1000 Islands Helicopter Tours.
Year-round helicopter sightseeing tours over the 1000 Islands and Boldt Castle, departing Gananoque on the St. Lawrence

The brief.
1000 Islands Helicopter Tours is a year-round helicopter sightseeing operator based at Gananoque on the St. Lawrence River, with flight paths reaching from downtown Kingston east over Boldt Castle, Singer Castle, Millionaire's Row, and the Manhattan Group of Islands. The brand launched in May 2014 and operates Robinson R44 helicopters under Kouri's Kopters Inc., a Transport Canada–approved Air Carrier. Five scheduled tours run between 10 and 60 minutes — from the $109 introductory loop over Gananoque to the 60-minute Works Tour combining Kingston and both castles — alongside experience packages landing at Prince Edward County wineries, Wheelers Pancake House, BUSL Cider, and ARBRU craft brewery. Two tours hold government Signature Experience designations: the Boldt Castle Tour (Ontario, 2016) and Aerial Views and Seaway Hues (Canadian, 2019).
11. ways in.
- 01
1000 Islands Tour
For: All ages (275 lb per-passenger weight limit)When: Year-round (weather permitting)The shortest scheduled tour: a 10-minute Robinson R44 loop from the Gananoque heliport over the Town of Gananoque, the Admiralty and Navy Island groups, Howe Island and its ferry, Wolfe Island's wind turbines, and the 1000 Islands Ivy Lea Bridge. Does not pass Boldt Castle — for that, the operator's longer tours apply. Pre-recorded commentary available in English, French, German, Mandarin, Japanese, and Spanish.
$109 per person (minimum two passengers for dispatch)
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Boldt Castle Tour
For: All ages (275 lb per-passenger weight limit; no passport required)When: Year-round (weather permitting)Designated an Ontario Signature Experience in 2016. The 20-minute route extends the 1000 Islands loop with the American Span and Ivy Lea Bridges, Millionaire's Row, the Manhattan Group of Islands, the 1000 Islands Parkway, and Boldt Castle at Alexandria Bay — viewed from approximately 1,000 feet above. Pre-recorded commentary in six languages.
$189 per person (minimum two passengers for dispatch)
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Aerial Views and Seaway Hues (Two Castle Tour)
For: All ages (275 lb per-passenger weight limit; no passport required)When: Year-round (weather permitting)A 30-minute Canadian Signature Experience (Destination Canada, 2019). Adds Singer Castle — the only completed and inhabited castle in the region — alongside Boldt Castle, the Pentland and F.A. Georger shipwrecks, The Sisters Lighthouse, and the working shipping channel. Robinson R44 cabin gives every seat a window. Pre-recorded commentary in six languages.
$279 per person (minimum two passengers for dispatch)
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Kingston City Tour
For: All ages (275 lb per-passenger weight limit)When: Year-round (weather permitting)A 30-minute westbound route over Fort Henry, the Bateau Channel, the LaSalle Causeway, Howe and Wolfe Islands, downtown Kingston, Olympic Harbour, Kingston Penitentiary, Queen's University and St. Lawrence College, and the Garden Islands shipwrecks. The bird's-eye view of Kingston's waterfront and historic sites that no street-level tour can match. Pre-recorded commentary in six languages.
$279 per person (minimum two passengers for dispatch)
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The Works Tour
For: All ages (275 lb per-passenger weight limit; no passport required)When: Year-round, limited availability (weather permitting)The 60-minute combined tour — Kingston, Fort Henry, the Kingston Penitentiary, sunken ships in the river, Wyckoff Villa, Boldt Castle, and Singer Castle in one flight. Both Ontario and Canadian Signature Experience certified. Includes a pre-recorded movie of tour highlights and a t-shirt. Pre-recorded commentary in six languages.
$525 per person (minimum two passengers for dispatch)
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1000 Islands Highlights with Helis & Hops
For: Adults; max 3 passengers per helicopter (double occupancy)When: Year-roundA ~1.75-hour package: 30+ minutes airborne over Boldt Castle, Singer Castle, Millionaires' Row, the 1000 Islands International Bridge, and shipwrecks, with a landing at ARBRU — Canada's first fully solar-powered craft brewery. Includes a walk through the hops field, a craft brew flight tasting, and a personal wood-fired pizza (pepperoni, meat lovers, or margarita).
$375 per person (50% non-refundable deposit at booking)
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1000 Islands Seaway & Cider Heli Tour
For: Adults; max 3 passengers per helicopter (double occupancy)When: Year-round (weather permitting)A 60+ minute package combining roughly 30 minutes of flight time over Boldt Castle, Singer Castle, Millionaires Row, and the shipwrecks with a landing at BUSL Cider. Includes a guided tour of the cider facility, a flight of four cider tastings (600 ml total), and a light lunch from the BUSL menu.
$525 per person (50% non-refundable deposit at booking)
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Maple Syrup Heli Tour
For: All ages; max 3 passengers per helicopter (double occupancy)When: Year-roundA ~60-minute round-trip flight from Gananoque north to Wheelers Pancake House. Includes a guided tour of Wheelers' Maple Syrup Production Facility, access to the on-site Wheelers Maple Heritage Museum, a homemade pancake meal for two, and the run of 730 acres of nature trails between the museum and the helipad.
$525 per person (50% non-refundable deposit at booking)
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Heli Fishing Package
For: Adults; anglersWhen: Contact for detailsGuided fishing for largemouth bass, pike, and walleye on a private lake. The helicopter delivers anglers directly to the bank, where a boat is waiting. Listed on the packages index; contact the operator for current season and detail.
$695 per person
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Taste of the County Heli Package
For: Adults; max 3 passengers per helicopter (double occupancy)When: Year-round (winery-season dependent)A 5.5–6 hour package with ~1.5 hours of total air time round-trip to Prince Edward County. Includes a guided visit to three different wineries, breweries, or distilleries, tastings at each stop, and lunch at the second stop. Stops are customizable on request — contact the operator to choose your three.
$1,025 per person (50% non-refundable deposit at booking)
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Custom Helicopter Charters
For: Couples, private parties, commercial clientsWhen: Year-round (by arrangement)Custom charters: wedding transport and in-flight ceremonies, romantic proposals with custom routes, point-to-point air taxi service, scenic flights with touch-downs at restaurants or golf courses, and aerial work (photography, filming, surveys).
Contact for details
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Worth knowing.
- 01Brand launched May 2014 in Gananoque, Ontario, operating under parent company Kouri's Kopters Inc.Source ↗
- 02Operations provided by Kouri's Kopters Incorporated, a Transport Canada–approved Air Carrier licensed by the Canadian Transportation AgencySource ↗
- 03Boldt Castle Tour designated an Ontario Signature Experience (2016)Source ↗
- 04Aerial Views and Seaway Hues (Two Castle Tour) designated a Canadian Signature Experience by Destination Canada (2019)Source ↗
- 052022 Gold Star Award of Excellence on TripAdvisorSource ↗
- 06Fleet: Robinson R44 helicopters — 4-seat capacity (3 passengers, 1 pilot), 180 km/h cruise, enclosed cabin with side-by-side seating and unobstructed views from every seatSource ↗
- 07Per-passenger weight limit 275 lbs (Transport Canada regulation)Source ↗
- 08Minimum two passengers required to dispatch any scheduled tourSource ↗
- 09Pre-recorded commentary available in English, French, German, Mandarin, Japanese, and Spanish across all scheduled toursSource ↗
- 10Tours depart and return at Gananoque, so no passport is required even when the flight path crosses into U.S. airspaceSource ↗
- 1124-hour notice required for rescheduling or full refund; no fee for rescheduling or cancellationSource ↗
Get in
touch.
- Website
- fly1000islands.ca
- Phone
- 1-855-855-4354
- Address
- 88 County Rd 32, Leeds & Thousand Islands, ON K7G 2V3
- www.instagram.com/fly1000islands
- www.facebook.com/fly1000islands