From Reykjavik: Helicopter Tour to Hengill with Landing

The main draw here is simple: you leave Reykjavik and reach Hengill’s geothermal country in minutes, looking down on lava fields, basalt ridges, hot springs, and old cairn lines before landing in the middle of it. I like the rare chance to experience Iceland’s volcanic power from above and then step onto that raw ground, rather than only viewing it from a roadside.

I also like the small group of up to five and the calm, informative guiding. Laura has been praised for her friendly, professional explanations of volcanoes, while another pilot gave clear commentary about Reykjavik and its surroundings. The main consideration is the price, $529 per person, for a flight lasting roughly one hour, with only about 15 minutes on the ground.

Key points

• Land in Hengill’s geothermal area: Spend about 15 minutes on volcanic ground near steaming springs.
• See Hellisheidi from the air: Fly over moss-covered lava, bright basalt mountains, hot springs, and cairn rows.
• Small aircraft group: The tour is limited to five participants, making the flight more personal.
• English guidance throughout: Expect a live English-speaking guide, with English audio support included.
• Flexible booking: You can cancel up to 24 hours before departure for a full refund or reserve now and pay later.
• A premium short experience: At $529, this is best for visitors who value time, access, and a striking aerial view.

Flying from Ace FBO Reykjavik toward Hellisheidi

Your tour begins at Ace FBO Reykjavik, the airport-style meeting point for the helicopter flight. The entire outing is planned as a short aerial excursion from the capital rather than a full-day trip into the countryside, which matters if your Iceland schedule is tight.

The flight heads across Hellisheiði, often written as Hellisheidi, a broad volcanic plateau east of Reykjavik. From the air, you can see why this area feels so different from the city. Black lava fields spread across the ground, patches of moss soften the rock, and angular basalt mountains rise around them.

The helicopter gives you a view that road travel cannot match. You can see the shape of the volcanic ground as a whole, rather than catching one small section beside a highway. Rows of cairns may appear as thin lines across the rock, adding a human detail to an otherwise rugged setting.

The tour uses a small group format limited to five participants. That is useful for a helicopter experience because you avoid the feel of a large sightseeing operation. It should also make it easier to hear the pilot’s commentary and ask a question, though the exact seating arrangement is not provided.

Hellisheidi’s lava fields and basalt mountains

Hellisheidi is the visual heart of the flight. Expect broad fields of broken lava, moss-covered rock, steaming hot springs, and bright basalt formations. The scenery is not polished or tidy. Its appeal comes from seeing Iceland’s raw volcanic ground in large, sweeping patterns.

The helicopter route includes several named areas and landmarks in the wider region, including Hellisheidi, Hengill, Bláfjöll, Hellisheiðarvirkjun, and Nesjavallavirkjun. The power plants are important signs of Iceland’s use of geothermal energy, though the tour information does not promise a landing or an interior visit at either facility.

You may also look down toward Vopnafjordur as part of the listed area information, but the central promise is the flight across the Hellisheidi plateau and into Hengill’s geothermal zone. I would treat the named highlights as part of the aerial setting, not as separate stops.

The pilot provides live English commentary, and English audio support is included. That adds value here. Lava fields can look like a sea of black rock at first glance, but a guide can point out the difference between old flows, moss-covered sections, ridges, hot ground, and volcanic formations.

One particularly useful detail from the available feedback is the quality of the volcano explanation. Laura was singled out by name for friendly, professional guiding and useful information about volcanoes. Another pilot was praised for explaining Reykjavik and the surrounding area during the flight. Since the pilot is both your guide and your viewfinder, that kind of commentary matters.

Passing Bláfjöll and Iceland’s geothermal power country

The flight also takes in the Bláfjöll area, a group of mountains close to Reykjavik. From above, these ridges help you understand the shape of the region. They frame the volcanic plateau and give the flight more variety than a view of lava alone.

Hellisheiðarvirkjun and Nesjavallavirkjun are also listed among the highlights. These geothermal power stations point to one of Iceland’s most practical uses of volcanic heat. The same underground forces that create steam and hot springs also help produce electricity and heat.

You should not expect a technical power-station tour on this experience. The real focus is the view from the helicopter and the landing near Hengill. Still, seeing the plants in context can add meaning to the trip. The steam rising from the ground is not just a dramatic photo subject. It is part of a working geothermal region.

The contrast is one of the tour’s strongest features. On one side, you have moss, lava, and empty-looking ridges. On the other, you see evidence that Iceland has built a modern energy system around those volcanic forces. In a short flight, you get both the wild setting and the practical side of the region.

The Hengill landing and steaming ground

The landing is what separates this tour from a standard helicopter sightseeing flight. About 15 minutes are set aside for landing in a geothermal area named after Hengill volcano.

The ground stop is brief, so you should not think of it as a long walk or an extended hike. It is a chance to stand in the volcanic region, look at geothermal springs, and take in the surroundings at close range. The pilot may guide you around the area and show you the geothermal features, as one pilot did during a clear-weather flight.

This stop gives the flight a needed change of pace. For most of the tour, you are looking through the helicopter window. On Hengill, you get to experience the place with your feet on the ground. You can see the rock and steam from a much more immediate angle, even though the visit is short.

Weather will shape this part of the experience. Clear skies can open wide views across the surrounding mountains and volcanic fields. Poor conditions may reduce what you can see, and the tour data does not promise any particular weather. I would keep your expectations focused on the special access rather than a guaranteed perfect panorama.

The volcanic ground can also feel stark rather than conventionally beautiful. If you want waterfalls, colorful villages, or a long walk through lush scenery, this is not that kind of outing. The reward is the unusual chance to visit an active geothermal region quickly from Reykjavik.

A 50 to 70 minute flight with a fast pace

The stated duration is one hour, while the detailed timing gives a total of about 50 to 70 minutes. Around 25 to 35 minutes are used for the guided flight, and about 15 minutes are allocated to the Hengill landing.

That makes this a compact experience. You get enough flight time to see the volcanic region from several angles, but not enough to linger over every named point. If you prefer a short activity that fits around museums, restaurants, or another Reykjavik tour, the timing works well.

The pace also explains the price. At $529 per person, this is not an inexpensive way to see Iceland. You are paying for helicopter access, a small group, a landing in a hard-to-reach geothermal area, and the ability to do it without spending most of a day on the road.

The value is strongest for you if time is limited or if you already plan to see Iceland’s major sights by car and want one very different view. It is weaker if your budget is tight or if you are happy with a ground-level visit to geothermal areas. A road tour will usually give you more total sightseeing time for less money, but it will not give you the same aerial perspective or helicopter landing.

For a special occasion, this can make sense. The short duration limits fatigue, and the landing gives the flight a clear purpose beyond simply circling Reykjavik. For a family or group watching every dollar, the cost deserves a careful look.

What the guiding adds to the flight

The guide is not just there to handle the aircraft. The best part of the commentary is its connection to what you are seeing at that exact moment. Information about volcanoes becomes more useful when you are looking directly at lava-covered ground, steaming areas, and basalt mountains.

Laura’s guiding received especially strong praise for being friendly, professional, and full of useful volcanic information. A German-speaking customer also found the pilot calm and clear, with helpful explanations of Reykjavik and the nearby region during the flight. The available feedback gives the strongest marks to the people leading the experience, not to elaborate organization on the ground.

That distinction is worth noting. The flight itself was described as comfortable, and the Hengill landing was a clear highlight. At the same time, the organization was described as only so-so in one account, even though parking was considered convenient. I would not treat that as a major warning, but it suggests you should arrive with your meeting point and timing in mind.

The tour is conducted in English. An English live guide and English audio support are included, so you should be able to follow the main explanations even if the pilot’s voice is affected by aircraft noise.

Who will get the most from this experience

I would recommend this tour most strongly to you if you want:

• A quick way to reach Icelandic volcanic country from Reykjavik
• A small-group helicopter flight rather than a large sightseeing activity
• A short but memorable landing in a geothermal area
• Clear English explanations about volcanoes and the region
• A premium experience that fits into a busy Iceland itinerary
• A dramatic aerial view of lava fields, basalt mountains, and hot springs

It is less suitable if you want a long walk, a full geological field trip, or a low-cost activity. The tour also is not suitable for pregnant women, according to the activity information.

Photography should be a natural part of the appeal, but the tour does not promise special photo equipment or unlimited time on the ground. You will have the most time to photograph from the helicopter and a short period at Hengill. Weather remains a major factor in how much detail you can see.

The five-person limit is another practical strength. A smaller group usually makes a short tour feel less rushed, and it gives the guide fewer people to manage during the landing. Still, the helicopter’s exact seating layout is not specified, so I would not book this expecting a guaranteed front seat or a particular side of the aircraft.

Booking details that affect your decision

You meet at Ace FBO Reykjavik. The activity offers starting times based on availability, so you will need to check the date you want rather than assume a fixed departure.

The booking terms are fairly helpful for an expensive activity. You can cancel up to 24 hours ahead for a full refund, and you can reserve now and pay later. That flexibility is useful in Iceland, where weather can influence outdoor plans, though the supplied information does not spell out how weather-related flight changes are handled.

The tour has a 4.4 rating from 12 ratings, with particularly strong praise for the pilots, the flight itself, the geothermal landing, and the volcano commentary. One practical note is that parking at the meeting point was considered good, although the ground organization was not described as perfect.

Should you book the Hengill helicopter tour?

Book it if you want a high-impact Iceland experience in about an hour and can accept the $529 price. The combination of a volcanic flight, English commentary, small group, and Hengill landing gives the tour more substance than a simple aerial loop.

Skip it if you need the best sightseeing value per dollar or want time to walk and explore. You can see geothermal areas from the ground at a lower cost, but you will miss the broad view of Hellisheidi’s lava fields and the unusual feeling of landing in Hengill’s volcanic country.

For most people, the deciding question is not if the scenery is impressive. It is if that scenery is worth a premium price and a short visit. If your answer is yes, this is a focused, well-paced way to see Iceland’s volcanic side without giving up an entire day.

FAQ

Where does the helicopter tour meet?

The meeting point is Ace FBO Reykjavik.

How long does the tour last?

The activity is listed as one hour. The detailed timing gives a total of approximately 50 to 70 minutes.

How much time is spent flying?

About 25 to 35 minutes are allocated to the guided flight.

How long is the Hengill landing?

About 15 minutes are allocated to landing in the geothermal area.

What language is the tour conducted in?

The live tour guide speaks English, and English audio support is included.

How many people can join the tour?

It is a small-group experience limited to five participants.

Is landing included in the price?

Yes. Landing in a geothermal area near Hengill is included.

Can pregnant women join the tour?

No. The activity is not suitable for pregnant women.