Ladies and gentlemen, may we have your attention please? We’re about to fill you in on the fine art of making a grand entrance – and there’s no entrance grander than arriving by helicopter. Of course, in some cases, this is entirely necessary. Like at Minaret Station Alpine Lodge in New Zealand, whose lofty position in the southern Alps means it can only be accessed by air. But in others, it’s simply a faster, more convenient, and, yes, grander way to arrive. So, here are eight such hotels for flying starts.
Miavana by Time + Tide, Madagascar
A tiny island marooned off the coast of Madagascar was never going to be easy to get to, but Miavana’s private helicopter makes getting there a joy. The 30-minute flight from Nosy Be airport wings you over bulging mountains and shipwreck-speckled seas, finally touching down on the hotel’s private helipad.
And private is the adjective that best describes Miavana. There are just 14 villas pitched in palm-tufted gardens, each coming with their own fingernail of powdery beach. Activities span the land, sea, and air – from diving into the 15,000 hectares of coral-patterned waters to tracking down rare lemur species on a helicopter safari.
Sheldon Chalet, Alaska
There are two ways you could arrive at Sheldon Chalet. The first is by trekking through Denali National Park and scaling the rocky nunatak it sits on top of – an endeavour that would take several weeks. But the second, preferable option is to take a 75-minute helicopter flight from Anchorage, where you’ll be met on the helipad (which doubles as an observation deck) with a glass of Champagne.
The hexagonal chalet has just five custom bedrooms fitted with faux furs and looking out over the surrounding snow-covered glaciers – which you could ski over, soar above, or even explore inside on one of the chalet’s expert-led tours. Back inside, there’s a private chef ready to whip up tundra-to-table meals that use foraged local ingredients – like, fiddlehead ferns and homemade pickles.
Royal Chundu, Zambia
It’s a story you’ll tell time and time again. How the Zambezi River spooled beneath you like a sapphire ribbon before suddenly thundering into Victoria Falls, rainbows refracting from the spray like an almighty cauldron. And you were there – you had a vulture’s eye view of it all as your private helicopter circled the fray before speeding off to the pin-drop tranquillity of Royal Chundu.
It’s certainly what we’d call a memorable arrival. And memorable is the word du jour at this relaxing resort – interchanged only, perhaps, for peaceful. The property’s two lodges, River Lodge and Island Lodge, are tucked on the banks of the Zambezi, the latter comprising just four spacious villas on a small, square-shaped island on the Zambian side of the river. Everything has been designed to emphasise the surrounding natural beauty, which you can explore on foot, by canoe, or even by helicopter.
Amanzoe, Greece
Arriving at Amanzoe by helicopter feels like fate – the resort is, after all, scattered amongst the UNESCO-protected ruins near a place called Porto Heli. After touching down at Athens Airport, you’ll soar over the city’s crumbling temples and ancient statues before hitting the coast, winging your way over silvery olive trees and emerald seas before arriving at Amanzoe’s modern-day Acropolis.
This is an Aman resort, so expect to see the brand’s signature fuss-free style at every turn – from clean-lined rooms hewn from Greek marble to a stress-banishing spa inspired by Hippocrates’ holistic healings. The hilltop location only adds to its serenity; you can see – and hear – nothing but the chirruping of cicadas from your pavilion’s private terrace. Bliss.
Kisawa Sanctuary, Mozambique
Despite feeling worlds away from everything, Kisawa is only a seven-minute helicopter flight from Vilanculos Airport, sprawled on a 300-hectare stretch of dune-rippled sand on Benguerra Island. There are just eight cove-front residences, each coming with butler service, an electric mini-moke, and design details you can’t help but photograph – like, hand-carved wooden figures created by local craftsman, Andre (who will teach you to make your own, if you want, as one of the many activities offered by the resort).
The diving and snorkelling here are also some of the best in the world. There are over 2,000 species of fish wriggling through the surrounding coral-stuffed waters, as well as humpback whales, manta rays, sea turtles, and dolphins – which you can get face-to-face with at one of 12 dive sites near the property.
Minaret Station Alpine Lodge, New Zealand
You’ll find New Zealand’s most remote lodge about 75km from Queenstown. A glacier bulldozed through here a few million years ago, scooping out a luscious, mountain-edged valley that the lodge now lords over. There are no roads; arriving by chopper is your only option.
Being in such a location, it’s unsurprising that the major commodities here are time, fresh air, and open space – although the helicopter is called back up for most activities, which include skiing, fishing, mountain biking, and crayfish gathering. For relaxing, there are four chalets to choose between, each equipped with hot tubs, private terraces, and floor-to-ceiling windows.
qualia, Australia
The wonder of Australia’s Whitsunday Islands is best seen by air: bubblegum-blue seas rippled with great swirls of sand and speckled with reefs like barnacles. But as soon as you touch down on qualia’s private helipad, it becomes clear that the beauty of qualia is best explored on foot – or perhaps one of the hotel’s golf buggies.
Nestled on a secluded peninsula on Hamilton Island (the archipelago’s largest landmass), the hotel has been designed to seamlessly blend with the surrounding rainforest – including a clever ventilation system that harnesses the sea breeze. Suites feel private and spacious, with huge windows or plunge pools that look over the sparkling sea, itself home to the Great Barrier Reef, one of the great wonders of the world.
Six Senses Yao Noi, Thailand
You could arrive at Koh Yao Noi by speedboat, but that would deny you the sheer joy of seeing Phang Nga Bay’s jungle-smothered islands and smooth jade seas from the skies. In fact, most of the island’s residents seem to prefer life in flight; as you stroll along the hotel’s stone paths, you’ll be joined by metallic dragonflies, kaleidoscopic butterflies, and flocks of tropical birds (including the threatened oriental-pied hornbill).
The hotel itself is stitched into this rich natural tapestry, its 56 stilted and thatched villas hoisted in the jungle like extravagant treehouses. You’ll sleep in canopy beds and splash in your villa’s private plunge pool, but don’t take that as an excuse not to visit the hotel’s showstopper infinity pool; from here, you can drink in unobstructed views over Phang Nga Bay whilst your Guest Experience Maker (GEM) brings you something cold and sparkling…
