Generally speaking I am a “yes man”, so when I was asked if I wanted to do the Smile Air Joyride in Palau for $220 I simply said “yes”. It was only later that I learned that this was a plane journey where they take the door off the plane before you fly.
Now call me a traditionalist, but I generally fall under the “planes should have doors” school of thought. And because of this, and my fear of heights, I spent a few days contemplating (and having nightmares) about what it might entail.
In the end though, I not only put my big boy pants on and did the Joyride, but actually really quite enjoyed it. So, is it worth the 200+ bucks?
Table of Contents
What the Smile Air Joyride in Palau is
Smile Air is a small aviation company based in Palau, operating light aircraft that give you a full aerial view of the islands, lagoons, and reefs. The Joyride is essentially a scenic flight where the side door is removed, giving an unobstructed view of Palau from above. You get to see the Rock Islands, Jellyfish Lake, Blue Corner, and a scattering of smaller reefs and islands that are otherwise hard to reach or impossible to appreciate from the ground or by boat.
The planes are small, usually Cessna-type aircraft, with one seat at the front and two in the back, so the experience feels intimate and personal. The flight is part adventure, part sightseeing, and part adrenaline rush, especially if, like me, you’re not entirely comfortable being suspended in the air with no door.
The Price
Smile Air offers three packages:
- A Course — around 25 minutes, US$170 per person. Covers the Koror area, Jellyfish Lake, and some nearby islands.
- B Course — around 40 minutes, US$220 per person. Includes all A Course sights plus a wider view of the Rock Islands, channels, and reefs.
- C Course — around 55 minutes, US$295 per person. The most comprehensive, covering the Rock Islands, Blue Corner, Peleliu Island, and many of Palau’s southern islands and marine areas.
Optional extras include a “door-off” option (not compulsory) for better photography. Hotel pickup and drop-off are usually included for Koror and Airai.
The Experience of the Smile Air Joyride in Palau
We’d booked the Joyride for 8:30 am and were duly picked up by the guys at 8 am and taken to the airport. Yes, you fly from Koror Airport. On arrival we filled out a disclaimer (never a good sign) and went through safety. This largely entailed being given a belt that apparently floats if you went down at sea. I’m not gonna lie — I think you’d be screwed if you went down at sea.
The plane is an old Cessna that looks more like a 1980s car than a plane, with one seat at the front and two at the back. I went for the one away from the open door, next to the ashtray, yes, they have a boot and an ashtray. FYI, I was not allowed to smoke on this journey.
I’d like to say that taking off was fun, but we wobbled a lot and it felt more like a flying car in Harry Potter than a plane. Things then calmed down and honestly it was 40 minutes of bliss. Palau is truly beautiful and the degree of islands you see from the air is frankly amazing. In fact, it was so good I almost forgot that there was an open door, but open door there was. It was though not all that scary, and while I would not hold my phone out of the door, the mechanics meant it really was not that choppy. At least until the landing, where fear once again befell me. The driver though landed the plane. We did not give applause, for I feel that is the least we should expect.
In Conclusion
If you are fearless, this is a no-brainer, and honestly the price tag I found pretty reasonable. How you personally cope though depends on your fear of heights. I’d put my fear level at a mere 6/10 and I coped. Higher than that and you might have problems.
Overall though, I salute the Smile Air crew and their Joyride in Palau, for it really is another excellent way to enjoy the amazing place that is the Republic of Palau.
Click to check out our Palau Tours.
About Post Author
