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Witness Iceland's newest volcanic activity from the air on a helicopter flight to the Reykjanes peninsula eruption sites near Grindavik. This compact tour from Reykjavik Domestic Airport offers a rare perspective on active or recently active lava fields where successive eruptions have transformed the landscape since 2021.
Check in at the hangar on the east side of Reykjavik Domestic Airport behind the Icelandair Natura hotel. After a safety briefing you lift off toward the eruption site north of Grindavik at Sundhnukur, where recent volcanic activity has reshaped the peninsula in full view of the capital region.
The helicopter follows the Reykjanes peninsula over black lava fields and steaming fissures, with your pilot navigating to the best aerial vantage points based on conditions and current activity on the day. When lava is flowing you observe it from a safe altitude; when eruptions have paused, the freshly cooled rock and collapsed craters tell an equally dramatic story.
After circling the most striking terrain near Hagafell and Stora Skogfell, the return leg crosses the peninsula and Faxafloi bay back to the airport base. The entire experience fits into a compact timeframe ideal for travellers with a full schedule elsewhere in the capital.
The Sundhnukur eruption zone sits on the Reykjanes peninsula, a geologically active strip of land where the North American and Eurasian plates pull apart and magma frequently reaches the surface. Coastal cliffs, mossy lava and geothermal steam create a raw backdrop that feels worlds away from Reykjavik despite the short flight time.
Since 2021 the peninsula has hosted eruptions at Fagradalsfjall, Meradalir, Litli-Hrutur and Sundhnukur, each adding new layers to an already extraordinary volcanic landscape. From the air the relationship between the eruption sites, the town of Grindavik and the wider peninsula becomes immediately clear.
No flying experience is required. Minimum age is two years and passengers should be able to board the aircraft with minimal assistance and follow the pilot safety briefing.
Flights depend on weather, aviation conditions and any airspace restrictions near active volcanic zones. Eruption activity is a natural event and cannot be guaranteed on any specific date, though recent lava fields remain visually spectacular even when lava is not actively flowing.
A helicopter reaches eruption viewpoints that are inaccessible by road and offers scale that ground-based visits cannot match, all within a short flight from Reykjavik using a smaller aircraft for a more intimate experience.
Experienced pilots adapt the route to show the most dramatic volcanic scenery available on your date and explain the geological forces at work, turning a brief flight into a focused lesson on Iceland's living earth.
The full experience lasts around 35 minutes including check in, the scenic flight to the eruption area and return to the airport base.
Allow at least 15 minutes before your scheduled departure for briefing and boarding. Flight time to the Reykjanes peninsula eruption zone depends on conditions on the day.
Flights depart from Nauthólsvegur 58, Reykjavik Domestic Airport, on the east side of the airport behind the Icelandair Reykjavik Natura hotel.
The base is not at the commercial airline terminal. Taxis from central Reykjavik typically take around five minutes. GPS coordinates are available on your booking confirmation.
The route flies to the eruption site north of Grindavik at Sundhnukur, offering aerial views of lava fields, fissures and volcanic terrain on the Reykjanes peninsula.
Your pilot navigates to the best vantage points on the day, providing commentary on the geological activity that has reshaped this part of southwest Iceland.
Volcanic eruptions are natural events and activity may change or pause without notice. Lava flows cannot be guaranteed on any given date.
If the eruption is not active during your visit, the flight still offers dramatic views of recent lava fields and volcanic terrain on the Reykjanes peninsula.
Helicopter flights depend on weather and aviation conditions. If conditions are unsafe, the pilot may adjust the route, omit landings or postpone the flight.
Wind, low cloud and visibility can affect routes near active volcanic areas. The pilot makes the final call on the day to keep everyone safe.
Children aged two and above are welcome. Infants must sit on a parent lap. The experience is wheelchair accessible at the airport base.
Contact us before booking if you have specific accessibility requirements so we can confirm arrangements for your date.
Transport to Reykjavik Domestic Airport is not included in the flight price. Public transport and taxis can reach the hangar in a few minutes from central Reykjavik.
Free parking is available near the meeting point for those driving. Plan to arrive early as late arrivals may miss strict aviation slot times.
Flights can operate with a single passenger when booked, subject to aircraft availability. This tour uses smaller helicopters with up to six passengers.
Your confirmation email will confirm the exact aircraft configuration and passenger capacity for your departure.
The Reykjanes peninsula has experienced multiple eruptions since 2021 at Fagradalsfjall, Meradalir, Litli-Hrutur and Sundhnukur. The flight route adapts to current activity.
Your pilot selects the best approach based on where volcanic activity or recent lava fields are visible on the day of your flight.
This compact tour uses a smaller helicopter for a more intimate experience, ideal if you have a full schedule elsewhere in Reykjavik.
Despite the shorter duration, you still reach the Sundhnukur eruption zone with aerial views of lava fields and fissures near Grindavik.
About the centre
Reykjavik
Operated by Norðurflug Helicopter Tours, a partner of adventuro.
