Glacier Lagoon (Jökulsárlón) & South Coast Tour with boat ride

Join us on the classic Jokulsarlon Glacier Lagoon day tour from Reykjavik, traveling along South Iceland to see many landmarks and highlights, and roam in-between the icebergs in the glacier lagoon.

This day tour to Jokulsarlon, Iceland’s most beautiful natural attraction, takes 14 hours, guiding you along the south shore of Iceland via the Ring Road, a region that hosts a diverse range of landscapes, colors, and forms leading all the way to Iceland’s crown jewel.

One of the highlights is to take a boat trip in the Jokulsarlon Glacier Lagoon, sailing by the amazing icebergs, seeing their brilliance, and appreciating nature's purest form and untouched beauty, next to the breathtaking glacial wonder of the black volcanic ash, and crystal ice-speckled, Diamond Beach.

We stop at several destinations during the scenic ride along the south coast. Visiting the beautiful hidden gem Stjórnarfoss waterfall. At the charming seafront village Vík í Mýrdal, we have the option to stop for dinner, and take in the view of the Reynisdrangar sea stacks, standing formidably just off the shore. Next up is Seljalandsfoss waterfall, one of the most photographed waterfalls in Iceland, famous for the cave behind the cascade, which you can walk through to enjoy the scene from a different perspective. Then we will head back to the capital.

• Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon
• Glacier lagoon boat ride
• Diamond Beach
• Fjallsárlón Lagoon
• Stjórnarfoss waterfall
• Vík í Mýrdal
• Reynisdrangar sea stacks
• Seljalandsfoss waterfall

Photo by Harshad Kale on Unsplash.

Fjallsárlón Lagoon

The first stop of the day is at Fjállsárlón, a stunning lagoon with the immense Fjalljökull and Vatnajökull glaciers reaching all the way to the lagoon's surface. Indeed it is these glaciers that supply the lagoon with the icebergs that float and bob all over.

Though smaller and less famous than the more heralded Jökulsárlón, this location has the benefit of much fewer visitors, allowing you to enjoy the magnificent views in relative tranquility.

Photo by Maarten Wijnants on Unsplash.

Iceland’s largest glacier, as well as Europe’s most voluminous one, the Vatnajokull ice cap, has created many glacial wonders, and the most famous of all being the Jokulsarlon Glacier Lagoon. When the edge of Breidamerkurjökull, one of its mighty glacier tongues, breaks away, the glacial meltwater feeds the lake at its foot. Huge blocks of ice wander in the cerulean lagoon and then drift towards the ocean. The natural phenomenon contributed to Jokulsarlon Glacier Lagoon’s ever-changing appearance.

The glacier lagoon is also a natural habitat for wildlife in summer, if you are lucky, you may spot some seals swimming or lying on icebergs, and Arctic Terns chirping near and far.

This area is within the Vatnajökull National Park, a natural wonderland. In winter, blue ice caves are the most popular attractions and Jokulsarlon is the highlight all year round. The unique beauty also inspired many moviemakers, including the creators of two James Bond movies.

The Diamond Beach, located next to the glacier lagoon, gets the sparkling name from its unique combination of velvety black sands and hard glistening ice pieces. Blocks of icebergs in different shapes and sizes stay silently on the beach as waves come and go, creating a breathtaking rhythm of nature, which can only be found in Iceland. A popular spot for photographers and nature lovers to explore extraordinary Iceland is right in this place.

The amphibian boat tour at Jokulsarlon Glacier Lagoon is a 30-40 minute excursion, taking you among the floating icebergs. The exciting trip offers a perfect opportunity to explore the glacier lagoon and its essential features up close. You will be accompanied by an English-speaking guide who will share the ins and outs of the geology and formation of the lagoon, and you also get the chance to hold and taste the ice that is at least 1000 years old.

After experiencing the adventures and seeing the natural wonders of Vatnajokull National Park, we will head back to Reykjavik with more wonderful stops along the way. The first stop on our way back is the Stjórnarfoss waterfall, a hidden gem in a historic town, Kirkjubaejarklaustur. Stjórnarfoss waterfall is a two-stage drop - both about 15 meters (49.21 ft) - streaming out mysteriously from a secluded valley with moss-covered cliffs, covering a dome-shaped rock at the bottom, creating a symmetric cascade.

You will experience the less crowded side of Iceland with a fresh view, and amazing scenes.

The charming Vík í Mýrdal is Iceland’s southernmost town, a seafront fishing village hosting 300 inhabitants that doubles as a great place to rest and recharge. The church of Vik is an iconic landmark on the hill, and to the other side, you can see the majestic Reynisdrangar sea stacks from afar and many gift shops are available, where you can find Icelandic signature souvenirs.

An impressive waterfall with a cascade of 60 meters, Seljalandsfoss is one of the most popular waterfalls in Iceland. Its best feature is a cave behind the cascade, which you can walk through, when the condition allows. This special surprise grants visitors a whole new perspective to appreciate the waterfall and its fascinating view of the surroundings.

Seljalandsfoss waterfall comes from the infamous tongue-twisting volcano Eyjafjallajökull glacier. As the fall drops from the concave cliff, you might even see a rainbow in the middle of misty air. Just keep in mind to watch your steps as the pathway can get slippery.

Our Jokulsarlon day tour begins with our fast and efficient pick-up service. We will come to pick you up either at one of the hotels in Reykjavik city center or from one of the designated stops across the city.

Once everyone is on board, we will head out to the south along the beautiful sealine of Iceland for a scenic drive. You will pass by black sand beaches merging with the blue horizon, see white-topped glaciers and mossy lava fields, the entire journey offers some amazing, dramatic landscapes of Iceland.

Our first destination is Jokulsarlon Glacier Lagoon. Praised as Iceland’s natural crown jewel, Jokulsarlon is a must-see. It’s fed by the glacial meltwater from the mighty Vatnajökull glacier, Iceland’s largest and Europe’s most voluminous ice cap, and situated adjacent to the North Atlantic Ocean.

When huge chunks of ice break away from the outlet glacier, they become free and start to drift  into the lagoon. The appearance of Jokulsarlon is constantly changing with the icebergs coming and going, altering colors and shapes. Nature's artwork.

During this day tour, we invite you to sail with us on an amphibian boat ride to see the captivating icebergs up-close. Sailing among the floating shades of blue, and even holding a piece of 1000-year-old ice, this ride is made to be memorable.

Next to the glacier lagoon is the famous Diamond Beach. The floating icebergs go out to the sea, after a short time left stranded on the black sand beach. There’s also a visitor center close by, you can learn all it needs to know about the area.

After the breathtaking glacial experience, we board our bus and head to Vík í Mýrdal, the charming seafront village in the south. We will get some rest and food, or you can get some souvenirs for friends and family. Next up, we will go visit Seljalandsfoss waterfall, another mesmerizing attraction in South Iceland.

This is one of our most popular tours, and features prominently is this Top 5 list of summer itineraries in Iceland - https://go.booknordics.com/en/blog/top-5-itineraries-for-travelling-iceland-summer 

The tour takes about 14 hours. Just a reminder, there’s no food included in the tour package, but we will make stops on the way so you can get some snacks or meals.

• Professional guide
• Free WiFi

• Pickup and drop off
• Food and drinks

• Warm, water- and windproof clothing are always useful in Iceland.
• All tickets are e-tickets so there is no need to print them out.

• You can purchase a ticket for the boat tour from your guide for ISK 6000. Subject to availability. The boat tour takes around 30 minutes
• Food and drinks are not included but can be purchased on the way.
• The duration of the tour is 14 hours. Please be aware that the tour could run long if affected by bad weather or other delays.

• Cancellation fee of 100% if cancelled 1 day or less before departure

• English