From Reykjavik: Fire And Ice Helicopter Tour with 2 Landings

Iceland looks different from above. This two-hour helicopter trip links a glacier landing with the steaming Hengill Geothermal Area, giving you two very different tastes of Iceland in one short flight. You also pass over Glymur waterfall and Þingvellir National Park, including the visible divide between the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates.

I especially like the two landings, since you do more than circle scenic ground from a window. The small group, limited to six people, is another strong point. The main drawback is the price: at $867 per person, this is a serious splurge, and a weather-related change would sting more at this cost.

Key Things To Know Before You Fly

• Two very different landings: Walk on Þórisjökull Glacier, then stop near hot springs and boiling mud pots at Hengill.

• A short way to see a lot: In two hours, you cover Glymur, Þingvellir, Iceland’s largest lake, a glacier, and a volcanic area.

• Small aircraft, small group: The flight is limited to six participants, which should make it easier to see and hear the pilot’s commentary.

• A real glacier stop: You have time to step onto the snow and ice, take photos, make snow angels, and simply enjoy the silence.

• A high price for a rare setting: The cost is hard to ignore, but the tour combines places that would otherwise require separate drives or hikes.

• Four passengers are required: The flight needs at least four people to operate, so keep that condition in mind when planning your day.

Starting at Reykjavik Domestic Airport

You meet at ACE FBO Reykjavik, behind the Reykjavik Natura Hotel. This is not a downtown street corner or a large bus terminal. You are heading to a private aviation facility at Reykjavik Domestic Airport, so allow enough time to find the correct building and get settled before departure.

The tour begins and ends at the same place. That makes it easy to fit into a day based in Reykjavik, particularly if you want to avoid a full-day Golden Circle coach trip. The flight lasts two hours, though you should still allow extra time around the departure for check-in and the pilot’s instructions.

The group limit of six matters here. Helicopter sightseeing feels more personal when you are not sharing the cabin with a large crowd, and a small group also helps during the two stops. You will have fewer people competing for photo space and less waiting around while everyone moves on and off the aircraft.

English is used throughout the tour. A live guide and an English audio guide are included, so you can expect information during the flight as well as views through the window.

Flying Over Glymur and the Icelandic Interior

The first part of the trip takes you toward Þórisjökull Glacier. Along the way, the helicopter flies over Glymur, one of Iceland’s best-known waterfalls. From above, you get a view that is very different from the usual hiking approach.

This is one of the tour’s practical advantages. Glymur normally requires a hike, while the helicopter gives you a broad overhead view without spending hours on a trail. You will not get the same close, ground-level feeling as a hiker, but you gain a wider sense of the waterfall, river, cliffs, and surrounding terrain.

The flight also turns the journey itself into part of the attraction. Instead of treating the aircraft as simple transport between two stops, you are watching the scenery change beneath you. Dark volcanic ground, snow, mountain ridges, water, and open stretches of Iceland pass by in quick succession.

Your seat provides the main view, so bringing a camera or phone is worthwhile. The helicopter’s movement means you may need to be ready when a good view appears. A few of the most memorable moments can pass quickly, especially when the aircraft is near a waterfall, glacier, or volcanic feature.

Stepping Onto Þórisjökull Glacier

The first landing is on Þórisjökull Glacier. This is the moment when the tour becomes more than an aerial sightseeing flight. You leave the helicopter, walk across snow and ice, and have time to look around at the high, open setting.

The stop is informal and playful. You can throw snowballs, make a snow angel, build a snowman, take photographs, or simply stand quietly and take in the view. That freedom is important. A glacier stop should not feel like a rushed photo pause, and the advertised plan gives you room to enjoy it in your own way.

The strongest appeal is the sense of isolation. From the ground, the glacier feels vast and quiet. One particularly enthusiastic account described walking on untouched snow and ice and compared the view to the setting of Dune. That comparison makes sense as a mood, not as a literal film location: wide, stark, and almost unreal.

You should remember that this is a glacier landing, not a technical glacier hike. The information provided does not promise crampons, a guided ice walk, or glacier equipment. The point is to land in a remote snowy setting, explore near the helicopter, and enjoy the views. Follow the pilot’s instructions about where you can walk.

The glacier may be the tour’s most dependable crowd-pleaser. Several people singled it out as the best part of the trip, and one person said the glacier alone would have justified the cost. That is useful when weighing the price. If snow, ice, and remote mountain views are high on your Iceland wish list, this stop carries real value.

Þingvellir From Above

After the glacier, the helicopter heads toward Þingvellir National Park, part of Iceland’s Golden Circle. This area is important for both geology and history, and seeing it from the air lets you connect features that can feel scattered when viewed from the ground.

Þingvellir is tied to the birthplace of the world’s oldest existing parliament. From above, you can also see the canyon associated with the split between the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates. The view helps explain the setting in a way that a short roadside stop may not.

You also get a look at Iceland’s largest lake. The scale is easier to grasp from the helicopter, with the water, park, rock formations, and surrounding mountains laid out in one frame. This is a good section for photographs because the aircraft gives you a broad view rather than a single viewpoint.

There is a tradeoff. You are seeing Þingvellir as part of a fast-moving flight, not spending time walking the paths, reading signs, or visiting the historic assembly site on foot. If Þingvellir is a major priority, you may still want a separate ground visit. Here, it works as a strong visual link between the glacier and the volcanic stop.

Landing in the Hengill Geothermal Area

The second landing takes place in the Hengill Geothermal Area, named for Hengill volcano. This is a remote valley that can be reached by helicopter or by hiking, so the landing gives you access without committing to a long walk.

The setting changes sharply from the glacier. Instead of white snow and cold air, you find hot springs, steaming ground, and boiling mud pots. You can walk toward these features and observe them from close range, but you should stay within the areas your pilot indicates. Hot ground is not a place for improvisation.

The colors and textures are a major part of the appeal. Steam rises around pools and vents, while mineral stains can create rust-red, yellow, and gray patches. The result is one of Iceland’s most strange-looking natural settings, with the quiet mountain valley interrupted by heat, bubbling mud, and volcanic gases.

This stop gives the tour its clearest fire-and-ice contrast. On the glacier, the focus is snow, silence, and open mountain space. At Hengill, the ground feels active and unstable. You get both sides of Iceland’s character without spending several days moving between distant regions.

Wildlife can appear here, too, though it is not promised. One account described seeing four large wild sheep near the landing area, apparently unconcerned by the helicopter. Treat that as a lucky moment rather than a feature you should expect.

One important caution: an account also described flying near an erupting volcano. That does not mean every departure will include an eruption, and the tour description specifically centers on Hengill and its geothermal features. If volcanic activity is visible and conditions allow, it may add drama, but you should not book this trip expecting an active eruption.

Is $867 Worth the Cost?

At $867 per person, this is among the most expensive activities you can book in Iceland. You are paying for a helicopter, a pilot, fuel, a small group, two remote landings, and the time saved by avoiding long drives or hikes.

The value depends on what you want from Iceland. If you are trying to keep costs low, this is easy to reject. A helicopter flight is not an efficient way to see the country, and a two-hour tour cannot replace several days of road travel.

If you have limited time or want one major splurge, the calculation looks better. In two hours, you reach a glacier and a volcanic valley that are not simple add-ons to a Reykjavik day. You also see Glymur and Þingvellir from above, adding broad views that ground tours cannot provide.

The strongest case for the price is the combination of access and contrast. A normal Golden Circle outing can take you to Þingvellir by road, but it will not put you on a glacier and then near Hengill’s geothermal vents. A glacier hike can provide contact with ice, but it will not give you this aerial view or the hot mud pots in the same outing.

The enthusiastic comments are unusually consistent about one thing: the price hurts, but the experience feels worth it once the helicopter reaches the glacier and geothermal area. I would still call it a luxury activity, not a bargain. Book it because these exact moments matter to you, not because it is an economical way to sightsee.

Who Will Enjoy This Most?

You are a good match for this tour if you want dramatic scenery but have limited time for hiking. The helicopter cuts out the long approach to the glacier and the remote Hengill valley, leaving you with the views and short walks at each landing.

It also suits photographers, couples, and anyone marking a special occasion. The small group and unusual settings give you better chances for memorable pictures than a standard coach excursion.

If you are nervous about helicopters, the experience may still be manageable, but you need to be honest about your comfort level. One person with strong anxiety said the flight turned out to be far less frightening than expected and that they would book it again. That is encouraging, but it is not a guarantee that every nervous flyer will feel the same.

The tour is less suitable if you dislike paying a premium for a short activity, need a guaranteed departure with no minimum group condition, or want a long, guided walk on the glacier. It is also not the right choice if your main goal is a detailed ground visit to every Golden Circle stop.

Practical Details That Matter

Food and drinks are not included, so plan around the two-hour duration rather than expecting a meal during the outing. The tour returns to ACE FBO Reykjavik, keeping the start and finish simple.

At least four passengers are required for the flight to operate. If you weigh more than 125 kilograms, you must book an additional seat. Check these conditions before paying, particularly if you are building a tight Iceland schedule.

Free cancellation is available up to 24 hours before departure for a full refund. You can also reserve now and pay later, which gives you some flexibility while finalizing your Reykjavik plans.

The operator is GlacierHeli and Tourismiceland. The published rating is 4.9 from 57 reviews, with especially strong praise for the glacier landing, the views, and the guides. No individual guide names are provided, so you should not expect to select a particular pilot.

Should You Book the Fire and Ice Flight?

Book this tour if you want one spectacular Iceland memory and can accept the price. The glacier landing and Hengill stop are the real reasons to go, while Glymur and Þingvellir add valuable aerial views between them.

I would not book it simply to check off the Golden Circle. You will see Þingvellir, but only from the air. I would book it for the rare combination of standing on snow and ice, then walking near steaming mud and hot springs, all within two hours of Reykjavik.

If $867 feels painful but manageable, ask yourself whether the glacier and geothermal landing are the kind of moments you would regret missing. If the answer is yes, this is one of the stronger high-cost choices in Iceland. If the price would overshadow the entire outing, choose a ground-based tour and save the money for several other experiences.

FAQ

Where does the helicopter tour start?

The tour starts at ACE FBO Reykjavik, behind the Reykjavik Natura Hotel, at Reykjavik Domestic Airport.

Where does the tour finish?

The activity returns to ACE FBO Reykjavik, the same place where it starts.

How long is the tour?

The helicopter tour lasts two hours. Starting times vary, so you need to check availability for the date you want.

How many people can join the group?

The group is limited to six participants.

What are the two landing locations?

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

Is a guide included?

Yes. The tour includes a live English-speaking guide and an English audio guide.

Are food and drinks included?

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

How many passengers are needed for the flight to operate?

A minimum of four passengers is required for the flight to operate. If you weigh over 125 kilograms, you must book an additional seat.