Luxury Iceland From Above: A Helicopter Tour Across the Land of Fire & Ice - 10 Days

Highlights

• Experience Iceland's geothermal landscapes, volcanoes, and glaciers by helicopter
• Stay at the luxurious Deplar Farm, named one of the "Best Hotels in the World"
• Relax and rejuvenate in the luxurious Sky Lagoon and Blue Lagoon spas
• Step inside the Langjökull glacier's magnificent ice caves on a private guided tour

Brief Itinerary

Detailed Itinerary

Day 1: Arrive in Reykjavík, Þríhnúkagígur Volcano by Helicopter, Sky Lagoon

Velkominn til íslands (welcome to Iceland)! Known for its myriad geological wonders, untamed beauty, and evocative history steeped in myths and legends, the "Land of Fire and Ice" is home to some of Europe's most dramatic and diverse landscapes. Your destination is Reykjavík, the country's refreshingly modern capital, with a first-class dining scene, innovative architecture, and an excellent base for exploring many of Iceland's geysers, waterfalls, and national parks around the ever-popular Golden Circle.

Upon arrival at Keflavík Airport, your driver will take you to the capital, where you'll check into the sleek and stylish 5-star The Reykjavík Edition. The boutique rooms and suites blend copper details, elegant Scandinavian design, and individual furnishings from local artisans, while suites boast uninterrupted views of the harbor, Mount Esja, and the Snæfellsjökull glacier. After settling in, start your vacation in style with a private helicopter trip to the dormant Þríhnúkagígur volcano, where you'll fly over a landscape strewn with lava fields before landing on the crater.

Accompanied by a guide, you'll venture inside an open cable lift to descend 400 feet (120 m) into the volcano, following a series of pathways toward the magma chamber, admiring the colorful rock formations along the way. Afterward, relax at the luxurious Sky Lagoon geothermal spa, where the rest of the afternoon is yours to immerse yourself in the spa's seven-step Sky Ritual, where contrasting temperatures, steam, and dry heat combine for a wonderfully rejuvenating experience. Afterward, you'll return to your hotel, where dinner and drinks await on the rooftop terrace.

Day 2: Guided Tour of Reykjavík, Geothermal Helicopter Tour

Despite Reykjavík's modest size, the pint-size capital is home to more than 60 museums and galleries and a plethora of fascinating city landmarks and award-winning, contemporary architecture. This morning, you'll discover the city's highlights on a private guided tour. Pass through the colorful downtown, abundant with street art and cool bars, as you head to the waterfront. Here, you'll find the gleaming Sun Voyager sculpture and the Harpa Concert Hall, Europe's most impressive concert venue, whose shimmering facade is inspired by the northern lights. 

Other top sights you'll pass include the interactive Perlan Museum and the Settlement Exhibition (focusing on the settlement of Reykjavík). Finish with the towering 244-foot (74 m) Hallgrímskirkja church, whose modernist silhouette was designed to echo the country's basalt lava flows, and enjoy the sweeping views across Reykjavík from the top of the church tower. 

Pause for lunch at one of the city's excellent restaurants, then escape the crowds and head to the skies for a private helicopter tour across southwestern Iceland's Highlands. Fly over the muti-hued peaks and rhyolite mountains that make up the Landmannalaugar geothermal area. Then, enjoy a 15-minute landing atop a dormant volcano, where you'll experience the steaming geothermal waters from the base before soaring back up to view the natural wonders of the Þingvellir National Park and the Golden Circle from above. 

Day 3: Full-Day Helicopter Tour of South Iceland with Glacier Landings

Discover Iceland's fire and ice reputation this morning as you take to the skies for aerial views of some of the country's most dramatic and contrasting geothermal and glacial landscapes. You'll start with a private helicopter tour over the vast volcanic black-sand beaches of the south with views of the active Eyjafjallajökull volcano. Admire the gleaming ice cap and networks of canyons and waterfalls before touching down in Vatnajökull National Park. Home to Europe's largest ice cap, it's a mesmerizing sight as you come in to land among the some 30 outlet glaciers. 

The park's justifiably famous Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon is known for luminous blue-toned icebergs and the black sandy shores of Diamond Beach, named for the icebergs that float toward the ocean and return, glittering and polished by the waves, to the coast. You'll explore both before breaking for a scenic picnic of traditional Icelandic dishes, including delicious fresh seafood, hearty stews, and Icelandic lamb, washed down with a glass of Brennivín, the local caraway-scented schnapps. 

Return to the skies, and you'll soar over the Fjallabak Nature Reserve in the Highlands, where you'll have sweeping vistas of the mountains, secluded lakes, and rivers that braid across the park's distinctive sloping peaks. You'll finish with a tour of the Landmannalaugar geothermal area, then experience the remarkable aerial views of the Fimmvörðuháls craters and the Fjallsárlón lagoon.

Day 4: Helicopter Transfer to Deplar Farm, Stuðlagil Super Jeep Tour

Your adventure today begins as you take a transfer to Reykjavík's airport and meet your pilot, ready to board your luxurious helicopter. Your destination is Eleven Deplar Farm, named one of 2023's "Best Hotels in the World" on Condé Nast Traveler's Gold List. It lies beautifully off-grid in northern Iceland's Fljót Valley on the mountainous Tröllaskagi (Troll) Peninsula. In just over an hour, you'll touch down and experience Deplar's remote setting firsthand, where floor-to-ceiling windows throughout the hotel give sweeping views of the snowcapped mountains and rugged hills.

Check into one of the hotel's 13 suites, where you'll find impeccable furnishings in muted and warm tones, paired with sheepskin and Moroccan wools, designed to bring an elegant, "home from home" coziness in contrast to the landscape outside. After settling in, you'll head out on a private Super Jeep tour of one of east Iceland's most inspiring sights, Stuðlagil. Located in the Efri-Jökuldalur valley, the canyon possesses the largest basalt rock columns in Iceland, providing a mesmerizing contrast to the blue-green glacial river below. 

Return from your tour and make use of Deplar's standout spa facilities, which include two Isopod flotation tanks, or soak under the northern lights in the open-air geothermal-heated pool. In the evening, you'll dine on locally sourced dishes such as langoustine soup and pasture-fed lamb, thoughtfully prepared by Iceland's 2018 chef of the year, Garðar Garðarsson.

Day 5: Full-Day Tour of the Diamond Circle 

Day 6: Tour the Troll Peninsula, Helicopter Transfer to Hotel Búðir

Make the most of your last morning at Deplar Farm with a personalized treatment or massage in the spa, take a yoga class, or unwind in the warm geothermal pool. When you're ready, you'll set out on a private tour of the mountainous Tröllaskagi Peninsula. See deep valleys carved by ancient glaciers among peaks reaching 3,280 feet (1,000 m) before reaching the colorful fishing town of Siglufjörður, which experienced significant growth thanks to the herring industry.

You'll pass several interesting gems throughout your drive, including gorgeous villages whose brightly painted cottages stand proudly against the snowcapped mountains. Wind through landscapes filled with basalt columns and Iceland's oldest church before returning to Deplar Farm. Check out, and your journey across the country's natural wonders continues with a private helicopter transfer from the on-site helipad to your next destination—the boutique Hotel Búðir on the south coast of western Iceland's Snæfellsness Peninsula. 

Fly over rugged coastlines, sparkling fjords, and the untamed scenery of Iceland's far north before arriving at your hotel. Surrounded by lava fields and in the shadow of the Snæfellsjökull glacier, Hotel Búðir is ideally placed to explore the peninsula. Check into one of the deluxe rooms or suites where refined furnishings, traditional dark woods, and a muted palette of creams, moss greens, and chocolate lend an understated elegance to spaces furnished with Chesterfield-style sofas and antique prints. Relax in the hotel's world-class facilities and end your day with dinner and drinks in the gourmet restaurant.

Day 7: Full-Day Tour of the Snæfellsnes Peninsula 

Today is yours to explore the enigmatic Snæfellsnes Peninsula with your private guide. Often referred to as "Little Iceland," the peninsula is famous for its variety of landscapes and natural wonders, containing all of the country's diversity and natural wonders within 56 miles (96 km). Almost immediately, you'll see nearby Búðakirkja, a much-photographed black wooden chapel just minutes from your hotel. Make your way across the lava fields of Búðahraun and the Búðaklettur crater, and continue along the coast, pausing at the tiny villages of Arnastapi and Hellnar.

There's plenty to admire in the area, with the famous Lóndrangar lava formations, which you can view from afar or walk 15 minutes to see up close, and the evocative black-sand beach at Djúpalónssandur. Follow the small trail along the cliffs, and you'll see the impressive Dritvík Cove before driving to the Saxhóll crater for sweeping views of the Atlantic. 

Day 8: Transfer to The Retreat at Blue Lagoon, Into the Glacier Tour

This morning, you'll leave the Snæfellsnes Peninsula and take a private transfer south, where you'll find the scenic coastline and dramatic cliffs give way to the untamed landscapes of the Borgarfjörður region, the starting point for today's icy excursion in the nearby Western Highlands. Your destination is Langjökull, Iceland's second-largest glacier and home to the largest manufactured ice tunnel in the world. Meet your private guide and take an exhilarating ride up to the icy cap in a specially modified glacier vehicle while your guide shares insights into the glacier's role in shaping its surroundings. 

Step into the winter wonderland scene, and you'll have plenty of time to venture through the network of blue-hued ice tunnels and ice sculptures. After a couple of hours of exploring, you'll head back down the glacier and resume your journey. Pass charming towns surrounded by mountains and the expansive Lake Hvítárvatn in the distance before eventually reaching the Reykjanes Peninsula. This UNESCO Global Geopark is home to The Retreat, Iceland's premier luxury resort located next to the Blue Lagoon Spa, and your accommodation for the next two nights. 

Check in to one of the 60 elegant suites, carved directly into lava rock with furnishings that blend warmth and minimalism. Bespoke Italian furniture and fine linens provide effortless style, while heated floors and sumptuous bathrooms filled with the spa's award-winning skincare products are thoughtful additions. The rest of the day is yours to unwind as you choose. Indulge in a spa treatment, or relax in the spa's famously rejuvenating waters. Later, choose from one of the hotel's three gourmet restaurants, including the Michelin-starred Moss Restaurant. 

Day 9: Full-Day Tour of the Reykjanes Peninsula

After a leisurely morning, meet your private guide and set off to explore more of the Reykjanes Peninsula. You'll start at the geothermal Krýsuvík area for views of the steam vents and hot springs. At the nearby Gunnuhver hot springs, roam among boiling mud pools and hear the centuries-old legends of a wandering ghost among the steam. A five-minute walk across the cliffs will take you to the Reykjanesviti Lighthouse for sweeping views of the surrounding landscape.

You'll continue clockwise around the peninsula until you reach the Bridge Between Continents (Europe Miðlína). Stop here for a taste of historic Icelandic geology (and to see the gap below the bridge)—the peninsula is on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, which pulls apart a few centimeters every year. After a day of sightseeing, you'll be dropped back at The Retreat, where the afternoon is yours to relax. Enjoy a white silica mud mask, take a dip under the spa's waterfalls, or simply soak in the heated waters, rich in restorative minerals and algae. 

Later, you'll dine on the tasting menu at the Lagoon's Lava Restaurant, whose rocky interior is built directly into an 800-year-old lava cave on the spa's west bank. Enjoy thoughtfully prepared plates showcasing Iceland's fresh produce and culinary traditions while gazing at the volcanic landscape.

Day 10: Transfer to Keflavík, Depart 

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