Helicopter Tours in Iceland
Helicopter tours give you the view no road reaches — volcanic craters, glacier tops and geothermal fields from above. We sell 9 flights from 2 operators, running 2 to 4 hours including briefing and landings, from about ISK 46,000.
Helicopter Tours tours
9 tours
Helicopter ToursEssential Iceland Helicopter Tour
4 hours · Two scenic landings · Minimum 4 guests
From $1,626/ person · min. 4 travellers
Helicopter ToursFire & Ice Helicopter Tour in Iceland With 2 Landings
2 hours 30 minutes · Two landings · Minimum 4 guests
From $1,223/ person · min. 4 travellers
Helicopter ToursGeothermal Landscapes Helicopter Tour from Reykjavik
50–60 minutes · One landing · Minimum 2 guests
From $495
Helicopter ToursGlacier Edge Helicopter Tour from Skaftafell with Landing
From $662
Helicopter ToursLaki Craters Helicopter Tour from Skaftafell
From $770
Helicopter ToursReykjavik Summit Helicopter Tour
40–45 minutes · One landing · Time set after booking
From $338
Helicopter ToursScenic Helicopter Ride Over Iceland Volcano and Eruption Site
35–45 minutes · One conditional landing · Time set after booking
From $529
Helicopter ToursUltimate Iceland Airplane Tour from Skaftafell
From $597
Helicopter ToursUltimate Iceland Helicopter Tour from Skaftafell
From $1,618
About helicopter tours in Iceland
What does a helicopter tour in Iceland include?
A helicopter tour in Iceland is a scenic flight, usually from Reykjavík domestic airport, with one or more landings in places roads cannot reach — a glacier summit, a geothermal field or a crater rim. Flight time is typically 30 to 120 minutes within a 2–4 hour booking that includes safety briefing, boarding and time on the ground at each landing.
What can you see from a helicopter that you cannot from the road?
Scale and structure. From the air you see the full shape of a crater row, the braided outwash plains in front of a glacier, and the colour banding of geothermal fields — all of which are illegible from ground level. Helicopters also reach highland areas that are closed to vehicles for much of the year, and they are the standard way to view an active eruption safely when one is permitted.
How much do helicopter tours cost?
Prices on this page start around ISK 46,000 for a short volcanic flight and reach ISK 903,000 for private charters covering several hours and multiple landings. Helicopters are sold per seat or per aircraft; private charter is the expensive end because you are paying for the whole airframe and crew rather than one seat.
How reliable are helicopter departures?
Weather cancels helicopter flights more often than any other tour type we sell, because they need good visibility and low wind rather than merely tolerable conditions. Operators reschedule or refund when they cannot fly. Book early in your trip so there is room to move the flight if the first attempt is scrubbed.
Frequently asked questions
How long is a helicopter tour in Iceland?
Flight time is usually 30 to 120 minutes, inside a 2–4 hour booking that also covers briefing, boarding and time on the ground at each landing. Short volcanic flights sit at the lower end.
Do helicopter tours land or just fly over?
Most include at least one landing, which is the main reason to take one — you stand on a glacier or crater rim that has no road access. The number of landings is stated on each tour.
Can you fly over an active volcano?
When there is an eruption and the Icelandic authorities permit flights, yes — it is one of the safest ways to see one. Access depends entirely on the situation at the time and cannot be guaranteed at booking.
How much does a helicopter tour cost in Iceland?
From about ISK 46,000 per person for a short flight, rising to ISK 903,000 for a private charter with several landings. Price tracks flight time and whether you are buying a seat or the whole aircraft.
Are helicopter tours cancelled often?
More often than other tours. They need good visibility and low wind, not just passable weather. You are rescheduled or refunded, so book early in your trip to leave room for a second attempt.
Is there a weight limit?
Yes. Helicopters balance load carefully, so operators ask for passenger weights at booking and may charge for an extra seat above a threshold. This is a safety requirement, not an upsell.
Can children go on helicopter tours?
Usually yes, with minimum ages varying by operator, and infants often cannot be carried on a lap for safety reasons. Check the specific tour before booking for a family.
Where do helicopter tours depart from?
Most leave from Reykjavík domestic airport, a few minutes from the city centre. Some charters depart from other airfields depending on the route.
Will I get a window seat?
Every seat in a small helicopter is a window seat, and operators generally rotate seating so all passengers get a view on both sides across the flight. Ask the pilot if you have a preference.
Is a helicopter tour worth it?
It is the most expensive way to see Iceland and the only one that shows the country's structure whole — crater rows, glacier tongues and outwash plains in one frame. If budget allows a single splurge, this is the one most people do not regret.