On a recent vacation to Iceland, we spent our first day touring the Ring Road with a stop at Beidamerkursandur, also called Diamond Beach, and the Fjallsarlon and Jokulsarlon Glacier Lagoons, which are Iceland’s natural crown jewels. These websites have amazing photos that merit their own post. You can get all the information you need to visit this must-see location by reading The Ultimate Guide to Iceland’s Glacier Lagoons. It was our favorite part of an adventure that included endlessly beautiful scenery. This location showcased the splendor of mother nature.
The Ring Road of Iceland
As we drove around Iceland’s Ring Road, we saw these glaciers. Iceland’s Ring route, often known as Route 1, is a national route that circles the entire island. The route is 821 km long and was finished in 1974. Although the distance might not seem significant to some, the majority of the road is a head-on, small two-lane road with relatively low speed restrictions. But you’ll find that the breathtaking scenery and unadulterated beauty along this road are what really slow you down. It varies as much as the weather does.
All three locations are in Iceland’s southern region and are just off Ring Road. It takes approximately five hours to travel east from Reykavik, the country’s capital.
Fjallsarlon Glacier Lake will be on your left as you begin your tour of Iceland’s glacier lagoons with the Ultimate Guide. Due to its partial visibility from the road, it is simple to miss. There is free parking available in a sizable lot. The lakeshore may be reached in only five minutes via a broad, graveled trail that gently descends. You will be in complete awe once you see the glacier lake. Near the parking lot is a sizable unmarked structure, but all of them were closed when we visited. This location did not have any restrooms.
Of the two glacial lakes in the vicinity, Fjallsarlon is less well-known and offers a more private experience. But because there are less people there, it is still quite beautiful and considerably more serene. Large icebergs that break off from the ice cap are visible when the glaciers stretch onto the lake’s surface. A multitude of shimmering icebergs softly drift over the lake, with a few of them landing at your feet. The icebergs are colored in a spectrum from crystal clear to electric blue.
Little Brother
The massive glacier Vatnajokull includes the Fjallsarlon Glacier as part of its arm. The glacial lake Breidalon provides water to the lake through the Breida River. This glacier is frequently referred to as Jokulsarlon Glacier’s younger brother. Many tourists bypass it in favor of its larger sibling, but tiny lake offers a stunning backdrop of mountains and glaciers, bringing you considerably closer to the glacier itself.
As we got there, the sun was setting over the mountain and the lake was magnificently mirrored in it. It was calm and serene. Few people were there, mostly photographers, and as we would soon find, not much more of that was happening at its bigger sibling down the road.
Jokulsarlon Glacier Lagoon
Ten kilometers farther on is the Jokulsarlon Glacier Lake, our next destination on The Ultimate Guide to Iceland’s Glacier Lagoons. There will be a bridge that you cross that crosses an outlet into the sea. After the bridge, there’s a large, free parking area on your left. Along with restrooms, there are a few services available. Tours by boat and on foot usually depart from this location.
With the enormous glacier out in the distance, the scene is breathtaking. It is located south of Vatnajokull, the largest glacier in Europe. This region includes Vatnajokull, the largest national park in Iceland and the second largest in Europe. With a surface area of 11 kilometers and a depth of around 750 feet, Jokulsarlon Lake is the deepest lake in Iceland. Global conditions are causing the glacier to rapidly recede while the lagoon is developing, which will eventually cause the glacier to melt and form the lagoon naturally. As hundreds of icebergs drift out to sea, they are melting gradually and drifting softly in a variety of hues and sizes. Certain icebergs approach the coast and land directly at your feet. It is possible to examine these over a millennium-old fragments of iceberg up close.
Animals
We saw several of seals, which are frequently spotted searching for fish close to the shore. During our stay, the sky was also brimming with birds. But you won’t come across any puffins. During that day, we happened to unexpectedly come across several puffins at Dyrholaey Point, which is located south of VIK. There are expansive places to stroll around Jokulsarlon Lagoon’s terrain in order to see the icebergs and lagoon. There are hiking trails up rolling hills with views from various elevations.
Many were observing with mute reverence, as though it was difficult to understand what they were seeing. We arrived around sunset, and there was no better time of day to take in this incredibly gorgeous location—it’s a photographer’s dream come true and an incredible thrill to create images that our eyes could not contain.
Beidamerkursandur
Known as Diamond Beach to many, Beidamerkursandur is a lengthy stretch of black sand beach. It was the penultimate destination on our Ultimate Guide to Iceland’s Glacier Lagoons. The Jokulsarlon Lagoon is right across the street from it. Ring Road is right outside the parking lot. The beach is a level hike of a few minutes. On the route to the beach, you’ll cross a circle of informational and picture boards. The glaciers glide beneath the bridge to the right as they head towards the open ocean. It is stunning on its own. As is typical of Iceland, there can be strong winds in this area.
You will never see black sand so bottomless as this. Silk is what comes to mind when you see fine sand. It’s breathtaking to see the translucent icebergs widely spaced along the coastline with the black sand. It is a lot smaller than the lagoon’s icebergs. Glistening in the sun, they have been shaped by pounding sea.
If you look closely, you can see seals playing in the waters only a few feet from the coast. It looks like they are giggling at their tiny black faces. Are the seals visible in the pictures on this page?
Reaching the destination
A few guest homes and hotels are in the area. To mention a few, there is the Hali Country Hotel, Reynivellir II and Gerdi Guesthouse, Ekra, Fosshotel Glacier Lagoon, and Skyhusid Guesthouse. Book as early as possible because these sell out rapidly. Hofn, which lies an hour north, is the closest town. There are a lot more lodging options available there. That was our overnight location.
Events in the vicinity
During the summer, boat tours of the lagoon are offered. In the busiest time of year, there will be numerous journeys every day. Amphibian boats and Zodiac boats are your options. If you want to see the larger icebergs up close, it would be advisable to make reservations in advance. Even though it was summer when we visited, the picture-perfect sunset scene was unspoiled by any boats on the sea; it was simply a breathtaking natural treasure. There are tour companies that offer excursions and guided walks in the region. Numerous local businesses provide packages and tours.
Ice caves can be found inside the Vatnajokull glacier outside of summer. These are weather-dependent and typically only available from mid-October to March. And last, because there isn’t much artificial lighting here, it’s a great place to see the Northern Lights all year round. Iceland has extended periods of darkness in the winter and little darkness in the summer, even though they are only visible in the dark.
