The main points
- The Reykjavik: Glacier Lagoon Boat Ride & Diamond Beach Day Tour starts from US$288 and stops at Jökulsárlón and Diamond Beach.[1]
- On the lagoon, the Zodiac boat tour is priced from 16,900 ISK and lasts 1 hour 15 minutes, with a total duration of about 2 hours.[2]
- The amphibian boat tour season at Jökulsárlón runs from May to Nov, and each trip takes 30 to 40 minutes on the water.[3]
- Day tours from Reykjavik reach the lagoon and Diamond Beach across a 14-hour day, with a live guide in English.[1]
- Jökulsárlón lies 236 miles (380 kilometers) east of Reykjavík along Route 1, a five-hour direct drive.[4]
- Top choice Boat ride & Diamond Beach from US$288 Duration14 hours[1]Rating4.61 from 268 reviews[1]CancellationFree cancellation up to 24 hours[1]PickupPickup available[1] Check availability
- Jokulsarlon & Diamond Beach from US$232 Duration14 hours[5]Rating4.67 from 3,935 reviews[5]CancellationFree cancellation up to 24 hours[5]PickupPickup available[5] See this tour
- Lagoon & Diamond Beach from US$232 Duration14 to 15 hours[6]Rating4.55 from 1,424 reviews[6]CancellationFree cancellation up to 24 hours[6]PickupPickup available[6] See this tour
At 248 meters (814 feet) deep, Jökulsárlón is the deepest lake in the country.
Our verdict: book the lagoon boat ride day tour
Pre-booking checklist
What a boat trip on the lagoon costs
Boat trips on the lagoon come in more than one shape, and the price depends on which one you pick. The amphibian boat tour runs from May to Nov and takes 30 to 40 minutes on the water.[3] The Zodiac boat tour is longer, with 1 hour 15 minutes on the water and a total duration of about 2 hours, and it is priced from 16,900 ISK.[2] Both are starting prices, so the figure you pay depends on the date and the operator you choose. Departures leave from the lagoon itself, not from Reykjavik, so you need to be at Jökulsárlón in time for your slot.
The lagoon can also be seen as part of a longer guided day tour rather than driving out and buying a boat seat on arrival. The Reykjavik: Glacier Lagoon Boat Ride & Diamond Beach Day Tour starts from US$288, and its stops include Jökulsárlón and Diamond Beach alongside the drive from the capital.[1] That is a day trip price rather than a boat ticket on its own, so it is worth adding up what a rental car, fuel and a separate boat trip would cost before you decide which way suits you. For anyone without a car, the guided version usually works out simpler.
Day tours from Reykjavik with the lagoon included
Guided day trips from the capital are long but simple. The Reykjavik: Glacier Lagoon Boat Ride & Diamond Beach Day Tour runs for 14 hours, with a live guide in English and starting times shown when you check availability.[1] Pickup is available, and you can look at the pickup options when you book.[1] You can reserve now and pay later, and cancellation is free up to 24 hours in advance.[1]
Other operators run similar routes at close prices. The Reykjavik: Jokulsarlon Glacier Lagoon & Diamond Beach Tour is listed from US$232 across a 14-hour day.[5] The From Reykjavik: Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon and Diamond Beach tour is listed from US$232 and runs 14 to 15 hours.[6] A south coast version of the same run, the Reykjavik: South Coast, Diamond Beach, and Jökulsárlón Tour, is listed from US$231 and takes 14.5 hours.[8]
Pickup and drop-off points are spread across the city on these tours, so it is worth checking the list when you book to find the stop nearest your accommodation. An early departure means a dark start in winter, and a late return, so a light dinner near your hotel is a sensible plan for the evening.
Ice drifting on the lagoon under a wide Icelandic sky.
Getting to Jökulsárlón under your own steam
Jökulsárlón sits 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.[4] From Vík, the one-way distance to the lagoon is 192 kilometers (118 miles).[9] The route is largely on tarmac, but weather can slow you down, and the wind on the open stretches is worth planning for.
Driving yourself gives you control over the timetable, and you can stop wherever the light looks good. It is a long day at the wheel, though, and winter daylight is short. Guided coaches and vans handle the driving, the parking and the stops, and you can simply watch the glaciers, the cliffs and the sea. Fuel, a rental car and a boat trip bought separately add up, so price both options before you commit.
Vík is a common place to break the journey, with food and fuel before the long eastern stretch. Fill the tank when you can, keep an eye on road conditions, and give yourself more time than the map suggests if you plan to stop at the waterfalls along the way.
Comparing the lagoon day tours from Reykjavik
Prices for the day trips cluster fairly closely, so the differences come down to the route and the length of the day. The Reykjavik: Jokulsarlon Glacier Lagoon & Diamond Beach Tour is listed from US$232 for a 14-hour day,[5] while the boat ride version of the same journey starts from US$288.[1] Both are from prices, so the date you travel can shift the figure.
Some routes add stops along the way. The From Reykjavik: Glacier Lagoon and Fjaðrárgjúfur Canyon Tour, listed from US$236, runs 15 hours and takes in the canyon as well.[10] If you would rather not do the whole drive in one go, the South Coast Iceland: 2-Day Blue Ice Cave & Jokulsarlon Tour is listed from US$704 and limits the group to 18 participants.[11] Whatever you choose, the lagoon and Diamond Beach tend to be the headline stops of the day.
from US$288
The Reykjavik: Glacier Lagoon Boat Ride & Diamond Beach Day Tour pairs the lagoon with Diamond Beach and south coast stops.[1]
Seasons: boats, kayaks and ice caves
The amphibian boats run from May to Nov.[3] Kayaking on Jökulsárlón is allowed in the summer season.[12] Winter shifts the focus away from the water, but the lagoon and Diamond Beach stay on the route, and the low light changes how the ice looks.
Ice caves in the Vatnajökull region are only accessible during the winter months, from November and usually throughout March, depending on the weather.[13] From the lagoon you can join the Jökulsárlón: Vatnajökull Ice Cave Guided Tour, which runs 3 hours and starts from US$164.[14] A glacier walk is another option: the Jökulsárlón: Vatnajökull Glacier Guided Hiking Tour runs 4.5 hours and starts from US$134.[15]
Shoulder months can be a good compromise, with quieter roads and softer light. Whenever you travel, check the conditions and the availability of the activity you want, since the weather in this part of Iceland decides a great deal.
What you will see, and what to wear
The lagoon is fed by Breiðamerkurjökull, the Vatnajökull outlet glacier behind the ice you see drifting on the water.[16] At 248 meters (814 feet) deep, Jökulsárlón is the deepest lake in Iceland.[17] Some of that ice drifts out to sea and washes back onto Diamond Beach, a black volcanic sand beach in Southeast Iceland.[18] Colours shift through the day, from grey and white under cloud to deep blue when the sun comes through.
Seals are sighted on a regular basis at the lagoon, sometimes at a distance from the shore and closer still from the water.[19] Pack for wind and spray: a waterproof outer layer, warm layers, a hat and gloves, and shoes with grip for the paths and the sand. Sunglasses and sunscreen earn their place when the sun comes out over the ice, and a dry bag keeps a camera safe from the spray.
On a day tour the stops come thick and fast, so keep the layers you might need in a small bag you can grab quickly. A hot drink from the café at the lagoon goes down well on a cold afternoon.
From prices on these listings
Each bar is that listing's own from price in US dollars.[1][5][6][8]
Tickets, booking and facilities at the lagoon
Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon boat tour tickets are easiest to arrange as part of a guided day trip, where pickup, driving and the guide come as one purchase. Starting times for the day tours are shown when you check availability.[1]
For Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon boat tour booking, the Reykjavik: Glacier Lagoon Boat Ride & Diamond Beach Day Tour can be reserved now and paid later, with free cancellation up to 24 hours in advance.[1] Once you arrive, public toilets and a café are available at the lagoon.[7]
If you would rather not drive back to Reykjavik the same evening, Hotel Jokulsarlon is an accommodation option near the lagoon.[20] The lagoon has had a life on screen too, as a filming location for A View To A Kill, Die Another Day and Lara Croft: Tomb Raider.[21] Keep water and snacks within reach on the coach, and have a spare layer handy for the beach.
From prices for Reykjavik day tours to Jökulsárlón
From prices in US dollars for Reykjavik day tours that reach Jökulsárlón:[1][5][6][8][10]
Compare from prices for lagoon day tours
US dollar from prices per person for these listings:[1][5][6][10]
When each part of the trip runs
How to plan the lagoon day
Check the season
Amphibian boat tours run from May to Nov and take 30 to 40 minutes.[3]
Pick your tour
The Reykjavik: Glacier Lagoon Boat Ride & Diamond Beach Day Tour starts from US$288 for a 14-hour day.[1]
Book with flexibility
Reserve now and pay later, and cancel free up to 24 hours before departure.[1]
Arrange pickup
Pickup is available; check availability for pickup options in Reykjavik.[1]
Dress for the coast
Waterproof shell, warm layers and grip shoes for the beach and the lagoon paths.
Ready to book the lagoon boat ride from Reykjavik?
from US$288
