FULL DAY

GLACIER KAYAK AND MOUNTAIN HIKE

This tour takes you kayaking and hiking at Heinabergslón, an iceberg-filled lake which shares a valley with its namesake glacier, Heinabergsjökull. After paddling around majestic icebergs and crossing the lake, we will land the boats at its southern end and hike to a spectacular viewpoint on the nearby mountain, Hafrafell.

PRICE

29900 ISK

TRIP LENGTH

5-6 hours

DIFFICULTY

Moderate

MAX GROUP SIZE

6

DISTANCE KAYAKING

~5 km

DISTANCE HIKING

~5 km

Hafrafell is cut off from any road access by a river, two lakes and a glacier, meaning that the only access to this mountain is by kayak or by crossing the glacier. As a result, this special place is completely free from human influence; a place where nature has been allowed to roam freely. Witness first-hand the rocky, barren land which emerges from under a melting glacier and see how this develops into mossy pastures where reindeer feed.

The meeting point for this tour is Smyrlabjörg Hotel. We begin the trip with a short briefing on the weather conditions and what to expect, before departing in our 4x4 vehicle towards the glacier. The journey will take approximately 20 minutes, driving mainly on a gravel road, before a short walk brings us to the edge of the lake. We then inflate the boats and off we go!

We will kayak for ~1,5 hours, exploring the glacier lake and finding a path between the icebergs. We paddle at a relaxed pace so as to fully appreciate the magnificent surroundings.

After exploring the lake, we will land at its southern end at the foot of the island mountain. Here, we will take off the drysuits, put on our hiking boots and walk the mountain trail to a beautiful viewpoint overlooking an outlet glacier which descends from the Vatnajökull ice cap. Our hiking route takes us close to the glacier, through land which was under the ice less than 20 years ago. After hiking for 1-2 hours, at a leisurely pace, we return to our boats and paddle back to the car.

How difficult is this trip?

This trip consists of 1.5 - 2 hours of kayaking, followed by 1.5 - 2 hours of hiking. You will be expected to carry your boat and paddle from the car to the shore of the lake (approx. 200m). There is no maintained hiking trail; you should be confident hiking over rocky/uneven ground with short sections uphill.  

Kayaking experience is not required: instruction will be given on site. 

This trip is aimed at active people who have some experience hiking outdoors. It is not suitable for very unfit/overweight people.  

About the boats

We use MRS Nomad packrafts as our watercraft. These are the lightweight (~4kg), inflatable kayaks which make this trip possible: the older generation of heavy inflatable kayaks make hiking long distances impractical, and therefore it is only relatively recently that journeys like this become accessible. They are designed for maximum performance on flatwater, perfect for our use on the numerous glacier lakes of south-eastern Iceland

WHAT’S INCLUDED?

  • Professional glacier and kayak guide

  • Transportation in a 4x4 vehicle to the trailhead

  • Kayaking equipment: boat, drysuit, PFD, paddle, water shoes

WHAT SHOULD I BRING?

  • Warm clothes including two pairs of warm socks! 

  • Hiking boots

  • Hat and gloves

  • Sunglasses

  • Water and snacks

  • Phone or camera


WHERE WILL YOU MEET US?

 

The meeting point for this tour is at Hotel Smyrlabjörg .

Click here for directions

Hotel Smyrlabjörg is located on route 1 approximately midway between Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon and Höfn.

After turning off route 1, the parking area will be on your right just before you reach the hotel.

  • If weather conditions make the proposed route unsafe, then we may have to cancel the trip- in which case a full refund will be provided. We will always do our best to offer an alternative option when possible. 

  • Short answer: Yes! However whilst kayaking there is always a risk of electronics getting wet due to splashes from the paddle.  

    With this in mind: if you have a waterproof phone, then only bringing this is the simplest option for most people. There is a pocket on the PFD to store it, which allows easy access whilst paddling. If your phone is not waterproof, or you would like to bring a camera, we would advise bringing a dedicated drybag or waterproof phone case. 

  • Yes. This is a full day tour, so we will definitely find a nice place to stop to eat. The length of time we stop for will depend on the weather and the energy of the group.

FAQ

  • The difficulty of this tour is rated moderate/challenging. This is a full day tour where it is expected to spend 7 hours outdoors, hiking and kayaking. Therefore, it is recommended to have a good basic level of fitness to take part in this tour. For example, if you have experience doing day-hikes of >10km with a backpack then this tour will not be too difficult. As the longer portion of this trip is kayaking, if you are a very experienced kayaker then the requirements for overall fitness can be reduced a little.  

  • Yes. We paddle on flatwater; the boats are very stable and therefore this trip is suitable for first time kayakers. Paddling instruction will be given by your guide. 

  • Yes. Our boats have a maximum capacity of 120kg and we have drysuits up to size XXL. Due to the water temperature, drysuits are essential for safety and if you cannot fit comfortably inside the drysuit then you will not be able to participate in the tour. Get in touch with us via email or phone if you need any clarification regarding this