Fire and Ice Helicopter Tour: Glacier and Hengill Geothermal Area

This Fire and Ice helicopter tour is interesting because you get two very different Iceland worlds in one short flight, a glacier landing and a geothermal landing, with the pilot doing most of the heavy lifting. I love the personal, VIP-style feel from a max group size of 6, and I love the chance to land where most people only look from a distance. One drawback to plan for is the weather factor, since this kind of flying and landing depends on good conditions.

You’ll start at Reykjavik’s domestic area and quickly be put on the scenic track, with big sights like Glymur and the tectonic divide along your route. The experience stays focused on what you came for: flying, landing, and short time on the ground for photos and exploring. If you get motion-sensitive or dislike tight seating, it’s worth thinking ahead, since the aircraft seats can feel snug for some body types.

Key things to know before you go

• Glacier landing at Þórisjökull for snow time, photos, and a walk on ice (about 15 minutes on the ground)
• Geothermal landing at Hengill to see hot springs and boiling mud pots up close (about 15 minutes)
• Small group, max 6 travelers, which usually means easier photo moments and more pilot attention
• Major Iceland highlights from the air, including Glymur, Þingvellir on the Golden Circle, and views over Reykjavík
• English guide included, with pilots who share what you’re seeing while you fly
• Weight limit 265 lbs per passenger, which matters for comfort and eligibility

Entering the route: Reykjavik to Glymur, then straight to the ice

This is the kind of Iceland trip that makes driving feel optional. In about two hours, you’ll go from the Reykjavík area to places that normally mean long hikes or long day tours, and you’ll do it with a pilot who knows where the best angles are for photos. It’s also a smart way to see Iceland if you want variety without stacking multiple bus days.

Right out of the gate, you fly from the Reykjavik Domestic Airport area with a warm welcome from the crew and a direct route toward the Þórisjökull glacier landing. Along the way, one of the standouts is the chance to spot Glymur, often described as Iceland’s most dramatic waterfall in this region, from the air. Being above it gives you scale, not just a pretty view.

What I like about this setup is that it front-loads the action. Instead of saving the big moments for later, you get the glacier experience early, then you build on it with tectonics and geothermal heat. The tradeoff is that the whole schedule is weather-dependent, and that can shift flight timing or route if conditions change.

Price check: is $953.39 worth it for a short helicopter tour?

At $953.39 per person, this is not a budget activity. You’re paying for three things that matter in Iceland: (1) flying time, (2) landings in places most tourists only view from afar, and (3) a small-group format with an English-speaking crew.

The glacier and geothermal stops are the real value drivers. You’re not just looking from the air, you’re landing and getting about 15 minutes at Þórisjökull and about 15 minutes at Hengill to step out, take photos, and explore. Those landings are what turn helicopter sightseeing into a memory with physical context, snow underfoot at one stop, boiling ground features at the other.

Also, you’re not fighting crowds. With a maximum of 6 travelers, you generally get better odds of having clear sightlines and angles for pictures, and it’s easier to shuffle positions for who sits where in the cabin. That matters because from a helicopter, one person’s blocked view can ruin your photo timing.

Finally, remember the tour does not include food and drinks. If you’re hungry, plan to eat before you meet up, or you’ll end up thinking about snacks instead of the views. For most people, that’s the only easy “cost add-on” to watch.

Stop 1, Þórisjökull glacier landing: snowball time and real scale

After your flight in, the helicopter lands on the Þórisjökull glacier. This is one of the fastest ways to experience glacier terrain without a long hike or a separate glacier day. From your comfortable seat, you also get panoramic views that help you understand where you are in Iceland, not just that you’re flying over ice.

Once on the glacier, you get a chance to move around and take photos. The fun part here is that the glacier stop is designed for short, playful exploring, with snowball time, making snow angels, and trying to build a snowman. Even if you’re not in a playful mood, simply walking around on the ice gives you a new relationship with the scale of Iceland’s frozen features.

One practical thing: plan for wind. Glacier air is crisp and the views are incredible, but helicopter landings on ice can feel windy and exposed. If you wear layers and keep your camera secured, you’ll enjoy the walk more instead of battling cold gusts or trying to hold onto gear.

Another small upside that shows up in how this tour is run: you get time rather than rushing nonstop. People tend to remember this stop as the moment they truly “arrived,” not just the moment they were flown past.

The Golden Circle from above: Þingvellir, tectonic plates, and the divide

After the glacier, the route shifts toward the Þingvellir National Park area, part of the Golden Circle route. From the air, you’ll see the big story: this is where Iceland’s continental plates are visible, and it’s historically meaningful as the birthplace of the oldest existing parliament in the world. Seeing it from above helps you grasp the canyon and the split between land masses in a way a standing viewpoint can’t always do.

One of the standout elements is the view down into the canyon that separates the American and Eurasian tectonic plates. From a helicopter, the canyon looks like a dramatic cut through time, and you can better understand the shape of the rift. You also get a perspective on the larger area around you, which makes the UNESCO label feel more real.

You’ll also get a look at Iceland’s largest lake from this viewpoint, described as sparkling waters in the provided tour info. From the air, the contrast between water and the darker ground features makes it easier to see how the park sits within the Icelandic terrain.

Is there a downside? Yes: because you’re in a helicopter, your time for any single stop is limited. If you want to linger and do long walking loops in Þingvellir, this tour is more about an aerial and photo-focused visit than a full ground-based exploration. You’re getting the “big picture” efficiently, not a slow, deep hike day.

Stop 2, Hengill geothermal area: hot springs and boiling mud close up

The second landing takes you to the Hengill Geothermal Area, a remote valley tied to the Hengill volcano. The big reason this stop feels otherworldly is that you’re not just watching steam from a distance. You can walk toward hot spring features and observe boiling mud pots from very up close, in a way that’s hard to replicate on a typical day tour.

This is where the Fire and Ice idea hits its best stride. After ice and cold air at Þórisjökull, you jump into heat, steam, and earthy textures. Even if you’ve read about geothermal areas before, seeing active ground features at close range gives you a stronger sense of Iceland’s power.

Timing is short here too, about 15 minutes on the ground. So I recommend you use your time efficiently: take photos quickly, look for active steaming spots, and give yourself a moment to just breathe the difference in temperature and smell from the glacier stop. Then you’re back in the air, which keeps the whole experience moving.

One more practical note: geothermal ground can feel unstable or uneven, and the “walk toward” phrasing suggests a short approach rather than a long trek. Wear footwear you trust on uneven surfaces, and keep your footing steady if you’re taking photos while standing close.

The scenic add-ons: Reykjavík views, Hallgrimskirja church, Mount Esja, and Whale Fjordur

This tour doesn’t keep all the best stuff for the landings. As you fly, you also get views and glimpses that help stitch the whole Iceland story together, city-to-country in one ride.

You’ll see Reykjavík landmarks, including a stop-by sight of Hallgrimskirja church. From the air, church architecture and urban layout snap into focus, and it feels like a bonus layer if you arrived in Reykjavík expecting to mostly drive out to the countryside.

You’ll also get a glimpse of Mount Esja, which is one of those Iceland features that you often hear about but rarely see in the same frame as your other stops. And you’ll get a view toward Whale Fjordur, described as an Icelandic popular fjord area in the tour info.

These extra views matter because they reduce the “helicopter is just transport” feeling. You’re seeing Iceland from the sky in a way that ties together geology, geothermal action, and the city you started from. It’s the kind of framing that makes your photos look more like a story and less like random snapshots.

What the helicopter ride feels like: comfort, seating, and photo timing

The tour runs about 1 hour 40 minutes to 2 hours, so you’re not spending your whole day in the air. That’s a good thing, because helicopters are intense in the moment, especially when winds are involved. People who’ve done this kind of flying often remember the pilot’s ability to handle wind and still keep everyone positioned for good views.

The cabin is designed for small-group comfort, but some passengers may find seating tight. One review mentioned that taller people might feel cramped in the back, so if you’re over about 6 feet, pay attention to how seating is likely to distribute weight and space. If you have options about where you sit, it’s worth asking the crew which spots give the best sightlines to the window.

I also like that the operation seems designed for picture-minded moments. The pilot can move the helicopter during the flight to help everyone get views, including angles you don’t always get on a fixed-route scenic flight. That’s one of the reasons this type of tour earns such high ratings.

Finally, you have a weight limit of 265 lbs per passenger. That’s not a detail to ignore. If you’re close to that limit, confirm your eligibility early so you don’t end up with an unpleasant surprise.

Who this tour is perfect for, and who should think twice

This tour is a great fit if you want the Iceland highlights but don’t want to spend your days driving and hiking. If you have limited time in Reykjavík, or you’re doing other attractions and want a break from buses, the helicopter format makes a lot of sense.

It’s also a solid choice if you value guided clarity. The tour includes an English guide, and pilots like Oliver, Tasha, and a guide named Laura have been specifically praised in the feedback for being informative and friendly. That matters because when you’re looking down at plates, falls, and geothermal features, a little context helps your photos and your memory.

This is not the best fit if you dislike the idea of a weather-dependent plan. The activity requires good weather, and flights can be moved or even canceled if conditions are unsafe. Also, if you want long, unhurried time on the ground, the landings are intentionally short. You’ll get snapshots and quick exploration, not a full hiking day.

Quick practical checklist before you go

• Bring warm layers. Glacier and geothermal air can feel very different from Reykjavík weather.
• Wear sturdy shoes for the glacier surface and geothermal ground features.
• Keep your camera accessible, but secure. Wind happens.
• Eat beforehand since food and drinks are not included.
• If you’re tall, plan for tight cabin seating and consider asking about seating for the best window view.
• If you’re near the 265 lbs weight limit, confirm eligibility early.

On finding the starting point, aim to arrive with extra margin. The meeting location is at Ace FBO Reykjavík near Reykjavík Airport, and some people find airport navigation confusing on the first pass. A few extra minutes can save you stress.

Should you book the Fire and Ice helicopter tour?

Yes, you should book it if you want a high-impact Iceland experience that pairs a glacier landing and a geothermal landing in one small-group flight. The value comes from landings, not just sightseeing, and the max 6 travelers format helps keep the experience personal and photo-friendly.

Skip it only if you’re the type who hates weather uncertainty, or if you want long on-foot time in one place rather than a quick hits tour across Iceland’s big themes. If you can handle crisp wind on ice and short ground stops, this is one of the most efficient ways to see two of Iceland’s coolest contrasts, cold glacier snow and living geothermal heat.

FAQ

Where does the helicopter tour start?

The tour starts at Ace FBO Reykjavík near Reykjavík Airport (meeting point at Reykjavík, Iceland). The activity ends back at the same meeting point.

How long is the Fire and Ice helicopter tour?

It lasts about 1 hour 40 minutes to 2 hours.

How many people are in the group?

The tour has a maximum of 6 travelers, which keeps it small-group and intimate.

Does it include glacier and geothermal landings?

Yes. You get two landings: one on Þórisjökull glacier and another at the Hengill geothermal area.

What do you actually do during the glacier stop?

You can walk around on the glacier and take photos, and the experience includes playful glacier time such as snowball activities.

What do you see during the geothermal stop?

At Hengill, you can walk toward hot springs and observe boiling mud pots up close.

Is there an English guide?

Yes. An English guide is included.

Are food and drinks included?

No. Food and drinks are not included.

What if the weather is bad?

This experience requires good weather. If it is canceled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund.