The main points
- Amphibian boats run May-Nov and take 30-40 minutes.[1] Zodiac boats are priced from 16,900 ISK.[2] Kayaking is allowed on the lagoon in summer.[3]
- The 14-hour Reykjavik day tour from US$232 stops at Jökulsárlón and Diamond Beach, while a 14-hour listing from US$288 includes a Glacier Lagoon boat ride.[4][5]
- Jökulsárlón is 236 miles (380 kilometers) east of Reykjavík along Route 1, a five-hour direct drive or seven to eight hours with South Coast sightseeing stops.[6]
- Layer up for cold air off the water and pack a waterproof outer layer, hat and gloves. Public toilets and a café are available at Jökulsárlón.[7]
- Kayaking on the lagoon is allowed in summer, while ice caves in the Vatnajökull region are only accessible from November and usually throughout March.[3][8]
- Top choice Jökulsárlón & Diamond Beach from US$232 Duration14 hours[4]GuideLive guide in English[4]Rating4.67 from 3,935 reviews[4]CancellationFree up to 24 hours in advance[4]PaymentReserve now, pay later[4] Check availability
- Glacier Lagoon Boat Ride from US$288 Duration14 hours[5]GuideLive guide in English[5]Rating4.61 from 268 reviews[5]CancellationFree up to 24 hours in advance[5]PaymentReserve now, pay later[5] See this tour
- South Coast Lagoon Tour from US$232 Duration14 - 15 hours[9]GuideLive guide in English[9]Rating4.55 from 1,424 reviews[9]CancellationFree up to 24 hours in advance[9]PaymentReserve now, pay later[9] See this tour
At 248 meters (814 feet) deep, Jökulsárlón is the deepest lake in the country.
Choose the craft, then the day tour
Pre-booking checklist
- Check the season for the boat or kayak you want
- Reserve lagoon boat and kayak trips before you reach Iceland
- Allow a full day from Reykjavík for the drive and the stops
- Check what your day tour includes at the lagoon before you pay
On the day
- Thermal layers, hat and gloves, even in midsummer
- A waterproof outer layer for spray and rain
- Sunglasses for the glare off the ice and water
- Follow the crew's instructions on board and on the slipway
Three ways onto the water at Jökulsárlón
Jökulsárlón is the deepest lake in Iceland, 248 meters (814 feet) down, and the ice that fills it comes from Breiðamerkurjökull, the Vatnajökull outlet glacier that feeds the lagoon.[10][11] Bergs break off the glacier, drift across the water and gather near the bridge before slipping out to sea. On a still morning the surface doubles every shape; when the wind gets up, the ice moves, grinds and turns. The colours shift with the light, from chalk white to deep glacier blue, and the whole lagoon can look different an hour later.
You can get among that ice in three ways. Amphibian boats, the broad craft that roll down the slipway on wheels, run May-Nov, and each trip takes 30-40 minutes.[1] Zodiac boats, the faster inflatables, are priced from 16,900 ISK, with 1 hour 15 min on the water and a total duration of about 2 hours.[2] Kayaking is allowed on Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon during the summer season.[3]
The lagoon is easy to enjoy from land as well. Paths run along the shore, seals are sighted on a regular basis, and Diamond Beach, scattered with clear glacial ice on black volcanic sand, is a short walk away.[12][13] Film fans may recognise the water from A View To A Kill, Die Another Day and Lara Croft: Tomb Raider.[14]
Is the boat tour included or an add-on?
Most people arrive at Jökulsárlón on a coach day tour from Reykjavík. The lagoon is 236 miles (380 kilometers) east of the city along Route 1, a five-hour direct drive or seven to eight hours with South Coast sightseeing stops, and it is 192 kilometers (118 miles) one way from Vík.[6][15]
Some of those Reykjavik listings include a boat ride and some do not. A 14-hour tour from US$288 includes a Glacier Lagoon boat ride.[5] The 14-hour tour from US$232 stops at Jökulsárlón and Diamond Beach.[4] Another Reykjavik listing, from US$232, runs 14 - 15 hours.[9]
Check the listing before you pay, and decide whether you want the water part of the day arranged for you or left for you to book on its own. The boats at the lagoon run their own seasons and prices, from the amphibian trips of 30-40 minutes to the Zodiac trips priced from 16,900 ISK.[1][2]
Ice from Breiðamerkurjökull drifting out of the lagoon on its way to the sea.
Amphibian boats: a gentle ride among the ice
The amphibian boat is the classic Jökulsárlón ride: a broad, pontoon-style craft that rolls down the slipway on wheels, floats and then motors slowly between the bergs. The season runs May-Nov, and each trip takes 30-40 minutes.[1] That is plenty of time to drift out past the nearest ice and back, and the pace leaves both hands free for the camera.
It suits families, nervous sailors and anyone who would rather not be bounced around. The boats are open to the sky, so dress for the air off the water: hat, gloves, a waterproof outer layer, and a zipped pocket or dry bag for your phone and camera. Spray and drips are part of the fun, and the crews are used to passengers who want to stay dry and photograph everything.
Departure times move with the season and the operator's schedule, and trips are weather dependent, so treat the boat ride as the flexible part of your day rather than the fixed point. Arrive at the lagoon with time to spare for the walk between the car park, the shore and the beach.
Zodiac boats: faster and lower on the water
The Zodiac is the quicker option. It is priced from 16,900 ISK, spends 1 hour 15 min on the water, and the total duration is about 2 hours.[2] You sit low and close to the surface, so the ice feels taller and the cold bites harder, and you cover a good stretch of the lagoon in a single departure.
Expect spray and a brisker ride over the swell. Wear the waterproofs, keep your bag closed, follow the crew's instructions about where to sit and when to hold on, and put your camera away when the driver opens the throttle. A neck warmer and gloves make a real difference on a grey day.
If you are unsure which to choose, think about what you want from the hour: the amphibian for a slow look at the ice with plenty of photo stops, the Zodiac for a faster, wetter, more exposed run across the lagoon.
from US$232
The Reykjavik: Jokulsarlon Glacier Lagoon & Diamond Beach Tour runs 14 hours and is rated 4.67 from 3,935 reviews.[4]
Kayaking on Jökulsárlón: what to expect
Kayaking on Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon is allowed during the summer season.[3] Guided paddles run for 1.5 hours and are priced from US$159.[16] A second guided kayak trip, in Vatnajökull National Park, also runs 1.5 hours, from US$167, and is limited to 6 participants.[17]
From a kayak you are at eye level with the water, which changes the scale of everything: the icebergs look monumental, light comes through the ice in bands of blue and white, and your paddle makes almost no noise. Seals are sighted on a regular basis at the lagoon.[12] Wind funnels down off the glacier, though, so flat calm is never promised.
Paddling here alone is a serious undertaking. The water is glacial, the bergs move with wind and tide, and the weather changes fast, so unless you have cold-water kayaking experience and local knowledge, join a guided group. Ask the guide about conditions on the day, and accept that a windy forecast may mean the kayaks stay ashore.
Seasonal windows and when to book
The water options run on different clocks. The amphibian boat season runs May-Nov, with trips of 30-40 minutes.[1] Kayaking is allowed on the lagoon during the summer season.[3] Zodiac boats run from the lagoon and are priced from 16,900 ISK.[2] Ice caves in the Vatnajökull region are only accessible during the winter months, from November and usually throughout March, depending on the weather.[8]
For kayaking, book when you book your flights rather than when you reach the lagoon. Guided paddles go out in small groups, summer is the paddling season, and popular departures fill up long before the day itself. If the kayak is the point of your trip, put it in the middle of your stay, so a windy morning can be swapped for a calmer one.
The lagoon itself is worth the journey in any season, and the shore is still a fine place to spend an hour even when the boats are tied up. If your only free day turns windy, walk Diamond Beach, warm up over coffee, and come back for the water another time.
Weather, cancellations and what to bring
Lagoon trips are outdoor trips, and wind, swell and drifting ice can stop boats at short notice. Where you can, choose a listing with free cancellation up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund, and one that lets you reserve now and pay later.[4] Leave a spare day either side of your boat trip, and use it for the beach, the café or the drive back along the South Coast.
Pack for cold and wet whatever the forecast says: a thermal base layer, fleece, waterproof jacket and trousers, hat, gloves, sunglasses for the glare off the ice, and shoes with grip for the slipway. Public toilets and a café are available at Jökulsárlón.[7] If you would rather not drive back to Reykjavík in the dark, Hotel Jokulsarlon is an accommodation option near the lagoon.[18]
From-prices for lagoon boat and kayak options
From-prices per person in US$ from GetYourGuide: Jökulsárlón kayaking[16], Vatnajökull kayaking[17], Fjallsárlón ice floating[19] and Reykjavik boat ride day tour[5].
What the lagoon options cost
From-prices per person in US$ from GetYourGuide: Reykjavik: Glacier Lagoon Boat Ride & Diamond Beach Day Tour[5], Jökulsárlón kayaking[16], Vatnajökull kayaking[17] and Fjallsárlón ice floating[19].
When each lagoon activity runs
Plan your lagoon day
Pick your craft
Decide between a slow amphibian ride, a faster Zodiac and a summer kayak, then check what your day tour includes at the lagoon.[1][2]
Check the calendar
Amphibian boats run May-Nov and kayaking is a summer activity, while Vatnajökull ice caves are only accessible in winter.[1][3][8]
Book before you fly
Guided groups are small and summer departures fill up, so reserve your paddle or boat as soon as your travel dates are fixed.
Dress for cold water
Layers, waterproofs, hat, gloves and shoes with grip, whatever the forecast says. The air off the ice is colder than it looks.
Keep a spare day
Weather can cancel a departure, so book with free cancellation up to 24 hours in advance and leave room in your itinerary.[4]
Ride the South Coast to Jökulsárlón and Diamond Beach
from US$233Reserve now & pay later
