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

See Iceland above and below water. This self-drive combination pairs snorkeling in Silfra with FlyOver Iceland, giving you two very different ways to experience the country. At Silfra, you float through remarkably clear water in Thingvellir National Park. Later, FlyOver Iceland carries you over ice, sea, and rugged ground on a motion-based screen ride.

I like the contrast between the two stops, and I like that the $179 price includes the national park fee, snorkeling equipment, a dry suit or wetsuit, hot chocolate, and underwater photos. The main drawback is the lack of transport. You must drive yourself between Reykjavik and Thingvellir, and the snorkeling has firm age, height, weight, swimming, and medical requirements.

The full experience takes about seven and a half hours, though the two activities can be arranged at different times or on different days. That flexibility matters if you are building a busy Iceland schedule. The package is offered in English, uses a small-group format, and has received a 4.8 rating, with 96 percent of customers recommending it.

Key Points Before You Book

• Silfra is about 50 kilometers from Reykjavik: You drive to Adventure Vikings at Thingvellir National Park, then return to the same meeting point after the activity.
• Your clothing is supplied: Equipment includes a wetsuit or dry suit, dry-suit undergarments, and the rest of the snorkeling gear.
• The water experience is physically demanding: You must know how to swim, feel comfortable in water, and communicate in English.
• FlyOver Iceland can fit around your day: You may go after Silfra or move the reservation to another suitable time and date.
• Groups remain small: One guide can assist up to six people, with as many as three groups present during the activity.
• The package includes memorable extras: You receive underwater Silfra photos and hot chocolate after being in the cold water.

Why Pair Silfra With FlyOver Iceland?

These activities work well together because they show opposite sides of Iceland. Silfra is slow, quiet, and close to the water. FlyOver Iceland is fast, theatrical, and designed to make you feel as if you are flying across the country.

I like this pairing for a first visit because it gives you more than another lookout point or bus stop. At Silfra, you take part in the setting rather than simply viewing it from a roadside. At FlyOver Iceland, you see parts of the country that may be difficult to reach during a short holiday.

The package is also useful for a self-drive itinerary. Thingvellir is only about 50 kilometers from Reykjavik, so you can fit Silfra into a day based around the capital. You are not tied to a group coach schedule, although you do need to allow enough time for driving, parking, changing, and the activity itself.

The catch is that the two stops are not next door to each other. The package information identifies Silfra as the meeting point and says the activity ends there. Transport is not included, and Thingvellir parking costs extra. If you do not have a rental car, this is not the simplest version of the experience.

Arriving at Silfra in Thingvellir National Park

Your first stop is Silfra Adventure Vikings, at the Thingvellir meeting point listed as 7V4M+HG8, 806 Thingvellir, Iceland. Check the location carefully before setting out, since a precise map pin is more useful than relying on a general Thingvellir search.

Silfra lies inside Thingvellir National Park, a place already worth visiting for its striking geological setting. Here, the appeal is not only the park above ground. You get to enter its clear water and follow a marked snorkeling route with a guide.

The activity is available in every season, but that does not mean it feels casual. The water is cold, and the dry suit can feel tight around the neck and wrists. This is a normal part of the equipment, but it can take some getting used to, especially if you dislike restrictive clothing.

Wear long thermal underwear and thick wool socks beneath the dry suit. Avoid jeans, heels, and unsuitable clothing for the weather. Bring a complete change of clothes because the dry suit has a small chance of leaking. You should also eat breakfast before arriving. The outing is long enough that starting hungry is a poor plan.

The operator provides the snorkeling equipment, wetsuit or dry suit, and undergarment for dry suits. Glasses cannot be worn in the water. Contact lenses are recommended, or you can bring your own prescription mask if you have one.

What the Silfra Snorkeling Is Like

The clearest praise for this experience concerns the water and the guide. The snorkeling has been described as superb and exceptionally clear, while the guide was praised for making the activity work well. That combination matters more than fancy equipment. Clear water is memorable, but calm and helpful instruction makes the experience far more comfortable.

You must know how to swim and be comfortable in water. This is not a suitable choice if you are hoping to simply stand or walk through the route. Your guide can assist one group of up to six people, which allows for more direct help than a large coach-style outing.

You will receive underwater photos from the Silfra portion. This is a useful inclusion because taking your own camera into a cold-water dry suit is awkward, and you can focus on the experience instead of managing equipment. The photos also provide a record of the unusual setting, though the exact number and delivery method are not specified.

After snorkeling, hot chocolate is included. It is a small detail, but a welcome one after time in cold water. I would treat it as a comfort stop, not as a replacement for proper food. That is why eating breakfast before the activity is specifically recommended.

The route is not described in technical detail, so you should not book this expecting a specialist underwater course. The emphasis is on a guided snorkeling experience in one of the world’s best-known water sites. You get equipment, instruction, photos, and a small group, but you should still be ready for a physical outing.

FlyOver Iceland and the 20-Metre Screen

FlyOver Iceland provides a very different kind of experience. You sit with your feet dangling in front of a 20-metre spherical screen while the film moves you across Iceland. The ride uses motion and visual effects to create the feeling of flight.

The presentation takes you over land, sea, and ice, with arctic winds included in the sensation. I like this as a complement to a self-drive holiday because road trips show Iceland in sections. FlyOver Iceland compresses the country into one sweeping ride, including places you may not have time to reach.

This is not a substitute for seeing Iceland outdoors. It is a carefully produced attraction rather than a natural site, and some people will prefer spending those hours on the road. Still, the technology gives you a way to see the country from a viewpoint that driving cannot provide.

The schedule is flexible. You can visit FlyOver Iceland after snorkeling, or move that reservation to another time and day that fits your plans. This helps if you want to keep the Silfra outing and the Reykjavik attraction separate. It also means you should pay attention to the confirmed times rather than assume both parts happen back-to-back.

The experience is offered in English. The tour description does not provide a separate duration for FlyOver Iceland, so allow room in your day for both activities, driving, parking, changing, and any schedule gap between them.

Is the $179 Price Good Value?

At $179 per person, this is not a budget activity. The value depends on whether you already planned to snorkel at Silfra and visit FlyOver Iceland. If you would pay for both separately, combining them can be convenient because the package includes the FlyOver Iceland admission, Silfra and national park fees, equipment, dry-suit clothing, underwater photos, and hot chocolate.

Transport is not part of the price. You also pay the Thingvellir parking fee. For a self-drive visitor, that means adding fuel, parking, and the time required to reach the meeting point. The price looks stronger for someone who wants both activities than for someone interested in only one.

The underwater photos improve the value. So does the small-group limit of six people per guide. You are not only paying to enter the water. You are paying for the equipment, preparation, guided activity, and a record of the snorkeling.

The price is less attractive if FlyOver Iceland is not your kind of attraction or if you would rather use the day for outdoor sights. I would compare the combined cost with the price of booking each activity separately, especially if your schedule makes it difficult to use the flexible FlyOver Iceland reservation.

Who Will Enjoy This Experience Most?

I would recommend this combination to adults, older children who meet the requirements, and active visitors who want one hands-on outdoor activity plus one comfortable indoor attraction.

It suits you particularly well if:

• You can swim and feel relaxed in cold water.
• You are comfortable wearing a snug dry suit.
• You are driving around Reykjavik and Thingvellir.
• You want underwater photos without handling your own camera.
• You enjoy modern screen-based attractions as well as nature.
• You have enough time for a seven-and-a-half-hour day.

The minimum age is 12, although the operator asks you to get in touch about younger participants. Anyone over 65 needs approval from a physician. You must be between 150 and 200 centimeters tall and weigh between 50 and 120 kilograms.

Every participant must complete a medical form before taking part. You can find the medical statement link on the ticket voucher after booking, so read it before committing. You also need to provide each person’s age, height, and weight to the local operator. If those details were not given during booking, contact Adventure Vikings soon afterward.

These rules are not minor paperwork. They determine if the activity is suitable for you. Read them before planning your day, particularly if anyone in your group has a medical condition or finds tight clothing uncomfortable.

Timing, Driving, and Practical Preparation

The listed duration is approximately seven hours and 30 minutes. That is a major part of your day, so avoid placing another fixed appointment too close to it. The flexible FlyOver Iceland timing helps, but only if you use it to build breathing room into your schedule.

You begin and end at the Silfra meeting point. Since transport is excluded, plan your own drive from Reykjavik to Thingvellir and back or onward to your next stop. Parking at Thingvellir is also extra.

Bring warm layers, long thermal underwear, thick wool socks, contact lenses or a prescription mask if needed, and dry clothes for afterward. Do not wear jeans or heels. Dress for Icelandic weather, since conditions outside can change even if the water portion follows its planned schedule.

English communication is required. That includes understanding the guide’s instructions and completing the medical information correctly. If someone in your group is not comfortable communicating in English, this is worth resolving before booking.

Bad weather can affect the activity. If the operator cancels because conditions are poor, you are offered a different date or a full refund. The experience also requires a minimum number of participants. If that minimum is not reached, you can choose another date or experience, or receive a full refund.

You can cancel for a full refund up to 24 hours before the local start time. Changes or cancellations made less than 24 hours ahead are not accepted for a refund.

The Best Way to Plan the Day

I would begin by checking the Silfra start time, then deciding how much space you want before FlyOver Iceland. Snorkeling, changing clothes, driving, and parking all take time, even though the package does not provide exact transition times.

If you prefer a smooth single-day plan, schedule FlyOver Iceland after Silfra with a generous gap. If your Reykjavik plans are already full, move the flight experience to another time or day. The option is specifically available, and it prevents the self-drive portion from becoming a race against the clock.

Do not treat the FlyOver Iceland ride as an excuse to rush away from Thingvellir. Silfra is the more weather-sensitive and physically demanding part of the day. Give yourself time to finish, change, warm up with hot chocolate, and leave the park safely.

Should You Book Silfra and FlyOver Iceland?

Book this experience if you want two strong contrasts in one package: clear-water snorkeling with photos and a high-tech flight across Iceland. The 4.8 rating and 96 percent recommendation fit the main strengths: the remarkable clarity of Silfra, an effective guide-led format, and a FlyOver Iceland ride that shows parts of the country you may not otherwise see.

Skip it if you do not swim, dislike restrictive dry suits, cannot meet the age, size, or medical rules, or do not want to drive yourself to Thingvellir. You should also pass if you prefer a full day outdoors and have little interest in a screen-based attraction.

For the right person, the $179 cost is reasonable because it covers two distinct activities and several important extras. Just remember that transport and parking are separate, and plan the day around Silfra first. That is where preparation matters most.

FAQ

Where does the snorkeling begin and end?

The activity begins at Silfra Adventure Vikings at Thingvellir National Park, at the listed location 7V4M+HG8, 806 Thingvellir, Iceland. It ends back at the meeting point.

Is transportation from Reykjavik included?

No. You must arrange your own transport to Thingvellir. The experience is self-drive, and the Thingvellir parking fee is not included.

What snorkeling equipment is provided?

Snorkeling equipment, a wetsuit or dry suit, and an undergarment for dry suits are included. Hot chocolate and underwater Silfra photos are also included.

Do I need to know how to swim?

Yes. All participants must know how to swim and feel comfortable in water.

What are the age and size requirements?

The minimum age is 12, though you should contact the operator about younger participants. Anyone over 65 needs approval from a physician. Participants must be at least 150 centimeters and no more than 200 centimeters tall, and weigh between 50 and 120 kilograms.

Can I wear glasses while snorkeling?

No. You should bring contact lenses or your own prescription mask instead.

Can I cancel for a refund?

Yes. You can cancel at least 24 hours before the local start time for a full refund. Cancellations or changes made less than 24 hours before the start are not accepted for a refund.