Getting There: Iceland Glacier Lagoon
Jökulsárlón is about a 5-hour drive from Reykjavik. You will need to travel with a tour group or rent a car in order to visit. Get Your Guide offers a full-day trip tour that includes other awesome stops along the Southern Coast.
Jökulsárlón – Glacier Lagoon
This glacier lagoon is Iceland’s deepest lake. It’s also 11.2 square miles large (18 square km) and continues to grow due to the retreating glacier. This means that the Glacier Lagoon will look different every time you visit! The large icebergs eventually turn into smaller ice pieces that drift out to the Ocean. Some land on Diamond Beach and sparkle along the shore, (giving the beach its name).
This location is so stunning, it’s been used as a filming location in two James Bond films: “Die Another Day” and “A View to Kill.”
Iceland Glacier Lagoons are best explored via boat. At Jökulsárlón, there are two types of boat tours you can take: an Amphibian Boat Tour or a Zodiac Boat Tour. Lucky for you – we’ve done both and can help you determine what is the best for your travel style!
Amphibian Boat Tour
The Amphibian Boat Tour is a slower paced tour on a larger boat with 15-20 other people. It lasts between 30-40 minutes and your guide teaches you about the lagoon as you pass by icebergs! You’re provided a life jacket and can either stand or sit. This option costs 6,000 ISK (~$42)
Zodiac Boat Tour
For those feeling more adventurous, you can take the Zodiac Boat Tour. This smaller, faster boat, allows you to get closer to the icebergs and cover more ground. When possible, the boat gets almost all the way to the glacier. The group size is much smaller and the tour lasts an hour. You’re provided with flotation suits. This option costs 11,000 ISK (~$77).
Ticket Information
We recommend purchasing your tickets in advance to ensure you have a spot on the tour type you want. You need to check in 30 minutes prior to the tour, so be prepared to build in time! For more information and to purchase tickets, check out: Iceland Glacier Lagoon.
Review
While it is more expensive, we found the Zodiac tour to be significantly better than the Amphibian. (However, if you prefer a more relaxed tour of the lagoon – this will be your best option.)
While on the Zodiac tour, we were able to see seals and get so close to the icebergs we could basically touch them! We got a front row view of the glacier and heard an iceberg fall off of it into the water. Our guide was incredibly knowledgeable and fun. While cruising quickly through the lagoon, we felt safe and well taken care of. This was the best excursion we did in Iceland and cannot be missed!
