Two of the absolute must sees in Iceland are Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon and Diamond Beach. As these two sites are located pretty far from Reykjavík (370 km/230 mi) it requires quite a drive to get there. But if you have the time, you most certainly should prioritise these two when it comes to your Iceland itinerary.
Scenic Drive from Reykjavík to Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon and Diamond Beach
The drive from Reykjavík along the south coast to Jökulsárlón and Diamond Beach is quite long but it’s also unbelievably scenic. The diversity in the landscape is uncanny. You’ll drive through green fields (given you’re here in summer!), pass spectacular mountains and countless waterfalls. Drive through huge black sand fields, see glaciers in the far and at one point be surrounded by moss covered lava fields. If you take this drive sometime between Mid-June and the start of July, you’ll also drive through enormous blue lupine fields. Absolutely amazing.
It’s impossible to get bored during this drive. I mean, there’s a very good reason for this part of the country is the most popular among our visitors. The area is packed with countless noteworthy places. Each one even more beautiful than the last. So by all means, if you have the chance, don’t drive all this way in a hurry. Give yourself time to explore it and take it all in.
I would recommend staying the night somewhere on the way. That way you get a chance to explore some of the highlights along the way.
The Glacier themed Vatnajökull National Park
When you reach the eastern part of the Icelandic south coast, you’ll enter Vatnajökull National Park. Vatnajökull Glacier is the biggest glacier in Iceland and covers about 8% of the country. This huge glacier has many outlet glaciers and they are the main attraction in this area.
And no wonder. Glaciers are spectacular. I hadn’t really paid them much attention until a few years ago. I don’t know why. But now when I’ve started to explore them in different ways, I can’t get enough! I’ve fallen in love and I’m sure, if you haven’t already, you will too 🙂
There is something so magical about glaciers. It’s hard to describe what exactly is so fascinating about them though. I think it’s the silent power you feel in the air around them. So calm. Yet so powerful. If you haven’t yet experienced them yourself, you should look forward to it. Feel their silent energy and enjoy the beauty of the different and ever changing sculptures they create.
You have numerous possibilities when it comes to exploring and experiencing the glaciers.
- Glacier Hikes
- Exploring ice caves
- Getting up close and personal to glaciers like Skaftafellsjökull and Svínafellsjökull
- Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon (and other glacier lagoons)
- Diamond Beach
- Hiking trails with glacier views in Skaftafell
- Admiring the glaciers from afar
But let’s look a bit closer at Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon and Diamond Beach. See what you should expect when visiting these two places.
Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon
Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon is one of Iceland’s top attractions. And no wonder. This stunning ever-changing place is truly worth a visit. It never looks the same. No matter how often you visit. Then it’s located right by the Ring Road so it couldn’t be easier to access.
The number and sizes of the icebergs floating around the lagoon differs from time to time. Their color also varies. It can appear from turquoise blue to near-transparent white. Sometimes there are also bits of black mixed in the ice. Black ashes that remind us of the volcanic activity in the area through the centuries.
Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon is growing bigger in a pretty fast rate
About 80 years ago, Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon started forming because of the melting of Breiðarmerkurjökull Glacier, an outlet glacier from Vatnajökull Glacier. At that time, the glacier, which then was much closer to the Atlantic Ocean, started to recede because of warmer weather. The lagoon has grown pretty rapidly in size since then. In 1975 the size of it was about 8 km2 (3mi2) but today it’s somewhere around 20 km2(7.7 mi2).
The lagoon is the deepest lake in Iceland which funny enough means that the highest and the lowest point of the country are located really close to each other. The highest point in Iceland is the summit of Hvannadalshnjúkur which you’ll find only a few km west of Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon.
Where Glacier meets the Ocean
Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon is the only place in Iceland where a glacier meets the ocean. Huge chunks of ice break away from the glacier and swim around in the lagoon until they get small enough to float under the bridge and out to sea.
The glacier water in the lagoon is mixed with seawater as it flows in from the ocean at high tide. With the seawater comes fish, which again attracts seals to the lagoon. So when you visit, you might spot one of those cuties swimming in the lagoon or resting on top of one of the icebergs.
The main Viewing Point by Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon
There are a few different viewing points by the lagoon but the main one is right by the bridge. Next to Diamond Beach. There you’ll find the biggest parking lot in the area along with restrooms and a café where you can buy some refreshments.
Click here for the cafe’s opening hoursHere is also the starting point for different boat tours and other activities on the lagoon. If you’ve booked an ice cave tour in the area, most likely the pick up point will be here too.
I’ve once been on a boat tour on Jökulsárlón. It was many years ago and I actually can’t remember it much to be honest. What I however would love to try is going on a kayak tour on the lagoon. That sounds really exciting to me even though I’ve never been on a kayak before! I just love the idea to come closer to some of the icebergs. They say you don’t need any prior experience so my lack of kayak experience doesn’t seem to be a deal breaker. I will tell you all about it when I have tested it out.
You can check out some kayak tours hereI’ve also heard it’s really fun to go on a zodiac boat tour. The third possibility is going on an amphibian boat tour. You know, in these things that drive on land and sail on water.
Zodiac boat tour odiac and amphibian boat toursThe beautiful Diamond Beach
On the other side of the road by Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon you’ll find a black sand beach. Today everybody calls this beach Diamond Beach but that’s actually not its official name. It’s a name that was made up a few years ago and seems to have caught on.
Its real name is Fellsfjara but it’s easy to understand why Diamond Beach caught on. The beach is often covered in chunks of ice of different sizes. These chunks have been washed out to sea from the lagoon and been washed ashore again on this beach. As the ocean has polished them so beautifully, they look like ice diamonds lying all around the black beach. A beautiful sight.
It’s important to remember though, as we are talking about nature here, that you never know what you’re gonna get. Sometimes there are only a few ice diamonds on Diamond Beach when you visit. Sometimes it’s covered in them.
Last time I visited there were basically no chunks of ice on the sand. This was in the middle of August. I have visited before in August and then there were plenty of them on the beach. So I guess it’s impossible to know beforehand how many “Diamonds” you will find on Diamond Beach.
It’s worth mentioning that the lagoon was filled with stunning icebergs at the same time as there were almost none on the beach. So the visit there was definitely worth it.
One practical tip. When you walk around Diamond Beach and take gorgeous pictures of the ice diamonds. Watch out for the waves! It’s really easy to get caught up in the process of getting the perfect photo while there. Then suddenly a wave comes in and you are all wet as you didn’t notice it creeping up on you 🙂
Well, that’s it for now. If you liked this post and think some of your friends might be interested in reading it too, please help me spread the word. I’d really appreciate it if you’d share it on social media or just send it directly to a friend.
Until next time!
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