A sign off the Ring Road indicates Fjallsárlón, where icebergs calve from Fjallsjökull and Zodiac tours cruise among the bergs. While not as immediately spectacular or visually arresting at first sight as Jökulsárlón, 10km further east, Fjallsárlón is one beautiful lagoon that often ends up being just as special (and just as picturesque if you get away from the main viewing areas). As crowds grow with each passing year at Jökulsárlón, Fjallsárlón is increasing in popularity as a smaller (around 3 sq km) alternative to its busy, larger (25 sq km) neighbor.
The best way to explore is with Fjallsárlón Glacial Lagoon Boat Tours (fjallsarlon.is; adult/child 10,500/5500kr), which offers 45-minute Zodiac trips among lagoon icebergs (April to October; minimum age five). The trail to the boat's departure point at the lagoon shore is gently intrepid, and there's also an intimacy to a tour on this lagoon – you don't have to travel far to reach the glacier snout and the lack of huge crowds is grand.
The same operators (with an office in the Fjallsárlón car park) also offer 3½-hour excursions to the stunning Ice Cave (adult/child 24,500/18,375kr) at the Breidarmerkurjokul glacier tongue, a four-hour glacier hike (per person 14yr & over 19,800kr), and longer overnight expeditions.
