Day 8 – Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon & Beyond

A Day Exploring Glaciers, Beaches, and Waterfalls in Southeast Iceland

Today’s adventure covered around 150 kilometers, taking us through some of the most spectacular sights between Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon and Skaftafell. It’s a packed day if you want to experience it all—kayaking or boating at Jökulsárlón, walking on a glacier, visiting Diamond Beach and Fjallsárlón, and hiking to the stunning Svartifoss waterfall. With good planning, you can fit everything in, though it may involve a bit of backtracking. Thankfully, the drive between Jökulsárlón and Skaftafell is only about 45 minutes. If you prefer a slower pace or your tour timings don’t quite line up, this area is a great place to extend your itinerary by an extra day.

Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon

This is easily one of Iceland’s must-see spots. You can simply pull up, park, and admire the dramatic view—or get up close to the icebergs on a kayak or boat tour. We had pre-booked the Zodiac Boat Tour through Icelagoon.is, and it was worth every minute. There are two types of boat tours: the Amphibian Boat Tour, which is larger and more relaxed, and the Zodiac Tour, which is faster, more intimate, and gets you closer to the icebergs.

Our guide was knowledgeable, friendly, and clearly passionate about the area. She let us touch floating icebergs and even sip glacier water—possibly the purest and oldest water I’ve ever tasted. I sat in the front of the boat, braving the wind, light snow, and icy rain just for the thrill of it. It was a wild and unforgettable experience.

Diamond Beach

Just across the road from Jökulsárlón lies Diamond Beach, where chunks of ice wash ashore on black volcanic sand. The contrast between the sparkling ice and dark sand is surreal. We chose to park closer to the beach to avoid the crowded Jökulsárlón lot. Watching those icebergs, knowing they came straight from the lagoon, was mesmerizing. Photographers were everywhere, but no photo truly captures the magic of being there in person. We spent about 30 minutes soaking it all in before heading to the next stop.

Fjallsárlón Glacier Lagoon

A short 10-minute drive brought us to Fjallsárlón, a quieter, more peaceful alternative to its famous neighbor. It’s smaller and less crowded, perfect for a short stop. Though we were pretty tired after the Zodiac tour, we spent around 45 minutes here enjoying the view. The area also has restrooms and a restaurant—ideal for a mid-day break.

Glacier Hike on Vatnajökull

Unfortunately, the weather was too cold and harsh for us to attempt a glacier hike this time, but we’ve heard great things about the Glacier Explorer Tour with Arctic Adventures. It’s a five-hour experience, with about three hours actually spent on the glacier navigating crevasses and climbing ice formations.

They also offer a combo tour—a short glacier hike plus kayaking in Jökulsárlón—which still leaves time for other nearby sights. And if you’re visiting from fall to early spring, you can add an ice cave exploration to your glacier tour.

Svartifoss Waterfall

Tucked inside Skaftafell National Park, Svartifoss is known for its unique basalt column backdrop, which even inspired the design of Reykjavik’s Hallgrímskirkja Church. The 3 km round-trip hike starts from the Skaftafell Visitor Center and takes about 90 minutes. It’s mostly uphill, but absolutely worth the effort if you still have energy left after a full day of exploring.

We opted not to stay in Höfn or Vík to avoid long drives and instead chose a quiet guesthouse about 100 km from Skaftafell near Þjóðvegur, off the Ring Road. Our accommodation—Flaga 2 Guesthouse, Hrífunes—was cozy, charming, and rated 9/10 on Booking.com. It lived up to the hype. We arrived before sunset, took a peaceful walk to see nearby farms and Icelandic horses, and ended the day with a hearty home-cooked meal. As the day wrapped up, we gathered to reflect and plan ahead. Tomorrow promises some of the most iconic and photographed waterfalls in all of Iceland—can’t wait to see what lies ahead.