What a helicopter tour from Reykjavík costs
From a 40-minute flight over the city to a whole day across the country, and what changes as the price goes up.
Every helicopter tour on this site is flown by Norðurflug from Reykjavík Domestic Airport, five minutes from the city centre. Prices run from 46.900 ISK a person to 499.900 ISK a seat on the longest flights, which need at least four seats. What changes along the way is time in the air, the number of landings and how far from Reykjavík you go.
Under an hour: the city and the nearest mountains
Reykjavík Summit (46.900 ISK per person) and Heli Happy Hour (49.900 ISK per person) fly 15 to 20 minutes over the city and land on a mountain top nearby. Happy Hour stays longer at the top and opens a bottle of sparkling wine. Geothermal (68.750 ISK per person) adds hot springs and craters, with a landing by a geothermal area on an old volcano.
One to two hours: volcanoes, waterfalls and a glacier
Countless Craters (89.900 ISK per person) flies over the craters of the Reykjanes peninsula and lands beside one. Waterfalls & Valleys (89.900 ISK per person) takes in Glymur, the second-highest waterfall in Iceland at 198 metres, and Þingvellir, with a landing at Hengill. Glacier Landing (137.500 ISK per person, min. 4 guests) sets you down on Langjökull for 15 minutes, and Fire & Ice (169.900 ISK per person, min. 4 guests) adds a second landing at a geothermal area.
Volcano Eruption (73.500 ISK per person) flies over the Reykjanes eruption sites, old and new. A landing is not guaranteed.
Half a day to a whole day
Essential Iceland (225.900 ISK per person, min. 4 guests) crosses Þingvellir, Geysir, Gullfoss, Landmannalaugar and Eyjafjallajökull, with two landings. Glacier Lagoon Expedition (455.000 ISK per person, min. 4 guests) follows the south coast to Jökulsárlón, with three landings and a packed lunch. Wonders of Westfjords (499.900 ISK per person, min. 4 guests) and Magical Mývatn (499.900 ISK per person, min. 4 guests) take six to eight hours, with three landings and lunch.
Why the long flights look expensive
The longer flights need at least four seats per booking, and the price shown is for one seat. Four people on Glacier Landing pay 550.000 ISK between them. Norðurflug’s page has every flight side by side.
Book one of these
Reykjavik Summit Helicopter Tour
from 46.900 ISKper person
Geothermal Helicopter Tour
from 68.750 ISKper person
Glacier Landing
from 137.500 ISKper person · min. 4 guests
Glacier Lagoon Expedition
from 455.000 ISKper person · min. 4 guests
Questions
How much is a helicopter tour in Iceland?
From Reykjavík, from 46.900 ISK a person for a 40-minute flight with a summit landing, up to 499.900 ISK a seat (minimum four) for a full day.
How long are the flights?
From 15 to 20 minutes in the air on the city flights to six to eight hours in all on the full-day expeditions. Each tour page gives the operator’s own breakdown.
Is it cold in the helicopter?
Norðurflug say the cabin is about as warm as a car, but mountain tops can be cold and windy. Wear good shoes, a warm jacket, a hat and gloves.
What happens if the weather is bad?
Norðurflug first try to move you to another time the same day, then to another date. If they are fully booked and can offer neither, you get a full refund.