This glacier tour is operated by our friends at North Tides.

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 4×4 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.

How difficult is this trip?
This trip consists of 1.5 – 2 hours of kayaking and 1.5 – 2 hours of hiking. You will be expected to carry your kayaking equipment whilst hiking (~7kg). In places, 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 4×4 vehicle to the trailhead
• Kayaking equipment: boat, drysuit, PFD, paddle, water shoes

What you need to bring:

• Warm clothes including two pairs of warm socks!
• Hiking boots
• Hat and gloves
• Sunglasses
• Water and snacks
• Phone or camera

NORTH TIDE MEETING POINT is located at Hotel Smyrlabjörg. We recommend being there at least 20 minutes before departure time.

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.

This tour is operated by our local friends at North Tide. If you need to contact them:
+354 762 0296 – [email protected] – www.northtides.is

Cancellation and refund policies will be clearly outlined at the time of booking, as well as below. Please review these policies carefully before finalizing your booking, as cancellations may incur fees or restrictions as specified in your booking confirmation. The cancellation terms may vary depending on the payment method chosen.

Day tours (client cancellation):

• For cancellations more than 48 hours prior to departure: 95% refund.

• For cancellations less than 48 hours prior to departure: 0% refund.

Day tours (North Tides cancellation):

• North Tides reserves the right to cancel tours due to safety concerns or external factors e.g. poor weather conditions. In this case, a full refund will be provided.

• North Tides reserves the right to refuse participation of guests where safety concerns are present. This may include, but is not limited to, lack of the correct equipment or clothing, exceeding the weight limit for kayaks or PFDs, inability to follow instructions etc. This is at the discretion of the guide, whose decision is final.

• Alcohol and drug use is prohibited for the duration of the tours and guests under the influence can expect to be refused participation without refund.