Above Landmannalaugar: 75-Min Flight Over Lakagígar, Glaciers & Highland Rivers
Difficulty
easy
Duration
75 minutes
Fitness Level
Minimal physical fitness required; able to board small aircraft and sit for duration
Overview
See Landmannalaugar, the Lakagígar crater chain, outlet glaciers and braided rivers from a 75-minute sightseeing flight departing Skaftafell. This aerial route compresses Iceland’s volcanic and glacial drama into one unforgettable panorama.
Above Landmannalaugar: 75-Min Flight Over Lakagígar, Glaciers & Highland Rivers
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You climb aboard a small plane at the Skaftafell terminal and a few minutes later the black ribbon of the ring road falls away beneath you. The pilot banks and the interior brightens with a fractured panorama: the moss-muffled hum of Lakagígar’s crater chain, braided silver rivers cutting through gravel plains, and the slow, ancient white of outlet glaciers reaching from Vatnajökull. From this vantage every feature behaves with intent — rivers daring you to follow their shifting channels, glaciers pushing the landscape forward in deliberate, glacial time.
Adventure Photos
Adventure Tips
Check weight limits ahead of time
Operators require passenger weights for balance; provide accurate weights during booking to avoid last-minute changes.
Dress in layers
Cabin windows and altitude can make temperatures feel colder than on the ground—bring a windproof jacket and warm mid-layer.
Bring a mid-range zoom lens
A 70–200mm equivalent captures crater detail and glacier textures without needing bulky gear in a small cabin.
Be flexible with timing
Flights are weather-dependent and can be canceled or rescheduled; plan buffer time in your itinerary.
Local Insights
Wildlife
- Arctic fox (may be visible from air as small dun-colored spots in tundra)
- Seabirds and raptors over river plains (kittiwakes, gulls, skuas)
History
The Lakagígar (Laki) eruptions of 1783–84 dramatically reshaped this landscape and had global climatic effects, an event still referenced in Icelandic history.
Conservation
Stay on designated ground routes after landing—moss and soil take centuries to recover. Aerial operators limit low passes to reduce wildlife disturbance and emissions.
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Adventure Hotspots in Skaftafell (Vatnajökull area)
Recommended Gear
Windproof jacket
Protects against cold drafts in a small aircraft cabin and when moving between ground and plane.
Mid-range zoom camera lens (70–200mm equiv.)
Frames distant craters, glaciers, and river patterns from the air without needing to change lenses mid-flight.
Compact binoculars
Helps pick out geological details and distant volcanoes like Hekla during the flight.
Warm hat and gloves
Small items that significantly increase comfort during cooler months or gusty conditions.
fall specific