*Always check Iceland's most current up-to-date drone laws, as this information is representative from my trip in the Fall of 2018. Always remember to check current UAV laws when you're traveling, you can find that information for Iceland here.
There are plenty of ways to see Iceland, but my favorite is from the sky. Iceland has much more relaxed drone laws than other countries. While some of the main sites are definitely off-limits, I was constantly in awe of the natural beauty even outside the main attractions. I would say ALL of Iceland feels drone-worthy, there were many times during our trip where we pulled over to the side of the road and I just started flying and getting footage. There's nothing like chasing the northern lights on your drone!
1. Seljalandsfoss Waterfall
This is probably my favorite waterfall that we visited during our time in Iceland. It's easily accessible from the main road and the views are unmatched. The landscape above the waterfall is incredible and can only be seen from the sky. While others are busy going behind the waterfall, you can be going above!
2. Fjaðrárgljúfur Canyon
It's a little out of the way, but if Justin Bieber can make time to visit it, surely you can too! Fjaðrárgljúfur is a breathtaking canyon from above. Be careful of other drone pilots around you, when I went there were about 8 other drones in the sky. This was by far the most crowded site (in terms of drones), but for an obvious reason. Definitely check the website to make sure the site is open, as they frequently close down for renovations to handle the increase in tourists.
3. Reykjavik
While I was in Reykjavik, the rule was you couldn't fly higher than the surrounding buildings, so i'd recommend driving outside of the city center and capturing the colorful city that way! We stayed at an Airbnb about 15 minutes from the city center and I waited for a calm afternoon to take the drone up for some footage. I was not disappointed!
4. Reynisfjara Black Sand Beach
I recommend coming here around sunset to avoid the crowds. The winds can be high here, but use the app to check conditions before taking off. I was able to take off from the sand by locating a dry flattened patch. There was only about 1 other person flying a drone and you can capture the intense cliff-side by flying over the ocean and away from the beach.
5. Faxi Waterfall
This site is much less popular than many of the other waterfalls along the golden circle. We arrived here in the morning and were the only ones at the site. There's no rules against flying here, and you follow along the stream and capture video of the surrounding area too.
6. Kerid Crater
This is one of the most iconic spots in Iceland as the colors are truly incredible. It's safe to fly here as long as the weather permits. When we visited, the winds were reaching 30mph with gusts of even higher. To be safe, I only took it up for a few pictures and a dronie mode shot. I didn't risk flying it over the crater due to the winds, but I'm so glad I took it out!
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