Nature
Fjallsárlón
Region: South IcelandCoordinates: 64.0229° N, 16.3978° W
Fjallsárlón is a glacier lagoon at the southern edge of Vatnajökull, fed by the Fjallsjökull outlet glacier, offering an icier, less-visited alternative to nearby Jökulsárlón with icebergs calving close to shore. Small-group Zodiac boat tours cruise among the floating ice, and add-on activities include glacier hikes, ice floating, and winter ice cave tours.
Plan the stop
- Who it suits
- All ages
- The lagoon shore suits all ages; boat and ice tours may have their own minimum-age or health requirements set by the operator at booking.
- Allow
- 1 hr
Accessibility
- Wheelchair · Partial
- A car park and viewing area near the lagoon shore are relatively level, but boat tours themselves are not wheelchair accessible.
- Limited mobility · Partial
- The shoreline viewing area is manageable for most visitors, though gravel and uneven ground surround the lagoon edge.
- Sensory · Full
- A dramatic but generally calm setting, quieter and with fewer crowds than Jökulsárlón.
- Cognitive · Full
- A straightforward lagoon visit with optional structured, guided boat tours.
Why it matters
Fjallsjökull has retreated markedly in recent decades, part of the broader retreat of Vatnajökull's outlet glaciers documented across southeast Iceland, and the lagoon has grown correspondingly as meltwater has collected behind the terminal moraine.