Snorkeling in Silfra & Fly Over Iceland Virtual Experience – Self-drive

Silfra gives you a rare way to see Iceland from below, with clear water flowing through a fissure in Thingvellir National Park. I like that the tour pairs this quiet, natural experience with Fly Over Iceland, a fast, theatrical ride across the country’s ice, sea, and mountains. I also like that your equipment, park fees, hot chocolate, and underwater photos are covered.

The catch is that this is a self-drive outing. You must get to Thingvellir yourself, pay the separate parking fee, and handle the timing between the two stops. The dry suit can feel tight around your neck and wrists, so this is not the right choice if you dislike snug gear or cold-water activities.

Key points to know before booking

• Silfra is about 50 kilometers from Reykjavik, making this an easy addition to a day around Thingvellir if you have your own car.
• Your underwater photos are included, so you can concentrate on moving calmly through the water rather than managing a camera.
• Fly Over Iceland uses a 20-metre spherical screen, dangling seats, and motion effects to create the feeling of flying over Iceland.
• A guide handles groups of up to six people, with as many as three groups taking part in the activity at once.
• You must know how to swim and communicate in English, and you will complete a medical form before snorkeling.
• The $179 price covers two very different attractions, but not transport or the Thingvellir parking fee.

Why this Silfra and Fly Over Iceland pairing works

This outing combines Iceland’s real world with a carefully built version of it. At Silfra, you enter cold water in Thingvellir National Park and look through a famous geological fissure. Later, Fly Over Iceland gives you a broad aerial view of the country without leaving Reykjavik.

I like the contrast. Silfra is slow, quiet, and physical. Fly Over Iceland is enclosed, fast, and full of movement. One asks you to float and look closely. The other sweeps you across Iceland in a few minutes.

The package lasts about seven and a half hours, though the actual time at each stop and the gap between them can vary. Because you drive yourself, you have more control than you would on a coach tour. You also have more responsibility. Check the timing carefully before setting out, especially if your Silfra session and Fly Over Iceland reservation are scheduled on the same day.

You can take the flight attraction after snorkeling, or move that reservation to another time and day that better fits your plans. That flexibility matters if you want to spend extra time around Thingvellir or if you prefer not to rush from a national park to Reykjavik.

Getting to Silfra from Reykjavik

The meeting point is Silfra Adventure Vikings at Thingvellir, listed at 7V4M+HG8, 806 Thingvellir, Iceland. The site is roughly 50 kilometers from Reykjavik, so you need a rental car or another form of private transport.

This is not a hotel pickup tour. Transport is not included, and the Thingvellir parking fee is also separate. Build those costs into your budget before comparing this package with a guided excursion that includes a transfer.

The self-drive format can be a good fit if you already plan to visit Thingvellir. You can arrange your day around the snorkeling session rather than spending the whole day on a fixed bus route. It also lets you leave room for other stops in the national park, though you should not make your schedule so tight that a change in the snorkeling timing causes trouble.

Plan to eat breakfast before the activity. That small piece of advice matters more than it sounds. You will be outdoors, getting changed, spending time in cold water, and relying on your body to stay comfortable. A proper meal gives you a better start than grabbing something at the last minute.

What happens at Silfra

Silfra is the heart of the day. You meet the Adventure Vikings team at Thingvellir, complete the required paperwork, and get fitted with snorkeling equipment and protective clothing.

The package includes a wetsuit or dry suit, plus an undergarment for the dry suit when that option is used. Your guide will explain how to use the gear and help organize the group before you enter the water. Each guide can assist one group of up to six participants, so the group size is small enough for individual attention.

You need to know how to swim and feel comfortable in water. This is not a passive sightseeing stop. Even with the equipment provided, you must be able to follow instructions, stay calm, and communicate with your guide in English.

The water at Silfra is famously clear, which is the main reason people make the trip. You look through the fissure and see the underwater rock formations with unusual visibility. The appeal is not speed or athletic challenge. It is the chance to move slowly through a place where the geology is the attraction.

You receive underwater photos afterward. That is a useful inclusion because handling a camera while wearing snorkeling equipment can distract you and make it harder to stay relaxed. The photos also preserve the unusual setting, something that is difficult to show with ordinary pictures from the national park trail.

After the session, hot chocolate is included. It is a practical finish, not just a sweet extra. You will appreciate something warm after changing out of the water gear.

Dry suit details you should take seriously

A dry suit helps keep you warmer and drier, but it can feel restrictive. The neck and wrist seals may feel tight, especially when you first put the suit on. If you are sensitive to pressure around your neck or arms, consider that before booking.

Wear long thermal underwear and thick wool socks under the dry suit. Avoid jeans, and dress for the weather outside. You should also bring a change of clothes because the suit has a small chance of leaking.

Do not wear glasses in the water. Bring contact lenses or your own prescription mask if you need vision correction. These details are easy to overlook when packing for Iceland, but they can make the difference between a comfortable session and a frustrating one.

The operator needs every participant’s height, weight, and age. The stated limits are at least 150 centimeters tall and no more than 200 centimeters, with a weight range from 50 to 120 kilograms. The minimum age is 12. Participants over 65 need approval from a physician.

Everyone must complete a medical form before taking part. You receive access to the medical statement after booking, and you should read it before your travel day rather than waiting until you arrive at Thingvellir.

The Fly Over Iceland experience in Reykjavik

Fly Over Iceland is the second part of the package. It is an indoor attraction in Reykjavik built around the sensation of flight. You sit with your feet dangling in front of a 20-metre spherical screen while the film carries you over Iceland.

The ride uses modern visual and motion technology to make the flight feel physical. You see land, sea, and ice from above, while the moving platform and screen create the sensation of traveling across the country.

This is not a replacement for seeing Iceland outdoors. It does not give you time to stop, walk, or explore. Its value is different. You can see parts of the country that may not fit into your driving route, and you get a quick sense of the scale of Iceland’s natural spaces.

I particularly like how the flight balances the Silfra session. After focusing on water and rock at close range, you pull back and take in Iceland from a wide view. The two activities do not repeat each other, which helps the package feel more like a full day than two similar attractions.

If you have limited time in Iceland, Fly Over Iceland also gives you a broad introduction before you spend the rest of your trip choosing which regions to visit. If you already have a full ring-road itinerary, it may feel less essential, but the motion experience still offers something different from ordinary sightseeing.

How to manage the timing

The listed order is Silfra first and Fly Over Iceland second. That is a sensible plan if the reservations are close together, since you finish at Thingvellir and then return to Reykjavik.

Still, the flight attraction can be moved to another time and day. Use that option if you want to give yourself breathing room. A self-drive day becomes less enjoyable when you are watching the clock instead of looking at Iceland.

The total duration is approximately seven hours and 30 minutes. Treat that as a substantial half-day to full-day commitment, not a quick morning activity. You need time for driving, check-in, changing clothes, the water session, and the trip back toward Reykjavik.

The activity ends back at the Silfra meeting point, meaning the organized part does not include a return transfer to your accommodation. You remain responsible for the drive after the session.

What the $179 price includes

At $179 per person, the package is not a bargain add-on, but it covers two paid attractions and several practical costs. Included items are:

• Fly Over Iceland admission
• The Silfra and national park fee
• Snorkeling equipment
• A wetsuit or dry suit
• Dry suit undergarment
• Underwater Silfra photos
• Hot chocolate

The value depends on how you use it. If you already plan to visit Thingvellir by car and want both the water session and the flight attraction, combining them saves you from arranging two separate bookings. The included photos also remove the need to arrange underwater photography yourself.

The price looks less attractive if you only want a short snorkeling session or if Fly Over Iceland is not on your Reykjavik wish list. You also need to add your transport costs and the Thingvellir parking charge.

For a special-occasion day, the combination makes sense. For a tightly budgeted trip, compare the cost of booking only the activity you care about most.

Who should book this experience

I would point this tour toward active visitors who can swim, handle cold water, and manage a self-drive schedule. It suits people who want both a real outdoor activity and a polished indoor attraction.

It is also a good choice if you want a strong mix of Icelandic experiences without committing to a multi-day excursion. Silfra gives you a close look at Iceland’s geology, while Fly Over Iceland provides a broad visual tour in Reykjavik.

Families with children should check the age requirement carefully. The minimum age is 12, and younger participants require direct contact with the operator. Everyone must meet the height and weight requirements, complete the medical form, and communicate in English.

I would be more cautious if you dislike restrictive clothing, cannot swim, have a condition that affects water activities, or want a relaxed sightseeing day with no physical preparation. The dry suit is part of the experience, but it is not comfortable for everyone.

Weather, cancellations, and practical planning

The activity requires suitable weather. If poor weather causes a cancellation, you will be offered another date or a full refund. If the minimum number of participants is not reached, you will also be offered another date or experience, or a full refund.

You can cancel for a full refund if you do so at least 24 hours before the start time. Changes or cancellations made inside that window are not accepted and are not refunded.

You will receive confirmation when you book, and the activity is offered in English. Since your session may be booked well ahead of time, keep your Iceland driving plans flexible enough to accommodate it.

Bring thermal layers, wool socks, a change of clothes, and suitable outdoor shoes. Leave the jeans and high heels at your accommodation. Eat before you arrive, and provide the operator with every participant’s age, height, and weight promptly after booking.

Should you book Silfra and Fly Over Iceland?

Book it if you want one day that combines close-up geology, a genuine cold-water activity, underwater photos, and a theatrical flight across Iceland. The pairing is unusual, and the contrast between Silfra and Fly Over Iceland gives the day a clear sense of variety.

Skip it if you do not swim, dislike snug dry suits, need included transport, or have no interest in an indoor flight attraction. You should also skip the package if the $179 price stretches your budget once car hire and parking are added.

For the right person, the best value is the combination. You get an outdoor experience that would be hard to duplicate elsewhere, then a quick aerial journey that shows how much more of Iceland remains beyond your driving route.

FAQ

Where does the snorkeling take place?

The snorkeling takes place at Silfra in Thingvellir National Park, about 50 kilometers from Reykjavik.

Is transportation from Reykjavik included?

No. This is a self-drive experience, and transport is not included. The Thingvellir parking fee is also separate.

What equipment is provided?

Snorkeling equipment, a wetsuit or dry suit, and an undergarment for the dry suit are provided.

Are underwater photos included?

Yes. Underwater Silfra photos are included in the package.

How old do you need to be?

The minimum age is 12. You should contact the operator about younger participants. Anyone over 65 needs approval from a physician.

What physical requirements apply?

You must know how to swim and feel comfortable in water. You must be at least 150 centimeters tall and no more than 200 centimeters, and weigh between 50 and 120 kilograms.

Can Fly Over Iceland be taken on another day?

Yes. You can move the Fly Over Iceland reservation to another time and day that fits your plans.