FULL DAY

GLACIER KAYAK AND MOUNTAIN HIKE

Price: 29.900 ISK

Trip Length: 5-6 Hours

Difficulty: Moderate

Max Group Size: 6

Time Kayaking: 1,5-2 hours

Time Hiking: 1,5-2 hours

Kayak around icebergs at a beautiful, secluded glacier lake and hike a seldom visited mountain, in the shadow of Europe’s largest glacier. 

This tour combines kayaking and hiking in an off-the-beaten-path adventure. We use packrafts (lightweight inflatable kayaks) which gives us ultimate flexibility in designing amazing expeditions on land and water, without the constraints of heavy, plastic kayaks. Paddle around ancient icebergs and hike across untouched land in this carefully crafted showcase of the best Vatnajökull National Park has to offer.  

The meeting point for this tour is Hotel Smyrlabjörg. 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 cross to the far side and land the boats at the foot of a mountain. After taking off the drysuits and putting on our hiking boots, we will 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. 

The land here is cut off from the road by two lakes, a river and a glacier, and therefore we are guaranteed complete solitude: this is a chance to hike across a newly formed post-glacial landscape which few people have the privilege to visit. 

The hiking portion of this trip will take 1.5 - 2 hours, including a stop for lunch. We will then continue paddling across the lake, where we will land the boats and hike 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, water shoes

WHAT SHOULD I BRING?

  • Warm clothes including
    two pairs of warm socks! 

  • Hiking boots

  • Phone or camera 

  • Hat and gloves 

  • Bottle of water / Snacks 

  • Sunglasses (optimists only! )

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

WHERE WILL YOU MEET US?

 

The meeting point for this tour is at Smyrlabjörg Hotel.

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.

FAQ

  • 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 wherever possible. 

  • The difficulty of this tour is rated moderate. This is a long tour where it is expected to spend at least 5 hours outdoors, hiking and kayaking. Therefore, it is recommended to have a good basic level of fitness to take part in this tour. This tour is aimed at active people who have experience hiking outdoors. This trip is not suitable for very unfit/overweight people.

  • 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 110kg 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.

  • Ideally we want clothes suitable for hiking, which will also fit comfortably under the drysuit when we are paddling. This usually means two layers top and bottom (including thermal underwear), with an extra wind/waterproof jacket for hiking. 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. 

  • Yes. This tour lasts 5 - 6 hours, 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.

  • 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.