while beautiful, are not always painless affairs, and for certain legs it is both sensible and economical to travel by helicopter. A chopper charter from Nuwara Eliya's gorgeous tea country to the distant southern coast of Tangalle, for example, replaces a seven-hour drive with a 90-minute flight. From Colombo on the western coast to Dambulla, the heart of the interior's "cultural triangle," four-plus hours becomes less than one. A helicopter is also a great way to experience Sri Lanka's most recent UNESCO World Heritage property, the Central Highlands – a "biodiversity hot-spot" that includes the sacred Adam's Peak, Horton Plains National Park, and the lofty Knuckles mountain range.

Mongolia

Helicopter charters in Mongolia are a near-indispensable aid to experiencing the vastness and variety of this beautiful country. The lack of airports or infrastructure across the land make it a perfect place to travel by chopper, segueing from sand-dune camel rides in the southern Gobi to fly-fishing for giant taimen in the northern plains in a matter of hours, rather than unnecessarily overnighting some place in between. You can also open up your Mongolia itinerary to include the natural beauty of Lake Khovsgol and the unique wildlife of lesser-known national parks not easily accessible in the country's interior. Ulaanbaatar is a necessity in any Mongolian itinerary, but we recommend helicopters in order to bypass extra stops here in favor of Mongolia's charming rural landscapes.

Indonesia

For such a seemingly compact island, drive times in Bali can be surprisingly long, and helicopters here are both delightful in their own right and allow you to include the most in your itinerary, from the dramatic cliffs of Uluwatu in the south to the sacred volcano Mount Agung in the north. We also recommend fixed-wing charters throughout the major islands of Indonesia, which can liberate you from the vagaries of domestic commercial air and include typical destinations like Yogyakarta and Komodo as well as more far-flung locales like Sumba and Toraja.

The Philippines

The smattering of beautiful, secluded islands throughout the Philippine archipelago are perfect for chopper hopping. Cruise high over the 2,000 year-old rice terraces of Banaue, a UNESCO World Heritage Site carved into precipitous mountainsides at an elevation of 5,000 feet; circle the landmark Taal Volcano and its surrounding craters and cones; and touch down at the beaches and reefs of Boracay and Pamalican Island in no time at all.

Hong Kong

Hong Kong is a dense metropolis well known for its unique skyline. Less apparent, however, is that less than 25 percent of its land is developed, and nearly 40% is reserved for parks and nature reserves. To get a taste of this other Hong Kong, helicopter around Victoria Peak and Harbour before heading out to experience the small fishing islands and villages that dot the coast. Other recommended trips include a day trip to Macau for its pockets of colonial history and enticing casinos, Lamma Island for its quaint footpaths and rustic flavor, or a simple but enjoyable cruise above Hong Kong's modern skyline and hilly backdrop.

Japan

The ultra-modern metropolis of Tokyo lights up in scintillating display every evening. While the view from Tokyo Tower is nice, a sunset helicopter cruise elevates the experience to awe-inspiring. Beyond Tokyo, a quick chopper ride from Hakone makes for an unforgettable flightseeing tour around Mount Fuji.