See Hellisheiði from the air — the plateau east of Reykjavik, moss on lava to the horizon, coloured basalt, steaming ground, and the geothermal plants that feed the city. From the road it is a crossing. From the helicopter it is one volcanic sheet with vents and pipes in the same look. Steam marks the hot ground; the plants sit in that same country.
This plateau is on the Geothermal Landscapes tour, the hour from Reykjavik that lands at Hengill. Sights on that run include Hellisheiði, Nesjavallavirkjun, Hellisheiðarvirkjun, Bláfjöll, and Kristnitökuhraun lava and craters, then a pass over the city on the return. The Mountain Summit Landing does not come this far east; it turns for Esja. The Volcano Eruption Reykjanes tour is a different peninsula, south toward Grindavík, not this plateau.
You do not land at the power plants. You see them from the helicopter. The landing is in the Hengill geothermal area — remote ground, not a visitor boardwalk — then you fly on. There are no ropes at that stop; it is not a regular tourist site.
The extra minutes over the Summit Landing are how Hellisheiði becomes a named stretch instead of a glimpse of steam on the horizon. The Reykjanes flight is recent eruption country, not this older geothermal sheet and its plants. Stay on the geothermal hour if the plateau and the Hengill stop are the point.
Reykjavik from the air is the return, not the main act. Reykjanes lava is a separate ticket. There is no shorter Hellisheiði-only product on this location. The city pass on the way home is the same roofs you already know from the short mountain flight, seen after the east country.
About 25–35 minutes in the air plus about 15 minutes on the ground. Minimum two passengers. The operator flies the route the weather allows; plants and steam are the usual eastbound picture, not a guaranteed hover over one vent.
Book the Geothermal Landscapes tour and see Hellisheiði from the air.
See Hellisheiði from a helicopter over Reykjavik. Book the Reykjavik Geothermal Landscapes Helicopter Tour.