ATV & Helicopter combination tour From Reykajvik

The best thing about this tour is the quick change of scale: you rumble up rocky trails on an ATV, then look down on Reykjavik from a helicopter. I like the ride to Lake Hafravatn and the chance to reach Reykjavik Peak without spending a full day away from the capital. I also like the summit landing, which gives you time on the ground rather than only a window view.

The main drawback is practical: there is no drop-off after the helicopter flight. You can walk back, as one recent booking party did, but you should plan for that. Weather also matters greatly, and the $500 price is a serious splurge for a half-day outing.

Key points at a glance

• Two Icelandic adventures in one morning: Combine a one-hour ATV ride with a helicopter flight lasting about 45 minutes, plus a mountain landing.
• Lake Hafravatn and Reykjavik Peak: Ride rocky trails beside the lake, then climb to a viewpoint over Reykjavik, Faxaflói Bay, and Mount Esjan.
• A real pilot-led mountain landing: The helicopter stops for about 20 minutes so you can take photographs from the mountaintop.
• Pickup from Reykjavik hotels and bus stops: Collection begins between 09:00 and 09:30, with a required ready time of 09:00.
• One ATV can hold two people: Share the controls with another licensed driver, ride as a passenger, or select the single-rider option.
• Strong recent feedback on the guides and pilots: The staff are repeatedly praised for being friendly, helpful, and well organized.

Why this combo works so well near Reykjavik

I like this outing because it gives you two very different views of Iceland without sending you far from the capital. The ATV section feels physical and close to the ground. You notice the rough track, the climb, the water at Lake Hafravatn, and the changing view as Reykjavik Peak comes closer.

The helicopter section does the opposite. Reykjavik becomes a pattern of rooftops, roads, and shoreline, while the surrounding mountains and sea spread out below you. If the weather is especially clear, you may see toward the Reykjanes Peninsula and even along the Snæfellsnes Peninsula to the glacier-capped Snæfellsjökull.

That contrast gives the trip its value. Many city excursions offer one viewpoint and return you to town. Here, you get a hands-on ride followed by an aerial view. The tradeoff is price. At $500 per person, this is not a casual add-on, but combining two separate paid activities can make sense if you already want both.

Starting at 09:00 with pickup around Reykjavik

Your day begins with pickup from a Reykjavik hotel or an assigned bus stop. Pickup runs from 09:00 to 09:30, and you need to be ready at 09:00. That early window matters, so do not treat it as a loose suggestion.

Pickup points include major hotels such as Hilton Reykjavik Nordica, Grand Hotel Reykjavik, Hotel Cabin, Reykjavik Lights, ODDSSON, Icelandair Hotel Reykjavik Natura, and Hótel Ísland. You can also be collected at selected city bus stops, the Reykjavik bus terminal, the Culture House, City Hall, Snorrabraut, Vesturbugt, or the Skarfabakki cruise terminal.

If your accommodation lies outside the pickup zone, you will be assigned a nearby bus stop. Check this before the morning of the tour. You do not want to start an expensive excursion by guessing where the vehicle will arrive.

The ride takes you to the ATV base on the edge of the city. Pickup is included, but the tour does not include a ride back after the helicopter flight. That arrangement works best if you are comfortable walking from Reykjavik Domestic Airport or have a plan for continuing your day.

Getting ready for the ATV ride

At the base, you receive a helmet, gloves, overalls, a ski mask, and rain gear. Iceland can be wet, windy, or cold even when the city feels mild, so this supplied clothing is useful rather than decorative.

The guides give a safety briefing lasting about 30 minutes. This is a meaningful part of the outing, especially if you have never driven a quad bike. Pay attention to the instructions about speed, spacing, turns, and rough ground. You will get more from the ride if you feel comfortable with the machine before leaving the base.

The ATVs are built for two people. If you want to drive, you need a valid driver’s license. Passengers do not need a license, but only licensed drivers may take control. You can share one ATV with another driver or choose a single-rider option when booking.

Bring sturdy hiking boots or sneakers. I would not choose soft fashion shoes for the rocky route, and I would wear clothing that can handle dust, mud, and changing weather beneath the provided gear.

Riding the rocky route to Lake Hafravatn

The ATV ride lasts about one hour and heads toward Lake Hafravatn. This is not a gentle paved-road sightseeing trip. The appeal is the rough track and the feeling of moving through open Icelandic ground under your own control.

Lake Hafravatn gives the ride a natural midpoint. You circle along its shores, with the water offering a calmer contrast to the machinery and rocky trail. The route lets you experience the area at ground level, where small changes in the track matter and the terrain becomes part of the activity.

The ride is guided, so you are not left to find the route yourself. That is helpful in an open area where the most direct path is not always obvious. The recent feedback points to the ATV team as a major strength, with particular praise for friendly guides and well-run outings.

Keep your expectations realistic. One hour on the ATV does not make this a full wilderness expedition. It is a concentrated ride near Reykjavik, designed to fit with the helicopter portion. If you want a long, all-day quad-bike tour, this will feel brief. If you want a lively introduction to Icelandic off-road terrain without losing an entire day, the length is about right.

Reaching Reykjavik Peak for the big city view

After riding beside Lake Hafravatn, the route climbs toward Reykjavik Peak. The summit stop is the visual payoff of the ATV section.

From above the city, you can photograph Reykjavik’s colorful rooftops, Faxaflói Bay, and the flat-topped bulk of Mount Esja. The view gives you a useful sense of how compact the capital is, and how quickly the built-up area gives way to open ground.

Clear weather can add the Reykjanes Peninsula and the length of the Snæfellsnes Peninsula, ending at Snæfellsjökull. These distant views are not guaranteed. Iceland’s weather can close in quickly, so treat them as a bonus rather than a promise.

The summit stop is also a good reason to keep your phone or camera accessible. You will be wearing protective gear, and changing clothes or searching through a bag can be awkward once you are on the route. Rain gear helps, but it cannot create clear skies, so the quality of the view will depend heavily on the day.

The transfer from the ATV base to the helicopter

After the ATV ride, you return to the base, hand back the equipment, and transfer by van to Reykjavik Domestic Airport. The van portion is listed at about 30 minutes.

This changeover is one of the less glamorous parts of the tour, but it is important. You are moving between two separate types of activity, with different equipment and a different crew. The transfer keeps you from having to arrange transport across the city yourself.

The total experience lasts about five to six hours. The morning pickup window, ATV briefing, one-hour ride, equipment return, van transfer, and helicopter schedule all take time. Keep the rest of your day flexible, particularly if you have a restaurant booking, a bus departure, or another timed activity.

Seeing Reykjavik from the helicopter

At the domestic airport, you meet the pilot and receive a briefing about the route. The flight lasts about 45 minutes, while the full helicopter portion is described as roughly an hour with the mountaintop landing included.

From the air, Reykjavik’s familiar sights take on a different shape. Streets become lines, rooftops become blocks of color, and Faxaflói Bay becomes part of a much wider view. You may also see the Reykjanes Peninsula and other distant areas when the air is clear.

The pilot’s route is weather dependent. Helicopters need suitable conditions, and the clearest day will give you the most from the flight. One recent booking had the helicopter portion moved to another day and received an upgrade, showing why it helps to keep some flexibility in your Iceland schedule.

The flight is not only about looking down through the windows. Halfway through, the pilot lands on a mountaintop and gives you about 20 minutes to take photographs. That stop makes the experience feel more substantial than a short scenic loop over the city.

A recent flight included a landing on a roughly 2,000-year-old volcanic site with hot water and steam. That particular landing should not be treated as guaranteed, since flight routes and landing places depend on conditions, but it shows the sort of unusual volcanic setting that may form part of the experience.

The mountaintop landing and photo stop

The landing is the part I would use to justify the helicopter cost. You do not simply board, circle the city, and get off. You touch down in the high country and have time to experience the air and views from outside the aircraft.

Twenty minutes is enough for photographs and a quick look around, but it is not a hike. You should not expect a long walk, a meal, or a broad mountain exploration. Think of it as a carefully timed pause that adds a physical sense of place to the flight.

This stop also makes weather even more important. Low cloud, poor visibility, or difficult wind can change what you see and where the aircraft lands. The tour remains appealing in good weather, but the price is harder to justify if the views are heavily obscured.

Price, timing, and what the $500 buys you

At $500 per person, this is one of the more expensive half-day activities around Reykjavik. The price includes pickup, the one-hour ATV adventure, protective gear, a professional guide, and the Reykjavik summit helicopter tour.

I see the value in the combination rather than in either activity alone. You are paying for the ATV equipment and staff, the van transfer, the pilot and aircraft, and the mountain landing. Booking the two experiences together also saves you from arranging separate transport and trying to fit them into the same day.

Still, the price will not suit every Iceland itinerary. If your budget is tight, you may prefer a standard ATV outing or a ground-based sightseeing trip. If the helicopter flight is a personal highlight and you want to make the most of limited time in Reykjavik, the combination is easier to defend.

The tour receives an overall rating of 4.8 from 37 reviews, and the strongest praise centers on the guides, the pilot, the smooth organization, and the excitement of both activities. The most useful criticism is the lack of transportation back from the airport. Since that is clearly part of the arrangement, plan for it instead of treating it as an unpleasant surprise.

Who should book this experience

I would recommend this to active adults, couples, friends, and families with older children who want a high-energy morning near Reykjavik. It suits you if you enjoy machines, open-air views, and a little uncertainty from Icelandic weather.

It is also a good fit for a short stay. You can experience mountains, a lake, a city viewpoint, and an aerial flight without committing to a full-day excursion outside the capital.

It is less suitable if you dislike rough rides, feel uneasy in helicopters, or need a leisurely pace. The morning includes an early pickup, a long safety briefing, protective clothing, a one-hour ATV ride, a transfer, and a flight. You are active and on a schedule.

The age information needs careful attention. Children under six are not suitable, and the booking information also lists children under eight as not suitable. Since those limits do not match perfectly, confirm the applicable age rule before paying. Children six or older may ride as passengers according to the stated requirements, but only licensed drivers can operate the ATVs.

Practical details to settle before booking

Bring your driver’s license if you want to drive. Without it, you can still ride as a passenger, provided you meet the age requirement.

Wear hiking boots or sneakers and avoid alcohol or drugs before the activity. The supplied helmet, gloves, overalls, ski mask, and rain gear cover much of the practical clothing need, but suitable footwear remains your responsibility.

The tour is conducted in English. Free cancellation is available up to 24 hours before departure, and you can reserve now and pay later. Those terms are useful if the Iceland forecast is uncertain, though you should still check the exact start time and pickup point attached to your booking.

Should you book the ATV and helicopter combo?

Book it if you want two very different Iceland experiences in one carefully packed morning, and if $500 fits your budget. The ATV ride gives you contact with the ground, while the helicopter gives you views and a mountaintop pause that are difficult to reproduce on a normal city tour.

I would be especially tempted by this option on a short Reykjavik visit with a good weather forecast. I would hesitate if the forecast is poor, if you need transport back to your hotel, or if you would rather spend the money on a longer day trip.

The safest decision is to treat the helicopter landing and distant views as weather-dependent bonuses. The core plan is already appealing: ride from the capital toward Lake Hafravatn and Reykjavik Peak, then see the city and nearby volcanic country from above.

FAQ

How long does the full ATV and helicopter tour take?

The full experience lasts about five to six hours. This includes pickup, the safety briefing, the one-hour ATV ride, the van transfer, and the helicopter portion.

What time does pickup begin?

You need to be ready at your pickup location at 09:00. Pickup takes place between 09:00 and 09:30.

Where can I be picked up?

Pickup is available from selected Reykjavik hotels, bus stops, the Reykjavik bus terminal, the Skarfabakki cruise terminal, and other listed city locations. If your hotel is outside the pickup zone, you will be assigned a nearby bus stop.

Do I need a driver’s license?

You need a valid driver’s license to operate an ATV. Passengers do not need a license, and the ATVs can carry two people.

What equipment is included?

The tour provides a helmet, gloves, overalls, a ski mask, and rain gear. Hiking boots or sneakers are recommended.

Is transportation back to my hotel included?

Pickup is included, but drop-off is not. After the helicopter flight, you need to arrange your own return from Reykjavik Domestic Airport.

Can children join the tour?

Children under six are not suitable, and the information also lists children under eight as not suitable. Because both age limits appear in the tour details, confirm the correct requirement before booking. Children who meet the applicable age rule may ride as passengers, while only licensed drivers can operate the ATVs.