Glitz, glamour, and dreams – Los Angeles is the seat of the most popular entertainment industry in the world – Hollywood.
The American city is as exciting as it gets with its laid-back, beachy atmosphere and immersive cultural experiences.
A walking tour will not truly capture the essence of the exuberant city – a helicopter tour is the best way to go about it.
This article covers everything you need to know before you book a helicopter tour in LA.
Top Los Angeles helicopter tours
# Private Helicopter Tour over Long Beach
# Private Helicopter Tour of Rancho Palos Verdes, Los Angeles, and Long Beach
Table of contents
Best Los Angeles helicopter tours
We have hand-picked the five best helicopter tours in LA and have presented them below.
All of them have different durations, itineraries, and timings.
But all of these tours have three things in common. They –
a) Fly over the glamorous Hollywood strip
b) Explore Los Angeles’ beautiful coastal region from the top
c) Pass the numerous celeb homes of Beverly Hills and Bel-Air
Private heli ride in LA over Long Beach
On this 15-minute private LA heli ride, passengers are treated to a panoramic view of Hollywood City’s coast.
Watch the iconic Queen Mary ocean liner, downtown Long Beach, and the Battleship Iowa become miniature marvels beneath the helicopter’s flight path.
Be greeted by breathtaking vistas of Catalina Island and the Pacific Ocean’s azure waters stretching out to the horizon.
Timings: 9 am to 6 pm
Tour Operator: Anthelion Helicopters
Cost: (2+ years) US$180 / person
Los Angeles Private heli tour of Rancho Palos Verdes and Long Beach
Witness the coast of LA on this private 30-minute LA helicopter ride.
Fly past the breaks at Redondo, Hermosa, and Manhattan beaches, heading to the exclusive and awe-inspiring harbor in Marina del Rey.
Soar above Santa Monica Pier, Hawthorne, Torrance, and the Galaxy Stadium and take in the jaw-dropping prowess and views of the western Pacific Ocean.
From the vantage point of the sky, look over Long Beach and LA’s scenic seaside communities.
Timings: 9 am to 5 pm
Tour Operator: Anthelion Helicopters
Cost (2+ years): US$249 / person
Beaches and Downtown Los Angeles helicopter tour
This 45-minute private helicopter tour over LA presents an extraordinary opportunity to see the city in all its splendor.
See the skyscrapers, palm-lined boulevards, and world-renowned landmarks up close, such as the Hollywood Sign against the backdrop of the Santa Monica Mountains.
Get a bird’s eye view of Venice Beach, the University of California, Beverly Hills, and the Capitol Records Building, to name a few.
Soar over the LA harbor and the iconic Queen Mary, and look out towards Catalina Island from the Palos Verdes Peninsula.
Timings: 9 am to 5 pm
Tour Operator: Anthelion Helicopters
Cost (2+ year): US$360 / person
California Coast and Canyons heli ride in LA
On this 35-minute heli tour over Los Angeles, treat yourself to a mesmerizing panoramic view showcasing all that the city has to offer.
The aerial view of the California Coast, Topanga Canyon, the Pacific Coast Highway, and Hollywood Hills is sure to take your breath away.
Beach communities like Venice, Santa Monica, Malibu, and Pacific Palisades display the laid-back beach culture for which LA is popular.
Timings: 10 am to 6.30 pm
Tour Operator: Group 3 Helicopters
Cost: US$395 / person
Hooray for Hollywood helicopter tour LA
On this celebrity-themed 35-minute LA helicopter ride, you get to see Tinseltown in all its glory.
Fly above landmarks like the mansions of Hollywood Hills and Beverly Hills, the world-renowned Hollywood Sign, Dolby Theatre, and TCL Chinese Theatre (Grauman’s).
This tour is a blessing in disguise for Hollywood junkies who also happen to be thrill seekers.
Timings: 10 am to 7 pm
Tour Operator: Group 3 Helicopters
Cost: US$395 / person
Hollywood and Beaches helicopter tour in LA
Swoop above the City of Angels on this thrilling private helicopter tour over Los Angeles.
Gaze down upon the towering skyscrapers of Downtown and the sprawling urban landscape of Santa Monica’s Hollywood.
Be dazzled by the glittering lights of the city’s renowned entertainment venues like the Staples Center and the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
Timings: 10 am to 6.15 pm
Tour Operator: Group 3 Helicopters
Cost (1+ years): US$495 / person
45-minute helicopter flight over Los Angeles
Embarking on this heli tour over LA provides a unique perspective that unveils the city’s architectural wonders and iconic landmarks.
Witness everything from the towering skyscrapers, exclusive celebrity homes, and landmark hills to the palm-lined boulevards, entertainment industry sites, and vibrant beach culture of the City of Dreams.
If you are short on time but want to see everything, this tour is a boon for you.
Timings: 9 am to 6 pm
Tour Operator: Worldwide Tourism Inc
Cost: US$499 / person
LA Helicopter Tour with Malibu Landing
On this 2-hour heli tour in LA, catch sights of renowned landmarks, like the Beverly Hills, the iconic Hollywood sign, Venice Beach, The Getty Center, and the Santa Monica Pier.
Make the most of a 30 to 45-minute landing in Malibu with complimentary sparkling wine.
If you’re looking for an adventure for a date, friendly bonding, or any other special occasion, this tour is perfect for you.
Timings: 1 pm and 6 pm
Tour Operator: Group 3 Helicopters
Cost: US$875 / person
Cost of helicopter flights in LA
The cheapest helicopter flight in Los Angeles will cost approximately US$180 per person.
It is also the most popular tour in the city.
At the higher end is the LA Helicopter Tour with Malibu Landing, the tickets of which can go up to US$875 per person.
Helicopter rides can be a costly affair.
So, it is important to know the tour costs in advance to plan your trip and factor it in with other considerations.
But there is no doubt that a Los Angeles heli tour is a perfect addition to your trip to this city.
Where do helicopters take off from
Depending on your chosen tour and the tour provider, LA helicopter tours can take off from any one of the following three heliports:
Anthelion Helicopters conducts its tours from 3213 Airflite Way.
Address: 3213 Airflite Way, Long Beach, CA 90807, USA. Get Directions.
Note: When you arrive at the location, reach the last hangar on the row, enter, and wait in the lobby, where the staff will be with you shortly.
If you arrive outside the operator’s reception hours, we advise calling them to inform them of your arrival.
Group 3 Helicopters depart from the Van Nuys Airport.
Address: 16425 Hart St, Van Nuys, CA 91406, USA. Get Directions.
Note: Meet the staff at the front desk on the 2nd floor.
Worldwide Tourism Inc’s aircraft took off from the Burbank Heliport.
Address: 10750 Sherman Way, Burbank, CA 91505, USA. Get Directions.
The heliports are near public transportation.
The tours end back at the meeting point.
There are multiple take-offs daily, so book early to get your preferred time slot.
Timings of the tours
Most Los Angeles helicopter tours are operational on all days of the week.
Only the LA Private heli flight of Rancho Palos Verdes and Long Beach does not run on Wednesdays.
Depending on the tour you have selected, the first batch of LA helicopter rides can take off as early as 9 am.
The tours can continue taking place in slots up to 7 pm.
Most tour operators prefer their participants reach the meeting point 45 minutes before the aircraft’s departure.
Restrictions strictly followed
Weight and height limits apply for safe and comfortable Air tours of Los Angeles.
It is strongly advised to confirm the weight/height limits with the staff of your preferred tour.
A minimum and a maximum number of passengers are required on these tours, failing which, they will be canceled.
An advisory regarding the minimum drinking age (21 years) is in place for the tours with champagne.
Infants and children are allowed onboard, but infants must sit on the caregiver’s lap throughout the flight.
Children must be accompanied by an adult.
All passengers and bags must go through an inspection, and lockers are available at no extra cost to hold belongings while flying.
A valid photo ID is required. Some operators may also demand to verify the credit card used to book a tour.
No pets are allowed onboard except service animals.
Most heli rides over Los Angeles are not wheelchair accessible.
Since sunset times vary throughout the year, we recommend you communicate your sunset tour preferences to the tour operators at the time of booking.
The airspace is closed with a warning issued 24 to 48 hr. in advance (or in some cases, no warnings) when VIPs such as the president are in town. Often, there are also restrictions on flying over sports stadiums when the Dodgers or Rams are playing.
Pregnant women or guests with heart problems or other serious medical conditions may contact the tour authorities regarding their accessibility in advance.
Flight times are approximate based on winds, weights, and conditions.
Seating arrangements may often be in the hands of the tour organizers for a safe and stable flight.
Accessibility of the tours
Only the Los Angeles heli tour of Rancho Palos Verdes and Long Beach and the Beaches and Downtown Los Angeles helicopter tour are accessible to guests with disabilities.
The aircraft, transportation, and surfaces are completely wheelchair accessible, preventing any inconvenience for the guests.
Exclusions of the air tour
The helicopter tours of LA do not include personal expenses.
Photos for souvenirs are excluded from your ticket.
It is very normal to tip the pilot and other ground staff, but unfortunately, gratuities are not part of the helicopter tour price.
A pick up from your hotel and drop back isn’t included in the cost, but this shouldn’t worry you because all the departure points are very close to the city center.
Cancellation Policy
Most LA heli tours, EXCEPT the ones operated by “Group 3 Helicopters”, have a tourist-friendly cancellation policy.
They allow cancellations until 24 hours before your tour date for a full refund.
If you cancel less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time, a 100% percent cancellation fee is applicable.
No changes are allowed within 24 hours of the experience’s start time.
Helicopter tours require good weather.
If the tour is canceled due to poor weather or non-fulfillment of the minimum number of passengers, you may be offered a different date or a full refund.
Recommended Reading
# Preparing for the first helicopter flight
# Clothes to wear during helicopter tours
# How to overcome fear of flying
# Scuba diving – how long to wait before flying?
# Why helicopter tours are an excellent activity
# FAQs about Helicopter tours