From Reykjavik: Fire And Ice Helicopter Tour with 2 Landings

The big draw here is simple: in two hours, you get a glacier landing and a geothermal landing, with Iceland’s most dramatic scenery spread out below you. I like the way this tour replaces long drives and hikes with a compact flight that still gives you time on the ground, and I like the small group of no more than six people. The main drawback is the price, $867 per person, which makes this a special splurge rather than a casual sightseeing trip.

I also like the contrast built into the route. You move from cold, silent snow and ice at Þórisjökull to steaming vents and boiling mud at Hengill. The catch is that a minimum of four passengers is required for the flight, and anyone over 125 kilograms must book an extra seat.

Key points to know before booking

• Two very different landings: Step onto Þórisjökull Glacier, then visit the steaming Hengill Geothermal Area.
• Aerial view of Glymur: The flight passes over Iceland’s famous high waterfall, saving you the hours needed to hike there.
• Þingvellir from above: Look down on the historic national park, Lake Þingvallavatn, and the rift between the North American and Eurasian plates.
• Small group setting: The helicopter carries no more than six participants, so you avoid a crowded sightseeing flight.
• Short but packed outing: The experience lasts two hours and returns to ACE FBO Reykjavik.
• A major splurge: At $867 per person, the value comes from combining several hard-to-reach sights in one flight.

Why this helicopter tour feels different from a standard Golden Circle trip

Iceland is full of beautiful places that take time to reach. Þórisjökull Glacier and the remote Hengill valley are good examples. You can hike toward some of these areas, but the helicopter lets you see them in a single outing and land in places that are not part of a normal road tour.

That matters most if your time in Iceland is short. A bus or rental car can take you to Þingvellir, but not to a glacier summit and an isolated geothermal valley in the same morning. This tour gives you the broad view from above, then the chance to step out and feel the cold or heat directly.

The experience also has a pleasing story to it. The glacier represents Iceland’s ice, while Hengill represents its fire. Between the two, you see waterfalls, volcanic terrain, a major lake, old parliamentary grounds, and the crack where two tectonic plates meet.

The flight departs from ACE FBO Reykjavik, behind the Reykjavik Natura Hotel, at Reykjavik Domestic Airport. You meet the English-speaking pilot there and return to the same place at the end. There is no food or drink included, so eat beforehand and bring what you need for a two-hour outing.

Taking off from Reykjavik Domestic Airport

The tour begins at a fixed aviation facility rather than a central city meeting point. That makes the start feel more like a real flight operation than a bus excursion, and it also means you should pay attention to the meeting instructions: ACE FBO Reykjavik is behind the Reykjavik Natura Hotel.

The helicopter ride itself is part of the appeal. From your seat, you get a changing view of southern Iceland without spending the first hour on a highway. The route is designed to show you several major sights from the air, so even the minutes between landings have a purpose.

The group limit is six participants. That is useful for a helicopter tour because a smaller group generally means less waiting around at the start and a more personal experience with the pilot. The available information identifies the guide as an English-speaking live tour guide and includes an English audio guide.

You should also know that four passengers are needed for the flight to operate. If the minimum is not met, your plans may need to change. This is not unusual for a small aircraft experience, but it is worth remembering when you are building a tight Iceland itinerary.

Flying over Glymur and toward Þórisjökull Glacier

One of the first memorable sights on the route is Glymur, Iceland’s famous waterfall. The flight gives you a high view of the falls without requiring the hike that normally takes you there. From the air, you can appreciate the scale of the gorge and the surrounding mountains in a way that is difficult from the trail.

This is a good example of the tour’s practical value. You are not simply being flown around for a few minutes. The helicopter gives you access to views that would otherwise cost a large part of your day in walking time and road travel.

As you continue toward Þórisjökull, the scenery changes from waterfall country to open snow and ice. The glacier is the first landing, and it is the part of the tour many people will think about most when deciding if the price is justified.

What to expect on the Þórisjökull Glacier landing

Landing on Þórisjökull is not the same as looking at a glacier from a roadside viewpoint. You get out onto the ice and snow, walk around, take photographs, and enjoy the silence. Depending on conditions, you can make snow angels, throw snowballs, or try building a small snowman.

That playful side is worth noting. This is not presented as a technical mountaineering outing or a glacier hike. It is a short visit on the glacier, designed to let you experience the cold air, wide views, and strange scale of the ice without a long trek.

I would use this stop for photographs, but I would not spend every second looking through your phone. The sound and feel of the place are part of what you pay for. The high point is being able to stand in a remote snowy setting, far from the usual road-access sightseeing stops.

Weather and flying conditions naturally matter for an experience like this. The supplied details do not promise a fixed amount of time on the glacier or specify exact walking conditions, so keep your plans flexible. Wear clothing suitable for cold conditions, even if the day in Reykjavik feels mild.

The glacier landing is also where the value becomes easier to judge. If you only want aerial views, a helicopter flight at a lower price may suit you better. If you want to actually step onto the ice without arranging a separate glacier excursion, this combined trip offers something more unusual.

Seeing Þingvellir, Lake Þingvallavatn, and the tectonic rift

After the glacier, the helicopter flies toward Þingvellir National Park, part of Iceland’s Golden Circle. Þingvellir is important for two reasons. It is tied to the beginnings of Iceland’s parliament, and it is one of the clearest places to see the visible gap between the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates.

From the air, the park’s form becomes easier to understand. You can look down into the canyon associated with the plate boundary and see how the ground has split and shifted. You also get a view of Lake Þingvallavatn, Iceland’s largest lake.

This aerial visit is different from stopping at Þingvellir by car. A road visit lets you walk through the area and spend more time at individual viewpoints. The helicopter gives you a wider picture and lets you connect the lake, canyon, and surrounding terrain in one glance.

The tradeoff is time. This is a flight over Þingvellir, not a long walking tour of the park. If Þingvellir is your main priority, you may want to visit it separately by road. If you have already seen the Golden Circle or want to add a fresh perspective, the aerial view is a strong part of this route.

Landing in the Hengill Geothermal Area

The second landing takes you to the Hengill Geothermal Area, near Mount Hengill. This is the tour’s fire side, though there are no flames involved. The valley has hot springs and boiling mud pots, with steam rising from the ground and mineral colors marking the earth.

The area is remote and can be reached only by helicopter or by hiking, according to the tour information. That isolation is a major reason the stop feels special. You are not pulling into a large parking area with rows of buses. You are arriving in a valley where geothermal activity is part of the setting.

You can walk toward the hot springs and mud pots to observe them from close up. Keep your attention on where you step and follow the pilot’s directions. The ground around geothermal features can be hazardous, and the experience is best enjoyed with care rather than bravado.

The contrast with the glacier is excellent. At Þórisjökull, you have snow, ice, and crisp air. At Hengill, you see steam, hot water, boiling mud, and mineral-streaked ground. These two stops give the tour a clear shape instead of feeling like a collection of disconnected sights.

One account of the outing also described seeing four wild bighorn sheep near the geothermal area, apparently unfazed by the helicopter. Wildlife sightings cannot be promised, but the detail captures the remote character of the valley. The unusual setting is the point, even if no animals appear.

How much value do you get for $867?

At $867 per person, this is the most expensive activity on many Iceland itineraries. You should not book it simply because you feel you ought to see Iceland from a helicopter. The cost is easier to defend if you specifically want access to a glacier and a remote geothermal area in the same two-hour experience.

Think of the price as paying for several things at once: the aircraft, the pilot, the flight time, two landings, a small group, and the hours of ground travel and hiking you avoid. You also get a view of Glymur and Þingvellir without arranging separate excursions.

The value is less convincing if you prefer slow travel or want to spend a full day at each place. A road trip lets you linger, stop for food, and adjust your schedule. This helicopter outing is compact and dramatic, but it does not replace a longer visit to Þingvellir or a proper glacier trek.

The strong ratings, including a 4.9 score from 57 reviews, match the tour’s most obvious strengths: the glacier landing, the views from the air, and the geothermal stop. Several comments describe it as a once-in-a-lifetime purchase, while also acknowledging that it is a serious splurge.

One person who felt anxious about flying in a helicopter found the experience comfortable and would book again. That does not remove the possibility of nerves, but it may reassure you if the aircraft itself is your main concern. You should still choose this only if you feel comfortable with a helicopter flight.

Who should book this experience?

I would recommend it most strongly to you if you have limited time in Iceland, want unusual photo opportunities, and are willing to pay for access rather than simply transportation. It also suits repeat visitors who have already seen the main road sights and want something harder to reach.

Photographers should find plenty to work with: snowy glacier views, mountains, Glymur, Lake Þingvallavatn, the tectonic rift, steam, mud pots, and mineral colors. The small group also gives you a better chance to take your time than a large coach tour would.

Families may enjoy the snow activities at the glacier, such as snowballs and snow angels, but the tour information does not give a specific minimum age. You should confirm age requirements before booking if children are in your party.

The experience may not suit you if you dislike flying, need a guaranteed schedule, or want a low-cost way to see the Golden Circle. It is also not the right choice if you expect a long glacier hike. The glacier stop is about walking around, taking photographs, and enjoying the setting, not a technical climb.

For anyone over 125 kilograms, an additional seat is required. That adds to the already high price, so check the seating requirement before you commit.

Practical details that matter on the day

The tour lasts two hours and begins and ends at ACE FBO Reykjavik. Starting times vary, so you need to check availability for the date you want.

The tour includes the helicopter ride and landings at Mount Hengill and Þórisjökull Glacier. Food and drinks are not included. English is the stated language, and an English audio guide is included alongside the live guide.

You can cancel up to 24 hours before departure for a full refund, and the reserve-now, pay-later option lets you hold a place without paying immediately. Those policies are useful when Icelandic weather may affect your wider plans, though the flight still requires at least four passengers to operate.

Bring clothing suitable for both exposed outdoor conditions and time around geothermal features. The supplied information does not list specific equipment, so do not assume that specialist glacier gear is provided. The tour is short, but you will be outside at two very different natural sites.

Should you book the Fire and Ice helicopter tour?

Book it if the idea of standing on a glacier, then walking near steaming hot springs and boiling mud pots, feels worth a major splurge. The two-hour format is efficient, the group is small, and the route packs in sights that would take much longer to reach by road and on foot.

Skip it if $867 would make the rest of your Iceland trip uncomfortable, or if you prefer spending a full day exploring one place slowly. For the right budget and the right expectations, this is not merely an aerial sightseeing loop. It is a rare chance to experience Iceland’s cold and hot sides with your feet on the ground.

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 activity ends back at ACE FBO Reykjavik, the same meeting point where it begins.

How long does the tour last?

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

Where does the helicopter land?

The tour includes one landing on Þórisjökull Glacier and another at the Hengill Geothermal Area near Mount Hengill.

Does the tour visit Þingvellir National Park?

Yes. The flight passes over Þingvellir National Park, Lake Þingvallavatn, and the visible canyon between the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates.

Is food included?

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

What language is the tour in?

The live tour guide and audio guide are in English.

How many people can join the helicopter tour?

The activity is limited to six participants. At least four passengers are required for the flight to operate.

What happens if I weigh more than 125 kilograms?

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