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There are many beautiful The jaw-dropping beauty of Iceland’s glacier lagoons has long been a draw for visitors from overseas. In recent years, however, the number of image-driven social media posts on platforms such as Instagram has risen exponentially, fuelling the desire to see these iceberg-strewn lakes first hand.
The result, especially in summer, has been a significant increase in footfall, particularly at Jökulsárlón, the largest and deepest of a trio of glacier lagoons within a short distance of each other. In contrast, Fjallsárlón and Breiðárlón are typically less busy and still offer a more intimate experience to those who seek them out.
In this blog we’ll take a look at the viewpoints and photogenic spots around the glacier lagoons and offer tips about how to avoid the worst of the crowds.
If you’re keen to experience the glacier lagoons, then choosing the right spot is vital to your enjoyment of the area. Diamond Beach and the shore of Jökulsárlón close to its car park are the busiest for obvious reasons, but you don’t need to venture far to find a more secluded spot. Even switching up Jökulsárlón for Fjallsárlón is a good start.
If you’re determined to visit Diamond Beach then know that there are two sides: Eystri-Fellsfjara (east) and Vestri-Fellsfjara (west). As it’s possible to walk beneath the ring road to Eystri-Fellsfjara, the west side of the beach tends to be quieter. The distribution and size of icebergs on either side varies considerably as the ice is washed up by the waves, so being flexible with your plans helps a lot.
Another option is to leave your car at Fjallsárlón’s car park, for instance, and hike up towards Breiðárlón for stunning views over both glacier lagoons. The trail continues on to Jökulsárlón and as relatively few people are happy to invest the time to hike the entire 15km route it tends to be quiet. It’s also possible to access Breiðárlón in a 4×4 via a rough gravel track.
If you’re keen to share images of the glacier on your Instagram account, our glacier hikes will get you up onto the surface of the ice. It’s not safe to venture up here without a qualified guide, so any vantage point isn’t likely to be overrun with tourists like the more accessible shoreline often tends to be.
One of the most straightforward ways you can view the glacier lagoons alongside fewer people is to travel in low season. Boat tours don’t run all year, but outside their operating hours there’s still plenty to see from the shore. In addition, you might choose to visit after dark in winter when there’s a chance the Northern Lights might dance overhead.
Even in summer, you can time your trip to Fjallsárlón and Jökulsárlón to avoid peak periods. The Midnight Sun in Iceland means that in June, the sun barely slips below the horizon making it possible to see without artificial light throughout the night. Treat yourself to a late night sunset or very early morning sunrise when many other travellers will be sleeping soundly in their beds.
Fjallsárlón’s Zodiac boat tours and glacier hikes are restricted to small groups, which means if you sign up for one, you won’t share the experience with a load of other people. Even more exclusive is our summer overnight adventure for two where we transport you across the lake to a floating hut where you can enjoy exquisite solitude and stellar views.
To experience the glacier lagoons without sharing the space with numerous others takes a bit of thoughtful pre-planning, but it’s worth taking the trouble to do so. The area’s overlooked viewpoints and Instagram spots close to Fjallsárlón glacier lagoon are simply delightful and we’re sure you won’t want to pass up the chance to see them for yourself.
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Fjallsárlón
