Author: Igor
Helicopter flight in Dubai is the coolest excursion. I affirm after experiencing it personally. In the video on YouTube, I even said that instead of all the excursions, you can take one by helicopter - and there will be enough impressions. Therefore, I decided to write a separate text about this experience.
What is breathtaking:
- From the sensations of takeoff and turns of a helicopter
- From landscapes - desert, skyscrapers, sea, islands
- From the photos left on the phone
- From the noise level that the helicopter emits if you remove the headphones (do not repeat :))
I agree with the reviews of tourists about the helicopter excursion in Dubai: they can be viewed on the service where we booked, there are more than a thousand reviews and the rating is 4.7 out of 5!
My review of the helicopter flight over Dubai (+ photos)
In general terms, a helicopter tour over Dubai looks like this:
- helicopter,
- captain,
- enthusiastic 6 people inside.
It's a little offensive that passengers are seated according to their weight (yes, everyone is weighed) to balance the helicopter - so you won't be able to stake out a place for yourself in front or behind. At this point, how the weight will decide :) But the helicopter itself is practically with panoramic glazing, so, frankly, there is no big difference where you sit. The review is good everywhere.
I really liked the helicopter flight. There is something to see from above in Dubai - this is probably an important criterion when choosing the first sightseeing flight over the city in your life. The pilot in the sky tells what is seen on the horizon, but in English, and in the process, it is somehow not up to his words. And so it is clear that this is Burj Khalifa, so you take off over the Palm, and over there is Dubai Marina. More impressive, perhaps, only in New York.
Among the various helicopter tours around the world that I flip through from time to time, this is the most budgetary one in my memory. There is also inexpensive in South Africa, but getting there is more problematic ... :)
How much is a helicopter tour in Dubai? Flight options
The price of a helicopter flight in Dubai depends on the duration. The helicopter flight time can be chosen - 12 minutes, 15 minutes or 25 minutes. I recommend 12 minutes, and we booked this one because:
a) cheaper,
b) additional three minutes of "weather" will not do,
c) 25 minutes, in my opinion, is too much, the "wow" effect by the end of the flight may be lost.
How much does a helicopter flight cost in Dubai?
(for 1 person)
| 12 minutes flight | $ 177 | ≈ 14 500 rubles |
| 15 minutes flight | $ 227 | ≈ 18 600 rubles |
| 25 minutes flight | $ 358 | ≈ 29 400 rubles |
* the cost does not depend on the time of day
It can be compared to the volume of cappuccino in a coffee shop: small, medium and large. Having drunk a small one, you will already enjoy it, but buying the largest one, most likely you will not finish drinking it.
Interestingly, the time slots are designed in such a way that, having chosen 12 or 15 minutes, it is not possible to catch the sunset during the flight. But in 25 minutes - please :)
Where to book a flight? GetYourGuide is an international tour booking service around the world. Many reviews for this excursion and the best price tag.
The helicopter can accommodate up to 6 people. There are also private flights, but they are much more expensive, so I will not indicate prices for them. Also in Dubai (as in New York, for example) you can order a helicopter taxi from / to the airport via the Uber app. Of course, such a prank will cost much more. I have not tried it, but judging by the reviews on the Internet, a 15-minute flight will cost from $ 700 (and this is the price of two years ago, I did not find a fresh one).
Goetogide, by the way, is also the official ticket seller for the Burj Khalifa. Here prices are even cheaper than if you took offline, standing in huge queues at the checkout, or on the official website. Read this review and explanation if you're interested.
What can you see in flight? Description of the excursion
The number of locations and attractions that the passenger will see depends on the time. During the 12 minutes of the flight, we managed to see:
- Palm Jumeirah artificial island and Atlantis hotel
- Burj Al Arab Hotel
- Burj Khalifa on the horizon
- Dubai Marina and coastline
If you choose 15 or 25 minutes, you can additionally see the Mir archipelago (a cluster of islands that looks like a map of continents), Dubai Creek, the second Palm and much more. Each tariff has a description of the excursion and what is included in it, read carefully.
In a helicopter, you are wearing headphones, and the pilot tells you exactly what you are flying at a given second. But you can't hear it very clearly.
On longer flights, as I understand it, they get closer to the Burj Khalifa - in 12 minutes we observed the tower from afar, but no less spectacularly. Feedback from tourists about the helicopter flight in Dubai is positive and confirms my words: "excellent experience", "highly recommend." Many people like the take-off place - you can immediately see the island of Palma and the Atlantis hotel.
What do you need for a helicopter flight? Rules
Now helicopter tours are carried out on Saturdays and Sundays due to the decline in the flow of tourists. In the old dock days, pilots worked every day. Well, you need to be wearing a mask.
From the main:
1) payment in advance,
2) passport with you
3) and you are at the office in 45 minutes.
If you choose, like us, 12 minutes, then a free transfer is not provided (but you can try after booking to write there on the website and clarify). The option of 15 or 25 minutes includes a transfer from a hotel in Dubai - you need to write in advance and say what kind of hotel you have.
We took a taxi: from the Mall of the Emirates to the site, the trip cost 33 dirhams. The meeting point is indicated in the voucher, which is sent by mail after booking, it is on Palma in the parking area of guests of the Aquaventure water park.
The flight began at the scheduled time. Why then be in 45 minutes? To weigh you, conduct a video briefing (including in Russian), hang a badge with the group number around your neck, and a life jacket around your waist.
Knowledge of English is not necessary - if anything, you can explain yourself in sign language. The briefing, as I said, is in Russian. Available time: from 10:00 to 17:00.
A helicopter tour can be canceled - refunded or rescheduled - if the weather is bad, it is important to understand and accept this. In the UAE, this is easier, the weather is usually good. I've been here four times, and I've never seen a cloud, let alone rain! But in order to accurately fly in a helicopter over Dubai, plan it for the first days of rest, then, if something happens, you can transfer it without any problems.
What other excursions did we take?
Whatever we have tried in Dubai and whatever texts we have written about the UAE ...
Here are the most memorable activities:
- Jeep Safari
- Climbing Burj Khalifa
- By speedboat in Dubai Marina
- Sightseeing in Abu Dhabi
- Dubai aquarium
- Hot air balloon flight
Yes, the price of a helicopter flight is not cheap when compared to other excursions in Dubai. But this is also an experience of a completely different level, especially for those who have never flown in a helicopter. And in Russia, let's be honest, it is more difficult to do this, and the views are not so large-scale.
I filmed our helicopter flight for my youtube channel, showed Dubai from the air, landing and impressions in the first minutes after:
