Private Ice Cave Helicopter Tour from Skaftafell
by Atlantsflug · Ice caves · Helicopter & flightseeing · Glacier hiking · Vatnajökull & Jökulsárlón
- Luxury
from €3,155.81 per vehicle
No published departures in the coming months — ask us
1 / 36
Duration
2 hours and 30 minutes
Difficulty
Moderate
Season
Sep – Apr
Starts in
Skaftafell
Pickup
Meet at the start point
Starts at
Skaftafell Terminal - Tour Center
Skaftafell Terminal - Tour Center, Öræfi
Guide
Guided in English
Departs
11:00
Minimum age
8
Cancellation
Free until 24 hours before
About this experience
Discover one of Iceland’s most extraordinary winter adventures on a private helicopter journey from Skaftafell. Soar above breathtaking glacier landscapes before landing in a remote world of towering ice walls, sculpted ice formations, and stunning natural beauty.
Accompanied by an experienced glacier guide, explore a natural ice cave and take time to admire the remarkable surroundings. Travelling by helicopter allows you to reach this spectacular glacial environment without a long and demanding glacier hike.
This exclusive experience lasts approximately 2.5 hours, combining breathtaking helicopter flightseeing with the unforgettable beauty of Iceland’s glaciers, both from above and up close.
Private tours only. Submit a booking request for 1–4 guests, or contact us directly to arrange a tour for a larger group. All booking requests are subject to confirmation of helicopter and glacier guide availability.
What to ExpectYour adventure begins at Skaftafell Terminal, where you'll meet your pilot and glacier guide before boarding the helicopter for a scenic flight towards the glacier.
After approximately 10 minutes in the air, you'll land in a remote and peaceful glacial landscape. Your guide will lead you across the icy terrain to explore a natural ice cave, where you'll discover fascinating ice formations, beautiful colors, and the ever-changing shapes of the glacier.
Beyond the cave itself, the surrounding scenery is just as remarkable. Towering ice walls, scattered icebergs, and dramatic glacier formations create an extraordinary setting, with opportunities to take photographs and enjoy the tranquility of this secluded environment.
After your guided exploration, you'll return to the helicopter for another scenic flight back to Skaftafell, taking in the spectacular glacier scenery from above.
The entire experience lasts approximately 2.5 hours, including helicopter flights, guided exploration, and time on the glacier. Larger groups requiring multiple helicopter transfers may take longer.
Why Choose This TourA Private Adventure, Away from the Crowds
Leave the crowds behind and discover a quieter, more secluded side of Iceland's glaciers. With your own helicopter and experienced glacier guide, enjoy a truly personal ice cave experience.
More Exploring, Less Travelling
Reach the glacier by helicopter instead of undertaking a lengthy glacier trek, leaving more time to explore the ice cave and admire the extraordinary surroundings.
Two Extraordinary Experiences in One
Combine scenic helicopter flights over Vatnajökull's glacial landscapes with the unforgettable experience of stepping inside a natural ice cave.
Group Size & Helicopter TransfersThis private experience accommodates 1–9 guests. Groups of up to 4 guests travel together with their glacier guide in one helicopter transfer.
For groups of 5–9 guests, two helicopter transfers are required in each direction, with one guide accompanying the group during the ice cave exploration.
Travelling with 5 or more guests? Please contact us directly to arrange your private tour and receive a quote. Larger groups may require additional time.
Description from the operator, Atlantsflug. Prices and availability in the booking panel are live.
Where you go
- Skaftafell Terminal
Included
- Private helicopter flights from Skaftafell Terminal to the glacier and back, with approximately 10 minutes of flying each way.
- Guided ice cave exploration with an experienced local glacier guide.
- Safety equipment, including helmets, headlamps, and crampons or microspikes, depending on conditions.
- Time to explore and photograph the ice cave and surrounding glacial landscape.
- A personal experience in a small group.
Good to know
Icelandic winter weather can be unpredictable, and conditions on the glacier may be cold, windy, and wet. To stay comfortable during your adventure, we recommend bringing:
- Warm base layers: Thermal underwear, preferably wool or synthetic materials.
- Insulating layers: A warm fleece or wool sweater.
- Waterproof outerwear: A windproof and waterproof jacket and trousers.
- Footwear: Warm, waterproof winter hiking boots with good grip are essential. Your guide will provide additional traction equipment as needed.
- Hat and gloves: Warm gloves and a hat that fits comfortably under a helmet.
- Small backpack: Bring water, a snack, and any personal essentials.
- Camera or smartphone: You'll want to capture the incredible scenery.
Please avoid jeans, cotton clothing, and unsuitable footwear, as these can become uncomfortable or unsafe in cold and wet conditions.
Minimum Age: 8 years.
Physical Requirements: A reasonable level of fitness and mobility is required. Guests should be comfortable walking short distances on uneven, icy terrain. No previous glacier hiking experience is necessary.
Weather & Safety: All flights and landings are subject to weather and operational conditions, as assessed by the pilot. Our experienced glacier guide evaluates the safety of the ice cave and surrounding terrain. Glacier conditions can change, and the exact location of the ice cave may vary.
Changes & Cancellations: If weather, glacier conditions, or other operational circumstances prevent us from safely providing the booked experience, guests will be offered a full refund or a suitable alternative tour.
Availability & Booking Confirmation: This private tour is available during the winter season, subject to weather, glacier conditions, guide availability, and helicopter operations.
Booking requests for 1–4 guests can be submitted online at least 48 hours before departure. All requests are subject to availability and manual confirmation. We aim to respond as soon as possible, within 48 hours of receiving your request.
For groups of 5–9 guests or last-minute enquiries, please contact us directly at info@flightseeing.is.
Cancellation for this tour
Free cancellation until 24 hours before departure; no refund after that. If the operator cancels for weather or safety, you get a full refund or a new date.
If the weather cancels this tour
Iceland's weather is real. What usually stops this one is melt-water or unstable ice after a warm spell — the guide decides on the morning, and a cave can close for days. Here is exactly what happens to your booking.
- 1Atlantsflug decides, and tells us. Operators cancel when it is unsafe or pointless, and we back that call every time — we do not ask them to run anyway.
- 2We contact you by email, and by phone if your tour is the same or next day. You choose: another date if there is one you can make, or a full refund. There is no fee and nothing to argue.
- 3The refund goes back to the card you paid with, to the card you paid with, usually visible within a few working days. If this tour was one of several in your booking, the others are untouched.
What you do not get is the day back. If this is the only free day in your plan, put a spare day next to it — the planner leaves days free with the rest-day option. And if you want out because the forecast looks bad, that is your own cancellation: free until 1 day before departure, the operator's policy after that.
Questions on the day: [email protected] · +354 497 1373. How cancellations work in Iceland →
Sold out on your date?
Seats come back — a cancellation, or the operator adding a vehicle. Tell us the date and we will check once a day and email you if one opens. One email, then we delete the address; nothing else is ever sent to it.
Who this is not for
- Children under 8 cannot join this one.
- Priced per vehicle, so it is poor value for one or two people and good value for four or more sharing.
Read off the operator's own conditions. If none of it applies to you, this is a good one.
Why we list it
Atlantsflug is one of 208 operators we work with — chosen for reliability, honest descriptions and how they treat guests when weather changes plans. We don't list everything; we list what we'd book ourselves. The six checks every operator passes →
What travellers say about Atlantsflug
Read all 444 reviews on Google →Operator rating 4.9/5 from Google — these are reviews of the company, not this specific tour. Shown as Google returns them, unedited.
★★★★★ · 2 months ago
I truly think this was the best experience/activity that we did on Iceland. It was a gift for my Wife on her birthday and I think this was a bullseye! Absolutely phenomenal experience and breathtaking views. We did not get a proper weather, it was a bit windy, cloudy and pouring some light rain - due to those circumstances we had a risk of cancelling the flight, but at least after 1-2h wait as they suggested us, the sky got a bit better and we got an opportunity to fly for a smaller package of 30 minutes as Atlantsflug suggested us the day before the trip (with a refund from the package that we have chosen, which was also super nice! ❤️). On top of that I'd like to thank you again Palmi - our great pilot that just make our flight experience absolutely stunning. Safe and enjoyable flight! I do think this activity should be an obligation on the Iceland to-do list. Definitely recommend!
★★★★★ · 5 months ago
This was an amazing experience all round. We chose to see the Vatnajokull Glacier from the air and were not disappointed. The welcome on arrival from Malina was great with a free drink. We were in a Cessna plane with 3 others and all of us had window seats. Magnus the pilot was knowledgeable regarding the glacier and its formation. We were lucky with the weather as visibility was superb. Later that day we saw part of the glacier up close on a glacier hike. A great time with a professional & friendly organisation. I would highly recommend this experience.
★★★★★ · 4 months ago
A highlight of our trip! Unforgettable experience! Very helpful and polite lady at the desk in the terminal and super pilot. Beautiful views, lovely people- I can recommend enough! Must do! Just got off the scenic view and can’t stop smiling :)
★★★★★ · 7 months ago
The day after our engagement, we took a helicopter flight with landing at Atlantsflug, and it was truly unforgettable. Wera was incredibly helpful and made everything smooth and easy for us from the start. The whole experience felt perfectly arranged. Our pilot, who was from Sweden, was outstanding. Calm, professional, and knowledgeable. We felt completely safe the entire time, and he showed us the very best the glacier had to offer. The views were breathtaking and the glacier landing was simply magical. Highly recommended. A once in a lifetime experience.
Reviews from Google · updated 4 Nov 2026
Read before you book
- Best Glacier Hike in Iceland (2026): 5 PicksThe glacier hikes we would book ourselves in Iceland, on Sólheimajökull and in Skaftafell, with real adult prices, departure points and who each one is not for.
- Best Ice Cave Tour in Iceland (2026): 5 PicksThe ice cave tours we would book ourselves, from the Vatnajökull caves near Jökulsárlón to Katla near Vík, with real prices and meeting points.
- Iceland boat tours: which boat trip to bookIceland boat tours come in five kinds: whale, aurora, glacier lagoon, ferry and angling. From €18; book a whale boat from Reykjavík, or aurora in winter.
Reviews from our travellers
Only people who booked this tour through us can write here. We publish every review in full — good or bad.
Reviews arrive the day after each trip — none yet for this one. After your tour we send one email asking how it was, and what you write goes here, unedited.
Ice caves — questions people ask
When can you visit an ice cave in Iceland?
Natural blue ice caves open from around November to March, when the glacier is cold enough for the meltwater tunnels to be safe. They form under Vatnajökull near Jökulsárlón, and the caves change every year. Two exceptions run all year: the Katla ice cave near Vík, which is dark ice striped with ash, and Into the Glacier at Langjökull, a man-made tunnel. If you want the glowing blue photos, come between November and March.
Can I do an ice cave tour as a day trip from Reykjavík?
Only the Katla cave. The South Coast and Katla ice cave tour (/experience/22559/) is about twelve hours from Reykjavík and back. The blue caves at Vatnajökull are five hours' drive each way, too far for a day, so operators sell them as two- or three-day tours (/experience/6131/, /experience/7358/) with a night near Jökulsárlón. If you are self-driving, stay in the Höfn or Skaftafell area and book the Crystal Ice Cave tour (/experience/17337/) from there.
Is the Katla ice cave as good as the blue ice caves?
Different, not worse. Katla's cave under Mýrdalsjökull is black and white, layered with volcanic ash, and open all year. It will not give you the glowing blue tunnel photos from Instagram; those are the Vatnajökull caves, November to March only. What Katla gives you is a shorter super-jeep drive from Vík (/experience/22558/) and availability in summer. If you are here between November and March and can reach Jökulsárlón, choose blue. Otherwise choose Katla.
Are ice caves safe?
With a guide, yes. Operators inspect the caves daily and cancel when meltwater, warm weather or ice movement makes them unsafe, which happens most often in November and March at the edges of the season. You wear a helmet and crampons and stay with the group. Never enter a glacier cave on your own. If your tour is cancelled for safety, you get a full refund or another date, and most operators try to substitute another cave first.
Stay near the start
Rooms near Skaftafell, checked live for the night before your tour.
Hotels
Where to stay for this tour
From the cheapest to the top end of what is near Skaftafell, from our hotel partners. Rooms are booked on our hotels site.
One checkout, any number of operators
Rankings are not for sale
207 operators vetted, and not all of them accepted
If it falls short, we fix it
Pairs well with
Add any of these to this tour and 3 % comes off both at checkout. One basket, one payment, however many operators they come from.
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Atlantsflug
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