A Phuket helicopter tour turns the Andaman coast into one long view: the white curve of Bang Tao Beach, the Big Buddha on its green hilltop, the headland of Phromthep Cape, and further out the limestone towers of Phang Nga Bay and the cliffs around Maya Bay. Flights run 15 to 50 minutes in a six-seat helicopter with emergency floats and noise-cancelling headsets.
The Phuket hub has six fixed routes, all starting at the helipad near Phuket airport. You can book a single seat on a shared flight, where the crew assigns seats, or all 6 seats for a private flight.
Which Phuket helicopter tour to book
- Phuket Laguna and East Coast 15-Minute Helicopter Tour, from THB 9,900 per seat (private THB 59,400). Bang Tao Beach and the Laguna resorts, then over the mountains to the east-coast marinas, mangroves and yachts.
- Phuket Big Buddha 25-Minute Helicopter Tour, from THB 15,900 per seat (private THB 95,400). Over green hills to the Big Buddha, with the coast and the Andaman Sea around it.
- Phuket West Coast 30-Minute Helicopter Tour, from THB 18,900 per seat (private THB 113,400). Surin, Kamala and Bang Tao, a circle of the Big Buddha, then Patong Bay, Karon, Kata and Nai Harn down to Phromthep Cape. The best single look at the island’s beaches.
- Phuket Samet Nangshe 30-Minute Helicopter Tour, from THB 18,900 per seat (private THB 113,400). Over mangroves and rubber plantations to the mainland and Samet Nangshe Viewpoint, with the karst islands of Phang Nga Bay beyond, returning past the Sarasin Bridge.
- Phuket Phang Nga Bay 40-Minute Helicopter Tour, from THB 25,900 per seat (private THB 155,400). Across open water into the bay, over James Bond Island and the waterways around the Koh Panyee floating village.
- Phuket Maya Bay 50-Minute Helicopter Tour, from THB 31,900 per seat (private THB 191,400). Along the coast into the Phi Phi islands and over Maya Bay’s white sand and turquoise water, seen from the air only, with no landing.
For beaches, take the west coast flight. For the limestone karsts, the Phang Nga Bay route goes deepest into them, and the flight over Maya Bay is the longest and the one to book if Phi Phi is the reason you came.
Before you go
- Where: the Sakhu helipad near Phuket airport. Your check-in time is confirmed after booking; arrive at least 20 minutes before it for the mandatory safety briefing. Hotel transfers are included only if listed in your booking confirmation.
- Booking: names and ages of all passengers are required. Small personal items only, and only bottled water on board.
- Who can fly: no minimum age is stated. Children under 2 sit on a parent’s lap, under-12s fly with an adult, and pregnant passengers need a medical certificate.
- When: all year in daylight hours. From about May, in the green season, morning flights are best, as showers usually come in the late afternoon. Routes are fixed, but weather or air traffic control can change them. There are no landings.
- Cancellation: there is no free cancellation. More than 3 days before costs 25% of the fare, 3 days to 3 hours before costs 50%, and later or a no-show costs the full fare. Rebooking is free more than 24 hours ahead. If weather or safety cancels the flight, you can rebook free or get a full refund (bank fees may be deducted).
Not sure which route suits you? Email us at hello@flyovertheworld.com and we’ll help you choose.