The notebook of Vatnajökull and the glacier lagoons
Collect reflections and horizons.
Icemakers, iceberg lagoons and dark mountains dominate the southeast between Skaftafell and Höfn.
At your own pace
Identity summary
3 to 7 days
Spring · Summer · Autumn · Winter
Recommended car
Mountain · Lake · Coast · Nature
Variable accessibility
Modular rhythm
General presentation
Vatnajökull and the glacier lagoons
Icemakers, iceberg lagoons and dark mountains dominate the southeast between Skaftafell and Höfn.
Jökulsárlón, Diamond Beach and Skaftafell give the most telling landmarks of Vatnajökull and glacial lagoons. Together, they form a destination where mountain reliefs, shores and lakes, coastline and natural spaces meet, with atmospheres that change over the stages rather than just one uniform decor.
See all
For a stay of 3 to 7 days, it is better to balance visits and travel times. Also to be anticipated: conditions to be checked according to the season. A car is usually the easiest way to connect the different sectors. Accessibility varies from site to site and deserves to be verified step by step.
Strengths and constraints
Strengths
- Jökulsárlón
- Diamond Beach
- Skaftafell
Before you choose
- Car often useful
- Conditions to be checked by season
Places worth visiting
A selection to start dreaming and organizing the stay — not an exhaustive list of everything there is to see.
World Heritage
Parc national du Vatnajökull – la nature dynamique du feu et de la glace
To Vatnajökull, glaciers, volcanoes, lava fields and sandy plains tell Iceland in motion. The eruptions under the ice, the ice break-ups and the blue tongues of the glacier create a changing landscape, to be addressed with the weather conditions of the day and the open routes.
Remarkable location
Grímsvötn
Grímsvötn is a volcano hidden under the cap of the Vatnajökull, known for its subglacial eruptions and sudden floods that can cause. It is not seen as an ordinary summit: its interest is mainly due to the understanding of the link between ice, volcanic heat and Icelandic debacle landscapes.
Place indismissible
Jökulsárlón
Jökulsárlón is a lagoon where the icebergs detached from the Breiðamerkurjökull drift towards the ocean. The landscape changes every hour according to wind, tide and ice, with seals regularly visible.
Nature and landscape
Diamond Beach
Diamond Beach On its black sand, it receives blocks of ice polished by the waves after their exit from Jökulsárlón. The beach is particularly photogenic, but the waves remain powerful and impose a real distance.
Practical tips
This information helps know if the destination matches the planned trip before starting a fuller search.
To go further
More activities
Restaurants, walks, culture, leisure and outings to search without leaving the destination card.
Explore this destination in the Universes
The nearest destinations
The closest ideas on the map, to extend your trip.
Similar destinations
Same landscapes and the same pace of travel, elsewhere in the world.
