Fire and Ice Helicopter Tour: Glacier and Hengill Geothermal Area

The best part of this flight is simple: in about two hours, you get snow on a glacier and steam at a volcano without spending a full day on Iceland’s roads. From Reykjavik, the helicopter reaches places that would otherwise require a long drive or a serious hike.

I like the two very different landings, and I like the small maximum group of six. You can step onto Þórisjökull for photos and snow play, then walk near hot springs and boiling mud pots at Hengill. The main drawback is the price, $953.39 per person, plus the fact that Icelandic wind and cloud can cancel or alter the flight.

Key points to know before takeoff

• Two landings create a sharp contrast: walk on the Þórisjökull glacier, then visit the hot ground and steaming pools of Hengill.
• The flight packs in major sights: Glymur waterfall, Þingvellir, Lake Þingvallavatn, Mount Esja, Hallgrímskirkja, and Whale Fjordur.
• The group is capped at six people: that gives the trip a more personal feel and helps everyone see from the aircraft and at the landing sites.
• Expect about 1 hour 40 minutes to 2 hours: only around 15 minutes is allocated at each landing, so this is a taste of each place, not a long walk.
• Weather is part of the deal: strong wind can make the glacier stop rough, and cloud can block the very sights you paid to see.
• The meeting point needs care: you leave from Ace FBO at Reykjavik Domestic Airport, not Keflavík International Airport.

Why this Reykjavik helicopter flight feels different

Many Iceland day tours place you in a van for hours before the main sights begin. This one changes the scale of the country. You lift off from Reykjavik and soon look down on roads, farms, lava fields, waterfalls, and broad stretches of open country.

You also get two forms of Icelandic geology in one outing. Þórisjökull gives you snow, ice, and cold air. Hengill gives you hot water, steam, and mud bubbling below the surface. That contrast is the reason I find this flight more interesting than a short sightseeing loop over the city.

The experience is limited to six people, including the pilot. That matters in a small helicopter, where a large group could make the flight feel crowded and reduce your chance of a clear view. Some aircraft seating can still feel tight, especially for tall adults. One passenger over 1.80 meters found the rear seats cramped when four people sat there.

The tone is intended to be personal and informal. Pilots such as Laura, Oliver, and Tasha have been praised for friendly explanations and steady handling in strong wind. Your pilot controls the route and the aircraft, so the amount of commentary and the exact sights you see can vary with weather and conditions.

Leaving Reykjavik Domestic Airport

You meet at Ace FBO, at Reykjavik Domestic Airport. The address is in the Reykjavik 101 and 102 area, but allow time to find the correct building. One person had trouble locating the departure point inside the airport, so do not assume the first terminal entrance you see is the right one.

A taxi from downtown can get you there, and the meeting point is near public transportation. The activity returns to this same location after the flight. There is no food or drink included, so eat beforehand and bring anything you need for the roughly two-hour outing.

The welcome area has been described as comfortable, with sofas and hot drinks available before meeting the pilot. Treat that as a pleasant preflight detail rather than a meal service. The important thing is to arrive ready for a weather-sensitive departure.

The aircraft is small, and the trip is not designed around a large cabin or a long guided walk. You should be comfortable with a short flight, changing views, and getting out onto uneven natural ground. The stated total passenger weight limit is 265 pounds per person.

Glymur waterfall from above

Once airborne, the route heads toward Þórisjökull glacier and passes Glymur waterfall. Glymur is one of the major scenic points on the flight, and seeing it from above gives you a useful sense of its setting that a ground visit does not.

From a helicopter, you can take in the waterfall, surrounding rock, and the nearby valleys in one view. The pilot may adjust the aircraft to give everyone a better look at sights that are not landing points. That is helpful for photography, but the aircraft keeps moving, so have your camera ready.

This is also where the flight begins to show its value. You are not merely moving between two landing spots. The route gives you changing views of Iceland’s water, ice, volcanic ground, and settled areas. On a clear day, you might see farmland, lava flows, craters, and waterfalls in the same trip.

Cloud and wind can change this part of the route. A helicopter can sometimes alter its path, but no flight can guarantee a clear view of every named sight. Keep that in mind if Glymur is the single reason you book.

Þórisjökull glacier: 15 minutes on the ice

The first landing is on Þórisjökull. You have about 15 minutes on the glacier, which is enough for photographs, a short walk, and a bit of playful snow time. You can make a snow angel, throw snowballs, or simply take in the wide white view.

This is not a glacier hike. You are not spending hours crossing ice or learning technical skills. The benefit is access. The helicopter saves you the time and effort required to hike to a remote viewpoint, then places you directly in a cold, open setting.

The air can feel sharply cold, and wind may be strong. One passenger found it difficult to stay steady in the wind on the glacier. Wear warm clothing and shoes that give you secure footing. The tour information does not promise special glacier equipment, so do not treat this as a mountaineering outing.

Fifteen minutes passes quickly. I would use the first minute to look around and orient yourself, then take photographs before playing in the snow. If everyone wants individual pictures, be considerate of the limited stop time.

The glacier landing is likely to be the emotional high point for many people. You can see Iceland from an aircraft window all day, but standing on the ice gives the flight a physical sense of place. You feel the cold, hear the wind, and notice how far you are from ordinary city life.

Þingvellir and the continental divide

After the glacier, the helicopter flies toward Þingvellir National Park. This UNESCO World Heritage Site is important for both geology and Icelandic history. It is associated with the world’s oldest existing parliament, and it also sits in a visible rift between the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates.

From the air, the split in the ground is easier to read than it can be from a road or walking path. You can see the canyon and the movement of the plates as part of a much larger area. The route also includes views toward Iceland’s largest lake, Lake Þingvallavatn.

This is a short aerial visit, not a landing at Þingvellir. You will not have time to walk the park, visit its viewpoints, or study its historic sites on foot. What you gain is a broad view that links the canyon, lake, and surrounding volcanic ground.

I like this part because it gives context to the rest of the flight. The glacier is a high, cold mass. Hengill is active hot ground. Þingvellir helps you understand the forces beneath both. You do not need a geology background to appreciate the clear lines and cracks from the air.

Hengill geothermal area: steam, mud, and hot ground

The second landing is in the Hengill Geothermal Area, named for Hengill volcano. This remote valley is difficult to reach except by hiking or helicopter, which makes the landing feel more special than a roadside stop at a developed hot spring.

You can walk toward hot springs and boiling mud pots and observe them from close range. The scene is very different from the glacier. Instead of white snow and cold air, you get steam, warm ground, and the odd colors and sounds of geothermal activity.

The stop lasts about 15 minutes. That gives you time to look, take photographs, and absorb the setting, but it is not a long geothermal walk. Stay close to the pilot’s instructions around hot water and mud. The provided details describe viewing the features up close, not bathing in them.

The contrast between the two landings is the strongest reason to choose this tour. A glacier landing alone is dramatic, but pairing it with a volcanic valley makes the flight feel like a compact lesson in Iceland’s extremes. You return to the helicopter with two completely different sets of photographs.

Reykjavik, Mount Esja, and Whale Fjordur from the air

The route also includes views of Reykjavik, including Hallgrímskirkja, the city’s familiar church landmark. Seeing the church from above places it in the wider shape of the capital rather than presenting it as an isolated stop.

You may also get a glimpse of Mount Esja, the mountain that forms a strong backdrop to Reykjavik, and Whale Fjordur. These views add variety to the return flight and show how quickly the city gives way to open country.

The flight can pass over old lava flows and other volcanic ground. The pilot may make small route changes to show current features, including a recent eruption site when conditions permit. This flexibility can make the trip better, but it also means your precise route is not fixed in stone.

For photographs, the helicopter offers something a coach cannot: the pilot can position the aircraft so people on different sides have a chance to see a feature. Still, do not expect every passenger to have a perfect view of every sight at all times. A small cabin has limited space, and rear-seat visibility can be less comfortable for tall people.

Is $953.39 a fair price?

At $953.39 per person, this is an expensive Iceland activity. You are paying for a small aircraft, an experienced pilot, two remote landings, and the ability to connect places that would take much longer by road and foot.

The value depends on what you want from your Iceland trip. If you have only a short stay in Reykjavik and want a glacier, geothermal area, Þingvellir, and aerial views in one outing, the price may make sense. Renting a car or joining separate excursions could take much longer, though a direct cost comparison depends on your plans.

If you are trying to keep costs down, this is not the sensible choice. You can visit many Icelandic sights by road for far less. You also get only about 15 minutes at each landing, so you are paying for access and range, not extended time on the ground.

I think the flight offers its best value to couples, families, and small groups who place a high value on time and special access. Children have enjoyed the snow landing, and the small group can make the experience feel more personal. For a first helicopter flight, the two landings give you more than a quick circuit over Reykjavik.

Weather, cancellations, and practical limits

Icelandic weather is the biggest uncertainty. The experience requires good weather, and poor conditions can lead to a new date or a full refund. Strong wind has affected flights, and cloud can hide a glacier or make a planned route unsuitable.

You can cancel for a full refund if you do so at least 24 hours before the scheduled start. Cancellations made inside that window are not refunded, and late changes are not accepted. The activity also requires a minimum number of people, so a departure can be canceled if that minimum is not reached.

One caution deserves special attention. A planned Fire and Ice flight was replaced for one customer by a much shorter flight after the original departure was canceled. The issue was later resolved with a full refund, but it shows why you should confirm the route and activity at the airport if plans change.

Book this near the start of your Reykjavik stay if your schedule allows. That gives you some room to accept another date if weather stops the first attempt. The activity is offered in English, and confirmation arrives when you book.

Who should book the Fire and Ice flight?

I would choose this for you if you want maximum scenery with minimum road time, enjoy the idea of landing in remote places, and can handle a high price. It is also a strong fit if the glacier and geothermal contrast matters more to you than a long visit at any one site.

You should think twice if you need a guaranteed glacier view, dislike wind, want a spacious cabin, or expect a full glacier walk. Tall adults may find the rear seating tight, and the two ground stops are brief.

Photography fans will find plenty to work with: Glymur, snow and ice, Þingvellir’s rift, geothermal steam, Reykjavik, Mount Esja, Whale Fjordur, lava fields, and farmland. Keep your camera ready, but remember that weather and aircraft position control what you can capture.

Should you book it?

Book this tour if you see Iceland as a place of ice and fire and want to experience both in one carefully packed flight. The two landings are the real prize, while the views of Glymur, Þingvellir, Reykjavik, and the volcanic ground fill out the journey.

Skip it if $953.39 feels uncomfortable or if you would rather spend several hours exploring one site on foot. For everyone else, this is a costly but unusually efficient way to reach remote Icelandic scenery, with the important warning that wind and cloud always get the final say.

FAQ

Where does the Fire and Ice Helicopter Tour depart?

It departs from Ace FBO at Reykjavik Domestic Airport in Reykjavik. The activity ends back at the same meeting point.

How long does the helicopter tour last?

The approximate duration is 1 hour 40 minutes to 2 hours.

How many people can join the tour?

The activity has a maximum of six travelers.

How long do you stay at each landing?

The tour allows about 15 minutes at Þórisjökull glacier and about 15 minutes at the Hengill Geothermal Area.

What is included in the price?

An English-speaking guide and two landings are included. Food and drinks are not included.

What happens if bad weather cancels the flight?

You will be offered a different date or a full refund if the activity is canceled because of poor weather. A full refund is also available if you cancel at least 24 hours before the start time.