Jökulsárlón or The Glacier lagoon attracts thousands of people every year. It truly is a crown jewel. With icebergs composed of ice that is over 1,000 years old and large herds of seals, The Glacier lagoon is a spectacular place to paddle.
Jökulsarlón glacier lagoon first started forming in 1934, when the Breidamerkurjokull glacier started retreating, leaving the lagoon in its path. Now the lagoon covers 18 square kilometer (11.2 square miles) area and is Icelands deepest lake with a max dept of 248 meters (814 feet).
The Lagoon is located south of Vatnajokull, Europe’s largest glacier. It is approximately a five to six hours drive from Reykjavík, 380 km (236 miles). The route is incredibly scenic with a whole lot of interesting places to stop on the way. So give yourself some time and enjoy the journey. This is not a location one visits on a one day stopover. Two days minimum is recommended.
When is the best time to go?
We recommend going “off season” in spring or autumn. April and May are fantastic with fewer tourists and a lot of seals. Winter paddling on the lagoon is difficult due to the fact that it might be frozen. During the high season (June til August), up to 40 boat trips run Jökulsárlón Glacier lagoon tours per day. If you find yourself in Iceland at that time, by the lagoon, midnight paddles are the best or early mornings. The weather is usually ideal at that time also not to mention it being bright 24/7 in June til mid August so you don’t have to worry about bringing lights.
Good to know
The Icebergs might flip over unexpectedly or large pieces of ice fall off. Don’t get too close and NEVER EVER climb on top of one of the icebergs. Although you might not see it, they are are slowly moving, melting and changing. If you listen closely you might hear pieces brake from the glacier. So get in your zen zone, respect mother nature and breath in the energy. But first and foremost enjoy the amazing scenery.
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