Fjallsárlón is a stunning glacial lagoon in southeastern Iceland, a true hidden gem of the Icelandic landscape. Unlike its neighbor, Jökulsárlón, Fjallsárlón offers a more peaceful and intimate experience, free from large crowds. One of its greatest advantages is the incredible proximity to the glacier—you can admire its towering ice formations even from the shore. The boat tour adds a whole lot of things to the experience reaching the edge of the glacier.
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I can still vividly recall my first trip to Iceland—it feels as fresh in my mind as if it happened yesterday. It was December 2012, and from the moment I stepped out of the airport, I was completely mesmerized. Snow blanketed the world in every direction, and though the darkness of winter had already settled, the snow’s brightness gave everything an enchanting glow, making the atmosphere almost surreal.
Skaftafell slots into the much larger Vatnajökull National Park, of which Fjallsárlón glacier lagoon is also a part off. This remarkable area is known for its striking scenery, including jaw-dropping waterfalls and magnificent glaciers. The terrain that you see today owes a lot to past eruptions of Öræfajökull volcano. The flow of glacial rivers coupled with intermittent floods have shaped and reshaped the area’s valleys and plains.
Travellers who reach Fjallsárlón glacier lagoon will have been treated to some extraordinary landscapes. You can be forgiven for thinking that the iceberg strewn lagoon with its wonderful backdrop of the Fjallsjökull glacier would be hard to top. Nevertheless, road trippers will delight in what’s to come, as East Iceland is one of the most picturesque and unspoilt regions of the country.
Iceland is known for extreme weather at least some of the time and the surroundings of Vatnajökull Glacier. The southeast of Iceland has somewhat uniqueness in weather compared to other parts of the country. It is in fact warmer and rainier than any other parts of the country.
The Northern Lights can be elusive so give yourself the best chance of a sighting by doing your research up front. If you’re planning an aurora hunt while you’re in Iceland, then setting your sights on glacial lagoons such as Fjallsárlón and Jökulsárlón on the south coast is a great idea, because they’re a long way from the light pollution that can be so problematic in built up areas. Before you start chasing the Northern Lights at any of the region’s glacier lagoons, you’ll want to check out these tips and tricks.
Climate change affects every part of our planet and Iceland is no exception. Extensive scientific study has mapped likely impacts on the country and as more research is published, our understanding of the consequences increases. In this article we’ll take a look at glacier retreat and climate change to explore what’s happening in Iceland.
Iceland is packed full of incredible landscapes but even where the bar is this high, a glacial ice cave will stop you in your tracks with its extraordinary beauty. One of the best parts of the country to visit these seasonal landforms is from Fjallsárlón, where we are ideally situated to access the ice caves beneath Vatnajökull’s icy surface. From November to March our guides will lead you to a winter wonderland where you’ll have time to explore this breathtaking subglacial landscape.
Winter in Iceland is a season of extremes, offering a blend of stark beauty and challenging conditions. From November to March, the country transforms into a frozen wonderland, with snow-covered landscapes, icy roads, and the enchanting Northern Lights illuminating the long nights. However, the winter weather in Iceland is unpredictable, shaped by the island’s location in the North Atlantic and its proximity to the Arctic Circle.
Vatnajökull National Park is the largest of Iceland’s three national parks. It encompasses around 12% of the country’s total area and about a quarter of its central highland region. The area was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2019 and is effectively funded and well-managed by the Icelandic government in the form of the Vatnajökull National Park agency (Vatnajökulsþjóðgarður) which is also responsible for risk management.