Icelandic Grandeur Helicopter Tour

This Iceland helicopter tour flies you over the Golden Circle and into the southern highlands, with two landings along the way. You cover in a few hours what would take days by road, including Landmannalaugar and views of Eyjafjallajökull.

• About 2 to 3 hours in the air, plus two landings on the ground
• Þingvellir, Geysir and Gullfoss seen from above in one flight
• A landing in the highlands near Landmannalaugar's coloured mountains
• Views of Eyjafjallajökull, Þórsmörk and Háifoss waterfall
• Departs from Reykjavík, no long drive needed

Your day, stop by stop

2Þingvellir and the Golden CircleFly over the rift valley, Geysir and Gullfoss.

Þingvellir is where Iceland's parliament, the Alþingi, first met in 930, and it lies in a rift valley where the North American and Eurasian plates are pulling apart. Chieftains gathered here every summer, laws were recited from the Lögberg (Law Rock), and the plain below still shows where the assembly booths stood. The lake beside it, Þingvallavatn, is the largest natural lake in Iceland. The park is free to enter and open all year. The first part of the flight covers the Golden Circle from the air: the Þingvellir rift where two tectonic plates meet, the Geysir geothermal field, and the Gullfoss waterfall canyon.

In the air · flying, no stop here

Read our Þingvellir National Park guide →

3Highlands landingThe helicopter lands in the highlands near Landmannalaugar.

A landing in remote highland terrain, in an area normally reached only by a long drive on mountain roads that are closed most of the year. You get out to walk around and take photos.

Time here · about 15–20 minutesGround · uneven volcanic terrain, sturdy shoes recommended

4Eyjafjallajökull and ÞórsmörkFly past the glacier volcano and green Þórsmörk valley.

You fly past Eyjafjallajökull, the glacier-capped volcano that erupted in 2010, and the sheltered green valley of Þórsmörk below it. There is no stop here, so it is a viewing flight.

In the air · flying, no stop here

Read our Eyjafjallajökull guide →

5Second landingA further landing in scenic highland or glacier terrain.

A second stop of a similar length to the first, about 15 to 20 minutes, in another remote spot of highland or glacier terrain along the route. The exact place depends on the weather on the day.

Time here · about 15–20 minutes

About the Iceland helicopter tour

This is one of the longer sightseeing flights on offer, built to show as much of southwest Iceland as possible in one trip. You fly over the three classic Golden Circle sights, then further into the highlands towards Landmannalaugar, an area many visitors never reach because the mountain roads there are only open a few months a year. The helicopter makes it possible any time of year, weather allowing.

There are two landings included, each for around 15–20 minutes, giving you time to get out, walk around and take photos in places with no roads and no crowds. The exact landing spots depend on conditions on the day.

Helicopter sightseeing is weather dependent, more so than a bus tour. In winter, short daylight and wind can affect the route or timing, and your operator will contact you in advance with updates. Dress warmly, since it can be windy and cold at the landing sites even in summer.

Questions people ask