Reykjanes Volcano & Lava Helicopter Tour from Reykjavík

Since 2021, a series of volcanic eruptions has been continuously reshaping the Reykjanes Peninsula, creating new craters and vast fields of cooling lava. This helicopter tour operated by Reykjavik Helicopters/HeliAir puts you directly above this extraordinary geological transformation, offering aerial perspectives that simply cannot be matched from the ground.

Departing from Reykjavík Domestic Airport, your experienced pilot will navigate over the Reykjanes eruption sites, ensuring every passenger has clear, unobstructed views of the active volcanic terrain below. The raw scale of the lava fields and the vivid contrast between glowing red flows and hardened black rock is something that must be seen to be believed.

Tour duration and format adapt to current volcanic conditions. If an eruption is actively ongoing, the flight lasts approximately 40 minutes and focuses entirely on aerial viewing without a landing. If no active eruption is visible on the day, the tour extends to approximately one hour and includes a landing in the volcanic area, allowing you to stand on the newly formed landscape.

Both formats deliver an unforgettable encounter with Iceland's living geology. An English-speaking guide accompanies every flight, providing context and commentary throughout the experience.

Your tour begins at Hangar 6 at Reykjavík Domestic Airport, where you will meet your pilot and receive a safety briefing before boarding the helicopter.

Once airborne, you will fly toward the Reykjanes Peninsula and its volcanic zone. What you experience in the air depends on current volcanic activity:

• Active eruption: The flight lasts approximately 40 minutes. Your pilot will bring you as close as safely possible to the eruption, giving you aerial views of flowing lava and active craters. No landing is made.
• No active eruption: The tour lasts approximately one hour. You will still fly over the craters and dramatic black lava fields, and a landing will be made in the area so you can step onto the volcanic terrain.

Throughout the flight, your English-speaking guide provides commentary on the geology and history of the eruptions. Both formats offer a genuinely remarkable perspective on Iceland's most dynamic natural event in recent decades.

Few experiences in Iceland match the immediacy of viewing an active volcanic landscape from a helicopter. This tour by Reykjavik Helicopters/HeliAir is operated by pilots with deep knowledge of the Reykjanes volcanic zone, ensuring both safety and the best possible vantage points.

The flexible format means your visit is worthwhile regardless of whether an eruption is actively occurring on the day. You will either witness flowing lava from the air or land directly on the newly formed terrain — two distinct and equally compelling experiences.

Departing directly from Reykjavík Domestic Airport, the tour is straightforward to reach from the city centre, and the included English-speaking guide ensures you leave with a genuine understanding of what you have witnessed.