Fjallsárlón and Jökulsárlón are different lagoons
Fjallsárlón is the lagoon below Fjallsjökull, around 10 km from Jökulsárlón. That distinction matters when reserving an activity: a meeting point at one lagoon is not the departure point for a trip on the other. Treat Fjallsárlón as a destination with its own shore facilities and guided activities, rather than another name for the larger itinerary stop.
The two choices here serve different interests. One combines a boat trip on Fjallsárlón with a certified guided walk on Fjallsjökull. The other is a guided kayak outing on Fjallsárlón. For the neighbouring destination, the Jökulsárlón overview brings together shore visits, boating and local kayaking.
Our picks: activities at Fjallsárlón
Combine a boat ride with a certified guided glacier hike, or choose a guided kayak trip. Parking is included in the boat-and-hike package but costs extra for kayaking.
Hand-picked tours, booked through GetYourGuide. Prices are indicative starting prices in euros (as of October 2026). Tap a tour for live availability and the current price in your currency.
Fjallsárlón boat and Fjallsjökull hike
- Experienced and Certified Glacier Guides
- Free Parking on location
- Crampons and helmets
Combine a boat trip on Fjallsárlón, a separate lagoon from Jökulsárlón, with a guided glacier hike. Boat operation depends on conditions.
Check availability →
Guided kayaking on Fjallsárlón
- Drysuit and lifejacket
- Kayak and paddle
Paddle Fjallsárlón, a separate lagoon from Jökulsárlón, with a guide. Parking is extra.
Check availability →Fjallsárlón by boat, on foot or by kayak
Choose a boat trip combined with a certified glacier walk, or guided paddling on Fjallsárlón. The meeting points and parking inclusions differ.
Boat trip and certified glacier hike
The four-hour combination includes a boat trip on Fjallsárlón and a glacier hike on Fjallsjökull with experienced, certified glacier guides. Crampons, helmets and harnesses are included, along with a warm flotation jacket for the boat portion. The meeting point is at the local boat-tour base in Öræfi, rather than Reykjavík.
This is the choice for visitors who want both a lagoon perspective and a guided experience on the glacier. The four hours describe the combined excursion; they are not four hours afloat. Enter glaciers only with a certified guide. Moving ice and hidden crevasses make an independent attempt a different and unsafe undertaking, even when a glacier appears accessible from the shore.
Guided kayaking on Fjallsárlón
The kayak outing lasts 1.5 hours and includes a guide, kayak, paddle, lifejacket and drysuit. Its meeting point is the Fjallsjökull glacier viewpoint. Travel to that location is your own responsibility, so use the actual arrival instructions rather than heading to the boat base by habit.
Kayaking is the relevant option if you want to paddle instead of combining a boat with glacier walking. It takes place on Fjallsárlón. The separate Jökulsárlón kayaking guide concerns the other lagoon and should be used when that is the destination you intend to book. Keep the place name attached to the activity throughout your planning.
Local Zodiac trips and check-in
The local classic Zodiac programme describes around 75 minutes overall, with typically about 45 minutes on the water. Preparation and the walk to the boat account for part of the overall experience. The operator gives a minimum age of 5 years, with children under 14 accompanied by an adult, and asks visitors to check in at least 30 minutes before departure.
This local boating information helps explain how a lagoon outing is organised. It is separate from the four-hour combined activity and from the kayak product. The classic programme lists an April to November season, subject to the actual departure and conditions. Warm flotation clothing and a lifejacket belong to its boating arrangements; follow the instructions supplied for the specific activity you choose.
Access, facilities and parking
The boat operator gives a driving guideline of 10 minutes from Jökulsárlón to Fjallsárlón. Allow additional time for finding your meeting point, parking and check-in rather than placing departures back to back. Toilets and a cafeteria are part of the Fjallsárlón visitor area. Plan their use around your arrival without relying on overnight opening.
Parking at the location is included in the boat-and-glacier combination. The kayak product excludes the parking fee. Keep that difference attached to the product; do not apply the Jökulsárlón parking tariff to Fjallsárlón. The arrival guide covers the wider journey to the lagoon region and the separate Jökulsárlón parking arrangements.
Shore visits and responsible movement
The B3 Breiðármörk route between the lagoons is a demanding 15 km walk with a published duration of 4 to 5 hours. It is a walking objective in its own right, rather than a quick connection between activity check-ins. Choose your day around either a guided departure or an appropriately planned walk, with conditions and your own ability in mind.
Follow marked paths, keep vehicles on designated roads and carry litter away. Icebergs can overturn or break, so stay off floating ice. A close view of the glacier is a reason to follow the guide’s instructions, not to move closer independently. When deciding on the month, compare the activity windows on the seasonal planning page.
Questions before you go
Are both activities boat tours?
The combined outing includes a boat trip and a guided glacier hike. The other activity is kayaking on Fjallsárlón, with a paddle and kayak supplied.
Is parking included?
Parking on location is included in the boat-and-glacier combination. It is an additional cost for the kayak outing; the Jökulsárlón parking tariff should not be transferred here.
Can I continue onto the glacier by myself?
Enter the glacier only with a certified guide. Crevasses and moving ice require specialist judgement and equipment, including when the approach looks straightforward.