Private Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon & Plane Wreck Tour: A Review

Alright, you are thinking about witnessing some jaw-dropping scenery in Iceland, right? The Private Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon & Dakota Plane Wreck Tour might be it. I took the trip myself not that long ago and so I thought I’d share what I thought, what went down, and whether I reckon it’s worth your money and, most importantly, your time. I want to give you the real lowdown. You see, many tours promise you the moon and the stars, yet a lot of the time you end up just a little bit underwhelmed. This ain’t going to be one of those. We’re getting proper into it!

Why Private? Getting Personal with Iceland’s Wonders

Ok, so why even think about going private? It’s pretty tempting to squeeze into a huge bus to cut costs, yeah? Thing is, a private tour brings a personal touch. That matters when you are talking about natural spectacles. A smaller group means more time to really soak in the view. With those big buses, they tend to have super fixed schedules. With a private gig, it’s more flexible. You fancy spending an extra half-hour gawking at a chunk of ice floating serenely past you? You probably can! A tour guide is also more accessible to answer all your random queries, and let me tell you, you will have them.

Then too, picture this: It’s you and yours truly versus a crowd of people that want that perfect Insta shot? You won’t need to fight for photo spots. The feeling is way more calm, allowing a person to truly appreciate the unbelievable quiet and stillness some sections of Iceland hold. Getting away from those big, noisy packs seriously helps that a ton. This is especially crucial at a place like Jökulsárlón, where a big part of its magnetism stems from its stillness and majestic calmness.

Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon: A Symphony of Ice

So Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon is truly something. To be honest, you have most likely already seen the pictures, right? Seeing is believing, though. The lagoon happens to be filled with icebergs that broke away from Breiðamerkurjökull glacier. It is really like observing a slowly turning exhibit of icy sculptures. The light hits the icebergs so very differently. They range from intense, vibrant white to mesmerising hues of aquamarine, and quite often a streak of deep black coming from volcanic ash.

What surprised me very much was the soundscape. As the icebergs bump gently into one another, they give off low groans. Add in the calls of arctic terns wheeling overhead, and all of a sudden you have a naturally composed piece of music, and it echoes off in all directions. A bunch of seals are also swimming about. They were poking their heads above the surface, seemingly nonchalant, and checking out us weird-looking tourists.

Seals and Stories: More than Just Ice

Seeing seals frolic amongst the icebergs basically made the spot more awesome, obviously. So the guide on our private tour had amazing tales, too. Local stories, facts about the glacier’s history, also its gradual shrinkage thanks to changing conditions. Turns out, there’s real significance to it.

You may not know that the lagoon wasn’t there not that long ago. It has emerged because the glacier’s edge has melted. A pretty poignant sign of our changing climate. Stories add layers to what you are witnessing with your eyeballs, I figure. And having someone to relay those tales directly to you means so much.

Dakota Plane Wreck: A Photographer’s Dream

Right then, let’s go check out the Dakota Plane Wreck. Now, this location can feel almost other-worldly. The US Navy Douglas Dakota DC-3 crashed way back in 1968. All those onboard fortunately survived, yet the plane was simply abandoned right there. It sits now in the stark black sands of Sólheimasandur beach. To get there, one must either take a moderately lengthy walk or catch one of the shuttles available there (the private tour handles these kinds of logistics so no worries there!).

You may well have seen it used as an interesting backdrop in heaps of photo shoots, maybe film work. Standing near it, that old airplane carcass offers quite the feeling. The black sand stretches every single place, and all you are left with, so it would appear, is just this lonely, disused aircraft. It’s bleak, definitely. But the starkness has beauty, I figure. It tells a kinda silent story of time and isolation.

Photographing the Wreck: Tips and Tricks

Are you aiming to snap some pictures? Bring all your lenses, especially that wide-angle thing! Weather there might well change seriously fast. That said, that could give you an edge! I find the dynamic light there made the entire spot even more sensational, so too its photo prospects. Morning or later evenings provide gentler lighting and fewer people, generally.

Take photos all around it. Capture it from ground level, high up… use those shadows. You might wish to play with those desolate vistas too. Stick your subject a little way off the airplane wreck to make a story involving both land, air, plus of course isolation.

What to Expect on the Tour

So, what exactly occurs on this kind of tour? Basically, these could often change. You should expect that your provider should bring you, without delay, and in style, from the Reykjavik area to both the Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon and Sólheimasandur beach. A great number of the trip providers also have a few sneaky, awesome locations to reveal on the route, so that’s a bonus!

Tours regularly run for upwards of fourteen hours, you could assume. Therefore getting comfortable is going to make such a change in what it feels like. A benefit that’s definitely going to go along with picking a private ride means you get a say over heat management, those music tracks along your car, even your own bladder breaks. Basically. Also, it just could have free wi-fi too!

Comfort is Key: Dress Accordingly

Iceland’s known weather can switch right up. Bring several layers, naturally. Waterproofs would possibly become handy given the likelihood of the spray created by glaciers at the lake plus of that North Atlantic on the airplane beach’s shoreline. The footwear is significant way too: Go for strong mountain boots especially given there might potentially be slick pieces all-round.

Furthermore, I have heard from those travellers which unfortunately overlook stuff so fundamental, only to later feel they had become unable give those gorgeous locations their time for the exact sake that they felt uncomfortable.

Is the Private Tour Worth It? Weighing the Pros and Cons

Is it that valuable shelling out so much over getting regular trip instead? You could feel you get more out of using every single dollar a little better by getting a normal trip to begin. Still. I believe for some persons (particularly the ones in which desire things calm and peaceful). Also to take those special Instagram photos without having that photobomber that keeps springing right up? Those are really going bring this to life that whole lot better.

Getting smaller party will obviously have something to do with feeling calmer on that vacation. Moreover with more comfort. Even your ride, meals plus loos breaks are potentially all to get managed through that vacation you’ll simply.

Consider what it should potentially suggest with respect that entire journey. Are things so special with what’s happening or do some others also affect how exactly this will affect the group.

Final Thoughts: A Memorable Icelandic Experience

Therefore you get ready for it? I really am going to indicate doing it to get down towards glacier and planes with regard seeing what could make stuff truly unforgettable around beautiful Iceland.

It’s simply something amazing with seeing the wonder with what exists also feeling it from there up on land by just becoming up shut with everything with zero interferences at almost everything what comes along with the planet when being viewed through up closed and special trips such similar too just what you get down below.