Heli-picnics offer the chance to travel and dine in a unique and memorable way.
Klaus Huber, a businessman with a private helicopter license in Calgary, Alberta, knew the thrill a helicopter ride could give a person: the sweeping views, the ability to just pick a spot and land, and the freeing sensation of flying so close to pristine nature. What he didn’t know was what it would be like gifting a heli-picnic to a dear friend for her birthday.
“I’m a risk taker and I thought, let’s try this and see if it’s worth it.”
Suffice it to say it was worth the expense to see the surprise and delight on her face because he now treats friends, family, employees, and even those he doesn’t know well on heli-picnics several times a year to give them once-in-a-lifetime memories.
Heli-picnics — which are exactly as they sound — have been around as an idea for years but got a popularity boost with the COVID pandemic, which pushed so many to embrace the outdoors. Now, heli-picnics are often the most popular service offered by helicopter tour companies across North America, catering to those seeking untouched beauty not easily accessible, if at all, with a brush of luxury and adventure for engagements, celebrations, and memorable dates.
Take a heli-picnic with LR Helicopters, whose office is located at the foothills of the Canadian Rockies, and you may get up close to the banks of the Elbow River where lush vegetation and wildlife abound, fly over the rushing waters of Elbow Falls and into the canyons and steep valleys along the Kananaskis River to its eponymous lake. Take in the breathtaking views of Haig Glacier at the Continental Divide then to Mount Assiniboine, the heart of the Southern Rockies, before landing atop a hillside with 360 degree views, a large canister of bear spray at hand — though the sound of the helicopter blades scare the bears away before landing — and of course, a picnic lunch.
Prefer the dreamy turquoise waters of Catalina Island off the coast of southern California? IEX Helicopters whisks you from Los Angeles to the top of the scenic island where a rugged and lush landscape surrounds. A photographer you thought was the co-pilot snaps photos as keepsakes as you sip champagne at an intimate picnic all set up by staff beforehand.
“It’s been an instant success,” says Alex Bodi, Business Development Manager at IEX Helicopters, who notes that the helicopter ride itself is an experience. “You often see humpback whales, great white sharks, dolphins and seals, and all kinds of marine life.”
Once the concept caught on and the right vendor partners were secured, the company started offering customized options, such as a photographer, often dressed as an employee of the company, to capture the scenic memories more naturally. Flowers, wine, music, customized menus — are all personalized options that can be added. The company has now tapped into the brunch crowd with a heli-brunch for groups of friends to share the unique experience.
As a couple or a group of friends, the real appeal is the shared privileged time in vast and untouched natural spaces. And Heli-picnics have become standard offerings at many of North America’s wilderness areas.
Oregon Helicopters overs heli-picnics atop a hillside overlooking the Columbia River after an intimate look into the mouth of a volcanic crater at Mount Saint Helens and the rushing waters of the Gorge. Rainbow Helicopters out of Ohahu, Hawaii offers a picnic in the Ko’olau Mountains with a view of the valley after a fantastic sweep of its most beautiful landmarks: the Waikiki skyline, Diamond Head Crater’s iconic shape, and Makapu’u lighthouse with a pass over Pearl Harbour heading back. And Blackcomb Helicopters in Whistler, British Columbia has launched a heli-picnic where you can take a dip in a cool mountain lake with a paddle board.
On the eastern side of North America, Scenic Helicopter Tours offers heli-picnics in the calming countryside of Texas, while Perfect Picnic offers a ride over the Manhattan skyline to East Hampton with Wing Air and a chauffeured ride to a picnic on the beach. (Papillon will take you to the floor of the Grand Canyon.)
Klaus, who no longer flies himself, brings his own trumpet to entertain his guests — and scare away any curious bears — and for him, the key to creating an unforgettable experience is in all the details. He talks to the pilots at LR Helicopters so that they can play an integral part of the experience by offering up stories of flying adventures and sharing their deep knowledge of the area. He also plots out a map of the sights seen so that his guests have a keepsake. The possibilities — as are the views — are limitless, but the outcome is singular.
“It’s a memory of a lifetime.”