When you know absolutely nothing about a country before you arrive, you’re in for all sorts of surprises — those you may expect and those you had no idea existed. When you’re heading to Iceland, you obviously expect to find ice even though I wasn’t sure that would be the case during summer. Without time to research what I wanted to do or see, I ended up relying on locals through Skype, Twitter and after I arrived, in person over coffee or introductions on the ground.
After about a month, I had taken in pretty much everything the country had to offer, from volcanoes, snowmobiling and lava to landscape hikes and thermal waters, yet I hadn’t yet seen or felt the “ice” of Iceland.
Less than a week before I was due to depart, I saw photos of a magical and breathtaking ice lagoon known as the Glacier Lagoon in the far east of the country and knew immediately I had to make it there before boarding a plane back to the states. It was a visceral feeling of sorts that is hard to describe, but the photos were so beautiful I found myself dreaming about “ice” for several nights before I headed southeast with my solo guide Guðmundur Sigurðsson (otherwise known as Gummi), who is co-owner of Gateway to Iceland, a boutique tour operator that specializes in personal and individualized trips. (I strongly recommend them)
Just before you reach the lagoon, you’ll pass Iceland’s biggest volcano, Oraefajokull glacier, which also has the highest peak of the island, Hvannadalshnjukur, at 6,950 feet (2119 meters).
The Jokulsarlon Glacier Lagoon is one of the most amazing natural wonders of Iceland and one of the most popular attractions for travelers to visit. The lagoon started to form in 1934 when the glacier started to retreat in the area. In 1956 the size of the lagoon was 4,5 square kilometers and in 1975 the lagoon had reached the size of 8 square kilometers. Today, the size of the lagoon is estimated to be around 25 square kilometers and it’s constantly getting larger as approximately 500 square meters of ice break off the glacier every year. Jokulsarlon is the deepest lake in Iceland with maximum depth of 260 meters in front of the glacier edge.
Jokulsarlon is located in the southeast part of Iceland, in the realm of Vatnajokull, roughly 379 kilometers east of Reykjavik and 78 kilometers west of the village Hofn. The lagoon lies along the major ring road so it’s easily accessible if you’re driving.
As soon as you arrive, you’re hit with unspoiled nature where huge icebergs calve off Vatnajokull, the largest glacier in Europe. Suddenly, you’re not hit with ice in all shapes and colors and they change as the sun changes or as clouds move in at a particular angle. It’s nothing short of magestic, surreal and overwhelmingly beautiful.
You can opt for larger boats or choose the more personalized Zodiac boats (my recommendation – it’s so worth it) since you’ll get closer to the ice and have a more personalized experience of the lagoon.
They’ll suit you up. I have requested purple suits for women but for now, you’ll go out with 6-8 people and be all dressed in red.
It is a small team effort and the Jokulsarlon Glacier Lagoon’s owner Inqvar Geirsson is originally from the area, which means he has firsthand knowledge of not just the lagoon but stories which give you a deeper understanding of the region overall.
Life is grand! The experience will move you to a place of gratitude and beauty. In other words, the ice had me at hello.
After you finish your spectacular ride, be sure to walk around. On foot, you’ll also be dazzled by the magestic ice formations right in front of your eyes and off in the distance.
More than once, I wanted to (and did) jump for joy! Do not miss this experience when you venture over to Iceland. Tell Inqvar and Karl I sent you and request one of them as your guide.
Below are a few videos I shot of my experience there with owner and guide Inqvar Geirsson.
For more on Iceland, check out Iceland section / Travel to Iceland / Traveling to Iceland. All photos Renee Blodgett.
Renee Blodgett is the Founder and Managing Editor of We Blog the World, a global travel, culture and lifestyle publication exploring the world through the lens of meaningful experiences, human connection and cultural depth. Having lived in 10 countries and traveled to 95, Renee has spent much of her life immersed in the people, traditions, landscapes and ideas that shape how we experience the world.
Since launching We Blog the World in 2007, she has written and produced extensive editorial coverage spanning boutique and luxury travel, culinary experiences, arts and culture, wellness, adventure, technology, spiritual traditions and transformative travel. Her work is rooted in the belief that travel is about more than where we go—it is also about what a place, culture or encounter awakens within us.
Renee brings more than three decades of experience across journalism, photography, media, brand strategy, technology, wellness and global storytelling. She has worked with companies and organizations around the world on brand positioning, communications, product launches, media strategy, speaker positioning and storytelling. Through Blue Soul Media, she works with authors, entrepreneurs, thought leaders and purpose-driven brands to clarify their message and expand their impact, which includes speaker coaching/training for high-profile stages such as TED and bringing authors’ work to market while retaining authors rights.
She is also the co-founder of Blue Soul Earth, an educational platform exploring consciousness, ancient wisdom, spirituality, healing and the intersection between science and the nature of reality. Renee is the producer and host of the award-winning Blue Soul CHATS, a conversational series bringing together leading voices in science, technology, consciousness, wellness and spirituality.
Her growing body of work also includes Blue Soul Living, which extends her interest in consciousness and well-being into the spaces we inhabit, exploring how intentional design, energy and environment can support greater harmony and connection.
Renee is the award-winning co-author of the bestselling Magdalene’s Journey and founder of the Magdalene Collection, inspired by women’s voices, stories and wisdom across cultures and generations.
A longtime photographer and storyteller, Renee has documented people, places and cultures around the world and produced photographic collections focused on destinations including the Galápagos Islands, London, South Africa, Rome and Ecuador. She also co-founded Traveling Geeks, an international initiative that brought entrepreneurs, journalists, creators and technology leaders together with their counterparts in other countries to exchange ideas and explore innovation across cultures.
Renee’s work has been recognized by Forbes, the United Nations and others for her influence in media and social storytelling. Across her work in travel, media, consciousness and culture, a common thread remains: curiosity about the world, the stories that connect us and the ways meaningful experiences can change how we see ourselves and one another.
