Glacier Lagoon (icelandic: "Jökulsárlón) is the largest glacier lagoon in Iceland, a hidden gem in the south east part of Iceland. The lagoon branches from Breidamerkurjokull, an outlet glacier of the Vatnajokull glacier ice cap, the largest glacier in Europe. This is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Iceland during the summer with tours operating daily over the summer months. Nearby is the Skaftafell campsite and service center, an oasis under the majestic Vatnajökull Glacier. There you will find the base of our operations under the name of Glacier Guides, specialists in glacier hiking and ice climbing. Our operation is an internationally recognized guiding operation offering expert services using the best ecologically sound practices available as this area is extremely sensitive to human traffic.
The Glacier Lagoon itself is about 18 km2 and sits about 1.5 kilometers from the oceanfront. The size of the lagoon increases year by year as the glacier continues melting and its depth is around 200 meters, making it the second deepest lake in Iceland.
The lagoon is very easy to find when driving around Iceland as it can be seen from road nr. 1 when driving along the south coast. It is easy to access by any type of car as the road from Reykjavik is paved more or less all the way to the lagoon parking lot. Please note that it is located app. 400 kilometers from the capital and accommodation in this area has to be booked well in advance if you plan to visit the site over the summer. If you by any chance haven´t arranged accommodation or do not want to stay there overnight our day tour from Reykjavik is a great and really popular option - see Vatnajökull Voyager day tour from Reykjavik.
This site is definitely a worth a visit and in is no coincidence that it has been a setting for two James Bond movies, Tomb Raider and Batman Begins along with numerous TV commercials. Additionally to the glacier lagoon itself and its unique characteristics it provides great views over Vatnajökull, a sight that will make anyone want to explore the ice cap further. Visitors should not attempt to walk on any of the outlet glaciers without professional guidance, this is where our guided day tours are a perfect option. Glacier Lagoon day tour is something you should definitely include on your list of things to do while visiting Iceland, an experience that will last a lifetime.
Our tours are jointly operated by two experts in the Vatnajökull area. All glacier walking and ice climbing is operated by Glacier Guides, an internationally recognized guiding operation providing expert services and top of the line equipment for its customers. Glacier Guides take care of all transport between locations in this area (in trips where transport is included in price) and the base of operations is located in Skaftafell, next to the service center. Click here for info.
The company Jökulsárlón are the glacier lagoon boat trip experts who take care of all sailing included in our tours. As with our glacier walking tours professional guides are on all tours who guide you through the area while insuring your safety during the ride. Click here for info.
Vatnajökull National Park is fragile and sensitive area that should be explored only by using the best ecologically sound practices available. It is our sincere intention to always treat nature with the utmost respect and we kindly ask that you follow our example while visiting this area.
