10 Incredible Facts About Vatnajökull Glacier You Need to Know

The vast black sands and black beaches you find in the South of Iceland often leave many feeling as though they’ve stepped onto another planet. The most famous black sand beaches in Iceland are the Diamond beach and the Black Beach (Reynisfjara). Another frequently visited tourist attraction is the airplane wreck on Solheimasandur, black sand beach.

If you’ve set your sights on visiting Fjallsárlón Glacier Lagoon, there’s a good chance you are planning to travel from Reykjavik by car. It’s around a five hour drive, so where should you stop along the way? Here are a few of our favourite places to break the journey.

Iceland’s glacier lagoon, Jökulsárlón, is one of the most popular sights in the country. Most travellers will find themselves there at some point – or wish they had been able to visit. But did you know it’s not the only glacier lagoon in this part of the country? A short drive away, Fjallsárlón Glacier Lagoon is still one of the south coast’s hidden gems, yet it shares many characteristics with its more famous neighbour. Let’s take a look at both places and find out why you need to include them both in your itinerary….

In Iceland we have many glaciers, hence the name “Iceland”. The largest glacier in Europe is Vatnajokull Glacier that spreads out to South and Southeast Iceland covering about 8% of Iceland’s landmass. A few decades ago, glacier lagoons started forming at the foot of the glaciers. The most famous ones are Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon, Fjallsárlón Glacier Lagoon and Breiðárlón Glacier lagoon. Fjallsárlón is a relatively young lagoon, it started forming after 1950 and has been growing ever since. The formation of Fjallsarlon presented local friends with an opportunity to start a tour operator company in this marvelous spot of nature. At Fjallsárlón ice lagoon you will find our GLACIER BOAT TOUR COMPANY. We have been operating zodiac boat tours since 2013. In the beginning we only had a trailer that we were operating tours from with no real facilities in place.

After a boat trip on the Fjallsárlón iceberg lagoon or glacier hike on Fjallsjökull Glacier, visitors will most likely to Fjallsárlón are likely to be thinking about food. Though the area around Fjallsárlón is relatively sparsely populated, there are a number of options when it comes to eating out. If you know you’ll be looking to fill an empty stomach, here are the options for dining near Fjallsárlón, including the best restaurants and local cuisine you must try on the Southcoast.

If you’ve been looking into a trip to Fjallsárlón glacier lagoon, you’ll have most likely come across neighbouring lagoon Jökulsárlón. They’re both spectacular glacial lagoons and popular with international tourists as well as locals. Located just a fifteen-minute drive from each other, it’s advisable to visit both. Let’s find out more about the larger of the two, Jökulsárlón here with our ultimate guide.

Nestled within the breathtaking landscapes of Iceland you will find Fjallsarlon glacier lagoon, the natural landscape is like something out of a movie. That’s the main reason filmmakers are drawn to Fjallsarlon, the lagoon is slowly gaining popularity as a filming location for both movies and music videos.

When you travel, is food your thing? Getting to know an area’s cuisine and trying out its restaurants and cafés can be a great way of finding out about the cultural heritage of a place. But even more than that it’s a chance to enjoy delicious food in new surroundings. If you haven’t eaten at Frost Restaurant while you’ve been visiting Fjallsárlón, you might be feeling peckish by the time you reach Höfn. Or perhaps it’s your next overnight stop. Either way, here’s our food lover’s guide to Höfn in Iceland, including where to track down the best eats and treats.

Vatnajökull is Europe’s largest glacier, making it a dream destination for photographers eager to capture the raw, ethereal beauty of Iceland’s glaciers. Known for its vast expanse of glistening ice and sweeping landscapes, Vatnajökull is a world-class location for capturing one-of-a-kind photos.

Fjallsárlón or Fjallsarlon is actually a very young natural phenomenon and does not have a long history in terms of being a lagoon. Here is a short history lesson on this area and facts about Fjallsarlon.

When Iceland settlement started in 874 it was said that the land was all grown with trees between the ocean and the mountains. The glaciers in Iceland were at the time also much smaller than they are today. During the first centuries after Iceland’s settlement there were 3 big farms in the area of Breiðamerkursandur the area where you now have Fjallsarlon and Jokulsarlon. Neither lagoon existed. But in the area was a big forest called Breiðamörk (Breidamork). It means broad forest.
The farm on the east side of this area was called Fell, on the west side the farm was called Fjall, and in the middle was the third farm with same name as the forest and called Breiðamörk.

Iceland is often referred to as the Land of Fire and Ice but no visit to the country would be complete without water. There are some great boat tours that you can book to get out on some of the most scenic lakes, lagoons, rivers and coastal waterways. You’ll often be treated to the bonus of some wildlife sightings too such as seals or birdlife. If you are looking for a hidden gem you should visit Fjallsárlón lagoon during your next trip. Here are some of the boat tours South Iceland can offer.

When visiting Iceland, it is hard to choose what to do, which sights are worth your time and which tours and activities to book. Iceland has so much to offer, and we understand that your time here is valuable. We have listened to our guests’ comments and wishes and have developed a perfect tour that combines a boat tour, glacier hike and super jeep ride, The Ultimate Glacier Adventure Trio! Do you want to save time in rushing from one tour operator to another and driving long distances to your next location for yet another check in? If the answer is yes, the Ultimate Glacier Adventure Trio could be your perfect choice as we offer the whole package from Fjallsarlon base camp.

Glaciers and glacial lagoons are fascinating places. These mighty tongues of ice carve their way through the landscape like giant bulldozers. Though the rate of movement is too slow to observe with the naked eye, the evidence that it’s happening is all around us as the valley is shaped by the erosional power of the ice as it slides imperceptibly downhill due to gravity.

What is the difference between Jökulsárlón and Fjallsárlón Lagoons

I am often asked what the difference is between Jökulsárlón and Fjallsárlón. In this article you will find information about both ice lagoons. Both glacier lagoons are in Southeast Iceland with approximately 10 minutes’ drive between them.

If you are visiting Iceland and want to know more about glacier lagoons, and glaciers we recommend that you check out the variety of tours we offer. All our tours are operated in Vatnajökull National Park in southeast Iceland, we have the best check in and restroom facilities in the area. We strive to offer personal, educational and fun tours away from the crowds. So, if you want to avoid overcrowded places, we would be happy to welcome you on one of our adventure tours!