Waterfalls and Canyons: Private Helicopter Tour

Waterfalls and Canyons, with the Helicopter to Yourselves

The private Waterfalls and Canyons helicopter tour reserves the aircraft for your group of up to four for an 80-minute flight north of Reykjavík: a hidden waterfall, a fjord most visitors drive under, an ancient shield volcano and the valley where two continents part. It is the same route as the shared Waterfalls and Canyons flight, with three differences that matter: nobody else on board, a departure time arranged around your day, and a pilot who can tailor the landing spot and the pace to what you want to see and photograph.

For a group of four the price per person is close to a shared seat. For a couple or a family with young children, it buys a quieter cabin and a flight that is entirely yours.

The Route: Glymur, Skjaldbreiður and the Rift

The helicopter heads north over Hvalfjörður, the Whale Fjord, with its old wartime harbour and empty shoreline, to the canyon at its head where Glymur falls 198 metres in a slot so narrow that hikers only ever see it in pieces. From above, the whole drop is visible at once. Inland rises Skjaldbreiður, a 9,000-year-old shield volcano whose flows built the Þingvellir plain; following them south brings you over the Þingvellir rift, where fissures mark the boundary between the North American and Eurasian plates. The return crosses the steaming Hengill geothermal hills that supply Reykjavík’s hot water.

One landing of about 15 minutes is included when conditions allow, at a viewpoint the pilot chooses with your preferences in mind. On the ground, the same country can be explored on our Glymur waterfall hike or across the Golden Circle, where Þingvellir is the first stop. Our guide to the best helicopter tours in Iceland compares this flight with the longer highland expeditions.

Weather, Flexibility and What to Expect

Sturdy hiking or winter boots are recommended for the landing, which is often on uneven ground or snow, and warm layers are sensible in any season. The cabin is heated and large coats can ride in the baggage compartment. If weather closes the planned route the pilot offers an alternative; if a short delay would help, the flight can move by a few hours or to another day, subject to availability; and a full refund applies if the operator must cancel. Because the helicopter is yours, we can time the flight to follow a private day tour or precede a transfer to the airport.

Practical Information

What’s Included: Private helicopter exclusively for your group (up to 4 passengers), approximately 80 minutes of flight time, one scenic landing of about 15 minutes (weather permitting), experienced pilot with commentary, Bose noise-cancelling headsets.

Requirements: Sturdy hiking or winter boots for the landing, warm layers in any season, booking at least 2 hours before departure. Passenger weights are requested at booking for flight planning. Independent transfer to Reykjavík Domestic Airport, or ask us to include the flight in a private tour or transfer.

Good to Know: Flights operate year-round and depend on weather; alternative routes or another departure time are offered when conditions change, and a full refund applies if the operator cancels. The landing spot varies with conditions. Departures from Reykjavík Domestic Airport, not Keflavík. Cancellation fees: 10% within 14 days, 50% within 7 days, 100% within 2 days. Price is per helicopter; shared seats are available at a lower price per person.