Fire and Ice Helicopter Tour Glacier and Hengill Geothermal Area

Planning perspective

How I’d plan this experience

This is a striking way to combine Iceland’s contrasting landscapes without making the glacier and geothermal area separate hikes. The appeal is the pair of landings: you get time on the ice and at Hengill, with aerial views along the way. I’d choose it if both the flight and those two contrasting stops matter more to you than a predictable schedule. The main caveat is important: weather and safety can affect the landings, and the tour itself is listed as variable in length.

Who this suits

I’d recommend this to someone who wants to experience a glacier and geothermal terrain in one outing, but doesn’t want the challenge of hiking to both. The flight also gives you views of places including Þingvellir and Glymur, though those are flyover experiences rather than the main stops. The glacier landing is described as a chance to walk around, take photos and enjoy the scenery; at Hengill, the draw is the hot springs and boiling mud pots.

It is listed as suitable for all physical fitness levels, but that shouldn’t be read as a promise that every part of the experience is effortless. You’ll still need to board a helicopter and spend time at outdoor landing sites. I’d choose this for the combination of access and scenery, not as a substitute for a longer ground-based visit.

Be clear about what you’re choosing

The defining feature is two landings, not simply an aerial sightseeing circuit: one on Þórisjökull glacier and one in the Hengill Geothermal Area. I’d pick this over a flight with one landing if getting out at both environments is your priority. Hengill’s valley is described as reachable by helicopter or hike, which makes the landing part of the experience especially relevant if you want to see the geothermal features without planning a hike there.

There is no menu of different tour options in the information provided, so the practical choice is whether this two-stop format suits you. Food and drinks are excluded; plan accordingly rather than expecting refreshments to be included.

Plan around a flexible outing

Allow for a tour lasting about 1 hour 40 minutes to 2 hours, rather than building a tight onward plan around an exact finish time. The listed duration is variable, and the landings depend on weather and safety. My advice is to treat both stops as hoped-for features, not guaranteed ones, and to leave breathing room around the flight.

You meet at the departure point behind Hotel Natura; pickup is not offered. The tour is non-private, with a maximum of six travellers in the shared group. It is not recommended for pregnant travellers. If the flight is cancelled for bad weather, the cancellation terms indicate a refund; for a voluntary cancellation, the full-refund deadline is at least 24 hours before departure.

Planning analysis informed by the tour itinerary · Updated November 5, 2026