Reykjavik Excursions · Reykjavík, BSÍ terminal
The same long coach day from Reykjavík as the cheaper Reykjavik Excursions trip, with one change: a 30-minute boat ride among the icebergs is booked for you. Pick it if the boat is the reason you're going.
Most day trips to Jökulsárlón stop at the shore and leave the boat to you. This one doesn't. Within the 1 hour 20 minutes at the lagoon you get an approximately 30-minute boat tour among icebergs that the listing puts at 1,000 to 1,500 years old. The listing photos show the yellow amphibian boats, which drive off the beach and into the water; on board, a guide explains the lagoon and passes round a piece of ice to taste.
Everything else matches the Reykjavik Excursions day trip without the boat: a coach of up to 45, a 7:30 am start at BSÍ, Hvolsvöllur, 25 minutes at Skógafoss, lunch at Freysnes, 15 minutes on Diamond Beach, dinner in Vík and Seljalandsfoss on the way home. Expect to be back around 10:30 pm.
Is the extra $143 worth it? Bought direct, the amphibian ride is ISK 7,100 per adult in 2026, according to the boat operator's own site, so you pay a premium for having it settled. What you gain is certainty: no queue, no worrying that the boat runs late and the coach leaves. What you lose is free time, since half an hour of the lagoon stop is on the water. The boats run from May to about 15 November, so plan this trip inside that window.
From the BSÍ terminal, or from your pickup point if you chose that option.
A 20-minute break, then 25 minutes at Skógafoss.
A lunch stop near Skaftafell at your own cost.
About 30 minutes on the boat among the icebergs, the rest on the shore.
The black-sand beach across the bridge.
Dinner in Vík, then Seljalandsfoss and the drive home.
★★★★★This was a very cool experience with the glacier lagoon boat tour. Despite the rain, the tour pushed through and it wad beautiful to see the glaciers and be able to touch an 800 year old ice!! Definitely worth it.
★★★★★Our guide, Chris, gave detailed information and history about every venue we visited. [...] The time for each spot was just right. We enjoyed the boat trip on the glacier lagoon most.
★★★★★Long day but the lagoon is worth it if you have not seen glaciers and icebergs. The waterfalls are also amazing.
★★★★★Well organized trip. Good combination of sceneries. The driving was smooth and comfortable. The tour guide provided good info and told many stories.
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An approximately 30-minute tour among the icebergs, which matches the amphibian boat (30 to 40 minutes on the water). The zodiac lasts about 1 hour 15 minutes and is not part of this trip. Our boat tour guide explains the difference.
If being on the water matters, yes. Bought on site it costs ISK 7,100 per adult in 2026, so most of the $143 difference is that ticket plus the certainty of a seat. If you're happy on the shore, take the trip without the boat.
No. The amphibian boats run from May to about 15 November. In winter you still see icebergs and Diamond Beach, but there's no boat. See our winter guide.
About 14.5 hours. One guest left at 7:30 am and was back at the hotel at 10:30 pm.
Ready to book
The long day from Reykjavík with a 30-minute boat tour among the icebergs already booked.
Glacier Lagoon & Diamond Beach Day TripThe best-rated coach day to the lagoon: 1 h 20 min at Jökulsárlón, Diamond Beach, Skógafoss and Seljalandsfoss.★ 4.7 · 14.5 hours · from $185
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