What to bring on a helicopter tour in Mauritius
Six seasons briefing passengers on the apron, and the same short list every time. Passport, or the operator will not get you airside; the private charter asks for a copy at booking as well. Sunglasses, polarised if you have them, because the pass off Le Morne is over bright water and the sandfall is a contrast effect your eyes need to be able to see. Phone or camera on a strap; cameras are allowed, drones are not, and nothing loose. Hold the lens flat against the glass to kill reflections.
Dark, plain clothing matters more than people expect. A white shirt puts a white shirt in every window shot. No loose hats anywhere near a running rotor; a cap you can stuff in a pocket is fine. A light layer, since the cabin is air-conditioned and the plateau is cooler than the coast. Motion tablets taken before you leave the hotel if you are at all prone; the operators exclude motion sickness for a reason and the orbits are the test. And your honest weight at booking, because the seats are allocated by weight for balance and a wrong number is what actually delays a flight. No smoking, on any of them.
Arrive 30 minutes before the slot at Gate 3 for the airport flight; the transfer flight and the charter collect you at the hotel and the driver handles the timing. Which of the three to book is on helicopter tours, and the seat-by-seat view is on how to see the underwater waterfall.
The front seat sees furthest, but the pilot decides who sits where. On the pass the aircraft banks so each side gets the sandfall; you do not need the front seat for the photograph.
Frequently asked questions
What should I wear on a helicopter tour?
Dark, plain clothes to cut window reflection, closed shoes, a light layer for the cabin, and no loose hat. Sunglasses, ideally polarised. Nothing that can blow off near the rotor.
Can I take photos from the helicopter?
Yes; cameras and phones are allowed and the doors stay on, so shoot through the glass with the lens flat against it. Drones are not allowed. The light is best late morning; see the best time.
Do I need my passport for a helicopter flight in Mauritius?
Yes. The helipad is airside at SSR airport and Gate 3 checks it on the 40-minute flight. The private charter asks for a copy at booking. The seaplane at Grand Gaube is not airside; see helicopter versus seaplane.