An entry that had been on my bucket list for a long time: flying over Iceland in a helicopter. I had watched the choppers fly over Þingvellir countless times while I was working there, and since I went skydiving in California years ago, I knew what the view from up there is like.

Before my last trip to Iceland in October 2017, I asked our readers whether there was anything they wanted me to research, check out or try on location. Kathy and Katja asked how those sightseeing flights actually work, and since I didn’t know either, I asked Nordurflug* whether I could give it a try…

Which helicopter tours over Iceland are there?

Nordurflug offers eight different helicopter tours over Iceland*, ranging from 20 to 120 minutes, with the flight time usually being a good hour.

I got to try the Waterfalls & Valleys Tour* for you — it takes a good hour and a half, with just under an hour of flight time and a stop in a geothermal area near Þingvellir.

The tour starts at the domestic airport in Reykjavík (not the international one in Keflavik!), practically in the middle of the city right next to the Perlan Museum. From here you fly to the Glymur waterfall, which was long considered Iceland’s highest waterfall and is part of the Unesco World Heritage. From the helicopter you get fantastic views of the huge waterfall — without the miles-long hike 😉 After a short stop to take pictures and soak up the scenery, the flight continues towards Þingvellir National Park. Passing over the lava fields of Langjökull, you fly past small craters to the rift edge of the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates: I knew this rift between the continents all too well from my time as a guide diving in Silfra. Dozens of times I had driven tourists across the fissure at the entrance of the park, pointing out the rock fracture to the right and left. Seeing it from a bird’s eye view — especially being able to trace the incredibly long course of the rift into the distance — put this place in a whole new light for me. The view is incredibly impressive and will stay with me for a long time!

Shortly afterwards you come in for a landing: in the geothermal area around the Hengill volcano you can marvel at the forces of nature in pleasant seclusion. You can only get here by helicopter, unless you want to hike for hours. Everything around you is steaming, bubbling and hissing. The ground is noticeably warm, and the mud pots and hot springs are good indicators of the nearby hot magma chambers just a few meters below the surface, heating up the groundwater. You spend a good half hour here and can stroll through the landscape at your leisure. The views towards the west are phenomenal — you’d definitely not bring a good camera in vain!

After the short stop, you continue towards Reykjavík. Over the mountain range

with its various lava fields and craters, you once again get breathtaking views of a country that, geologically speaking, has only just come into existence. Just a little moss, otherwise bare rock — and still a fascinating landscape. On the approach to Reykjavík you get another great view of the city from above, and afterwards you can chat with the pilots and the team over a cup of coffee.

What you see on this tour, summarized once more: Glymur waterfall, Þingvellir National Park, Hengill geothermal area, Hengill volcano, Nesjavallavirkjun, Hellisheiðarvirkjun, Bláfjöll mountain range, Reykjavík, Kristnitökuhraun lava field and craters, Mount Esja

Helicopter tour in the south: volcanoes and glaciers

The bestseller among the helicopter tours is definitely the one along the glaciers and volcanoes, which heads a bit further south. The Fire & Ice Tour* also starts in Reykjavík but first takes you to the Þórisjökull glacier, where you make the first of two stops.

Here you can take in incredible impressions of the glacier, which rises to over 1300m and sits directly on top of a volcano. Fire and ice, as close together as you can possibly imagine. The approach alone must be spectacular, and shortly afterwards you even get to walk around on the glacier’s huge ice sheet. Don’t forget warm clothing — I imagine it gets cold and windy.

Afterwards the tour merges into the one described above, heading to Glymur, over Þingvellir National Park and then back to Reykjavík.

How much does a helicopter tour over Iceland cost?

A helicopter tour is not a cheap pleasure — if you look at the maintenance, fuel and airport costs, you’ll quickly understand where the high prices come from. For many it will probably be a ‘once-in-a-lifetime‘ experience, and for something like that I find Iceland more than fitting.

The tours at Nordurflug start at 28,000 ISK per person, most tours cost 40–70,000 ISK, and for longer tours the prices go up to 176,000 ISK (so from around €225, through €320–560, up to €1,400). Individual tours can also be booked, for example for a honeymoon or a special marriage proposal.

The Waterfalls & Valleys Tour costs 69,000 ISK and is, in my opinion, really worth recommending. I would probably have found the Fire & Ice Tour a touch more interesting, since it lands on a glacier and I had never seen one up close: maybe next time 🙂

Do I have to be particularly fit for a helicopter flight?

No. I get seasick very easily, for example, which would also make itself felt in the helicopter (and back then while skydiving). If you are very sensitive, you should tell the pilot before takeoff, but don’t worry: there are no aerial stunts.

There is no weight limit, but if you weigh more than 120kg, a surcharge of 50% is applied. This has primarily to do with safety, but also with fuel costs.

Do I have to pay for the flight if it’s cancelled due to bad weather?

No. If the weather isn’t right on the day of the flight, they will first try to find a later flight; if that isn’t possible, they’ll try another day, and if that doesn’t work out either, you get a full refund.

Can I sit in the front on a helicopter tour in Iceland?

Usually yes, but the pilot alone decides this, based on various criteria: the helicopter has to be balanced, and that has top priority. In the helicopters, however, all seats are by a window, so you always have a good view. Most of the time, though, getting the front seat is no problem.

Verdict on helicopter tours over Iceland

For me it was a very special experience, and especially for those who have always wanted to do it anyway: Iceland is made for helicopter tours!

The stunning landscapes, glaciers and huge waterfalls are only a small part of the sights that you simply perceive completely differently from a helicopter than from a car or on foot.

So if you want to experience an unforgettable impression of Iceland and take it home with you, you should definitely consider this kind of sightseeing!

* Disclosure: Nordurflug invited me on this helicopter tour so that I could report about it first-hand.

(Updated on 24.09.2023. This article contains referral links.)