Sightseeing Flight | ​Hvannadalshnjukur & Jokulsarlon Glacier Lagoon

Join this flight to Iceland's highest peak, Hvannadalshnjúkur! At 2,109 m (6,921 ft), it towers over the landscape. This tour is for anyone looking for a unique way to witness one of Iceland's finest attractions. 

You'll fly east in a small plane from a private airfield at Skaftafell in Vatnajökull National Park. On the way, you'll cross glacier tongues coming from the glacier Öræfajökull. Öræfajökull is also home to Iceland's highest peak, Hvannadalshnjúkur (2116 m). Finally, you'll fly over the glacier lagoon Jökulsárlón. From there we can also enjoy the view of the glacier Breiðamerkurjökull and Esjufjöll.

You'll fly over the colourful area of Kjós located at the end of Morsárdalur on the way to Iceland's tallest mountain. The peak is a part of the crater rim of Öræfajökull glacier that is now filled with ice, which sometimes spills over to feed its outlet glaciers.

Öræfajökull glacier is also a volcano and has erupted twice in historic times, in the years 1362 and 1727. In fact, it's the largest active volcano in the country, and both times it erupted, it poured huge amounts of tephra over Iceland, destroying the district it calls home with flooding and other devastation. 

This tour offers a great view over the glacier tongues coming off the main Vatnajökull ice cap and is a must do for glacier, ice and nature lovers! This is the most voluminous ice cap in Iceland, and one of the largest glaciers in all of Europe.

You'll view Vatnajökull National Park on the way to the incredibly beautiful glacier lagoon Jökulsárlón. It's full of floating icebergs, and you may be able to see them calve (break apart) from the glacier above the lagoon. 

See some of the most thrilling sights, plus Iceland's highest peak! Check availability by choosing a date.

• Available: Jul. - Sep.
• Activities: Sightseeing, Airplane
• Difficulty: Easy
• Languages: English
• Highlights:

  

  Landmannalaugar ("The people's pools") is a vast area of stunning and unique beauty, the true heart of Iceland's southern Highlands. 

  Geology 

  Landmannalaugar is a truly rare area, both geologically and aesthetically. The area can be found nestled beside the raven-black Laugahraun lava field, a sweeping expanse of dried magma which originally formed in 1477. Landmannalaugar itself is made up of windswept rhyolite mountains, a rock type that creates a full spectrum of dazzling colour on the mountainside. Shades of red, pink, green and golden yellow all change their tone, keeping in movement with the sun rays and creating an area of wilderness that resembles no place else on earth.  

  Landmannalaugar is primarily known for its natural geothermal baths, hence its name "The People's Pools". For centuries, Landmannalaugar has served as an area of shelter and respite for weary travellers who use these soothing springs as a means to relax after tiring excursions. Today, visitors to the highlands should always bring a swimsuit and towel, just in case one of these naturally occurring hot pools should crop up along the hiking trail. 

  Hiking 

  The area marks the northern end of the Laugavegur, one of Iceland's most popular hiking trails. It is also home to many other notable trails, however, including the path onto the mighty Mt. Brennisteinsalda ("Sulphur Wave"). Visitors can also traverse the trail up the Bláhnjúkur ("Blue Peak") volcano, whose summit allows for a sweeping view of up to five glaciers on clear days.

  Multiple operators run daily tours to Landmannalaugar from mid-June to mid-September, during which time The Icelandic Touring Association operates a small shop, three camp sites and a mountain hut equipped with sleeping bags and accommodation for up to 80 visitors.

  ---

  • Find Highland Tours here

  ---

   

  Landmannalaugar,

  Skaftafell is a nature preserve in Oraefasveit. It used to be a national park of its own but joined the larger Vatnajokull National Park in 2008.

  Skaftafell is notable for its rich flora, growing between sands and glaciers, and overall for its amazing and contrasting scenery. You can take short and easy trails to the waterfalls Svartifoss and Hundafoss, as well as Skaftafell glacier, with the mountain Kristinartindar and Morsardalur valley further off.

  Skaftafell is also the perfect base camp for those seeking to climb Iceland’s highest peak, Hvannadalshnukur.

  Skaftafell

• Sightseeing flight

• Expert pilot/guide

• Camera