Glacier Fjords Kayaking

Multi day kayaking with comfort

We realise that we're not all made for camping in the wilderness. Therefore, we decided to offer a more luxurious alternative where guests can enjoy the best sea kayaking that Iceland has to offer while staying in comfortable accommodation. We travel light since we don't have to carry camping and cooking gear and everything is a bit simpler in operation. That provides more time and energy for you to enjoy the stunning scenery and wildlife of the Hornstrandir Nature Reserve.

We stay in Hesteyri for one night, the small abandoned village, where the old doctor's residence will be our home. The next two nights we stay in the old farmhouse in Kvíar that stood empty for over 60 years until we rebuilt it. These houses have everything you need for a perfect stay off the grid. The sauna is available in the evenings to soothe sore muscles and if we’re lucky, the nearby Arctic Fox may come to say hello.

The kayaking itself provides amazing opportunities to see wildlife in its natural habitat. Sea birds, marine mammals and Arctic Foxes are plentiful, and we blend right in when we’re in our sea kayaks.

This trip is our medium difficulty trip, not quite as easy going as Wild Camp Discovery but not as difficult as Coastal Kayaking Adventure. This trip is suited to those with some experience. The longer distances require good strength and technique which takes some practice.

Included:

All food
Three nights' accommodation in comfortable houses
Ferry transfer to Hornstrandir and back
Kayaking gear (kayak, paddle, neoprene pants, dry top, spray skirt, life vest, paddling boots, paddling gloves and additional dry bags)
Professional guide

Not included:

Travel to and from Ísafjörður prior to and after the trip
Food on the first day until the trip departs
Personal medical insurance
Personal equipment and clothing

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.
2 to 3 pairs thick wool/synthetic socks.
Swim suit and towel for the sauna at Kvíar.
Light hiking shoes for strolls around the houses.
Sun glasses.
Sunscreen and after sun cream.
1 litre 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 Dry bags*
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 all 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. 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 definitely 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 safely negotiate the rocky shoreline. 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. Please select this option and select your size during the booking process. You can see the size chart here.