Fjallsárlón sits at the southeastern edge of Vatnajökull, where an outlet glacier feeds a quiet lagoon dotted with drifting icebergs. It's a smaller, quieter lagoon than nearby Jökulsárlón, and that scale means the boat can get close to the glacier wall. The trip lasts 75 to 90 minutes, with 45 of them on the water in a small inflatable zodiac boat. You'll circle icebergs of every shape and size, then approach the glacier wall as conditions allow. Along the way, you can taste ancient glacier ice, and on a good day, you might see an iceberg flip or hear a piece calve from the wall.
Suitable for ages 5 and up. The tour runs from April to November, and you'll need to drive to Fjallsárlón, about 4.5 hours from Reykjavík.
Small Group Experience
• More attention from your guideYour tour starts at the Fjallsárlón Tour Reception, where you'll check in 5 to 10 minutes before your scheduled departure. After a short safety briefing, you'll gear up in a warm flotation jacket and life vest, then follow your guide on a short walk along a gravel path to the boat dock. The path opens onto wide views of the lagoon and Fjallsjökull, the outlet glacier that feeds it.
You'll spend 45 minutes on the water. The zodiac threads between drifting icebergs, close enough to see the textures and colors locked inside the ice, before continuing toward the glacier wall as far as the day's conditions allow. Your guide will offer you a piece of ancient ice to taste, pulled straight from the lagoon. If conditions favor it, you might see an iceberg flip or hear a piece calve off the glacier.
Once back at the dock, you'll walk the same path to reception and hand in your gear. FROST restaurant is on site if you'd like to warm up or grab a bite afterward. From check-in to finish, the full experience runs 75 to 90 minutes.
Iceland is known for its colorful weather. It can sometimes show you all 4 seasons in one day.
Dressing for this sort of weather can be a challenge so we always recommend dressing in layers. 3 or 4 upper layers are highly recommended such as a light t-shirt (preferably wool) next to the skin, then a fleece or heavy wool garment, topped off with a waterproof windbreaker.
Jeans are not recommended for our trips as they become very heavy, cold and uncomfortable to wear when they get wet.
Lightweight hiking pants, track pants or long cotton pants are best and then wind/waterproof pants over. We also recommend using sunglasses and sunscreen even if it is cloudy due to the high UV and sunlight reflecting off of the glacier.
You will need sturdy hiking boots with ankle support that fit crampons for the glacier hiking tours. If you do not own a pair then we rent out good hiking boots as well as a waterproof raincoat and trousers.
We recommend bringing your own backpack on our full day or 1/2 day tours. It’s great to carry a small lunch and some extra clothing.
You can bring your camera along, and you should definitely bring one since the setting on the tour is full of amazing, scenic views.
We do not provide lunch on any of our trips, so we recommend you bring your own lunch (for the longer trips), snacks and a bottle of water (you can refill it on the trip).
Our tours are split into four different categories that help participants to understand what to expect from the tour. The categories are Easy, Moderate, Challenging and Demanding. Each tour is rated making it easier to find tours that suit you.
For further information about the difficulty ratings and descriptions.
When snow stays long enough in one place it turns to ice. Over long periods of time, the ice layers up becoming huge blocks called glaciers. As there is a lot of snow in Iceland, it forms to create ginormous glaciers that sweep across huge masses of land. Iceland is home to Europe’s largest glacier named Vatnajökull. This Glacier Guide will also tell you everything you may want to know about Glaciers.
If you're having trouble booking your tour, please note that we accept payments in Canadian Dollars (CAD), American Dollars (USD), British Pounds (GBP), Euros (EUR), and Icelandic Króna (ISK). Start by checking with your credit card provider to ensure they allow payments in your selected currency.
Sometimes, your credit card company may need to pre-authorize the transaction before you can complete your booking online.
If you're still facing issues while trying to book through our website, please reach out to our Customer Care Team. We’re here to help you!
No, our guides are not able to provide information on these matters, but our team will be happy to assist you. We kindly ask that you reach out to our customer care team regarding any questions or concerns.
Crampons are metal spikes that attach to the soles of your hiking boots, providing a secure grip on icy surfaces to prevent slipping. On all our glacier tours where you'll be walking on ice, we provide specialized glacier crampons—sturdier and designed for tougher conditions than regular ice spikes. Your guide will help you put crampons on properly before stepping onto the glacier, and they will be returned after the tour. You can learn more about crampons in this guide.