Jokulsarlon, Iceland
Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon in Iceland is full of broken icebergs, streaked blue and black while floating with the tide. Here are my tips for visiting this incredible place!
Jokulsarlon iceberg lagoon is Iceland’s deepest and most spectacular glacial lake, beloved by tourists, photographers, adventurers – even world-famous Hollywood super-spies.
If you visited this frozen landscape a hundred years ago, all you would have seen was ice. But then, the world started to heat up… thanks global warming!
Because of this increase in the world’s climate starting around 1920, the icebound edge of the Breiðamerkurjökull glacier started to melt. The Icelandic word Jökulsárlón actually means “glacier’s river lagoon”.
Jokulsarlon lagoon forms part of Vatnajökull National Park, and has become one of Iceland’s most popular attractions.
Jokulsarlon Lagoon Travel Guide 2023
The Icebergs At Jokulsarlon
In less than a century, this vast frozen landscape collapsed into a mess of shattered ice & liquid that we see now — Jokulsarlon glacier lagoon.
A river soon formed, and found its way to the sea, pulling broken icebergs into the North Atlantic and sculpting unearthly shapes along its black-sand banks.
Every year, this fledgling glacier lagoon is made larger as icebergs break off Vatnajökull glacier, float around in the lagoon, and eventually drift out to sea in the summer months.
Jokulsarlon doubled in size between 1975 and 1998. It now covers 7 square miles – and is growing every year.
Iceland At Its Most Beautiful
Jokulsarlon glacier lagoon is a photographer’s paradise. I was in heaven during my visit in November. First and most obviously, the ice is jaw-droppingly beautiful.
Compressed glacial ice often turns glassy and a deep, luminous blue, and that’s best seen when the icebergs break and flip over.
You’ll see plenty of broken blue icebergs at Jökulsárlón – and the contrast against the white backdrop of the distant glacier and the black sand of the lagoon’s beach is truly other-worldly.
You may even see seals too. Thanks to that small river leading to the ocean, the lagoon is filled with fish, and seals regularly gather at the river mouth to feed, along with huge numbers of seabirds.
Glacier Lagoon Boat Trips
A tour company called Glacier Lagoon has been running boat rides at Jokulsarlon for nearly 30 years, ever since the world’s most famous super-spy James Bond himself made an appearance.
In the opening scenes of Roger Moore’s A View To A Kill (1985), the iceberg lagoon was used as a stand-in for Northern Siberia – and when news got out, tourists started arriving, as did boat tour services.
There are two types of tours to choose from. There is an amphibious boat ride (ISK 5500 / $55 USD) for a relaxing tour around the biggest icebergs, accompanied by guided commentary.
For the more adventurous, get fitted with a flotation suit and lifejacket and take a Zodiac (ISK 9500 / $95 USD) for much closer views of the ice, including right under the glacier’s edge if conditions permit.
When To Visit The Glacial Lagoon
Jokulsarlon’s boat tours only run between May and October, and outside of those months, Icelandic weather can get fierce – although bad weather can hit at any time, so it’s wise to always be prepared for white-out conditions.
The best months for good weather (and clear-sky photography) at the lagoon are July and August – but September/October can be a better time to visit Iceland because the tourist season has ended, prices are lower and there will be less people around.
You’ll also have a better chance of seeing Iceland’s incredible northern lights!
Getting To Jokulsarlon Lagoon
The Jokulsarlon glacier lagoon is hard to miss off the side of Iceland’s famous Ring Road (Route 1) – but it requires some planning to get out here. Rather than try to cram it into a single day, you should really plan for two days.
Rental Car
Discover Cars searches all the big car rental companies and finds the best price. This is probably the easiest way to rent a car in Iceland.
You can also rent a campervan like I did, and save money on accommodation by sleeping in it while driving across Iceland on your own – it helps to have your own transportation because the lagoon is pretty far away.
The drive takes about 4 hours from Reykjavík, provided you don’t stop along the way (which is almost impossible in Iceland, there’s tons to see!).
[su_note note_color=”#F5DCDC” text_color=”#333333″ radius=”3″ class=””]
UPDATE: Since writing this post, Iceland implemented new laws in 2015 that restrict where you can spend the night in a campervan. You can no longer pull over and spend the night anywhere. You must stay at designated campgrounds.[/su_note]
By Bus
Strætó Bus: Route 51 from Mjódd bus terminal (Reykjavík) to Jökulsárlón. It’s a 6 hour trip that starts at 1pm – and the next bus back is usually at 12:55pm the next day.
If you visit Jokulsarlon by bus, you won’t be returning the same day – and since accommodation at the lagoon is non-existent (see later), you’d have to be pretty adventurous to pick this option.
Hitchhiking In Iceland
Another adventurous option, but hitchhiking in Iceland is pretty common and safe. How long it will take you to hitchhike here from Reykjavík just depends on your hitchhiking skills, luck, and how many stops you make.
Glacier Lagoon Tours
If you’re the type of person who prefers joining a tour, there are group tours that visit Jokulsarlon, some of which begin in Reykjavik.
Where To Stay Near Jokulsarlon
I spent the night camped in the Jokulsarlon glacier lagoon parking lot with a campervan (which is no longer allowed). There are no hotels, hostels or guesthouses at the lagoon itself. Höfn is the closest town, about an hour away.
If you’re wondering where to stay in Iceland near Jokulsarlon, here are my recommendations:
WHERE TO STAY AROUND HOFN
My Jökulsárlón Travel Tips & Advice
- Iceland in the summer can be surprisingly warm, but icebergs at Jokulsarlon lagoon give off waves of cold air you can feel on your face. Take a hat and warm gloves, even if it looks sunny.
- Watch out for the fiercely territorial skua seabirds that live in the area – if you get close to their nests, they’ll dive at you noisily until you back off!
- Sunrise is the best time to photograph the glacier lagoon icebergs, not only because of great lighting conditions but also because there are fewer tourists. Sunset is also good, but more crowded than sunrise.
- During the tourist season, there’s a small café that serves a limited amount of snacks. But that’s about it.
- Iceland’s incredible crystal ice caves are not far away from Jokulsarlon, so if you happen to be visiting in the winter, I highly recommend exploring them with a guide!
No trip to Iceland is complete without a stop at Jokulsarlon glacier lagoon, as you can see, there’s a good reason why it’s one of Iceland’s most popular natural attractions! ★
Travel Video: Adventures In Iceland
Subscribe to my YouTube Channel for new Adventure Travel Videos!
(Click to watchIceland Adventures with LifeProofon YouTube)
| Travel Planning Resources For Iceland |
|---|
| Packing Guide Check out my travel gear guide to help you start packing for your trip. Book Your Flight Ready to fly? Here’s how I find the cheapest airline flights. Rent A Car Discover Cars is a great site for comparing car prices to find a deal. Cheap Accommodation Learn how I save money booking hotels & vacation apartments. Protect Your Trip Don’t forget travel insurance! Protect yourself from possible injury & theft abroad. Read why you should always carry travel insurance. |
Enjoy This Article? Pin It!
READ MORE ICELAND TRAVEL TIPS
I hope you enjoyed my guide to Jokulsarlon glacier lagoon! Hopefully you found it useful. Here are a few more wanderlust-inducing articles that I recommend you read next:
- Check out my ultimateIceland Ring Road itineraryto learn about all the top highlights along the way.
- Planning a trip to Iceland, but not sure when to go? Here’s thebest time to visit Icelandorganized by seasons.
- If you only have a few days, a better option is to driveIceland’s Golden Circleas a day trip instead.
- Iceland has a very cool abandoned plane crash on a black-sand beach, andhere’s how to find it.
- Organizing an Iceland road trip, but afraid of driving? Here’s everything you should know aboutdriving in Iceland.
- Looking for a cool day hik in Iceland? Check out theKerlingarfjöll Geothermal Areain the highlands.
- Want to improve your photos? Read my besttravel photography tipsand guide topicking a travel camera.
Have any questions about Jokulsarlon Lagoon in Iceland? What about other suggestions? Join the conversation on Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter to share!
