5 Best Helicopter Tours in Reykjavik

There is so much to see and do in Reykjavik during your trip, but without a doubt, flying over all its natural wonders, glaciers, snow-capped mountains and lava fields in a helicopter and getting some of the best views is an experience like no other.

There are many options available for this type of excursion. From short flights over a specific area of Reykjavik to longer tours of all the region's points of interest, there are even some excursions that combine a four-wheel drive off-road tour with a helicopter ride. In this guide, I have selected the best and most interesting helicopter tour options for you to choose from. Here we go!

Flying by helicopter in Iceland is a unique experience in one of the most enchanting places in the world. On this tour, which departs from Reykjavik International Airport, you will enjoy unparalleled aerial views of the city and its surroundings.

When you take one of these helicopter tours of Reykjavik, you will feel the adrenaline rush of rising above the ground and being transported through Iceland's dreamlike landscapes.

During the tour, you will enjoy the lava fields, the coastline, the Langjökull glacier and the rooftops of the most picturesque city in the region.

Weather permitting, you can land on the top of Mount Esja, where you will feel at one with nature. This is undoubtedly one of the best tours in Reykjavik and one of the most fascinating adventures you can experience.

This excursion does not usually include pick-up from your hotel, however, distances in the Icelandic capital are very short and there are several ways to get to and from the airport.

Useful information

• Price: from £270
• Duration: approximately 30 to 45 minutes
• Means of transport: helicopter
• Pros: you can see Reykjavik from the air on an unparalleled tour
• Cons: you depend on good weather conditions to be able to land on Mount Esja

Can you imagine flying over some of Iceland's most impressive sights in a helicopter? This is one of the best experiences you can have in and around Reykjavik.

It's a great option for children in Iceland, as they'll get to fly over the city and see some of its wonderful natural landscapes from the air.

Accompanied by your expert pilot, you will fly over the beautiful Thingvellir National Park, which has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

You will then see Mount Esja, the lava fields and the Skjaldbreiður volcano with its imposing crater, before landing on the Langjökull glacier, where you can descend and take a walk through this majestic natural setting. I assure you that there you will understand why Iceland is a kingdom of ice.

This is definitely a great and original way to visit one of Iceland's best glaciers.

Useful information

• Price: from £90
• Duration: 1 hour and 15 minutes
• Means of transport: helicopter
• Pros: It is truly an unparalleled experience, allowing you to fly over Reykjavik and see its natural attractions.
• Cons: It may be a little expensive

One of the best options for adventure lovers. If you can't live without your adrenaline fix, this tour is definitely for you.

After being picked up at the designated meeting point (just a few minutes from the comfort of your accommodation), you'll take a high-speed ride through the Icelandic wilderness on an ATV, a four-wheeled off-road vehicle.

For a whole hour , you'll be the driver, seeing some of Iceland's most amazing landscapes. It's a great way to warm up and one of the best things to do in Reykjavik in winter.

You'll then arrive at one of the nearby mountains, where the second part of the tour begins.

There, you'll board a helicopter to see Reykjavik and its surroundings from the air. You'll enjoy exceptional panoramic views of the Langjökull glacier, Mount Esja, its lakes and snow-capped peaks.

In short, you'll have the opportunity to enjoy all the charm of Iceland on this 5-hour excursion and land on the summit of one of the mountains in the area.

Useful information

• Price: from £35
• Duration: 5 hours
• Transport: ATV, 4-wheel drive vehicle and helicopter
• Pros: one of the most exciting experiences in Reykjavik, full of adrenaline and adventure, you'll feel like an explorer
• Cons: Pick-up is not at the hotel but at a nearby meeting point

Among the helicopter tours offered in Reykjavik, this is one of the most interesting, as it combines all the charm of the Hengill geothermal area with the snow-capped peaks and Langjökull glacier.

Iceland is known for combining fire and ice, hence the name of this tour. This is one of the best ways to take a trip to Iceland's volcanoes.

Not only will you fly over the area, but the helicopter will also descend so you can see the imposing crater of the Hengill volcano up close and enjoy the hot springs and pots that can be seen in the area. Everything here is boiling.

You will then fly over Thingvellir National Park, one of the country's wonders, where you can clearly see the meeting point of the Eurasian and North American tectonic plates.

If you want to learn more about this amazing place, you can book one of the tours that allow you to visit Thingvellir National Park, an excellent way to discover the countless natural attractions of this place.

Finally, you will board the helicopter again to discover Iceland's most frozen landscapes. Your pilot will take you to the top of the Langjökull glacier, where you can get out and feel the cold of this huge block of ice. Did you know that glaciers make up more than 11% of the country's total surface area? That's why they are so important to Icelanders.

After visiting two such different landscapes in the same day, you'll find it hard to believe that this is the same country. Iceland has that effect; it seems like many different countries. An absolutely magical place that you cannot miss.

Useful information

• Price: from £1159
• Duration: approximately 2 hours
• Transport: helicopter
• Pros: in just 2 hours, you can discover the extremes of Iceland, from fire to ice, on an amazing adventure that will help you understand this incredible place
• Cons: you'll be left wanting more

On this nearly 4-hour helicopter tour around Reykjavik, you'll have the opportunity to see some of Iceland's most important sights, such as Gullfoss waterfall, as well as visit the famous Geysir, the world's first and largest geyser, to which all others owe their name.

You will fly over the volcanoes and glaciers that have made Iceland so popular around the world, before landing for a short walk around the geothermal area of Landmannalaugar. You will also visit part of the south of the region, where you will find the Háifoss waterfall, located very close to the Hekla volcano.

Useful information

• Price: from £1,470
• Duration: approximately 3 hours 40 minutes, depending on weather conditions
• Means of transport: helicopter
• Pros: a great adventure, you will see some of Iceland's most important sights in almost 4 hours
• Cons: the itinerary and landings are subject to weather conditions

The best way to book an excursion is always online, as this allows you to search through all the available options to find the one that best suits your needs and budget.

You can also read comments and reviews from other travellers who have taken the tour to see how they found it and whether or not it is worth doing.

There are many helicopter tour options, each with a different duration, but in general they can range from 30 minutes to 5 hours, depending on whether it is just the helicopter ride or if it also includes a walking tour or another means of transport.

One of the most popular is the one that combines a 4-wheel drive vehicle ride with a helicopter tour. Choose the one you like best.

On this type of tour or excursion, you will discover some of the most amazing places in Reykjavik and its surroundings. The itinerary usually includes many of Iceland's most interesting sights. From volcanoes and geysers to national parks, incredible lakes and glaciers, Iceland has everything you need for an unforgettable experience.

If you were attracted by this helicopter ride, you may also be interested in the many options for adventure lovers. Book a horseback tour of Reykjavik, or perhaps you would prefer to explore the city and its surroundings by bike. For that, you have a number of bike tours of Reykjavik at your disposal. Whichever option you choose, you'll have a great time, that's for sure.

• Remember to bring a coat, as it is usually much colder in the air than on the ground.
• Wear comfortable, waterproof shoes. Keep in mind that the terrain can be very uneven and you will probably be walking on snow or ice, so keeping your feet warm is essential.
• Don't forget to charge your camera or smartphone battery; you won't want to miss out on taking some incredible photographs.

The prices for this type of excursion vary according to the number of hours and the type of service offered. Prices can range from 270 euros for short tours lasting less than an hour to 1, 600 euros for experiences lasting several hours.

A more expensive excursion is not necessarily better than a cheaper one. It all depends on what you want to do. If you want to treat yourself to a few minutes of helicopter travel and see some scenery, then a 5-hour excursion may be tedious.

Flying over Reykjavik by helicopter is highly recommended because it's the only way to enjoy all the landscapes this amazing country has to offer at the same time. Plus, you get the necessary dose of adventure that every trip deserves.

If you're wondering when is the best time to visit Reykjavik, I can tell you that every season has its charm. What's more, this is a country where you can enjoy snow, ice and volcanoes all year round.

With a wonderful mix of natural landscapes and charming people, visiting Iceland is always a good plan.