What do you see on a 20 minute Bora Bora helicopter tour? — featuring Rob & Haley

In this video: Bora Bora Helicopter Tour | Tahiti Helicopter Tours

Rob & Haley · 4 years ago

How long is the entire helicopter tour experience?

The actual flight is 20 minutes, but you should budget 45 minutes to an hour for the entire experience when you include transportation to the helipad, safety briefing, boarding, and the flight itself.

What this video answers

  • How long is the entire helicopter tour experience?
  • What should I wear and bring on a helicopter tour?
  • Is this tour suitable for first-time helicopter riders?
  • What is the best time of day for aerial photography?
  • Can you control which parts of the island you see?

At a glance

Length
11 min
Channel
Rob & Haley
Video from
Sep 2022
Rating
⭐⭐ Great video · 2/2
Best for
Honeymooners and aerial-photography enthusiasts planning a Bora Bora trip
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Overview of the Bora Bora Helicopter Tour Experience

This 20-minute helicopter tour offers an aerial perspective of Bora Bora, one of French Polynesia's most striking islands. The video follows Rob and Haley during their honeymoon as they depart from a beachside helipad and circle the island to showcase its dramatic landscape and exceptional water colors from above. The tour captures the full scale of Bora Bora's geography—from the lagoon's turquoise shallows to the island's interior and surrounding reefs—in a single, immersive flight.

This experience suits honeymooners, photographers, and travelers who want to see the island's full layout without spending a full day hiking or boating. If you're willing to splurge on a memorable aerial view and don't mind wind noise or small-aircraft conditions, this tour delivers the kind of perspective that changes how you understand a destination's beauty and size.

Key Moments

Highlights of This Bora Bora Aerial Tour

  • Departure from a dedicated helipad with golf-cart transfer from your accommodation
  • Aerial views of Bora Bora's iconic turquoise lagoon and surrounding reef system
  • 360-degree perspective of the island's volcanic peaks and coastline
  • Opportunity to photograph the water colors that are impossible to capture from sea level
  • Guided flight loop that covers multiple distinct regions of the island in 20 minutes
  • Return to the helipad with time to continue your day (the video shows the couple heading to lunch afterward)
Featured image for the guide to Bora Bora Helicopter Tour | Tahiti Helicopter Tours by Rob & Haley

What to Know Before Booking Your Bora Bora Helicopter Tour

  • Duration: The standard tour is 20 minutes of flight time, plus time for arrival, safety briefing, and transfer to and from the helipad
  • Weather conditions: The video was shot on a Saturday morning described as "very windy"—wind can affect flight quality and departure times, so flexibility is important
  • Timing: Book early in the day if possible; the video departed around 11:00 a.m., but earlier flights may offer clearer skies
  • Logistics: You'll be picked up by golf cart from your resort or hotel and taken to the helipad, so expect transportation both directions
  • Schedule tightly: The video mentions the tour operates on a "very strict schedule," so arrive early and plan your day accordingly
  • Booking: Spots fill quickly during peak honeymoon and vacation seasons, so reserve well in advance

Frequently Asked Questions About Bora Bora Helicopter Tours

How long is the entire helicopter tour experience?

The actual flight is 20 minutes, but you should budget 45 minutes to an hour for the entire experience when you include transportation to the helipad, safety briefing, boarding, and the flight itself.

What should I wear and bring on a helicopter tour?

The video was shot in warm, tropical weather. Wear comfortable clothing you don't mind getting slightly windblown, and bring sunglasses if you plan to photograph—however, secure any loose items as wind and air movement in a helicopter can be strong.

Is this tour suitable for first-time helicopter riders?

Yes, the 20-minute duration is manageable for nervous fliers, and the tour is designed for tourists. However, if you have a severe fear of heights or enclosed spaces, you may want to discuss your concerns with the tour operator before booking.

What is the best time of day for aerial photography?

Early morning flights typically offer the clearest skies and best light for photos of the lagoon's water colors. Avoid late afternoon when shadows and heat haze may reduce visibility.

Can you control which parts of the island you see?

The tour follows a set 20-minute route around the island, so you see a predetermined loop. The operator will cover the main attractions—the lagoon, reefs, and peaks—but you cannot request detours or longer focus on specific areas during the standard flight.

A still from the video Bora Bora Helicopter Tour | Tahiti Helicopter Tours by Rob & Haley
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Key Terms

Helipad
A designated landing and takeoff area for helicopters, typically located near airports, resorts, or tourist hubs.
Lagoon
A shallow body of water, usually surrounded by a reef or strip of land, that appears in vivid turquoise in tropical regions like Bora Bora.
Aerial tour
A sightseeing flight in an aircraft or helicopter designed to view landscapes and landmarks from above.
Reef system
An interconnected structure of coral and rock formations that rings many tropical islands and creates the shallow, colorful waters offshore.

Sources: Helipad · Lagoon · Aerial tour · Reef system — definitions cross-referenced with Wikipedia

Justin’s Take

This video is genuinely helpful because it shows the real logistical flow of a Bora Bora helicopter tour—from the 11:00 a.m. booking time to the golf-cart transfer to the actual flight—demystifying what happens before and after you're in the air. You see honest details like the windy conditions and the strict scheduling that travel guides often gloss over.

What I appreciated most was how clearly the video conveys why people do this tour: the water color from above is something you truly cannot see from the ground, and for a honeymoon or once-in-a-lifetime trip, that alone makes it worthwhile. If you're considering splurging on a helicopter tour in the South Pacific, this is exactly the kind of footage that should convince you to book sooner rather than later.

Great video · 2 out of 2

Justin
Justin

Years on the front lines of helicopter tour coordination — not as a travel blogger, but as the person responsible for making every guest experience go right. Managed 2,000+ cruise guests weekly as Shore Excursions staff aboard the Pride of America in Hawaii Personally coordinated with helicopter tour operators to confirm age, weight, and safety requirements.

Video by Rob & Haley on YouTube. If you enjoyed it, please subscribe to their channel and show your support for the great video.

Description

While we were on our honeymoon in Bora Bora, we did a 20 minute helicopter tour around the island. It was an incredible experience getting to see an aerial view of the land and water, and we loved seeing the incredible water color from above!

Stay tuned for our next Bora Bora vlog!

Watch previous Bora Bora videos: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL5bZ_w1fCagPA7r50yPttZF3QsOTep8hX

Follow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/robandhaley/
Follow me on TikTok: https://vm.tiktok.com/tCK1F4/
Listen to my podcast: https://www.inhumanpodcast.com/

Chapters:
00:00-01:09 Intro
01:10-03:01 Heading the the helipad
03:02-10:02 Helicopter tour
10:30-10:46 Ending

All music is from Epidemic Sound
https://www.epidemicsound.com/referra...

#tahiti #borabora #helicopter #boraborahelicoptertour #tahitihelicoptertour #helicoptertour #honeymoon #honeymoondestination

Video transcript for “Bora Bora Helicopter Tour | Tahiti Helicopter Tours” Accessibility

A full written transcript of this video, provided for accessibility. Select any timestamp to jump the video to that moment.

[Music] Saturday morning oh it's very windy it's probably gonna be really hard to hear but we're going on a helicopter tour of the island uh we have like a 20 minute tour I think

they take us around the island here now we get to see a lot of different prints of War for us so it's 10 50. Lancey in there we have to meet the golf

cart to take us to the helipad in 10 minutes um and then we'll go do the tour and then we'll come back and probably eat lunch in the beach because that's what we do it's very very strict schedule it really is it's very very strict here so you know [Music]

foreign [Music]

thank you [Music]

thank you thank you

[Music] a significantly just where it was needed

in Injustice dead [Music] nobody is losing change by your face remain the same [Music]

when we're finally sober they'll be gone please [Music] foreign

[Music] [Music] [Music]

cause them in just this day and in the eyes of time nobody's losing the spirals [Music] is over they'll be gone

[Music] the trees we'll always remember [Music]

me [Music] for me oh [Music] yeah everything [Music]

[Applause] [Music] foreign

[Music]

do my love and see where this road will take us [Music] it's not that you're timid no one could say

choosing to walk with a girl what shall we call us hold both find that out on the way [Music]

let us just do my love and see where this road will take us whatever [Music]

foreign [Music] foreign [Music]

[Applause] [Music] where it goes

so let's just do [Music] this [Music]

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