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Soaring through the sky on the SkyHelix
VANESSA PEH checks out the latest buzz in town, Sentosa’s newly-opened SkyHelix.
The SkyHelix is just a stone's throw away from the Cable Car’s Imbiah Lookout station and the Skyline Luge. PHOTO: VANESSA PEH
Sitting atop Imbiah Lookout in Sentosa is the SkyHelix which just opened its doors to the public on Dec 15, 2021.
It’s an open-air gondola that slowly rotates and ascends 79m above sea level for 12 minutes and is “Singapore’s highest open-air panoramic ride”.
As the ride is new, it’s advisable to book your tickets in advance on the Mount Faber Leisure website. Each adult ticket costs $18 while child tickets cost $15.
Additionally, there’s an open-dated Cable Car and SkyHelix bundle available. The bundle allows you to save up to 20 per cent and you get unlimited cable car rides along with a ticket for the SkyHelix. It costs $50 for adults and $40 for children.
For each ticket, you’re entitled to receive a non-alcoholic beverage of choice or a SkyHelix merchandise.
While there are lockers available for rental at four dollars for two hours, there are racks at the attraction to keep your bulky items. Unless you’re planning to visit other attractions in the area, you can keep your bags on those racks.
When I arrived, the wait to get on the ride was relatively short as the time spent waiting was used to redeem the beverage and get my tickets checked. The staff members were all friendly, constantly greeting new customers and giving them directions.
Upon getting onto the ride, a staff member would go around and help everyone fasten their seatbelts. The seats are placed in a circular formation, facing inwards, where a guide would be situated.
Nur Hazwani Binte Abdul Rahman, 32, the guide on my ride, talked us through the surrounding scenery and provided us facts about the SkyHelix. She also happened to be the supervisor-in-charge of SkyHelix.
The first thing she said during the ascent was not to look down and I did it instinctively despite knowing that I was scared of heights. I felt dizzy the moment I looked down, but it was momentary as I got used to it quickly.
We had a bird’s eye view of Sentosa Island and we looked at the nearby hotels, attractions and stared out towards the sea. We could even see VivoCity from where we were. The gentle breeze also added to the experience.
Our guide, Hazwani, ensures that the view behind us can be seen in our photographs. PHOTO: VANESSA PEH
When asked about her impression upon trying the ride, Hazwani says that she was afraid of heights and “trying the SkyHelix for the first time was scary” but she got used to it.
Hazwani recalled her most memorable experience involving a guest who took the ride to overcome her fear of heights.
“The lady literally cried when we reached the peak but she didn’t want to [descend] and tried her best to complete the ride,” says Hazwani.
After seeing photos of influencers visiting the attraction, Nicholas Fong, 31, wanted to try it out. Despite being afraid of heights, he learned that it was fine if he didn’t look down. In fact, he says, “It [his fear of heights] definitely added to the exhilaration and excitement.”
Mr Fong described the ride as a “vanilla version” of an amusement park ride. He feels that the SkyHelix is “a must to try, at least once”. However, Mr Fong would advise not to go in the afternoon as the wait to get to the ride was “scorching hot”, though once he got to the top, the air was “very cooling”.
John Mitchell, 27, was excited upon seeing positive reviews about the attraction. However, after being on the ride for a while, the thrill-seeker felt that “it got a bit boring”.
Overall, I would recommend the SkyHelix to anyone who’s looking for somewhere affordable to visit in Sentosa. It’s a nice place to bring your family, friends or significant other to, but if you’re looking for something thrilling, this may not be for you. If you’re already in Sentosa Island, you can stop by Imbiah Lookout and experience the ride for yourself.
“Come and try the only highest open-air ride in Singapore that will leave butterflies in your tummy that you will never forget,” says Hazwani.
SkyHelix Singapore
Address: 41 Imbiah Road, Sentosa, Singapore 099707
Price: $18 for adults, $15 for children. You can book your tickets here.
Duration: 12 minutes
Verdict: ⭑⭑⭑⭑⭒