From Reykjavik: Fire And Ice Helicopter Tour with 2 Landings

The best part of this two-hour flight is the contrast: one landing puts you on the silent snow and ice of Þórisjökull Glacier, while the other brings you beside steaming ground at Hengill. In between, you see Glymur Waterfall and Þingvellir from an angle no road tour can match.

I especially like the small group of no more than six people and the fact that you get time on the ground at both stops, not just a quick photo pause. The drawback is clear: at $867 per person, this is a major splurge, and the flight needs at least four passengers to operate.

Key points to know before booking

• Two very different landings: Walk on the glacier, then visit hot springs, boiling mud pots, and volcanic ground at Hengill.
• Aerial views save time: You see Glymur, Þingvellir, Lake Þingvallavatn, and the meeting line of two tectonic plates without long drives or hikes.
• Small aircraft, small group: The tour is limited to six participants, giving everyone a better chance at clear views and photos.
• A true special-occasion outing: The price is steep, but the combination of untouched snow, steaming vents, and helicopter access is hard to duplicate.
• Plan for Icelandic weather: Helicopter operations depend on flying conditions, and at least four passengers are needed for departure.
• Useful booking detail: Meet at ACE FBO Reykjavik behind the Reykjavik Natura Hotel, and return there after the flight.

Why the Fire and Ice idea works so well

Iceland is full of grand sights, but many of them take time to reach. A glacier can require a long drive and a guided walk. A remote geothermal valley can require a serious hike. This flight compresses both into two hours, without turning the day into a bus schedule.

That is the real appeal here. You are not simply looking down at Iceland from a helicopter. You land in two places that feel physically different. On the glacier, the world is white, open, and quiet. At Hengill, the earth appears active, with steam and hot water rising from below.

The tour also links several major sights in southern Iceland. You fly over Glymur Waterfall, pass above Þingvellir National Park, and view the separation between the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates from the air. These sights would normally be part of separate stops on a Golden Circle day, but here they become part of one compact flight.

The small group matters. With a maximum of six people, you are not being moved through a large helicopter queue or crowded onto a landing site. You also have a better chance of seeing out of the aircraft during the flight. Still, the aircraft is small by nature, and every seat may not offer the same view at every moment.

Setting out from ACE FBO Reykjavik

The tour begins at ACE FBO Reykjavik, behind the Reykjavik Natura Hotel at the city’s domestic airport. This is not a hotel pickup, so you need to make your own way to the meeting point. The same location is used when the flight ends.

The experience lasts about two hours from start to finish. That makes it easy to fit into a Reykjavik itinerary, but do not treat it as a casual add-on between tightly scheduled activities. Helicopter flights can be affected by weather, and the operator requires a minimum of four passengers to run the flight.

Your pilot serves as the live English-speaking guide. An English audio guide is also included. Specific pilot names are not supplied, so you should not book expecting a particular guide. The important practical point is that you receive commentary during the flight while still having time to look, take photos, and listen to the aircraft itself.

There is no food or drink included. For a two-hour trip, that is not a serious problem, but eat beforehand if you are heading out early or have plans immediately after landing.

Flying over Glymur Waterfall

The first major sight on the route is Glymur, one of Iceland’s best-known waterfalls. From the air, you avoid the effort of reaching its viewpoint on foot and gain a broad view of the surrounding valleys and mountain country.

This is one of the strongest reasons to choose a helicopter rather than simply add another road excursion. A walking route can give you a closer sense of place, but it takes time and physical effort. From your seat in the aircraft, you get the large-scale view almost at once.

Do not expect a long sightseeing stop at the waterfall. The point is the aerial view as you pass over it. Keep your camera ready, but also look beyond the screen. Helicopter windows can produce reflections, and photographs rarely convey the speed, height, or changing angle of the flight.

Landing on Þórisjökull Glacier

The first landing is on Þórisjökull Glacier, where the flight changes from sightseeing to participation. You can walk across the snow and ice, take photographs, make snow angels, build a snowman, or simply stand still and enjoy the silence.

This is not presented as a technical glacier trek. The supplied details describe time to walk around and take in the views, not a crampon lesson or a long ice expedition. That makes the stop accessible to people who want a direct glacier experience without committing to a full-day glacier hike.

The glacier stop is also where the tour’s price begins to make more sense. You are not viewing ice from a distant road. You are landing on it, stepping out, and having the setting largely to yourself as part of a very small group. One particularly useful thing to understand is the difference between a landing and a glacier adventure tour. This flight gives you the memorable setting and the chance to walk around, but it does not promise an extended technical hike.

Wear clothing suitable for standing outdoors in Iceland. No special clothing list is provided, so bring warm layers and footwear that can cope with snow and uneven ground. The glacier air may feel sharply cold even if Reykjavik is comfortable.

The stop is designed for photographs, but the quiet is just as valuable. A reviewer described walking on untouched snow and ice, with a movie-like sense of space. That comparison is easy to understand: the setting can feel stark and almost unreal, especially if the glacier is fresh and open.

Þingvellir from above

After the glacier, the helicopter heads toward Þingvellir National Park, part of Iceland’s Golden Circle. From above, you can see Lake Þingvallavatn, Iceland’s largest lake, along with the canyon associated with the separation of the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates.

Þingvellir matters for two reasons. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site with a major role in Iceland’s political history, and it is a place where the movement of the earth is visible in the ground. Iceland’s oldest existing parliament was established here, so the area connects natural forces with the country’s early public life.

A flight gives you a useful overview of how the park fits together. You can see the fissures, lake, and broad setting in one view rather than meeting them as separate walking stops. That said, an aerial pass cannot replace time on the ground at Þingvellir. You will not be strolling through the park or standing beside its historic assembly site on this tour.

If you have already visited Þingvellir by car, the helicopter still gives you a new perspective. If you have not, consider this a striking introduction rather than a full visit. You see the park as part of a larger geological setting, but the tour’s main stops remain the glacier and Hengill.

Landing at the Hengill Geothermal Area

The second landing takes you to the Hengill Geothermal Area, named for Mount Hengill. The site lies in a remote valley that can be reached by helicopter or by hiking, which explains why this portion feels less ordinary than a roadside hot spring stop.

Here, you can walk toward hot springs and boiling mud pots and observe them from close by. Steam rises from the ground, and the soil can show rusty reds, yellows, and grays. It is an active, changing setting, not a manicured attraction with a clear visitor path described in detail.

Use care around the geothermal features. The information provided does not promise boardwalks, railings, or a marked route, so stay with the guide and keep away from boiling water and unstable ground. The chance to get close is part of the appeal, but it also means you should not wander off for a better photograph.

The second landing gives the flight its strongest contrast. The glacier is cold and quiet. Hengill is warm-looking, steamy, and visibly shaped by heat beneath the surface. You might also see wildlife in this remote area. One account describes four wild big horn sheep close to the landing site, apparently unconcerned by the helicopter. That kind of encounter is possible, but it should be treated as luck rather than a promised feature.

Some flights have offered views of an erupting volcano, according to the supplied experience details. Volcanic activity changes, so do not book on the assumption that an eruption will be visible. The reliable feature is the Hengill geothermal area itself.

Is $867 a fair price?

At $867 per person, this is among the most expensive short activities you can book in Iceland. It is not a sensible choice if you are simply looking for a cheap way to see the Golden Circle. You could spend far less on a road tour, and a regular Golden Circle excursion would give you more time at Þingvellir and other major sights.

The value comes from access and time. In two hours, you reach a glacier and a remote geothermal valley, with no long road transfers and no demanding hike to either location. You also get the flight itself, views of Glymur and Þingvellir, and two landings in a group capped at six.

I would judge the price by asking one question: is the glacier landing the main memory you want from Iceland? If yes, this experience offers something a standard sightseeing day cannot easily copy. If your budget is tight, the same money could fund several days of meals, accommodation, and road travel. The tour is worth considering as a once-only splurge, not as a routine excursion.

The very high 4.9 rating from 57 reviews supports the idea that the experience delivers on its central promise. The strongest praise focuses on the glacier landing, the silence on the snow, the surreal colors at the geothermal site, and the quality of the views. One person who felt nervous about helicopters found the flight much easier than expected and would book again. That is useful if you are interested but anxious, though the operator does not promise a special flight arrangement for nervous passengers.

Who should book this flight?

I would recommend it to you if you have limited time in Reykjavik, want a memorable aerial experience, and care more about special access than low cost. It is also a strong fit for photographers, couples marking a special occasion, and anyone who wants to experience both snow and geothermal heat in one outing.

It suits visitors who can enjoy a short outdoor stop without needing a full guided trek. You can walk on the glacier and approach the geothermal features, but the tour is not described as a hiking expedition. The focus is the combination of flight, landing, photos, and scenery.

I would hesitate if you dislike small aircraft, have no flexibility around weather, or would rather spend the money on several conventional day trips. You should also check the passenger weight rule. Anyone over 125 kilograms must book an additional seat, which raises the total cost.

The flight requires at least four passengers. If you are booking close to your preferred date, keep your wider schedule flexible in case the departure does not operate as planned. Free cancellation is available up to 24 hours before the tour, and you can reserve now and pay later, which helps when Iceland’s weather and your itinerary are still shifting.

The final call: a costly but rare Iceland experience

I would book this tour if the idea of standing on a glacier and then walking beside steaming mud pots feels more exciting than ticking off another road stop. The combination is unusually strong, and the two-hour format makes it practical for a short Reykjavik stay.

I would skip it if $867 would make the rest of your Iceland trip uncomfortable. The price is not incidental, and the flight does not replace a full visit to Þingvellir or a longer glacier trek. But if you can afford one major splurge, this is the kind that gives you a story tied to two very different pieces of Iceland: ice under your boots, and heat rising from the earth.

FAQ

How long does the helicopter tour last?

The activity lasts two hours, including the flight and the two landings.

Where does the tour begin?

Meet at ACE FBO Reykjavik, behind the Reykjavik Natura Hotel at Reykjavik Domestic Airport.

Where does the tour end?

The flight returns to ACE FBO Reykjavik, the same meeting point where it begins.

How many people can join the group?

The group is limited to six participants.

What are the two landing locations?

The helicopter lands on Þórisjökull Glacier and at the Hengill Geothermal Area near Mount Hengill.

Is food or drink included?

No. Food and drinks are not included in the activity.

What happens if I weigh more than 125 kilograms?

You must book an additional seat if you weigh over 125 kilograms.