Jokulsarlon and Skaftafell: Planning Iceland's Glacier Coast
Photo note: Unless explicitly credited otherwise, the photos in this Iceland article are our original images from our September 27-October 6, 2024 Ring Road trip.
Aerial glacier-country landscape from our October 1 drone flight.
After the waterfalls and beaches of the South Coast, the southeast felt like a different Iceland. Around Skaftafell and Jökulsárlón, the landscape became glacial water, ice, dark volcanic surfaces, and wide open space. The change was so clear that this section felt like a new chapter of the trip rather than another stop on the same road.
Give the glacier coast time
We treated the glacier coast as more than a quick photograph between two campsites. The lagoon and nearby coast are obvious anchors, but the scale of the landscape is what makes the area memorable. Light changes quickly, wind can make a short walk feel demanding, and every parking area seems to reveal a different relationship between ice, water, and black sand.
Skaftafell and Jökulsárlón deserve protected daylight. A long transfer immediately afterward turns the area into a rushed checklist, especially in September and October when the usable day is shorter. If your itinerary has more than ten days, this is one of the sections where an extra night can improve the trip.
If you prefer a guided option, compare current glacier-lagoon and South Coast activities on Klook. Check the route, language, pickup point, and season before booking; a guided excursion is a different experience from having a camper van and moving at your own pace.
This section marked our transition from the busier South Coast to the quieter Eastfjords. Continue east with the full counter-clockwise itinerary, or start from the South Coast guide.