There’s no better way to see the world than from the skies. Whether you want to glide over the crystal-clear waters of the Maldives, discover hidden waterfalls in Norway’s majestic fjords, or whale watch off the coast of California, we've ranked the most amazing seaplane flights around the globe.
Click through this gallery to discover 14 incredible seaplane journeys you need on your bucket list...
Synonymous with Italian glamour, Lago di Como, or Lake Como, is a stunning Alpine lake that stretches approximately 29 miles (46km) across northern Italy's Lombardy region, near the Swiss border. Its picturesque shores have long attracted the world's elite, including actor George Clooney, who purchased the 18th-century Villa Oleandra in the village of Laglio in 2002.
Lake Como is home to Aero Club Como, the world’s oldest seaplane organisation, founded in 1930. Offering a truly stylish way to experience the lake, its scenic flights take you to Bellagio in the centre or Colico in the north, soaring over the lake’s iconic villas and dramatic mountain backdrop. If you’re lucky, you might even spot an A-list celebrity gliding in their speedboat below.
There’s nowhere quite like Dubai when it comes to architectural showmanship and luxury. Over the past two decades, the city has experienced rapid growth, transforming into a metropolis of glass and steel.
A seaplane journey offers a unique perspective of Dubai's iconic landmarks, including the Burj Al Arab – a hotel often referred to as the world's only 7-star establishment – and the Burj Khalifa, the tallest building globally.
Seawings offers chartered seaplane flights over Dubai, providing passengers with aerial views of iconic landmarks, including the Palm Jumeirah – a man-made archipelago that extends into the Arabian Gulf in the shape of a palm tree. Flights typically take off from locations such as Dubai Creek and Jebel Ali.
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San Francisco Bay, renowned for its iconic landmarks, rolling hills and sparkling waters, is home to a mix of cultural, historical and natural attractions, from the imposing Golden Gate Bridge to the infamous Alcatraz Island, once a notorious federal prison. And what better way to see these than from the air?
San Francisco Seaplane Tours offers scenic flights over the bay’s most iconic landmarks. Departing from Sausalito, their tours take you soaring over the Golden Gate Bridge, providing a bird’s-eye view of its striking red arches against the bay’s shimmering waters. You’ll also fly above Alcatraz Island, catching a glimpse of the eerie remains, and enjoy sweeping views of the San Francisco skyline.
Take a seaplane journey over Norway’s majestic fjords and explore the sprawling archipelagos and waterways that make up the country's rugged northwest coastline.
While the Fjord Coast is renowned for scenic road trips, viewing its pristine mountain ranges and sparkling waters from a seaplane offers a distinctive vantage point.
Scandinavian Seaplanes operates seaplane flights from Bergen, Ulvik/Eidfjord and Aurland, offering a unique way to explore Norway’s dramatic landscapes from above.
Passengers can take off from the water and enjoy sweeping aerial views of deep blue fjords, towering peaks, ancient glaciers and cascading waterfalls. With flights ranging from 25 to 85 minutes, this experience showcases some of the most spectacular scenery in Western Norway.
Soar above the stunning San Diego coastline for a whale-watching experience like no other. From December to April, the grey whale migration transforms these waters into a highway for one of nature’s most awe-inspiring journeys, as thousands of whales travel from Alaska to the Pacific’s warmer breeding grounds.
With San Diego Seaplanes, you’ll witness these gentle giants from a breathtaking aerial perspective, spotting mothers and calves as they glide through the ocean beneath you. It’s a rare chance to see the scale of their migration from above – an unforgettable encounter with the wild.
During the Klondike Gold Rush in the late 19th century, hundreds of thousands of people travelled to the country’s northwest in search of their fortune. Many of the mining settlements that sprung up in Alaska during this period are still populated today, while some are atmospheric ghost towns. Best of all, you can see them from the skies, along with the sky-scraping mountains that the Last Frontier is famous for.
Alaska Seaplanes offers flights from its home base in Juneau to destinations including Skagway, Pelican and Ketchikan. The flight from Juneau to Elfin Cove is one of the prettiest, landing in the rich fishing grounds that attract anglers the world over. Wildlife is abundant along the cove, with regular visits from sea lions, sea otters, orcas, humpback whales and brown bears.
From cloud-skimming peaks and volcanoes to bamboo forests and lush islands, Japan packs a punch when it comes to epic landscapes. And what better way to experience the country’s famous archipelagos than by soaring over the picture-perfect Geiyo Islands, in the Seto Inland Sea, in a chartered seaplane?
Setouchi Seaplanes offers flights along Hiroshima Prefecture’s coast, famous for its association with the Murakami Kaizoku, a powerful maritime clan – often described as 'pirates' – in the 14th to 16th centuries.
The Setouchi Discovery Flight provides sweeping panoramas of the Onomichi Channel, showcasing the curving Shimanami Kaido expressway and its impressive bridges that connect the islands of the Seto Inland Sea.
Combine a trip to Vancouver, on Canada’s west coast, with an unforgettable seaplane journey to Phantom Lake. Despite its ominous name, this hidden gem is anything but eerie, with crystal-clear waters framed by endless pine forests and snow-capped peaks.
After soaking in the untouched beauty of Canada’s wilderness from above, you’ll be back in Vancouver in time to savour the city’s buzzing nightlife and world-class dining.
Sea to Sky Air offers an unforgettable seaplane journey. Departing from Squamish Airport, the flight soars over the Coast Mountains, revealing ancient valleys, towering peaks and sprawling glaciers before touching down on the emerald-green waters of the lake itself.
Nestled beneath the glaciers of Mount Jimmy Jimmy and Tzoonie Mountain, this secluded spot is only accessible by air, offering a tranquil retreat far from the crowds.
The Maldives’ 26 natural atolls are home to approximately 1,192 islands, with only around 200 being inhabited. Given its vast, scattered geography, the Maldives relies heavily on seaplane travel, and Trans Maldivian Airways operates the world’s largest seaplane fleet, with over 65 de Havilland Twin Otter aircraft.
A scenic flight with TMA offers breathtaking aerial views of the turquoise waters and white-sand beaches, with private charters available for those looking to explore more remote corners of the archipelago. While landing on an uninhabited island is possible, it requires prior permission from local authorities, as many are protected or privately owned.
Vietnam’s Hạ Long Bay is a sight to behold, whether you’re gliding through its emerald waters or soaring high above. Spanning 600 square miles (1,553sq km), this UNESCO-listed wonder is home to nearly two thousand islands and dramatic limestone pillars that rise from the sea like ancient sentinels.
Most visitors navigate this mystical seascape aboard a traditional junk boat, its iconic sails billowing in the breeze. But for a truly unforgettable perspective, take to the skies – an aerial view reveals the sheer scale and otherworldly beauty of this natural masterpiece.
After taking off from Tuan Chau Marina with Hai Au Aviation, you'll soar over iconic formations such as Dau Be Island, Bo Hon Island and Cong Do Island.
Recognised as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Hạ Long Bay boasts lagoons teeming with marine life, hidden grottoes and towering limestone cliffs. These natural wonders create a paradise for adventurers, offering mesmerising views from above and thrilling explorations below.
Fabled Loch Lomond sits within the Trossachs National Park in the western lowlands, around 35 miles (56km) north of the city of Glasgow. Easy to reach, the park is a breathtaking landscape of lakes, marshes and Munros – the Scottish name given to mountains over 3,000 feet (914m) tall.
Loch Lomond Seaplanes offers scenic flights over Scotland's breathtaking landscapes. Its Island Explorer Tour departs from Loch Lomond and typically flies northwest over the loch, offering views of the Arrochar Alps, including Ben Lomond, Scotland's most southerly Munro.
The route also encompasses Loch Long, the Cowal Peninsula and Loch Fyne – magical landscapes that inspired writers including Romantic poet John Keats, Treasure Island author Robert Louis Stevenson and Danish children’s author Hans Christian Andersen.
Rising majestically within Tongariro National Park, Mount Ruapehu is one of New Zealand’s most active volcanoes. Towering at 9,177 feet (2,797m), it dominates the central North Island, roughly midway between Auckland and Wellington.
While its last eruption in 2007 was a reminder of its restless nature, today, Ruapehu is best known for world-class skiing. Home to the country’s two largest ski fields, Whakapapa and Turoa, it offers dramatic alpine terrain, sweeping runs and an unforgettable backdrop of steaming craters and jagged ridges.
Soar above New Zealand’s volcanic heartland with Taupo’s Floatplane. Taking off from the shimmering waters of Lake Taupo, this scenic flight climbs to 10,000 feet (3,000m), offering jaw-dropping views of Mount Ruapehu’s active crater lake.
Along the way, you'll glide over the striking Tama Lakes, the dramatic slopes of Mount Ngauruhoe and the surreal, jewel-toned Emerald Lakes that dot the rugged terrain of Tongariro National Park. Operating daily (weather permitting), this experience is a must for those looking to witness some of the country’s most revered landscapes.
Patagonia is the ultimate frontier for off-the-beaten-path adventure. Stretching across thousands of miles of untamed wilderness in both Chile and Argentina, this remote paradise is a land of towering glaciers, thundering waterfalls, rugged volcanoes and wild horses roaming free.
It’s a place where nature reigns supreme, offering endless opportunities for exploration in one of the most awe-inspiring landscapes on Earth.
Based in Puerto Montt, Aero Alerce offers a spectacular seaplane adventure over Chile’s remote Pumalín backcountry. This exclusive chartered flight takes you low over the dramatic peaks of the Andes before tracing the rugged fjords and culminating in a pass over the Chaitén caldera.
Once dormant for over 9,000 years, the volcano roared back to life in 2008, leaving behind an otherworldly landscape. Running from September to May, this unforgettable journey offers a rare perspective on one of Patagonia’s most awe-inspiring regions.
Our pick for the world's most amazing seaplane journey has to be the Whitsunday Islands. Scattered like jewels across the Coral Sea, this breathtaking archipelago comprises 74 tropical islands, many of which are uninhabited, in a region renowned for its dazzling white sands, crystal-clear waters and vibrant coral reefs.
Air Whitsunday offers scenic seaplane flights over this spectacular landscape. Departing from Airlie Beach or Hamilton Island, flights take passengers over the iconic Heart Reef, a naturally occurring coral formation shaped like a heart, before soaring above the turquoise waters of the Whitsundays. Many tours also include a water landing, allowing visitors to step onto the sands of Whitehaven Beach or snorkel in secluded reef lagoons.