Ever stood at the edge of Skógafoss waterfall, surrounded by 200 other tourists, and thought: “There has to be more to Iceland than this“?
You’re absolutely right.
After 1,500+ helicopter flights across this volcanic wonderland, I can confirm that 90% of Iceland’s magic is hidden from the average visitor. Not because it’s secret – but because it’s simply impossible to reach without wings.
Today, I’m sharing the 10 most mind-blowing sights that you can only experience from a helicopter. Fair warning: this article might ruin regular tourism for you forever.
Why a Helicopter Tour Unlocks the Real Iceland
Here’s a truth bomb most tour companies won’t tell you: Iceland’s road system covers less than 30% of the country.
The famous Ring Road? It’s basically Iceland’s gift shop – beautiful, sure, but sanitized for mass consumption.
The numbers tell the story:
- Iceland’s total area: 103,000 km²
- Accessible by regular car: ~30,000 km²
- Accessible by super jeep: ~45,000 km²
- Accessible by helicopter: ~98,000 km²
That means over half of Iceland is waiting for you beyond the reach of wheels.
But it’s not just about reaching remote places. It’s about perspective. From 2,000 feet up, Iceland transforms from a beautiful country into an alien planet. Rivers become silver serpents. Glaciers reveal their true magnitude. Volcanic patterns emerge that are invisible from the ground.
One passenger told me: “I’d spent a week driving around Iceland. The 90-minute helicopter tour showed me more than the entire road trip.“
Let’s dive into what you’re missing…
1. Land on a Remote Glacier (and drink its pure water)
Location: Mýrdalsjökull Glacier
Accessibility: 4-day mountaineering expedition OR 20-minute flight
Forget the tourist-packed glacier walks starting from Skaftafell. We’re talking about landing on untouched ice that hasn’t seen human footprints in years – maybe ever.
What makes it extraordinary:
- The ice is compressed snow from the Viking age (seriously – some sections are 800+ years old)
- Natural ice sculptures carved by wind that look like frozen waves
- Ice caves visible from above that appear as brilliant blue dots
- The silence is so complete you can hear your own heartbeat
The experience: We land on a flat section (don’t worry, our pilots have done this thousands of times). You step out onto ice that’s 40 stories thick beneath your feet. The glacier groans and whispers – it’s literally alive, moving inches per day.
Insider moment: We bring special glacier cups. You chip off a piece of ancient ice for your drink. It’s the purest water you’ll ever taste – filtered by centuries of compression.
2. Fly Over a Live (or Recent) Volcanic Eruption Site
Location: Reykjanes Peninsula / Fagradalsfjall area
Accessibility: When erupting: helicopter only. When dormant: 4-hour challenging hike OR 10-minute flight
Iceland averages an eruption every 4-5 years. If you’re lucky enough to visit during one, a helicopter is literally the only safe way to witness nature’s most powerful show.
During an active eruption:
- Hover 500 feet above flowing lava
- Feel the heat through the helicopter floor
- Watch lava fountains shooting 100+ feet high
- See new land being born in real-time
Post-eruption sites are equally incredible:
- Fresh lava fields still steaming after months
- Rope lava patterns that look like frozen brownie batter
- Collapsed lava tubes creating natural tunnels
- Colors ranging from obsidian black to rusty orange
Mind-blowing fact: The 2021 Fagradalsfjall eruption created 40 million cubic meters of new land. That’s enough to fill 16,000 Olympic swimming pools. We watched it happen.
3. Witness the “Braided Rivers” from Above
Location: Southern Highlands
Accessibility: Helicopter exclusive view
This might be Iceland’s best-kept secret. These rivers are invisible from ground level but from above? Pure art.
What are braided rivers?
Glacial meltwater carrying volcanic sediment creates interweaving channels that look like Earth’s circulatory system. The patterns change daily based on water flow.
The visual impact:
- Silver threads weaving through black sand
- Patterns resembling Japanese calligraphy
- Scale that’s incomprehensible until you see it
- Colors shifting from silver to blue to grey
Photography note: These rivers are why 70% of dramatic Iceland photos you see online were shot from helicopters. That desktop wallpaper? Probably taken from one of our flights.
4. Discover Hidden Geothermal Hot Springs in the Highlands
Location: Landmannalaugar region and beyond
Accessibility: Multi-day highland trek OR 30-minute flight
Everyone knows the Blue Lagoon. It’s nice. It’s also €100 and packed with people taking selfies.
What about natural hot springs where you’re the first visitor in months?
Our secret spots include:
- Hveravellir: Ancient hot springs used by outlaws in medieval times
- Unnamed springs in Kerlingarfjöll mountains (GPS coordinates only)
- River hot springs where glacial rivers meet geothermal water
- Mountaintop pools with 360-degree views
The ultimate experience: We land near a natural hot spring. You soak in 100°F water while surrounded by snow-capped peaks. No changing rooms, no gift shops, no other people. Just you, the mountains, and water heated by the Earth’s core.
Safety note: Many hot springs are dangerously hot or in unstable areas. Never attempt to find these without expert guidance.
5. Hover Over the Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon Icebergs
Location: Vatnajökull National Park
Accessibility: Ground view from parking lot OR aerial view via helicopter
Jökulsárlón is stunning from the shore. From above? It’s a different planet.
What you see from the air:
- Hundreds of icebergs in every shade of blue
- Seal colonies resting on ice floes
- The exact moment icebergs calve from the glacier
- Hidden lagoons behind the main lake
- The journey of ice from glacier to ocean
Incredible detail: Some icebergs are flipped upside down, revealing thousand-year-old volcanic ash layers that create striped patterns like marble cake.
Bonus sight: The nearby Diamond Beach where icebergs wash ashore? From above, it looks like someone scattered actual diamonds on black velvet.
6. The Untouched Highlands and Their Colorful Mountains
Location: Landmannalaugar/Fjallabak region
Accessibility: F-roads (summer only, 4×4 required) OR year-round by helicopter
The Highlands are Iceland’s rainbow mountains – rhyolite peaks painted in impossible colors by mineral deposits and geothermal activity.
The color palette:
- Pink and red: Iron oxide deposits
- Yellow and gold: Sulfur formations
- Green: Moss and copper minerals
- Blue-black: Ancient lava flows
- White: Snow and silica deposits
From the helicopter: You see how these colors flow and blend like a geological watercolor painting. The patterns are completely invisible from ground level.
Exclusive access: We can land at Bláhnjúkur (Blue Peak) summit – a spot that requires a full day’s challenging hike to reach on foot.
7. Active Geysers and Mud Pools from a Bird’s Eye View
Location: Haukadalur Valley and Highland geothermal areas
Accessibility: Tourist viewing platform OR aerial perspective
Sure, you can stand with crowds waiting for Geysir to erupt. Or you can see 50 geothermal features simultaneously from above.
The aerial advantage:
- See underground water channels revealed by vegetation patterns
- Watch multiple geysers erupting in sequence
- Observe mud pools that look like alien planets
- Spot hidden fumaroles smoking in remote valleys
Stunning realization: The entire valley is essentially a thin crust over a massive geothermal system. From above, you see the Earth breathing.
8. The Westfjords’ Dramatic Cliffs and Hidden Beaches
Location: Westfjords Peninsula
Accessibility: 8-hour drive from Reykjavik OR 90-minute flight
The Westfjords receive less than 10% of Iceland’s tourists because they’re so remote. That’s exactly why you should see them.
What makes them special:
- 1,000-foot vertical cliffs dropping straight into the Arctic Ocean
- Millions of puffins (in summer) covering cliffsides
- Hidden beaches accessible only by boat or air
- Abandoned villages slowly being reclaimed by nature
The Látrabjarg experience: Europe’s westernmost point and largest bird cliff. From the helicopter, you fly alongside millions of nesting seabirds. It’s like being inside a nature documentary.
9. Iceland’s Largest Waterfalls in Full Glory
Location: Dettifoss, Háifoss, Glymur
Accessibility: Hiking trails with partial views OR complete aerial view
Dettifoss is Europe’s most powerful waterfall. From the viewing platform, you see maybe 30% of it. From the air? The full magnificent violence.
The complete picture includes:
- The entire canyon system carved by the water
- Rainbow formations in the mist (guaranteed on sunny days)
- The source and destination of the water
- Scale that’s impossible to grasp from the ground
Hidden gem: Háifoss (400 feet tall) sits in a canyon so deep that you can’t see the bottom from the rim. We fly into the canyon, below the rim, for a view that literally no land-based tourist can access.
10. The Central Highland Desert (Europe’s Last Wilderness)
Location: Sprengisandur and Ódáðahraun
Accessibility: Specialized expedition only OR helicopter
This is Europe’s largest desert – a black sand wilderness bigger than some European countries.
What exists here:
- Absolutely nothing… and that’s the point
- Moon-like landscapes (NASA trained here)
- Perfect volcanic cones never touched by humans
- Ancient Viking routes still visible from above
- Silence so complete it’s almost oppressive
The experience: Landing here is like visiting another planet. No life, no color except black and grey, no sound except wind. It’s simultaneously terrifying and peaceful.
How to Book Your Scenic Flight in Iceland
Choosing the Right Tour for You
For first-timers:
- South Coast Spectacular (90 minutes): Glaciers, waterfalls, black beaches
- Fire and Ice (2 hours): Volcanoes and glaciers combo
- Starting from €500 per person (group tours)
For photographers:
- Golden Hour Flights: Sunrise or sunset timing
- Door-off Options: For unobstructed shots (summer only)
- Starting from €800 per person
For adventure seekers:
- Multi-landing Expeditions: 2-3 stops at remote locations
- Heli-hiking Combinations: Fly in, hike glaciers, fly out
- Starting from €1,200 per person
Making it a Special Occasion (Hint: Proposals!)
Here’s an open secret: 30% of our private flights include surprises – proposals, anniversaries, birthday celebrations.
Why helicopters make perfect proposal vehicles:
- Complete privacy at stunning locations
- Natural excitement masks nervous energy
- Unforgettable backdrop for the big question
- Professional photography easily explained as “tour documentation”
We’ve coordinated over 200 proposals. Success rate? 100%. (Though one person did say “yes” then immediately threw up from excitement. Still counts!)
Pro tip: Book the sunset glacier landing package. The golden light on ancient ice creates magic that no diamond can match.
The Investment: What’s This Really Going to Cost?
Let’s talk real numbers:
Shared Tours: €500-900 per person
- 3-6 passengers
- Fixed routes
- 1-2 hours flight time
Private Tours: €2,500-8,000 per helicopter
- Choose your route
- Multiple landing options
- Professional photography available
Is it worth it? Consider this:
- You’ll spend €2,000+ on hotels for a week
- Restaurant meals easily hit €500+
- Rental car and gas: €800+
For the price of one fancy dinner in Reykjavik, you could see Iceland like 99% of visitors never will.
Final Thoughts: Why This Changes Everything
After showing thousands of people Iceland from above, I’ve noticed something: everyone cries.
Not sad tears. Overwhelmed tears. The kind that come when you realize the planet you live on is far more magnificent than you imagined.
Iceland from the ground is beautiful.
Iceland from the air is transcendent.
You’ll return home with more than photos. You’ll carry the knowledge that impossible beauty exists, that there are still wild places untouched by humanity, that Earth still has secrets worth discovering.
And maybe, just maybe, you’ll be planning your next flight before you even land.
Because once you’ve seen Iceland from above, everything else feels a bit… flat.
Ready to see the Iceland that tourists miss? Check our flight schedule and prepare for perspectives that will change how you see our planet.