Aviation's Most Beautiful Views
While most passengers sleep or watch movies, some routes offer such stunning scenery that missing the view would be a tragedy. These flights showcase nature's grandest landscapes from the best possible vantage point.
Top 10 Most Scenic Flight Routes
1. Queenstown (ZQN) to Milford Sound (MFN) - New Zealand
Distance: 75 miles
Flight Time: ~40 minutes
Best Side: Both (plane circles for photos)
What You'll See: Snow-capped Southern Alps, pristine glacial lakes, dramatic fjords, Mitre Peak, ancient rainforests, and cascading waterfalls. This scenic flight is often called the world's most beautiful as it circles around Milford Sound to give all passengers perfect views.
📥 Download route data (CSV) | 🗺️ Track this route in the app
2. Paro (PBH) to Kathmandu (KTM) - Bhutan to Nepal
Distance: 267 miles
Flight Time: ~1 hour 30 minutes
Best Side: Left side eastbound
What You'll See: The Himalayan range including Mount Everest (29,032 ft), Lhotse, Makalu, and Kanchenjunga. On clear days, you can see five of the world's highest peaks. Paro's airport approach itself is one of the world's most challenging and scenic.
📥 Download route data (CSV) | 🗺️ Track this route in the app
3. Reykjavik (KEF) to Ilulissat (JAV) - Iceland to Greenland
Distance: 745 miles
Flight Time: ~2 hours 30 minutes
Best Side: Right side westbound
What You'll See: Iceland's volcanic landscapes, the vast Greenland ice sheet (world's second-largest ice body), massive icebergs in Disko Bay, and the Ilulissat Icefjord UNESCO site. The contrast of ice, sea, and Arctic wilderness is otherworldly.
📥 Download route data (CSV) | 🗺️ Track this route in the app
4. Male (MLE) to Any Maldives Resort Island
Distance: Varies (10-200 miles)
Flight Time: 15 minutes to 1 hour
Best Side: Any window seat
What You'll See: Crystal-clear turquoise lagoons, coral atolls forming perfect circles, pristine white sand beaches, and over 1,000 islands scattered across the Indian Ocean. The aerial view of atolls is like looking at nature's abstract art.
📥 Download route data (CSV) | 🗺️ Track this route in the app
5. Ushuaia (USH) to Antarctica (Various) - Argentina
Distance: ~650 miles
Flight Time: ~2 hours
Best Side: Both
What You'll See: The Drake Passage, massive tabular icebergs, the Antarctic Peninsula's dramatic mountains, penguin colonies visible from above, and the pristine white continent. Some flights circle Mount Vinson and other Antarctic peaks.
📥 Download route data (CSV) | 🗺️ Track this route in the app
6. Vancouver (YVR) to Calgary (YYC) - Canada
Distance: 424 miles
Flight Time: ~1 hour 20 minutes
Best Side: Right side eastbound
What You'll See: British Columbia's Coast Mountains, pristine glaciers, emerald lakes, the Canadian Rockies with peaks like Mount Robson, Banff and Jasper National Parks from above. On clear days, this route is a masterclass in mountain scenery.
📥 Download route data (CSV) | 🗺️ Track this route in the app
7. Bergen (BGO) to Tromsø (TOS) - Norway
Distance: 745 miles
Flight Time: ~2 hours
Best Side: Left side northbound
What You'll See: Norway's dramatic fjords, the jagged Lofoten Islands rising from the sea, the midnight sun (summer) or northern lights (winter), fishing villages clinging to cliffsides, and endless coastal scenery. Flying above the Arctic Circle offers unique light conditions.
📥 Download route data (CSV) | 🗺️ Track this route in the app
8. Kathmandu (KTM) to Lhasa (LXA) - Nepal to Tibet
Distance: 380 miles
Flight Time: ~1 hour 30 minutes
Best Side: Left side
What You'll See: Mount Everest and the entire Himalayan range, the Tibetan Plateau (world's highest plateau), turquoise sacred lakes, ancient monasteries, and the incredible contrast between Nepal's green valleys and Tibet's high-altitude desert.
📥 Download route data (CSV) | 🗺️ Track this route in the app
9. Sydney (SYD) to Cairns (CNS) - Australia
Distance: 1,265 miles
Flight Time: ~3 hours
Best Side: Right side northbound
What You'll See: The Great Barrier Reef (world's largest coral reef system), tropical rainforests, pristine beaches, turquoise waters, island chains, and the meeting point of reef and rainforest. The reef's colors are most visible on sunny days.
📥 Download route data (CSV) | 🗺️ Track this route in the app
10. Los Angeles (LAX) to Honolulu (HNL) - USA
Distance: 2,556 miles
Flight Time: ~5 hours 30 minutes
Best Side: Left side approaching Hawaii
What You'll See: Open Pacific Ocean transitioning to Hawaiian islands, volcanic landscapes of the Big Island, the Na Pali Coast of Kauai, Oahu's coastline with Diamond Head crater, and turquoise bays. The approach to Honolulu offers spectacular island views.
📥 Download route data (CSV) | 🗺️ Track this route in the app
Scenic Routes Map
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Tips for Maximum Viewing
- Choose Your Side: Research which side offers better views for your specific route
- Avoid Wings: Sit ahead of or behind the wings for unobstructed views
- Window Seat: Book early to secure window seats (A, F, or K typically)
- Clear Days: Check weather forecasts and try to book flights on clear days
- Time of Day: Morning and late afternoon light often provides best visibility
- Clean Window: Use a microfiber cloth to clean the window for better photos
- Stay Awake: Don't nap during scenic portions, you can't rewind
Photography Tips
- Use a fast shutter speed (1/500 or faster) to avoid blur
- Shoot perpendicular to the window to minimize reflections
- Avoid using flash (it reflects off the window)
- Use a lens hood or shade to reduce glare
- Shoot in RAW format for better post-processing
- Wait for good light, patience often rewards better shots
Seasonal Considerations
- Himalayas: October-November and March-April (clearest views)
- Iceland/Greenland: May-September (midnight sun), September-March (northern lights)
- New Zealand: December-February (best weather)
- Norway: May-September (midnight sun), November-February (northern lights)
- Great Barrier Reef: May-October (dry season, best visibility)
Track Your Scenic Flights
Have you experienced any of these breathtaking routes? Add them to My Flight Routes and mark them as your most memorable flights. Share your aerial photography and inspire others to seek out these window-seat wonders.