Glacier lagoon flight from Skaftafell: Iceland's highest peak

Icebergs drift below as you cross Iceland's biggest glacier and highest summit in one flight.

A 50-minute airplane flight from Skaftafell over Vatnajökull National Park, passing Hvannadalshnjúkur (Iceland's highest peak at 2,116 meters), Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon with floating icebergs, and Breiðamerkurjökull glacier. The pilot briefs you at the terminal before takeoff and points out the route and landmarks during the flight. Coffee or tea is included, and the flight operates year-round with live English-speaking pilot guidance.

Step-by-step itinerary

Flight over glaciers and peaks

• Meet at Skaftafell Terminal
• Briefing with pilot and staff
• Fly over Hvannadalshnjúkur peak
• View Breiðamerkurjökull glacier
• Fly over Jökulsárlón glacial lagoon
• See Esjufjöll Mountains
• Return flight to Skaftafell Terminal

The experience

Fifty minutes is enough to cross terrain that would take days to reach by road. You meet the pilot and front desk staff at Skaftafell Terminal, next to the private airstrip, where they walk you through the flight route and what to expect before boarding. The route climbs toward Hvannadalshnjúkur, the 2,116-meter summit that dominates Iceland's interior, then banks over Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon where massive icebergs float in the meltwater. Breiðamerkurjökull glacier and the Esjufjöll Mountains come into view on the return leg.

The flight covers Vatnajökull, Europe's largest glacier, in a single arc. What takes a full day of hiking or driving to see in fragments unfolds as one continuous landscape from the air. Coffee or tea waits after landing, and the whole experience (ground time, flight and debrief) fits into a morning or afternoon without eating into the rest of your itinerary.

What’s included

• All fees and taxes.
• coffee or tea after landing.
• pilot briefing and commentary during the flight.

Before you book

Days and timesThursday to SaturdayDepartures at 11:00, 13:00 and 15:00

Book up to18h before

AgesAdult (13 and older) · Child (3 to 12 years) · Infant (under 3): free

GroupUp to 7 · max 5 per booking

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather or if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated 3 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortPublic transport nearbyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Atlantsflug/Flightseeing

Is this one for you?Small groups and solo travelers fit easily into the plane, making this a quick way to see the scale of Vatnajökull and Jökulsárlón without committing a full day to ground transport and hiking.

Traveler reviews

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (3 to 12 years); Infant (under 3): free.

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

How do I get to Skaftafell Terminal for the flight?

Skaftafell Terminal sits next to the private airstrip in Skaftafell, East Iceland. Public transportation options are available nearby if you don't have a rental car, though the terminal itself is the meeting point where the pilot and staff will greet you.

What is Hvannadalshnjúkur and why does the flight go over it?

Hvannadalshnjúkur is Iceland's highest peak at 2,116 meters, and the flight passes directly over it on the way to Jökulsárlón. From the air you see the summit and the surrounding ice fields that are unreachable by foot in a single day trip.

What makes Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon worth seeing from above?

Jökulsárlón is a glacier lagoon where huge icebergs calve from Breiðamerkurjökull and drift in the meltwater. From the plane, you watch them float across the lagoon and see how they wash back onto the black sand beach. A scale and movement you cannot grasp from the shore.

Is the pilot's commentary in English?

Yes, the pilot provides live guidance in English throughout the flight, pointing out landmarks and explaining what you are seeing as you pass over each glacier, peak and lagoon.