About this experience
Kayak around icebergs at a beautiful, secluded glacier lake and hike on a seldom visited mountain, in the shadow of Europe’s largest glacier.
Highlights
- Hike across a remote mountain to a spectacular viewpoint overlooking the glacier
- Experience the solitude and stillness of Icelandic nature; the way it should be
- Kayak around icebergs at a stunning glacier lake
What's included
- Kayak guide and instruction
- All the equipment needed for kayaking including boat, PFD, paddle, drysuit, water shoes
How to use
- Show Mobile Ticket
- At Redemption Counter
What to expect
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.
Things to note
- Hiking shoes
- Gloves
- Reusable water bottle
- Sunglasses
- Warm clothing
- Hat
- Snacks
- Outdoor clothing
- Packed lunch
Terms & conditions
The tour difficulty is rated moderate. Time kayaking is expected to be ~2 hours, and time spent hiking is expected to be ~ 2 hours including a stop for lunch.
The kayaking and hiking are performed at a relaxed pace, to be able to enjoy the surroundings. However, both are human-powered activities and therefore a base of good physical condition is required. The hiking area does not have marked trails, and the ground can be rocky and uneven with some uphill sections. The kayaking segment of the trip is done on flatwater and no previous experience is required; instruction will be given on site.
This tour is aimed at people who have experience hiking and spending time outdoors. It is not suitable for very unfit/overweight people.