Ultimate Skaftafell Airplane Tour

Description

Two of our most popular tours; 'Landmannalaugar from Above' and 'Grímsvötn Eruption Site', combined in one jam-packed epic 75 minute air tour from Skaftafell Terminal!

On arrival at Skaftafell Terminal please check in at our reception, there you will meet with your pilot that will go over the flight route and perform a safety briefing before heading out to the airplane. After take-off, we head straight on over to Vatnajökull glacier, Europe’s largest glacier to check out the Grímsvötn eruption site. Flying past Skaftafell National Park and Morsárdalur glacier canyon.

Grímsvötn (pronounced: [ˈkrimsvœʰtn̥]) is located at the northwestern side of the Vatnajökull icecap at an elevation of 1725 m above sea level. Grímsvötn refers to all the subglacial lakes but is used for the whole volcanos as well. Grímsvötn is a basaltic volcano of Grímsvötn is mostly covered by ice and has the highest eruption frequency of all volcanoes in Iceland. Scientists have confirmed, with some erosion studies, about 60 volcanic eruptions in the system at a historical time, which far more than the next in line, Katla, with about 20 eruptions.

The most recent eruptions in Grímsvötn were in 2011, 2004, 1998 and 1996. The eruption in 2011 was the largest one in 100 years and lasted for a week. Although there were no glacier floods following this eruption, the ash rose 20 km high and disrupted air travel widely in Europe. After being amazed by the beauty of Grímsvötn we head on over to Lakagígar crater chain and Landmannalaugar.

Lakagígar crater chain is a 25 km long row of about 135 craters, formed in the years 1783-1784, during one of the largest volcanic eruptions in recorded history. During the 8-month period the system was erupting, it is estimated it poured out 42 billion tons (14 km3) of basalt lava and clouds of poisonous gases and ash led to the death of 50% of Iceland's livestock and a third of the Icelandic nation died. Furthermore, the eruption in Lakagígar and its aftermath has been linked to some global events. Today most of Lakagígar crater chain is covered in moss, giving them an out of this world appearance combined with the red and black rocks.

From Lakagígar we fly over to Landmannalaugar, the beautiful valley nestled right alongside the black Laugarhraun lava field, a large field of dried magma that formed in an eruption in 1477. Landmannalaugar is mostly known for its natural geothermal baths like the name suggests, the „people‘s pool“. These natural geothermal baths along with the unique windswept rhyolite mountains, with their various shades of pink, green, blue and golden yellow make this area amazing for snapping some photos. On our way back to Skaftafell we fly over Eldgjá, the largest canyon in the world, approx. 40 km long, 270 m deep and 600 m wide at its greatest. The canyon is thought to have formed during a massive eruption in 934 that lasted for a couple of months.

During the flight, you might also get to see Langisjór, a 20 km long lake up in highlands, 670 m above sea level, Skeiðarárjökull glacier, Síðujökull glacier along with many beautiful spots west of Mýrdalsjökull glacier.

Once back at Skaftafell Terminal, we hope you got the chance to snap some nice photos and get a glimpse of the magical and diversified landscape the Iceland highland has to offer.