Kayak & Wild Camp the Icelandic Coast

You do need some basic kayaking experience to join this trip. However, even if your kayaking experience is limited but you do a lot of outdoor activities and consider yourself in good physical shape, you may still join. This is not a very technical sea kayaking trip (no surf landings, big swells or strong currents) and people with little experience but in good physical shape, normally do very well. We urge you though to practice paddling as much as you can before the trip. Wind can be strong in Iceland in general, so be prepared to paddle in windy conditions.

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.

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. - Sleeping bag rated to at least 0°C. Down is best since it packs smaller than synthetic. - Sleeping mattress. A thin inflatable one is best as it easily fits inside the boat. - 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 it is 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 also have sleeping bags and sleeping pads available to rent. Please select this option on the Trip Form.

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

We are typically arriving in Ísafjörður around 4 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.

Yes, we do offer two-person tents for accommodation. Solo travelers can typically stay in solo tents, but please inform us in advance due to limited availability. Alternatively, you’re welcome to bring your personal tent. While guests should bring their own sleeping bags and mattresses, we do provide rental options for sleeping mats (4000 ISK, approx. 27 EUR) and sleeping bags (4000 ISK, approx. 27 EUR) for added convenience.

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 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 4.

We provide a variety of meals to keep you fueled during your 2.5-day kayaking adventure. For breakfast, we offer a small selection including sandwiches, oatmeal, and fruits. During breakfast, guests also prepare their own sandwiches for lunch, which we supplement with trail mix, fruit, and a sweet snack like a cereal bar or chocolate bar. Dinner is a warm meal cooked on a gas stove inside our tents, offering a satisfying end to your day of paddling. Our priority is ensuring everyone is well-fed and energized for the journey, so rest assured that no one goes hungry during the trip.

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.

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 Isafjördur.

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.