From Reykjavik: Fire And Ice Helicopter Tour with 2 Landings

Iceland’s fire-and-ice story makes far more sense from a helicopter, where you can land on a glacier, then set down beside steaming mud pots and hot springs. I especially like the two very different landings and the chance to see Glymur waterfall and Þingvellir from above without spending hours on foot.

The glacier stop gives you quiet snow, wide mountain views, and time for photos, snow angels, or a quick snowball fight. The main drawback is simple: at $867 per person, this is a major splurge, and the flight needs at least four passengers to operate.

Key points to know

• Two landings in two hours: Step onto Þórisjökull Glacier, then visit the Hengill Geothermal Area by helicopter.
• A powerful aerial route: Fly over Glymur waterfall, Þingvellir National Park, Iceland’s largest lake, and the visible divide between tectonic plates.
• Small group setting: The helicopter carries no more than six participants, giving you a better chance at clear views and photos.
• The glacier is the emotional high point: Walk across fresh snow, make a snow angel, or simply enjoy the silence and cold, clean air.
• Hengill feels remote: Its hot springs and boiling mud pots sit in a valley reached by helicopter or a hike.
• Plan for the price: This suits a special-occasion budget more than a casual afternoon outing.

Why this flight feels different from a normal sightseeing tour

Many Iceland excursions show you one famous sight, then move on. This one gives you two short, sharply contrasting encounters with the country’s natural forces.

First comes solid ice. Þórisjökull Glacier offers a chance to leave the helicopter and stand on snow and ice surrounded by mountains. Then comes active earth at Hengill, where steam, hot springs, and boiling mud pots remind you that Iceland is still being shaped below your feet.

That contrast is the point. You are not simply looking down at scenery from a helicopter window. You get out twice and experience the cold and heat directly, at places that would take far more effort to reach by road or trail.

The flight departs from ACE FBO Reykjavik, behind the Reykjavik Natura Hotel, at Reykjavik Domestic Airport. An English-speaking pilot and guide handle the outing, and the group is limited to six people. That small size matters in a helicopter. You avoid the feel of a crowded bus tour, and each person gets a more personal view from the cabin.

The total time is two hours, so this is a focused aerial adventure rather than a full Golden Circle day. You will not have time to explore every major sight on the ground. Instead, you get a fast, carefully chosen sequence of views with two landings built in.

Leaving Reykjavik and crossing Glymur

The opening flight takes you away from the airport toward Þórisjökull Glacier. One of the first major sights is Glymur, Iceland’s famed waterfall and one of the country’s tallest.

From above, you can appreciate the setting in a way a ground visit does not allow. The waterfall cuts through a steep mountain area, and the helicopter gives you a broad view of the water, cliffs, and surrounding ridges in one frame. You also save the hours of hiking needed to reach the waterfall on foot.

That time saving is a real part of the tour’s value. If you have only a short stay in Iceland, a helicopter can connect several remote places in one outing. You trade the slower rhythm of a hike for a much wider view and two unusual stops.

The flight itself is likely to be one of the strongest parts for you if you enjoy photography. Iceland’s mountains, snowfields, water, and dark volcanic ground change quickly as the helicopter moves. Keep your camera ready, but do not spend the entire flight staring through a screen. Some of the best moments come from watching the terrain shift below you.

First landing at Þórisjökull Glacier

The helicopter’s first landing is on Þórisjökull Glacier. The exact feel of the stop depends on conditions, but the plan gives you time to get out, walk around, take photographs, and enjoy the snow.

This is not a technical glacier hike. You are not being asked to trek for hours or learn complex climbing skills. The appeal is access. You can step onto a broad field of ice and snow, experience the cold air, and look across a mountain setting that would otherwise require much more planning and physical effort.

I like that the glacier stop is not treated only as a quick photo platform. You have time for simple pleasures: throwing snowballs, making a snow angel, building a snowman, or standing quietly in the open. Those small activities make the landing feel personal rather than staged.

The silence can be striking. Helicopters are noisy during takeoff and landing, but once the aircraft is shut down, the snow and mountain air create a very different mood. The contrast between the loud flight and the still glacier is part of the experience.

Bring clothing that works for cold conditions, even if Reykjavik feels mild when you leave. The provided details do not specify special clothing or equipment, so you should not assume that warm outerwear is supplied. Wear practical layers and shoes suitable for walking on snow and ice.

Photography is easy to understand here: white snow, dark rock, distant ridges, and the helicopter itself give you strong subjects. Still, do not expect a long glacier hike. This is a scenic landing with time to look around, not a mountaineering expedition.

Þingvellir from the air

After the glacier, the route continues toward Þingvellir National Park, part of Iceland’s Golden Circle and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. You see the area from above rather than stopping for a long ground visit.

Þingvellir matters for two reasons. It is tied to the birthplace of the world’s oldest existing parliament, and it is one of the clearest places to see the divide between the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates. From the air, the canyon and fissures become easier to understand as part of a much larger geological setting.

You also get views of Iceland’s largest lake. Water, dark volcanic ground, and the park’s ridges create a strong aerial sequence between the two landings.

This portion is best treated as a moving overview. You will not have time to walk the parliament site, follow the plate boundary on foot, or explore the park’s paths. If Þingvellir is a top priority for you, schedule a separate ground visit on another day. If you mainly want a broad sense of its geology and history, the helicopter view gives you something a standard roadside stop cannot.

The tour description also points to the visible continental drift between the Eurasian and North American plates. From above, the shape of the canyon and the breaks in the ground help explain why Þingvellir is so important. It is a short look, but a memorable one.

Second landing in Hengill’s geothermal valley

The second landing takes place in the Hengill Geothermal Area, named for Mount Hengill. This is the fire side of the tour, and it provides a very different mood from the glacier.

Hengill sits in a remote valley that can be reached by helicopter or by hiking. Once you land, you can walk toward hot springs and boiling mud pots and observe them close up. Steam rises from the ground, and the colors around the geothermal features can include rust red, yellow, and gray.

I find this stop especially valuable because you are not just looking at a volcano from a distant road. You are near the signs of heat below the surface. Mud bubbles, steam vents, and hot water make Iceland’s volcanic activity feel immediate.

You should follow the guide’s instructions closely here. Boiling mud and hot ground are not props for a photograph. The details provided do not describe marked paths, distances, or safety equipment, so stay with the group and do not wander toward a vent for a better picture.

The remote setting adds to the appeal. Hengill is not presented as a large developed attraction with rows of facilities. It is a natural area reached by air, with the helicopter making the visit practical within a two-hour schedule.

One account of the flight included seeing four wild big horn sheep near the geothermal area, apparently unfazed by the helicopter landing. That kind of sight is not guaranteed, but it shows how untouched the setting can feel. The wildlife moment was a bonus, not the main reason to book.

What the two-hour schedule really means

Two hours sounds brief, but the helicopter covers ground quickly. The route includes Reykjavik, Glymur, Þórisjökull, Þingvellir, Iceland’s largest lake, and Hengill before returning to the airport.

The schedule works best if you want a concentrated experience. You get aerial views, two landings, and several major natural features without giving up an entire day. It also fits neatly into a Reykjavik stay when you want to add something special without booking a full-day excursion.

The tradeoff is limited time at each place. You will not linger on the glacier for half a day or spend a relaxed afternoon in Þingvellir. The tour is about variety and access, not slow exploration.

The exact start time depends on availability. Meet at ACE FBO Reykjavik behind the Reykjavik Natura Hotel, and the activity returns to that same point. Since this is an airport-based flight, arrive with enough time to find the meeting point and settle in without rushing.

At least four passengers are required for the flight to operate. That condition matters if your Iceland schedule is tight. A small group of up to six is appealing, but the minimum operating number means you should keep your plans flexible.

If you weigh more than 125 kilograms, you must book an additional seat. That is an important cost and planning detail, not a minor footnote.

Is $867 worth it?

At $867 per person, this is among the most expensive activities you can book in Iceland. I would not call it a practical replacement for a Golden Circle drive, a glacier walk, or a geothermal visit. Those experiences cost less and give you more time on the ground.

The value comes from combining access, speed, and two unusual landings. Reaching Þórisjökull Glacier and Hengill in one short outing would be difficult by ordinary transport. Add the views of Glymur and Þingvellir, and the price begins to make sense for someone who places a high value on rare access and limited vacation time.

The strongest reason to pay is the glacier landing. Standing on untouched snow, taking photographs, and hearing the quiet after the helicopter shuts down can feel like a once-in-a-lifetime moment. The geothermal landing adds a second experience instead of making you pay a premium for only one stop.

The price is harder to justify if you are traveling on a tight budget or prefer long walks, local food, and slow contact with a place. The tour includes no food or drinks, though that is not a serious issue during a two-hour flight. Eat beforehand and bring what you need for the short outing.

The high rating of 4.9 from 57 ratings reflects how strongly the main features land for many people. The most praised elements are the views, the glacier, the quality of the guides, and the sense that the flight is worth the splurge. One person who felt anxious about helicopters found the flight much easier than expected and would book again. That does not guarantee you will feel calm, but it suggests the pilot and crew place care and reassurance high on the list.

Another flight included a close view of an erupting volcano. That is an extraordinary possibility, but volcanic activity changes, and you should not book this tour expecting an eruption. The glacier, Þingvellir, and Hengill are the dependable reasons to go.

Who should book this helicopter tour

I would recommend it most strongly for you if one or more of these points fit:

• You have limited time in Reykjavik but want several major natural sights in one outing.
• You are willing to spend heavily for access that is difficult to arrange independently.
• You enjoy photography and want wide views from the air.
• You want both snow and geothermal activity in the same experience.
• You are celebrating a special occasion or planning a standout memory from Iceland.
• You prefer a small group to a large coach excursion.

I would think twice if you dislike helicopters, need a long and relaxed visit at each stop, or are trying to keep your Iceland budget under control. A standard Golden Circle day and a separate glacier or geothermal trip will usually offer more ground time for less money, though you will lose the two helicopter landings.

The small group helps this experience feel personal, but it does not turn the flight into a private charter. With up to six participants, your seat and view depend on the aircraft layout. You should also remember that the flight needs four passengers to operate.

English is the tour language. An audio guide is also included in English. If you need another language, the supplied information does not indicate that one is available.

Should you book the Fire and Ice flight?

Book it if you want a concentrated, high-impact look at Iceland and can comfortably absorb the price. The combination of Þórisjökull Glacier and Hengill is unusually strong, and the flight over Glymur and Þingvellir gives you a clear sense of how ice, water, history, and volcanic heat fit together.

Skip it if the cost will make the rest of your Iceland trip uncomfortable. No tour is worth sacrificing several other days of travel. But if you are standing on the fence because this is the most expensive activity on your list, this is the kind of splurge that has a clear reason behind it: two remote landings, a small group, and access that would otherwise take far more time and effort.

Free cancellation is available up to 24 hours before departure, and you can reserve now and pay later. Those policies help with planning, but the main decision remains the budget. For the right person, this is not simply a helicopter ride. It is a short, vivid meeting with Iceland’s ice and fire.

FAQ

Where does the helicopter tour start?

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

Where does the tour end?

The helicopter returns to ACE FBO Reykjavik, the same meeting point used at the start.

How long does the experience last?

The tour lasts two hours. Starting times depend on availability.

How many people can join the tour?

The activity is limited to six participants, making it a small-group experience.

What are the two landing locations?

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

What language is used on the tour?

The live tour guide and audio guide are provided in English.

Is there a minimum number of passengers?

Yes. At least four passengers are required for the flight to operate. If you weigh more than 125 kilograms, you must book an additional seat.