If you thought Iceland looks incredible from the ground, wait until you see it from the air! Taking an Iceland helicopter tour gives you a unique perspective on the country’s extraordinary landscapes and its most breathtaking views. In this guide, we’ll explore the variety of helicopter tours available, highlighting popular routes that include flying over volcanoes, glaciers, waterfalls, geothermal valleys and Iceland’s dramatic coastline.
Exclusive Iceland Helicopter Tours: A Must-Do for Discerning Travelers
If you’re wondering what you can expect to see on an Iceland helicopter tour, then the answer is a different perspective on the country’s stellar natural wonders. Such landscapes are striking when viewed from the ground, but take to the air and you have the opportunity to see the bigger picture. If you wish to elevate your experience, both literally and metaphorically, then this is how to do it.
From the air, appreciate the magnitude of the country’s vast glaciers, their deep crevasses, disguised peaks and magical lagoons strewn with icebergs. See water cascade over towering columns of basalt, forming jaw-dropping waterfalls that adorn moss-covered canyons. Watch the countryside turn into a piece of art as you fly over colourful braided river channels and black sand beaches.
Even a flight in a light aircraft can’t touch this: you’ll be able to get lower and closer to the action. Such tours don’t come cheap, but if you can afford it, nothing matches a helicopter flight for the wow factor. The combination of being able to enjoy an aerial view and then make a landing somewhere remote and pristine is unparalleled.
The Appeal of Volcano Helicopter Tours
When Mount Fagradalsfjall burst into life in 2021, unsurprisingly there was a surge of interest in scenic flights and helicopter tours. Not only was the hike up the ridge towards the crater a challenging one with loose scree, it was also long. For many, opting out of the legwork was a tempting proposition.
From above, the effects and scale of a volcanic eruption can be better understood than on the ground. Vast lava flows, particularly in the form of magma fountains and snaking rivulets of molten rock, are a breathtaking sight and seeing the bigger picture is enthralling. If you’re in the air during an active eruption, as you near the volcano’s crater, you’ll also feel the immense heat. Be under no illusions: nature is a powerful beast.
Even where volcanoes have fallen dormant or are shrouded by ice, they’re still an impressive sight. In a country such as Iceland, the presence of so many volcanoes is a reminder that its geology is constantly evolving and it’s utterly fascinating to see the effects of earth’s processes on vast swathes of the landscape with your own eyes.
What to Expect When You Book a Helicopter Tour
For most of us, a helicopter ride is something out of the ordinary and as you clamber into the cockpit, it’s hard not to feel excited. The anticipation builds as the rotor blades begin to turn, and as the helicopter tilts slightly as it begins to lift off the ground, any apprehension quickly gives way to joyful expectation.
Helicopter accidents are rare but safety protocols are rigorously applied for the benefit of and to reassure passengers. First and foremost, tours don’t run if the weather isn’t suitable. If it isn’t possible to fly, passengers will be informed and given the option to cancel with a full refund or reschedule for a later time or date. To this end, it’s wise to book your helicopter tour at the start of your trip to give you the opportunity to postpone rather than miss out if that’s the case.
It’s also vital that you follow the instructions of the helicopter pilot at all times, boarding and disembarking only when asked and sitting in the seat that’s been allocated so that weight is spread evenly. Passengers will wear headsets that enable them to hear what the pilot is saying and ask questions if required. Of course, it goes without saying that you should wear your seatbelt at all times.
Tours and typical flight durations
It can be hard to choose which is the right helicopter sightseeing tour package for you as they’re each likely to be memorable in their own way. Helicopter tours often allow you to access remote locations that can’t be reached by land – at least not easily – so a landing is a very special experience. Let’s take a look at the tours offered by Activity Iceland:
Geothermal Helicopter Tour
Helicopter sightseeing flights vary in scope. Our shortest tour, Geothermal Helicopter Tour, typically lasts around 50 to 60 minutes. You’ll head inland to get an aerial view of the Hellisheiði plateau, an area littered with moss-covered lava fields and basalt mountains. As steam rises from the ground, you’ll see why this geothermal area is home to the power plants that create some of Iceland’s renewable energy.
The helicopter will land within the Hengill geothermal area, where you’ll have the chance to see hot springs and mud pots. This untamed landscape is a stark contrast to the last part of the trip, when your pilot will fly over Reykjavik so that you can scope out its landmarks and surrounding scenery.
Countless Craters of Reykjanes
Countless Craters of Reykjanes lasts about an hour and a half. During this time, you’ll overfly the unspoilt landscape of this rugged peninsula and see bodies of water such as Grænavatn and Kleifarvatn – the area’s largest lake – the Seltún geothermal area and the Blue Lagoon geothermal spa. The rugged coastline of south west Iceland is another highlight.
If you’re keen to take an Iceland volcano helicopter tour, this is a great opportunity to see the impact of recent eruptions, such as Mount Fagradalsfjall, where cooled lava blackens the landscape. Tours touch down on a past eruption site, Eldvörp, where a 10km row of craters is an impressive sight both from the air and on the ground.
Fire and Ice Helicopter Tour
Longer tours give visitors a more comprehensive experience and we’d recommend our Fire and Ice Helicopter Tour. Leaving the rooftops of Reykjavik behind, usually this excursion lasts about two hours and during this time, you’ll enjoy some periods in the air and two landings.
This tour’s itinerary is balanced so you get a mix of different elements. It begins with water – flying over one of Iceland’s highest waterfalls, Glymur. To reach it on foot involves quite a long and challenging hike, so this is far easier. Next up: ice. The helicopter will make a landing on Þórisjökull, a small glacier located close to the south western tip of Langjökull.
After a little time to experience the snowy surface of the glacier, you’ll take off and see its crevasses and ice falls. From your lofty seat, you’ll have a great view down into the crater of Skjaldbreiður, a shield volcano, before overflying the tectonic plate boundary at Thingvellir National Park. From the air, you get a much better sense of its scale. Finally, you’ll land again amid the hot springs and mud pools of Hengill geothermal valley.
Glacier Lagoon Helicopter Expedition
Our ultimate helicopter experience is everything luxury travel in Iceland should be. Only a privileged few get to splurge on our Glacier Lagoon Helicopter Expedition, but if you’re able, the memories you’ll make will last a lifetime. Normally lasting around six or seven hours, this unrivalled sightseeing trip covers a much wider area.
The focus is on Iceland’s extraordinary south coast, with the chance to arrive at Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon in style. There’ll be ample time to stroll around the shoreline, see the icebergs for which this place is famous and perhaps encounter a seal. Along the way, you’ll be treated to an aerial view of some of the country’s most spectacular landscapes: braided rivers, waterfalls, black sand beaches and Iceland’s most notorious glacier-covered volcano, Eyjafjallajökull.
Vatnajökull glacier’s many icy tongues remind us of just how vast this massive ice sheet is and how much of Iceland it covers. With colourful Landmannalaugar and the remote Fjallabak Nature Reserve to look forward to, the return flight is just as jaw-dropping as the outward leg.
There are another two landings to look forward to, as agreed with your pilot – perhaps Fimmvörðuháls, close to Eyjafjallajökull, and maybe the Hraftinnusker geothermal area. With views of Hekla and of course the Icelandic capital as we near the end of the excursion, this tour really is a treat that’s hard to surpass.
The Best Time For a Helicopter Flight in Iceland
All of our helicopter tours are bookable year-round, so no matter when you’ve chosen to visit, you can incorporate one into your itinerary. Calm days with minimal wind and cloud are optimal for such trips, though Iceland’s scenery will be especially dazzling if the sun makes an appearance too.
Remember, though, that tours are weather dependent and in inclement conditions, trips may have to be postponed or cancelled. Reserve a place in summer to minimise the chance of this happening, though nothing is guaranteed when it comes to Iceland’s unpredictable climate.
Photography Tips
Capturing decent photographs from the seat of a helicopter can be challenging. One issue you’ll have to contend with is keeping the camera steady; using a fast shutter speed can help ensure your images are sharp, as can bracing your elbows on your lap to mitigate against the vibrations of the helicopter and the bumpiness of the ride. You might also find it helpful to grab shots in bursts rather than individually.
Composing shots can also be tricky, as the helicopter can twist and turn. Carry plenty of spare memory cards so you can afford to take lots of images with a view to culling those that don’t make the cut when you get back on the ground. Most important of all, make time during the flight to live in the moment and drink it all in without your eye glued to the viewfinder.
An Iceland helicopter tour is a journey that takes you beyond the ordinary and into the heart of the country’s most awe-inspiring landscapes. Whether you’re celebrating a special occasion, seeking a unique travel experience, or simply want to see Iceland from a vantage point that few can claim, a helicopter tour is an unforgettable way to make the most of your visit.
So why wait? Take to the skies and see Iceland in a way that will leave you with memories to last a lifetime. After all, some experiences are worth every penny, and an Iceland helicopter tour is certainly one of them!
