Jokulsarlon Boat Tour Guide
Amphibian boats, Zodiacs and kayaks among the lagoon icebergs
A Jokulsarlon boat tour puts passengers on the water among floating icebergs. The guided boat trip on Jökulsárlón lagoon lasts 30-40 minutes, and the icebergs it sails among are described as more than a thousand years old. Boats and kayaks both operate on the lagoon.
- 75Zodiac tour length (minutes)
- 8Distance to the glacier face from the Zodiac starting point (km)
- 60,000-70,000Passengers carried per year in recent years
- 1985Year commercial boat tours began
Tour formats on the lagoon
On Jökulsárlón you can take an Amphibian boat tour, a Zodiac boat tour, or go kayaking. Several different companies offer lagoon tours by boat or kayak.
Paying passengers have been going out on the water here since 1985, the year commercial boat tours on the lagoon began.
The Zodiac ride is low, fast and open to spray, while the amphibian boat is a gentler float with a roof.
The amphibian boat
The amphibian boat drives down the shore and straight into the water. It has no minimum age and takes all ages, including infants.
Passengers on this tour can taste lagoon ice described as 1000 years old. The glacier-face area that the Zodiac can reach is not seen by amphibian passengers.
The Zodiac tour
The Zodiac boat tour on the lagoon lasts 75 minutes. The glacier face is about 8 km from the Zodiac starting point, and the Zodiac can run toward it when ice and weather permit.
The glacier wall keeps moving further from shore as the glacier recedes, and the Zodiac tour needs more time to reach it. Passengers can hear the glacier up close and sometimes see calving, when part of the wall breaks into the lagoon.
Zodiac boats always go out in pairs for safety reasons.
Departures in high season
In high season the operator runs about 40 amphibian departures a day across four boats, against about 10 Zodiac departures. The boat tour company has carried 60,000 to 70,000 passengers annually in recent years.
Tour details at a glance
| Detail | Amphibian boat | Zodiac |
|---|---|---|
| Check-in | Shortly before departure | 30 minutes before departure |
| Check-in point | Not stated | Blue truck on the main parking area by the lagoon, beside road no. 1 |
| Tour length | Not stated separately | 75 minutes |
| Departures per day in high season | About 40, across four boats | About 10 |
| Minimum age | None; all ages including infants | Not stated |
| Cover | Roof | Open to spray |
Season and operating hours
Boat tours usually run from early May through October, with amphibian tours continuing to around mid-November, subject to weather and ice.
| Period | Operating hours |
|---|---|
| May | 10:00–17:00 |
| June to September | 09:00–19:00 |
| October to mid-November | 10:00–17:00 |
Kayaking on the lagoon is a summer activity.
Boat tours depend on weather and ice and can be cancelled on safety grounds, particularly at the edges of the season.
Safety gear and rules on the ice
Both tours provide life jackets and a safety briefing. Zodiac passengers also receive full flotation suits worn over their clothing.
Zodiac passengers are advised to bring gloves, sunglasses and a hat, and to leave backpacks in the car or bus storage.
Seals and ice on the water
Seals can be seen basking on the blue-tinted icebergs year-round. In wintertime the fish-filled lagoon hosts a number of seals.
Reaching the departure point
The lagoon floats iceblocks right by highway 1, the Ring Road, and the lagoon where the boat tours depart is accessible from Road 1 all year.
Skaftafell National Park is 60 km from the boat tour site and Höfn is 80 km away.
Facilities and rules at the lagoon
A small café with refreshments and souvenirs is by the lagoon, with a veranda for relaxing.
Parking at the lagoon is charged via the Parka app, camping is not permitted, and drones need national park permission.
Boat tours on Fjallsárlón
Zodiac boat tours are also offered on nearby Fjallsárlón lagoon, about 10 km from Jökulsárlón.
Jokulsarlon boat tour questions
How long is a boat tour on Jökulsárlón?
The guided boat trip on the lagoon lasts 30-40 minutes, while the Zodiac boat tour lasts 75 minutes.
Which types of boat tour run on the lagoon?
You can take an Amphibian boat tour, a Zodiac boat tour, or go kayaking. Kayaking is a summer activity.
When do the boat tours run?
Boat tours usually run from early May through October, with amphibian tours continuing to around mid-November, subject to weather and ice. Hours are roughly 10:00–17:00 in May, 09:00–19:00 from June to September, and 10:00–17:00 from October to mid-November.
Can infants join the amphibian boat?
The amphibian boat has no minimum age and takes all ages, including infants.
Where does Zodiac check-in take place and when?
Zodiac check-in is at a blue truck on the main parking area by the lagoon, beside road no. 1, 30 minutes before departure. Amphibian check-in is shortly before departure.
What safety equipment is provided?
Both tours provide life jackets and a safety briefing. Zodiac passengers also receive full flotation suits worn over their clothing.
Can a boat tour be cancelled?
Boat tours depend on weather and ice and can be cancelled on safety grounds, particularly at the edges of the season.
How far are Skaftafell National Park and Höfn from the boat tour site?
Skaftafell National Park is 60 km from the boat tour site and Höfn is 80 km away.
Tours near Jökulsárlón
Related guides
Sources
- Glacier Lagoon Boat Tours | Visit South Iceland
- Glacier Lagoon Boat Tours | Visit Iceland
- The Lagoons of Vatnajökull Region | Visit Vatnajökull
- Zodiac Boat Tour - Ice Lagoon
- Jökulsárlón - Wikipedia
- Jokulsarlon Glacier Lagoon Zodiac Boat Tour: Full Guide
- Jökulsárlón Boat Tours: Zodiac vs Amphibian (2026 Guide)
- Booking - Jökulsárlón
- Jökulsárlón glacial lagoon | Visit South Iceland