Kayak the Glacial Fjords of Iceland

This trip is a medium-difficulty trip and is suited to those with some experience in kayaking. The longer distances require good strength and technique which takes some practice. If you are looking for something a little easier, consider the 'Kayak & Wild Camp the Icelandic Coast' trip.

You fly into Reykjavic (the capital city of Iceland) and will arrive in Keflavik International Airport (KEF) about 40 minutes away from the city centre. From there, you will need to head to Reykjavik domestic airport (RKV) for a connecting flight to Ísafjörður. You can take the Fly-Bus between the airports and most of the time you can continue on the same day. From this domestic airport, there are 2-3 daily 40-minute flights to Isafjordur. Check out Air Iceland Connect for schedules and special offers. You can also rent a car and drive to Isafjordur. The drive, over mountain passes and through fjords is an adventure in itself! It’s about 440-500 km depending on which route you take. A new road via Arnkötludalur opened in 2009 which completes the asphalted pathway the whole way, and kills the old myth of bad roads in the Westfjords! The drive will normally take you 5-6 hours. A new tunnel opened in September 2020 under the infamous mountain pass between the fjords of Arnarfjörður and Dýrafjörður. That tunnel makes it much easier to travel through the Westfjords all year round and shortens the route up the west coast. For accommodation in Reykjavik, there are many options of hotels and guesthouses that we can book for groups. Please ask us for individual bookings. We strongly recommend you spend a few extra days visiting the West Iceland Fjords and other parts of Iceland. We’re happy to help you arrange a few days in the area or give you good tips about exciting things to do while in Iceland.

The minimum age to join this trip is 16 years, with a responsible adult.

Remember the less you bring, the easier it is. There’s plenty of space in the kayaks if you pack wisely. - Thermal base layers, at least two sets of tops. - Wool or fleece thermal mid layer. - Hiking pants. We don’t recommend cotton as it is cold and takes a long time to dry. - Waterproof and breathable pants and jacket for hiking onshore. The lighter – the better. - Wool/fleece hat. - One pair of warm gloves for camp. - 2 to 3 pairs thick wool/synthetic socks. - Light hiking shoes for strolls in and around camp. - Sun glasses. - Sunscreen and after sun cream. - 1 liter water bottle. - Personal medical kit i.e. band-aids, throat lozenges, lip salves, sea-sickness tablets etc. Don’t forget your personal medication which you may need (e.g. Asthma inhaler, even if you don’t always need it). - 2 x Drybags* - Binoculars are nice to have for watching wildlife. (optional) - Don’t forget your camera! *We use dry bags to keep our personal gear dry, especially sleeping bags. We have a small selection of dry bags which you may use but you should bring at least two of your own. Test it to make sure that all of your gear fits inside! We supply all paddling gear and clothing. However, feel free to bring your own if you have it available, your personal gear is guaranteed to fit perfectly and may be more comfortable. If you are bringing your own gear; we recommend good dry pants and top with rubber cuffs or at least a 3mm neoprene wetsuit with a windproof top. A full dry suit is best but can be pretty warm and cumbersome on sunny days but great to have if things get rough. Footwear should preferably be neoprene boots with ankle support and thick soles to negotiate the rocky shoreline safely. Neoprene gloves, mittens or pogies are great at keeping your hands warm. We use neoprene wetsuits on our trips. However, you can upgrade to a dry suit if you would prefer.

We are typically arriving in Ísafjörður around 1 pm. However, weather conditions may occasionally necessitate rearranging the tour itinerary, potentially leading to a later arrival in Ísafjörður. For this reason, we highly recommend booking accommodations in Ísafjörður or nearby towns for the night after the trip, ensuring you have flexibility in your travel plans.

Of course, we realize that we’re not all made the same and have different needs and desires. We try our best to cater to your needs. Please let us know ahead of time if you have any requirements so that we can plan the food accordingly. You can indicate this on your Trip Form under your booking. For vegan and gluten free, we charge an extra fee of approx. 35€ (5000 ISK) which will be paid directly to us in the office on the first day.

We meet at 5 pm on the evening before departure at our base in Mávagarður C (grey building) for a briefing where we meet each other, answer any questions and make final preparations. This shouldn’t take longer than an hour. If you’re unable to be here the day before departure, please let us know in advance.

You don’t need to be able to roll your kayak Greenlandic style. It’s very rare that people capsize on multi-day trips as the boats are loaded with gear and very stable. We recommend that people take a weekend course to refresh their skills and learn simple self-rescue techniques. The more prepared you are, the more you will enjoy the trip.

The Kvíar Lodge offers cozy accommodations with a total of 5 bedrooms. Two of these rooms feature bunk beds, while another two rooms have two single beds each. Additionally, there is one room with a double bed. We prioritize providing guests with private accommodations whenever possible. However, depending on the group size, it may not always be feasible to guarantee complete privacy. Our guides work diligently to ensure convenience for all guests, often assigning couples to private rooms. Facility-wise, the lodge includes one indoor toilet and one shower. There is also an outhouse available on the premises.

We use plastic sea kayaks. We have both single and tandem kayaks available. We highly recommend using tandem kayaks for our multi-day trips as they are faster, more stable, hold more gear and are a lot more social than the singles! Tandem kayaks are not only for beginners, in fact, experienced kayakers will know that tandems are a better choice for longer trips. However, if you have experience then of course the single kayaks are available.

The minimum groups size is 2, the maximum group size is 8. We typically have group sizes of 6.

Our meals offer a taste of Icelandic cuisine and are designed to keep you energized throughout the day. For dinner, we typically alternate between Icelandic lamb and fish, complemented by a choice of two sides. Lunch consists of sandwiches prepared by guests during breakfast, along with trail mix for a quick and satisfying meal on the go. Breakfast is a hearty buffet featuring bread, spreads, meats, cheese, yogurt, and cereal. Some of our guides like to treat guests to delicious pancakes for breakfast as well. Please let us know ahead of time if you have any requirements so that we can plan the food accordingly. For vegan and gluten-free, we charge an extra fee of approximately 35€ (5000 ISK), which will be paid directly to us in the office on the first day.

We provide the following gear; - Kayak - Paddle - Neoprene pants - Dry top - Spray skirt - Life vest - Paddling boots - Paddling gloves - Additional dry bags (we recommend also bringing your own)

The Meeting point for our kayaking trips is in Mávagarður C, close to the Eastern harbour. We meet at 5 pm on the evening before departure for a briefing.

This trip is perfect for those who love kayaking but are not into camping. You don't need to bring a sleeping bag or mattress. The location in which we stay has beds with mattresses, blankets and bed sheets. Feel free to bring your own if you would prefer though.

Although we usually stick with the described itinerary, this is only a guide and is subject to change depending on the weather, sea conditions and the ability of the guests.

Gamla Guesthouse E-Mail: Lobby@gistihus.is Phone: +354 456-4111 Address: Mánagata 5 400 Ísafjörður Hotel Isafjördur E-Mail: Lobby@hotelhorn.is Phone: +354 456-4111 Address: Silfurtorg 2 400 Ísafjörður The Ísafjörður Inn Phone: +354 776-3131 Address: Sundstræti 43 400 Ísafjörður There are several accommodations situated in the charming little towns of Flateyri and Sudureyri, just a 20-minute drive away from Ísafjörður.