HALF DAY
KAYAK ADVENTURE
Paddle around icebergs away from the crowds paddling at the foot of Europe’s largest glacier.
PRICE
19.900 ISK
TRIP LENGTH
3-4 hours
DIFFICULTY
Moderate
MAX GROUP SIZE
6
TIME KAYAKING
~1,5 - 2 H
This tour takes you kayaking one of the many beautiful and secluded glacial lakes that border the Vatnajökull ice cap. By using packrafts (lightweight inflatable kayaks), we are flexible and can choose the best location on any given day from a myriad of choices. Our maximum group size of 6 travellers gives you the space you need to truly appreciate the power of nature.
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 30 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!
The aim of this tour is to explore the glacier lake and enjoy the pristine, untouched nature. With this in mind, we keep the tour at a relaxed pace to allow you to fully take in the scenery. We will paddle for 1.5 - 2 hours, stopping once where possible to stretch our legs and get a view over the icebergs.
After paddling, we simply deflate our boats and walk the short distance back to the car, before returning to our starting point.
WHAT’S INCLUDED?
Professional glacier and kayak guide
Transportation in a 4x4 vehicle to the trailhead
Kayaking equipment: boat, drysuit, PFD, paddle
WHAT SHOULD I BRING?
Warm clothes including two pairs of warm socks!
Phone or camera
Hat and gloves
Bottle of water / snacks
Sunglasses ( optimists only! )
How difficult is the trip?
This trip consists of a short distance walking, followed by 1.5 - 2 hours of kayaking. You will be expected to carry your boat, paddle and PFD from the car to the shore of the lake (approx. 200m). The kayaking is done at a relaxed pace, so people in good shape will find the trip easy. However, because the whole trip is human-powered, very unfit people can expect to struggle.
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
WHERE WILL YOU MEET US?
The meeting point for this tour is at Smyrlabjörg Hotel.
At the main Jökulsárlón car park you will see a cafe, a building with toilets and a row of small food trucks. Behind the food trucks is an area for commercial vehicles (tour buses etc.). Our 4x4 vehicle will be parked in this area, marked with our company logo.
-
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. For this trip, rain is not usually a problem because we will be wearing drysuits. Wind, however, makes it difficult to control the boats and strong winds are usually the reason that we may cancel a trip. We will always do our best to offer an alternative option wherever 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.
-
Drysuits are fully waterproof with integrated socks and a watertight neoprene collar and wrist-cuffs. Therefore, we don’t need to wear any waterproof clothing under the drysuit. Instead, it is best to wear clothes that are warm and comfortable, such as woolen baselayers, fleece, wool jumpers or slim puffy jackets. Large/bulky clothing such as ski jackets should not be worn underneath as it will restrict movement. If in doubt, it is best to bring extra clothes to the meeting point and your guide will go over what is/isn’t required.
FAQ
-
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