Grímsvötn Eruption Helicopter Tour – Skaftafell

When you arrive at Skaftafell Terminal, please check in at our reception. There, you’ll meet your pilot who will go over the flight route and conduct a safety briefing before heading out to the helicopter.

After take-off, we’ll fly straight over to Vatnajökull glacier, Europe’s largest glacier, to explore the Grímsvötn eruption site. Along the way, you’ll pass over Skaftafell National Park and Morsárdalur glacier canyon.

Grímsvötn, located on the northwestern side of the Vatnajökull ice cap at an elevation of 1725 m above sea level, is known for its subglacial lakes and volcanic activity. It’s a basaltic volcano mostly covered by ice and has the highest eruption frequency of all volcanoes in Iceland. Over historical times, scientists have documented about 60 volcanic eruptions in the Grímsvötn system, far more than any other Icelandic volcano. Due to its subglacial location, its eruptions are often explosive, driven by the interaction of magma and meltwater from the ice, resulting in phreatomagmatic activity.

Recent eruptions include significant events in 2011, 2004, 1998, and 1996. The 2011 eruption, the largest in a century, lasted a week and caused disruptions in air travel across Europe, despite not triggering glacier floods.

During the flight, keep an eye out for the small cabins at Grímsfjall, near Grímsvötn, where the Icelandic Glacier Research Society monitors volcanic activity closely.

After marveling at the beauty of Grímsvötn and the vastness of Vatnajökull glacier, we’ll begin our return journey. Flying over Skeiðarárjökull glacier, an outlet glacier with striking black and white patterns, you’ll get a sense of the diverse landscapes Iceland’s highlands have to offer.

Upon returning to Skaftafell Terminal, we hope you’ve captured some stunning photos and experienced the magical beauty of Iceland’s varied landscapes.