From Reykjavik: Fire And Ice Helicopter Tour with 2 Landings

The big draw here is simple: in two hours, you reach a glacier and a volcanic geothermal valley that would take far longer to visit by road and trail. You fly over Glymur waterfall and Þingvellir National Park, then step out onto snow and ice before landing near hot springs and boiling mud pots.

I like the small group of up to six, which gives the flight a more personal feel, and I like the contrast between the silent glacier and the steaming ground at Hengill. The drawback is the price: 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 Þórisjökull Glacier, then visit the hot, active ground of the Hengill Geothermal Area.
• A fast route to remote places: The helicopter replaces long hikes and road transfers with direct access from Reykjavik Domestic Airport.
• Þingvellir from above: See the rift between the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates, plus Iceland’s largest lake.
• Up to six people: The limited group size helps keep the flight more intimate and makes it easier to hear the English-speaking pilot.
• A high-cost experience: The value comes from the rare combination of flight, glacier landing, and geothermal landing, not from the duration alone.
• Plan around the weight rule: Anyone over 125 kilograms must book an additional seat.

Why this helicopter tour feels different

Many Iceland excursions take you to one famous sight, then move on to the next. This flight works differently. It links two environments that seem almost impossible to fit into one short outing: a frozen glacier and a hot volcanic valley.

That contrast gives the trip its shape. At Þórisjökull, you get open snow, clean air, and a quiet that is hard to find near Reykjavik. At Hengill, steam rises from the earth, mud pots bubble, and the ground shows the heat beneath Iceland’s crust. One stop is cold and still. The other is warm, active, and slightly strange.

I also like the way the flight puts the journey itself to work. You are not simply transported from one landing spot to another. The route passes over Glymur waterfall, Þingvellir National Park, Lake Þingvallavatn, mountain valleys, and visible geological breaks in the earth. Your seat gives you a broad view that is difficult to get from the ground.

Still, the short length matters. Two hours sounds generous, but it includes takeoff, flight time, two landings, and the return to Reykjavik. You should expect highlights and focused stops, not a long walk across the glacier or a full day exploring Þingvellir.

Taking off from Reykjavik Domestic Airport

The meeting point is the ACE FBO at Reykjavik Domestic Airport, behind the Reykjavik Natura Hotel. This is not Keflavík International Airport, so check the location carefully when planning your morning or afternoon.

The flight begins with a greeting from the pilot, followed by the helicopter journey south and east from the city. The tour runs in English, and an audio guide is included. With a maximum of six participants, you are not joining a large sightseeing aircraft. That makes a difference when the pilot is explaining what you are seeing and when you are getting ready to step out at the landing sites.

You do not need to spend time waiting in a ticket line. The activity begins and ends at the same FBO, which keeps the logistics tidy. Food and drinks are not included, so eat before you arrive if you tend to get hungry during active outings. The supplied details do not specify an onboard meal or refreshment service.

Because the flight requires at least four passengers, your booking depends on the minimum group being met. That is worth keeping in mind if your Iceland schedule is tight. The experience is also sold with free cancellation up to 24 hours in advance and a reserve-now, pay-later option, which gives you some useful flexibility.

Flying over Glymur waterfall

One of the first major sights is Glymur, Iceland’s famous waterfall. From the air, you avoid the hours of hiking needed to reach viewpoints in the area, and you can see the waterfall as part of a much wider mountain setting.

This is one of the practical strengths of a helicopter tour. A hike to a waterfall can be rewarding, but it also uses a large part of a day and depends on your willingness to walk over uneven ground. Here, you get a bird’s-eye view without giving up the glacier and geothermal stops.

The helicopter’s height also changes how you read the terrain. Instead of seeing only the waterfall and its immediate cliffs, you can follow the valleys and folds of the surrounding mountains. Bring a camera, but keep your attention on the view rather than trying to photograph every second. The best moments may pass quickly as the aircraft turns.

First landing on Þórisjökull Glacier

The first landing is on Þórisjökull Glacier, where you leave the helicopter and spend time on the snow and ice. The stop is designed for simple pleasures: walk around, take photographs, throw snowballs, make a snow angel, or just stand still and look across the white expanse.

That simplicity is part of the appeal. You do not need technical glacier skills to enjoy the landing, and you are not spending hours on a demanding trek. The helicopter takes you directly to a remote setting, allowing you to experience the cold, open air without the long approach.

I would treat this as a photo stop with a real sense of place, not as a full glacier expedition. The supplied information does not promise glacier equipment, a guided ice walk, or a long hike. You should follow the pilot’s instructions and remain within the permitted area.

The glacier can also be the emotional high point of the flight. From the ground, the silence and untouched snow can feel far removed from Reykjavik. The view is not just a backdrop for photographs. It shows you why Iceland’s ice fields have such a strong pull: they make scale hard to judge and leave you surrounded by space.

Dress for cold conditions and wear shoes suitable for standing and walking on snow. The tour information does not list a clothing rental service or special glacier gear, so arrive prepared with warm layers. A small camera or phone is useful, but keep it secure during the helicopter ride.

Þingvellir National Park from above

After the glacier, the helicopter heads toward Þingvellir National Park, part of Iceland’s Golden Circle and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. From above, the park brings together two kinds of importance: Icelandic political history and the movement of the earth’s tectonic plates.

Þingvellir is known as the birthplace of the oldest existing parliament in the world. It is also the place where the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates pull apart, forming a visible canyon and rift zone. From the air, those geological lines are easier to understand as part of a broad system rather than a single narrow crack.

The flight also gives you views of Iceland’s largest lake, Lake Þingvallavatn. Seen from above, the lake helps you grasp the scale of the park and the surrounding volcanic terrain. This is not a ground visit, so you will not have time to walk through the historic assembly site or follow the rift on foot. Instead, you get a compact overview that fits naturally between the two landings.

For me, this section adds useful context to the trip. The glacier and geothermal valley provide drama, but Þingvellir explains some of the forces that shaped the country and its society. You see where people gathered and where the continents are slowly separating, all during one aerial pass.

Second landing at Hengill Geothermal Area

The second landing takes place in the Hengill Geothermal Area, named for Mount Hengill. The remote valley is difficult to reach except by helicopter or hike, which makes this stop feel more secluded than the usual roadside hot spring visit.

Here, you walk toward hot springs, steaming vents, and boiling mud pots. The ground can show unusual shades of rust red, yellow, and gray, while steam hangs around the heated areas. This is Iceland at its most active and raw, with heat rising from below rather than snow covering everything.

You should treat this stop with care. Hot springs and boiling mud are not harmless curiosities, and the tour’s description makes clear that you will observe them from close up. Stay with the guide and use the designated route. Do not touch the water, step onto uncertain ground, or wander toward a vent for a better photograph.

The contrast with Þórisjökull is the reason this landing works so well. At the glacier, you play in snow and take in the cold. At Hengill, you watch the earth steam and bubble. The two stops give the tour a clear story without needing a long explanation.

Wildlife can add a surprise. One flight included a view of four wild big horn sheep near the geothermal landing, apparently undisturbed by the helicopter. That is not something you can count on, but it shows how remote the valley can feel.

If volcanic activity is present during your flight, you may also get a close view of an erupting volcano. That possibility has been part of the excitement for some passengers, but it should not be treated as a guaranteed part of every departure. The dependable feature is the Hengill geothermal stop.

What the $867 price really buys you

At $867 per person, this is among the most expensive excursions you can add to an Iceland itinerary. The flight lasts about two hours, so the price is not easy to justify by duration alone.

The value comes from access. You are paying to reach a glacier and a remote geothermal valley in one short outing, while also seeing Glymur and Þingvellir from the air. Reaching both landing sites by ordinary transport would require separate planning, driving, and hiking. A helicopter gives you time and views that a road tour cannot match.

I would compare it with your overall Iceland budget rather than asking if it is cheap. If you already plan to spend several days on the Golden Circle, a road trip may offer more total sightseeing for far less money. But a road trip will not place you on Þórisjökull Glacier or carry you into the Hengill valley.

This is a strong choice for a special occasion, a short stay, or anyone who values rare access more than a low per-hour cost. It is less suitable if you prefer slow travel, long walks, or several hours at one site. The tour gives you variety and speed, not deep exploration.

Who will enjoy it most

I would recommend this experience to you if you want a major Iceland memory and are comfortable paying for it. The two landings give the flight more substance than a simple scenic helicopter loop, and the scenery changes sharply from ice to geothermal heat.

It also suits anyone who has limited time in Reykjavik. You can see parts of the country that would otherwise require a full day, while returning to the same meeting point after two hours.

The trip may appeal to nervous first-time helicopter passengers as well. One passenger who expected to feel very anxious found the flight comfortable and said they would book again. That does not remove the normal uncertainty of flying, but the small group and pilot-led format may help you feel looked after.

I would think twice if you dislike cold conditions, uneven outdoor surfaces, or close views of boiling mud and steam. The activity is also a poor fit for a very tight budget. At this price, you need to want the helicopter itself, not simply hope it will be a cheaper way to see Iceland.

For anyone over 125 kilograms, an additional seat must be booked. That is an important cost and planning detail, so confirm it before paying.

Practical ways to get more from the flight

Keep your camera ready, but do not spend the whole trip looking through a screen. The glacier, the tectonic rift, and the steaming valley are best appreciated in person, with photographs serving as reminders rather than replacements.

Wear warm clothing for the glacier landing and practical footwear for walking outdoors. The geothermal stop may feel very different from the icy first landing, but the tour does not list clothing or food provisions, so you should prepare for an active two-hour outing.

Leave room in your schedule around the flight. The advertised duration is two hours, and starting times vary by availability. The tour begins and ends at ACE FBO Reykjavik, making it easy to plan from central Reykjavik, but you should still allow time to reach the meeting point behind the Reykjavik Natura Hotel.

The tour is limited to six participants and needs a minimum of four passengers. That small-group format is a plus, but the minimum operating requirement means you should not build an entire fixed itinerary around one departure without checking availability.

Should you book the Fire and Ice flight?

Book it if you want the rare combination of glacier snow, geothermal heat, and aerial views in one compact experience. The flight earns its high price through access to places that are remote, time-consuming, or difficult to reach on foot.

Skip it if your priority is value measured by hours, road miles, or the number of ordinary sights visited. You can see Þingvellir and other Golden Circle highlights more cheaply from the ground.

My practical call is this: if $867 will not strain your trip budget, and the thought of standing on a glacier before watching boiling mud pots sounds worth the splurge, this is a strong once-in-Iceland choice. If the price makes you uneasy, choose a land-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 end?

The helicopter returns to ACE FBO Reykjavik, the same place where the activity begins.

How long does the experience last?

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

How many people can join the tour?

The group is limited to six participants.

What languages are available?

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

What are the two landing sites?

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

Is food or drink included?

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

What happens if I weigh more than 125 kilograms?

If you weigh over 125 kilograms, you must book an additional seat.

How late can I cancel for a full refund?

You can cancel up to 24 hours before the activity for a full refund.