Want a unique view of the Skagit tulip fields? Here’s how to take a helicopter tour

Instead of driving through the Skagit Valley Tulip Festival, visitors can get a different view of the vibrant flowers from above.

Atomic Helicopters is a Washington-based helicopter tour business that offers seasonal helicopter rides for $90 for 8-10 minutes over Skagit Valley’s tulip fields, downtown Seattle, Puget Sound and the Cascade mountains.

“We encourage visitors to fly with us to see the Skagit Valley and its famous tulip fields from a different perspective! Seeing rows upon rows of tulips is a remarkable sight to see from such a different angle. In addition to great views of the tulips, on clear days, passengers get exceptional views of the entire valley, and off in the distance, they can see the San Juan Islands, Mt. Baker, and even mountains in Canada,” Sara Andersen, general manager and charter director of Atomic Helicopters, wrote in an email to The Bellingham Herald.

The tulip helicopter tours are available during the last three weekends of April. The tours cost $90 per person and riders who are two years old or younger are free with an adult ticket.

All of the helicopter tours take off in Mount Vernon and the helicopters run on a first-come, first-served basis.

“There are no timetables for the flights as there are many variables that come into play with departure times,” the tour website states. There are no reservations available for tours.

The helicopters can hold up to six passengers who are encouraged to bring their phones, cameras and any small bags they may need. Eating and smoking are not allowed during the tours.

As tours are first-come, first-served, Andersen advises visitors to call ahead to confirm the helicopters are running each day.

“For the safety of our guests, our helicopter tour over the tulips event is subject to weather. For guests traveling from out of town to fly with us, we suggest calling or emailing ahead to make sure we are operating,” Andersen wrote.

Atomic Helicopters tours will run from noon to 5:30 p.m. on April 22, 23, 29 and 30 at Gordon Skagit Farms at 15598 McLean Road in Mount Vernon.