Garuda Wisnu Kencana, usually shortened to GWK, is the giant statue on Bali’s southern peninsula. On the ground you look up at it from its base. From a helicopter you see it in its setting instead, standing above the town with the coast close by. It is one of the first sights on the short flights on the Bali hub, and it appears on four of the six routes, from the shortest hop to one of the long volcano tours.
The Bali South Coast 10-Minute Helicopter Tour is the quickest way to see it. In about 10 minutes, the route passes GWK and then follows the coast to Melasti Beach and Pandawa Beach before turning back. A shared seat costs from IDR 2,290,000. With the statue as the main landmark and the southern beaches as the finish, it works well as a first helicopter flight.
Longer routes add more of the south. The Bali Uluwatu 15-Minute Helicopter Tour passes GWK on the way to Uluwatu Temple and Nyang Nyang Beach, in about 15 minutes and from IDR 3,399,000 per seat. The Bali Bukit Peninsula 20-Minute Helicopter Tour adds Waterblow and Dreamland Beach, in about 20 minutes and from IDR 4,490,000 per seat. The Bali Volcanoes and Temples 75-Minute Helicopter Tour passes the statue near the end of its route, from IDR 14,999,000 per seat.
The tours follow a fixed route, but the weather can change it, and the pilot has the final say on safety. Seen from the side and from above, the statue changes shape as the helicopter moves, so keep your camera ready from take-off.
Every tour starts and ends at Nusa Dua Heliport on Jalan Raya Nusa Dua Selatan, south of the Nusa Dua resort area, where drinks are included in the heliport lounge. Before the flight, each passenger completes an online pre-flight registration with their full name, body weight, a copy of valid ID and any medical conditions, and the exact departure time is confirmed after booking. Arrive at least 20 minutes before departure for the safety briefing. Hotel pickup and drop-off are not included but can be added at extra cost.
Each tour is sold two ways. A shared seat is priced per person, and you may fly with other guests, with the crew deciding the seating; a private flight is priced per helicopter for up to 4 guests. All seats face forward with panoramic windows, the pilot gives live commentary, and a photo with the pilot or the helicopter is included. Professional photos and video, and landings on the way, cost extra.
The maximum weight is 130 kg per passenger. No minimum age is stated; children aged 2 and over need their own seat, and under-2s fly free on a parent’s lap. You can cancel for free up to 24 hours before departure or until you complete pre-flight registration, whichever comes first; after that, shared seats are non-refundable, as are private flights cancelled within 24 hours. If the pilot cancels for weather or safety, you choose a full refund or a new date.
Flights run all year. April to October is the dry season, with the clearest skies; from November to March, afternoon showers cause more reschedules, so morning flights are best. To see the statue on the shortest route, book the 10-minute south coast tour.
See Garuda Wisnu Kencana (GWK) 直升机上空 over Bali. Book the Bali South Coast 10-Minute Helicopter Tour.