Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon Boat ToursJökulsárlón Tour with Boat Ride: Reykjavik Excursions Day Trip
This Jökulsárlón tour with boat ride is a 14.5-hour coach day from Reykjavik operated by Reykjavik Excursions and sold on Viator for $328 per person. The fare covers the bus, a guided tour in English and a boat trip of about 30 minutes among the icebergs, some of them more than 1,000 years old. The coach stops at Seljalandsfoss and at Diamond Beach after the lagoon. Groups run to 45 people and the operator lists the trip as carbon neutral in cooperation with Vaxa Technologies. This page sets out what the price covers, how the day runs and which travellers should look at a different Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon boat tour instead. Compare it with the other Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon boat tour.
About This Tour
Reykjavik Excursions runs this as a full-day bus trip along the South Coast with a stop at Seljalandsfoss waterfall. At Jökulsárlón a boat takes the group between drifting icebergs for roughly 30 minutes, and afterwards you walk the shore of Diamond Beach before the long drive back to Reykjavik.
Two booking options exist: one starting from the BSÍ Bus Terminal, where you must be present at least 15 minutes before departure, and one with port or hotel pickup in central Reykjavik that starts 30 minutes before departure. The listing does not state the departure time, the boat type or the exact time on site at the lagoon.
$328 per person, sold on Viator. Food, drinks and gratuities are extra.
14.5 hours door to door from Reykjavik.
BSÍ Bus Terminal in Reykjavik, at least 15 minutes before departure, or the port or hotel pickup option that starts 30 minutes before departure.
Up to 45 travellers with an English-speaking guide. Youth are 6 to 15 and adults 16 and over.
Included in the fare, about 30 minutes among the icebergs. The listing does not name the boat type.
No food is included, though it can be bought on the way. Cancel at least 24 hours before departure for a full refund.
Check Dates and Availability
The tour runs as a shared coach departure and places depend on the operator's calendar. Check live dates and the two pickup options below.
You'll confirm the exact date and time on the secure booking page.
Quick answer Price, duration and boat ride
This Jökulsárlón tour with boat ride costs $328 per person, lasts 14.5 hours and includes a boat trip of about 30 minutes among the icebergs.
Key takeaways
- The fare covers the bus, an English-speaking guide and the boat ride, but no food, see what the price actually covers.
- Be at the BSÍ Bus Terminal at least 15 minutes before departure or book the port or hotel pickup option.
- Want the same boat day for less? The Glacier Lagoon Boat Ride Day Trip costs $279 and also has the boat included.
- Compare every glacier lagoon boat tour on the site before you book.
What the Price Actually Covers
The listing on Viator states four inclusions and two exclusions. Everything else you buy yourself on the day.
Included in the $328
The inclusions are an approximately 30 minute boat tour among the icebergs, bus fare, a guided tour in English and a carbon neutral tour in cooperation with Vaxa Technologies. The listing does not name the boat type used on the lagoon, so do not assume an amphibian or a Zodiac from this page alone. Cancellation is free up to 24 hours before departure for a full refund.
- Approximately 30 minute boat tour among the icebergs
- Bus fare
- Guided tour in English
- Carbon neutral tour in cooperation with Vaxa Technologies
What You Pay for Yourself
Food and drinks are not included, though the listing says they are available to purchase. Gratuities are not included either. There is no hotel lunch, no set meal and no boat add-on fee here because the boat is already in the fare.
- Food and drinks, bought at stops or at the lagoon café
- Gratuities
- Warm layers, a hat, gloves and rain gear, which you bring yourself
How It Compares on Price
At $328 this is the priciest coach day on the site, with the boat in the fare and a port or hotel pickup option. The Glacier Lagoon Boat Ride Day Trip from BusTravel Iceland costs $279 and also has the amphibian boat included. The Jökulsárlón and Diamond Beach Day Trip from Icelandia costs $225 with the boat as an optional extra at an additional fee.
The figures come from the listings on Viator and GetYourGuide.
| Line | In the price | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Boat ride, about 30 minutes | Yes | Boat type not stated by the listing |
| Bus fare and English guide | Yes | Shared coach, up to 45 travellers |
| Port or hotel pickup | Yes, on that option | Starts 30 minutes before departure |
| Food and drinks | No | Available to purchase |
| Gratuities | No | At your discretion |
If the Boat Is the Main Draw
If a close-up boat ride matters most, two alternatives do it differently. The amphibian ticket at the lagoon costs 7,100 ISK (about $58) for adults aged 13 and over, and the Zodiac version costs 16,600 ISK (about $136) and runs 1 hour 15 minutes, getting closer to the ice than the amphibian boats. On this tour you get one 30-minute cruise with no choice of boat type stated, so read the day trips with the boat sold separately if you want control over that choice.
Sources: Vatnajökull National Park, prices, Jökulsárlón
Seljalandsfoss falls past a cave path at sunset. Photo: Diego Delso, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
What the Day Is Really Like
The listing describes the route rather than a minute-by-minute plan. Here is what it states and what you can expect between the stops.
Start at BSÍ or from Your Hotel
The terminal option meets at BSÍ Bus Terminal in Reykjavik, a short walk from the city centre, at least 15 minutes before departure. The port or hotel pickup option starts 30 minutes before departure from designated locations in central Reykjavik. The listing gives no departure clock time, so check your ticket.
Public transportation options are available near the terminal if you walk there.
The Drive East and Seljalandsfoss
The coach drives the South Coast past volcanoes, waterfalls, lava fields and black sand. The one named stop besides the lagoon and Diamond Beach is Seljalandsfoss. Jökulsárlón sits about 370 kilometres from Reykjavík, around 4.5 hours of driving each way, which is why the whole day runs 14.5 hours.
Plan on long stretches of sitting and use the rest stops the guide schedules.
Jökulsárlón and the Boat Ride
At the lagoon you board a boat for about 30 minutes between drifting icebergs, some over 1,000 years old, on Iceland's deepest lake. The listing does not state how much free time you get at the shore beyond the cruise, so treat the lagoon stop as one block of time. There is a café with sandwiches, lobster soup and cakes, plus toilets, if you have minutes to spare.
Diamond Beach and the Return
After the lagoon you walk the shore of Diamond Beach, the black sand strip just across the road where broken icebergs wash ashore and the waves polish them smooth. Keep at least 30 metres from the water and never turn your back on the ocean. The day then ends back in Reykjavik, with the return point and time not stated in the listing.
Who This Tour Rules Out
The listing is open about fitness and age, and the shape of the day itself sets limits. Check this list before you book.
The 14.5-hour Coach Day
This is a long day on a bus: 14.5 hours with the lagoon about 370 kilometres away, around 4.5 hours of driving each way. If that sounds too much in one day, a two-day option splits it, such as the 2-Day South Coast with Amphibian Boat at $590 with a night in an ensuite room, or the 2-Day South Coast with Boat and Hike at $698.07 which also adds a glacier hike.
Ages and Group Size
Youth are classed as 6 to 15 and adults 16 and over, so the listing sets no category for children under 6. Ask the operator before booking with a young child. Groups run to 45, a full coach, so you will not get a small-group feel.
If you want fewer people, the Small-Group Glacier Lagoon Kayaking trip caps the group at 6 for $149, and the Fjallsárlón Boat Tour and Glacier Hike limits it to 10.
Wheelchair Access and Weather
The listing states no wheelchair information, so contact the operator before booking if step-free access matters. The tour operates in cold weather conditions, and the operator recommends warm layers including a hat and gloves plus rain gear. Boat tours on the lagoon only run from about May to November, so in winter the boats do not sail and a winter visit means the shore only.
Late Arrivals and Fitness
The operator requires you at the BSÍ Bus Terminal at least 15 minutes before departure. The tour is listed as suitable for all physical fitness levels, and the boat and short beach walk need no special ability. Cancel at least 24 hours ahead for a full refund if your plans change.
Two small red boats pass icebergs with a glacier tongue behind. Photo: Eric Kilby, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Getting There and What to Add
This tour starts in Reykjavik, so the coach does the driving. If you would rather reach the lagoon yourself, here is the route, and here is what to add around it.
The Drive If You Go Yourself
Jökulsárlón is about 370 kilometres from Reykjavík, roughly 4.5 hours by road. Vík is 187 kilometres out, about 2.5 hours, and Kirkjubæjarklaustur 257 kilometres, about 3 hours 15 minutes. The stretch from Kirkjubæjarklaustur to Höfn runs about 205 kilometres with few fuel stops, only Freysnes and Fagurholsmýri, so fill up early.
Skaftafell is 327 kilometres from Reykjavík and only 43 kilometres from the lagoon.
Parking and the Café at the Lagoon
The Vatnajökull National Park fee for a car with 5 seats or fewer is 1,110 ISK (about $9), payable at machines in the lots or online through the Parka system. The fee is valid until midnight on the day you pay and a second fee-area visit the same date earns a 50 percent discount. The café serves sandwiches, lobster soup, cakes, pastries and hot and cold drinks, opens 09:00 to 19:00 from June to September, and has vegetarian and vegan options.
Add a Boat, a Beach or a Night
Driving on your own lets you pick your boat. The amphibian tour at the shore costs 7,100 ISK (about $58) for adults, lasts 30 to 40 minutes and runs May to November, and the Zodiac costs 16,600 ISK (about $136) for 1 hour 15 minutes from May to October, going closer to the icebergs. Diamond Beach sits just across the road with a 2 to 5 minute walk from parking, and mornings and evenings give the best light.
For a night nearby, see the guide to hotels near Jökulsárlón, and read how the lagoon formed in the guide to the Breiðamerkurjökull glacier. More background is on the homepage covering Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon boat tours.
Itinerary Step by Step
The listing names the stops but not the clock times, so the plan below uses phases and the durations the operator states.
-
Start
Meet at BSÍ or board at pickup
Be at the BSÍ Bus Terminal at least 15 minutes before departure, or wait at your central Reykjavik hotel or port pickup point, where collection starts 30 minutes before departure.
-
Then
South Coast drive and Seljalandsfoss
The coach heads east past volcanoes, waterfalls and lava fields, with a stop at Seljalandsfoss on the way. Jökulsárlón is about 370 kilometres from Reykjavík.
-
Next
Food
Food is not included, and the listing says food and drinks are available to purchase. The lagoon café also serves sandwiches, lobster soup and cakes if you prefer to eat there.
-
At the lagoon
Jökulsárlón and the boat ride
Board a boat at the lagoon for about 30 minutes between icebergs, some over 1,000 years old, on Iceland's deepest lake.
-
After the cruise
Diamond Beach
Walk the black sand of Diamond Beach just across the road from the lagoon, where waves polish stranded ice. Stay at least 30 metres from the waterline.
-
Last leg
Drive back to Reykjavik
The coach returns west. The full day runs 14.5 hours, so expect a late arrival back in the city. The return point is not stated in the listing.
Pros and Cons
An honest read of this listing against the other coach days on the site.
What we genuinely like
- The boat ride of about 30 minutes is in the $328 fare, so no on-site ticket purchase
- Port or hotel pickup in central Reykjavik is available as a booking option
- Rated 4.7 from 122 reviews on Viator
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels and listed as carbon neutral with Vaxa Technologies
The honest downsides
- At $328 it costs more than the $279 BusTravel day that also has the boat included
- 14.5 hours on a coach with the lagoon about 370 kilometres away each way
- Groups up to 45 make it one of the least intimate ways to see the lagoon
- The listing does not state the boat type, the departure time or the free time at the lagoon
- No food or drinks included, so budget for purchases on stops
Who it's NOT for: Travellers who want a small group, a stated boat type or a shorter day should look at the alternatives instead.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does this Jökulsárlón tour with boat ride cost?
It costs $328 per person on Viator, and the fare includes the bus, the guide and the boat ride. The cheapest day with the boat already in the ticket is the Glacier Lagoon Boat Ride Day Trip at $279.
How long is the boat ride on the lagoon?
The listing states approximately 30 minutes among the icebergs but does not name the boat type. The amphibian boats sold at the shore run 30 to 40 minutes, and the Zodiac runs 1 hour 15 minutes.
Where does the tour start?
Several options exist: the BSÍ Bus Terminal in Reykjavik, where you must be at least 15 minutes early, or a port or hotel pickup that starts 30 minutes before departure. The South Coast and Jökulsárlón Day Tour uses the same BSÍ terminal if you want a comparison.
Is food included on this tour?
No, food and drinks are excluded though they are available to purchase, and gratuities are also not included. The café at Jökulsárlón serves sandwiches, lobster soup, cakes and drinks if you would rather eat at the lagoon.
Can children join this tour?
Yes, youth are 6 to 15 and adults 16 and over, so the listing sets no category for children under 6 and you should ask the operator. For younger children, the 2-Day South Coast with Boat and Hike takes children from 0 to 12 in the child bracket.
What happens if the weather turns bad?
The listing does not state a cancel-if-bad-weather promise, so check the terms when booking, and boat trips on the lagoon can be affected by conditions. Boat tours generally run May to November and are not available in winter, so a winter visit means the shore only.
How does this compare with driving to the lagoon myself?
The lagoon is about 370 kilometres from Reykjavík, around 4.5 hours each way, plus a park parking fee of 1,110 ISK (about $9) for a small car and a boat ticket at the shore from 7,100 ISK (about $58). Read the guide to driving there yourself on the Jökulsárlón amphibian boat tour page for the shore-ticket option.
Prices, availability and terms are set by the operator and confirmed at checkout.
We may earn a commission if you book through one of our links, at no extra cost to you. Full affiliate disclosure