Meeting Seals at Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon in Iceland｜The Gentlest Surprise of Winter

After leading tours for so many years, I’ve noticed that everyone’s reaction when they first stop at Jökulsárlón is always the same: First silence, then awe. The entire expanse of blue before your eyes is something no photo can truly capture. Ice chunks gently rotate and collide on the lake’s surface, producing a crisp sound like breaking glass. Every visit, the shapes are different, and the colors change with the wind, light, and temperature. But what really breaks everyone’s guard isn’t the ice— It’s the seal that suddenly pops its head out of the lake. - 🧊 The True Meaning of Jökulsárlón in Travel I often say: The Golden Circle is the beginning of getting to know Iceland, The South Coast waterfalls are about feeling power, And Jökulsárlón is where everyone truly understands Iceland’s “stillness.” The ice here breaks off bit by bit from the Vatnajökull glacier’s ice tongue, Possibly resting on the glacier for 700, 900 years, or even longer. When it drifts into the lake and then into the sea, we just happen to brush past it. Such encounters only happen in Iceland. - 🦭 Why Do Seals Stay Here? Many guests think seeing seals is just luck, But this is actually one of Iceland’s most reliable spots to see seals. The reasons are simple: ✔ There are small fish they love to eat underwater ✔ The lake surface is calm and safe ✔ Plenty of resting spots among the ice chunks ✔ The temperature difference between freshwater and seawater is better for diving Sometimes they lie on the ice to sleep, Sometimes they hide behind ice chunks to watch you, Young seals are very curious; if you crouch down to look at them, they’ll come closer. - 📍 Where Are Seals Most Likely to Be Seen? The following two spots have a high chance of sightings: ① The bay under the Jökulsárlón bridge When the water is calm, you can often see little seals pop up → dive → pop up again, Like playing “hide and seek.” ② The short river leading to the sea This river is the only path for ice chunks to enter the sea, Small fish gather here in large numbers, so seals often wait here patiently. ✨ Note: The chance of photographing seals in winter is higher than in summer! - 🧤 Jökulsárlón Is Very Cold in Winter! What to Wear? At least 5°C colder than the city wind chill. 🔸 Windproof jacket 🔸 Warm down coat 🔸 Gloves 🔸 Hat is a must 🔸 Waterproof shoes (ice near the lake melts water) If it’s windy that day, the lake shore feels extremely cold. - ⚠️ Pitfall Tips (Must Save) ❌ Don’t stand too close to the edge of the ice chunks (they can suddenly slip) ❌ Don’t try to get close to the seals; they are wild animals ❌ Don’t only look at the left side of the lake; seals often appear in the “right-side river channel” ❌ Don’t just shoot close-ups; remember to capture the atmosphere with “ice chunks + seals + distant mountains” ✔ When the wind shifts to southeast, the ice density increases, making it better for photos ✔ The light is gentlest between 2–4 PM ✔ The chance of capturing blue ice in winter is higher than in summer