Breiðamerkurjökull

Breiðamerkurjökull is the vast outlet glacier of Vatnajökull that calves icebergs into the famous Jökulsárlón glacial lagoon. While the lagoon rightly gets the headlines, the glacier itself — stretching back up to the main Vatnajökull ice cap — is an awe-inspiring expanse of crevassed blue-white ice that visitors can explore directly on guided tours.

Ice-walking tours depart from near the Jökulsárlón parking area and take groups directly onto the glacier surface, through narrow ice corridors and past towering seracs. Blue ice cave tours into the glacier’s interior are available in winter (November to March), revealing crystalline blue chambers sculpted by meltwater — among the most visually spectacular natural sights in Iceland.

Breiðamerkurjökull is adjacent to the Ring Road about 375 km from Reykjavík. Multiple operators run glacier tours year-round. The glacier terminus is not safe to walk on without a guide — all access to the ice should be with a certified glaciologist-led group. Ice cave tours are strictly seasonal and weather-dependent.