Breiðamerkurjökull is the outlet glacier that feeds Jökulsárlón. It flows down from Vatnajökull in a wide tongue striped with dark moraine, the rock and ash the ice has carried for centuries.
From the lagoon shore you can follow those dark bands back up towards the ice cap. In winter, natural ice caves form inside the glacier, and they are the reason many tours start here.
Getting there
Park at Jökulsárlón on Route 1 and walk along the lagoon's western shore for views of the glacier front. Ice cave and glacier tours meet nearby and use super jeeps to reach the ice.
When to go
The views work all year. Ice cave tours run in the cold months, usually from about November to March.
Good to know
- Do not walk onto the glacier on your own: crevasses and thin ice are hidden.
- Bring binoculars for the glacier front.
- Book winter ice cave tours early.
Read more in the journal
- Iceland's Glaciers: Where to See, Walk and Explore
- Jökulsárlón and Diamond Beach: Visitor Guide
- Fjallsárlón and Iceland's Other Glacier Lagoons
Drive times are approximate and depend on weather and road conditions. Check road.is and vedur.is before you set off.
