When standing on the pebbled lake bank, one is overwhelmed by nature’s utter transcendence; the icebergs, the water, the wind, mountains, and glacier tongues. Whilst not quite a religious experience, it comes close, for this waterbody can draw out mysterious feelings in anyone.

Icebergs routinely drop off from Breiðamerkurjökull, an outlet glacier of the larger Vatnajökull from which the park takes its name. To visitors, Breiðamerkurjökull appears as a solid wall of ice that creeps slowly towards higher elevations. Enclosed by snow-peaked mountains and shadowy gravel hillsides, there is simply no other way of describing this place other than entirely cinematic.

Hollywood has been aware of this for some time, having used Jökulsárlón as a shooting location for numerous productions. Lara Croft: Tomb Raider, James Bond’s Die Another Day and Batman Begins are just three of the biggest media franchises to shoot footage here, forever immortalising the lake in celluloid.

Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon is far younger than the majority of Iceland’s attractions, having only begun its formation in 1934 following the retreat of Breiðamerkurjökull. However, in the early 1970s, the lagoon had a growth spurt, almost quadrupling in size as the decade progressed. The fact that this occurred when environmental consciousness was rapidly expanding in Iceland was lost on no one.

Today, Jökulsárlón has the greatest depth of any lake in Iceland, 248 metres, and covers a total square surface of 18 km²—not small by any means! The lake’s aquamarine colour is derived from a mixture of salt and freshwater, while the ice that floats atop is over 1000 years old.

Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon is located in the southeast of the country, far from the capital and where most people will be staying. Given the distance, travelling to Vatnajokull National Park is an adventure, one that will take you across diverse landscapes with countless diversions en route.

From Reykjavik, it takes approximately 5 hours by car to reach Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon. That means that it is possible to make it there and back within a single day, though this is not advised for several reasons, first of which is the many interesting spots you’ll miss on the way.

Other options include taking a bus, which will be no shorter than an 8-hour trip to get there, or flying to the east’s largest town, Egilsstaðir. Both these choices are not as efficient as either driving yourself or opting for a guided tour of the area. For that reason, we readily recommend our South Coast Bubble tour.

Not only will this exciting excursion take you by some of the most beloved attractions found along the South Coast, but it will also present you with the opportunity to spend the night in one of our transparent bubbles. A unique accommodation choice by any standard, these novel rooms are perfect for viewing the Northern Lights, doubling up as your very own personal planetarium.

Most people travel to Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon to appreciate the site itself. It is not often, after all, that one comes into contact with a lake topped with floating chunks of ice. As the icebergs move in the water, slowly rolling this way and that towards the Atlantic Ocean, they groan and moan under their own weight.

Those looking to take their experience in a more exhilarating direction are recommended to participate in one of the two types of boat tours available at Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon; Zodiac or Amphibian.

Zodiac boats are small open-top vessels that not only reach high speeds with ease but can also get right up to the icebergs without issue. On the other hand, Amphibian vehicles host larger tour groups and drive up onto the shoreside. Do note that both boat tours only leave during the summer months.

If you decide to forgo setting out on the water, there are still plenty of treats in store. For example, the lake is home to a resident seal colony that routinely dive and play amid the ice. Set back from the shoreline itself, Arctic Skuas used this area as a nesting grounds and are infamous for dive-bombing anyone foolish enough to step too close to their eggs.

Another activity available in the area is ice caving, though this is only open to winter guests. Inside the crystalline hallways that lie beneath Vatnajökull glacier, guests will gain a brilliant insight into the geological forces that make such behemoths of nature possible. Besides that, you will witness firsthand the very depths of the ice body, complete with its glassy walls, air bubbles and naturally-formed sculptures.

Nearby to Jökulsárlón, no more than a five minute stroll, is Diamond Beach. This gorgeous stretch of black sand is famed for the many delicate icebergs that wash ashore here, making for fantastic photographic opportunities.

During the summer, enthusiastic shutterbugs love to capture how the ice twinkles and plays with the radiant Midnight Sunlight. On the other hand, winter guests will be privy to much more enormous icebergs floating out sea, making for an impressive Arctic vista that is hard to quantify.

Just like Jökulsárlón, Diamond Beach is part of the Breiðamerkursandur glacial outwash plain, and as such, contributes much beauty to an already staggering region of the country. Breiðamerkursandur covers around 18 kilometres from the base of Kvíárjökull glacier to the dark and gritty shores of Jökulsárlón itself.