Vatnajökull Glacier Airplane Tour from Skaftafell

30 minutesGroup: Shared flightEasySmall aircraft from SkaftafellAll year, weather permitting

Glacier tongue flowing down a valley, from the air

Glacier and lagoon between the mountains from the air

A 30-minute airplane flight over Vatnajökull, Europe's largest glacier, departing from Skaftafell, with window seats for every passenger over icefalls and crevasses.

Skaftafell TerminalSvínafellsjökullSkeiðarárjökullSkaftafellsjökull

Window seat for every passenger
Flies over Svínafellsjökull, Skeiðarárjökull and Skaftafellsjökull glacier tongues
See icefalls, deep crevasses and calving glacier edges from above
Departs from Skaftafell, right by the national park
No hiking or physical effort required

Your day, stop by stop

Click a stop for photos and practical tips.

1Meet at Skaftafell TerminalCheck in at the small airstrip terminal near Skaftafell.

Boarding and safety briefingBoard the aircraft and get a short safety briefing.

A quick briefing before take-off, and every seat is a window seat. The flight itself lasts about 30 minutes.

Flight over VatnajökullFly over glacier tongues, icefalls and crevasses.

The plane flies over the glacier tongues Svínafellsjökull, Skeiðarárjökull and Skaftafellsjökull, which flow down from Vatnajökull, Europe's largest glacier by volume. From the air you see icefalls, deep crevasses and calving glacier edges.

Flight time · about 30 minutes

Read our Vatnajökull guide →

Landing at SkaftafellLand back at the airfield terminal.

The flight lands back at the airfield terminal at Skaftafell, where coffee or tea is included after the flight and parking is free.

Read our Skaftafell guide →

About the Vatnajökull glacier flight

Vatnajökull is Europe's largest glacier by volume, and this short flight is one of the easiest ways to get a sense of its scale. Departing from the small Skaftafell Terminal, the plane flies out over several of the glacier's outlet tongues, including Svínafellsjökull, Skeiðarárjökull and Skaftafellsjökull, with everyone on board getting a window seat.

From the air you can pick out details that are hard to appreciate from the ground: icefalls where the glacier tumbles down steep terrain, deep crevasses, and calving fronts where chunks break away from the ice. It is a good option if you want an aerial view of the glacier without the time or effort of a glacier hike or ice cave trip.

Flights are weather-dependent and the exact route can change with conditions, so build some flexibility into your schedule around Skaftafell on the day. A minimum number of passengers is usually needed for a flight to go ahead; smaller bookings may be combined with others.

Included

30-minute pilot-guided flight
Window seat for every passenger
Free parking at Skaftafell Terminal
Coffee or tea after the flight

Not included

Transport to Skaftafell Terminal

What to bring

Warm layers
Camera or phone

Good to know

Flights are weather-dependent and can be rescheduled
A minimum of 3 passengers is needed per departure. Smaller bookings are combined with other guests; if the minimum isn't reached you can reschedule or get a full refund
Free parking is available at Skaftafell Terminal
Runs all year, subject to conditions
Routes and departure times can change with the weather and aircraft

Questions people ask

Will everyone get a window seat?

Yes, every passenger gets a window seat on this flight.

What happens if the weather is bad?

Flights depend on weather. If conditions aren't suitable, the operator will reschedule or advise on alternatives.

How long is the flight?

About 30 minutes.

Where does it depart from?

Skaftafell Terminal, near Skaftafell in Vatnajökull National Park.

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From32,900 ISKPer person