The 13 Best Kayak Trips in Iceland

1.Kayaking on the Sólheimajökull Glacier Lagoon

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 421 reviews · 2 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $170Our pick

Meet your guide at Sólheimajökull’s parking lot, walk to the lagoon, and paddle a stable sit-on-top kayak among icebergs with the glacier ahead. Guides such as Sebastian, Fernanda, Daniella, and Thomas provide safety instruction, local stories, and photos. The tour lasts about 2.5 hours and suits beginners.

“What an awesome time! Fernanda was a wonderful guide. She gave lots of cool history and facts about the glacier and made sure I had a great time on the trip. Plus, they give you a dry suit and booties so you stay warm and dry the entire time.”

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2.Guided Kayaking Tour on the Glacier Lagoon

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 179 reviews · 3 hours · from $170

Join an English-speaking guide such as Sebastian, Fernanda, or Francesca for a gentle three-hour paddle on Sólheimajökull’s calm glacier lagoon. You’ll learn basic kayaking, wear a supplied dry suit, and steer a sit-on-top kayak around floating icebergs. Bring warm layers, a hat, and spare socks for the short walk over black rocks.

“Amazing time! So much fun, easy to maneuver, guide was informative! Do it!!!!”

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3.Grundarfjörður: Mt. Kirkjufell Daytime Kayaking Adventure

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 170 reviews · 2 hours · from $120

Paddle a stable sit-atop kayak along Grundarfjörður’s coast toward Seal Skerry, with views of Mt. Kirkjufell, seabirds, and seals. English-speaking guides such as Reda, Greg, Sony, and Kate provide instruction, local stories, dry suits, gloves, and a hot drink with cookies afterward. Expect 70 minutes on the water within a 2-hour outing.

“Thank you for the tour at Kirkjufell, we really enjoyed having Sony and Gregg as our guide's. The dry suits keep you warm and of course dry all the time, you will get gloves as well. If you have any experience with kayak you will have a fun time with nice explanations of the bay, the nature around and some insight in Icelandic culture. If you don't have any experience, still come, you are in best hands! The guides will make sure you are safe and able to enjoy the surroundings even if you can't keep up with the more experienced paddlers:). At the end of the tour there is…”

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4.Classic Kayaking Adventure by Mt. Kirkjufell

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 74 reviews · 2 hours (approx.) · from $120

Meet Vestur Adventures at Sæból 18 in Grundarfjörður for a roughly two-hour kayak trip beside Mt. Kirkjufell. Guides such as Kate, Sonny, Lea, and Tino provide dry suits, instruction, a small-group setting, and local stories. You may see seals or puffins, then warm up with hot chocolate and cookies.

“Great tour- the guides are knowledgeable and funny! You can tell they enjoy sharing the experience :)”

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5.Midnight Sun Kayaking Adventure by Mt. Kirkjufell

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 52 reviews · 3 hours (approx.) · from $155

Paddle Grundarfjörður’s bay beneath the midnight sun with Vestur Adventures, near Kirkjufell, Iceland’s famous arrowhead mountain. Your English-speaking guide supplies a warm drysuit, teaches beginners at an easy pace, and shares local history and wildlife notes. The small group, capped at 11, may spot seals, puffins, and seabirds before hot chocolate and cookies at the finish.

“Great suits, ended the tour with dry clothes and big smiles. Fun and accommodating tour guides. For all levels and very relaxing”

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6.Grundarfjörður: Midnight Sun Kayaking Adventure

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 29 reviews · 3 hours · from $155

Paddle for about two hours beneath Kirkjufell with local guides such as Sonny, Greg, and Reda. You’ll learn basic kayak handling, visit Seal Skerry, look for seals and birds, and see the mountain from the water. Dry suits, gloves, safety gear, and a warm drink are included.

“We had an unbelievably wonderful experience! The guides were great, the tour was fun and we even got to see a seal 😍”

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7.Stykkisholmur Sea kayak Day tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 27 reviews · from $99

From Stykkishólmur’s old harbor, you’ll learn sea-kayaking basics, suit up in provided gear, and paddle among the islands of Breiðafjörður. Small groups of up to six keep the pace relaxed. Guides including Stefan and Lukas are praised for patient instruction, while the abandoned Thorgeir shipwreck and nearby birdlife add real character.

“Lucas was a great and relaxed tour guide. We lucked out and had beautiful weather for our trip! The company was very gracious about a refund for our friend who was not able to participate due to safety reasons. Although the description heRead more”

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8.Guided kayak tour in Siglufjörður / Siglufjordur.

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 24 reviews · from $97

Meet Sigló Sea in Siglufjörður for a 2.5-hour guided kayak outing. You’ll learn the basics, suit up in a drysuit, and paddle past a shipwreck, avalanche site, and lighthouse while your guide explains local geology, nature, and history. The group is limited to six people.

“This was an amazing experience. Our guides were so interesting and informative and had all the gear necessary to outfit us and keep us safe. Our family had a terrific time!”

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9.Guided Sit on Top Kayak Tour near Akureyri

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 19 reviews · 2 hours (approx.) · from $79Best value

Join guide Norris for a two-hour sit-on-top kayak trip on the gentle Svartá River from Bakkaflöt in Varmahlíð. You’ll get equipment, safety gear, a vehicle ride, and time in the small pool and hot tubs afterward. No advanced kayaking skill is needed, but bring swimwear, thermal layers, and a towel.

“27th July 2023. Great oportunity to experience icleandic nature. It is much more than admiring the river, you become the part of it. Do not worry, it is not deep. And you do not need much experience in kayaking because the wonderful guide Norris explains everything and check all the time how everyone is doing.”

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10.Stykkishólmur: 2-Hour Sea Kayak Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.4 · 18 reviews · from $96

Set out from central Stykkishólmur with an English or Icelandic-speaking guide for a two-hour paddle across Breiðafjörður Bay. You will visit Landey, see the Thorgeir shipwreck, look for white-tailed eagles, and thread between small islands. Dry suits and kayaking gear are supplied. Minimum age is 14.

“Really enjoyed our trip. Great guide and lots of interesting birds and shoreline. Though the weather was going to be a problem but it was fine especially since we were given nice dry suits to wear. Clear and patient explanations made it as enjoyable for those in my family with less experience as it was for those with lots of experience. Highly recommend”

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11.Siglufjörður / Siglufjordur: Guided kayak tour.

★★★★★★★★★★4.4 · 9 reviews · 2.5 hours · from $107

Paddle Siglufjörður for 2.5 hours with an English-speaking guide from Sigló Sea. You’ll receive a drysuit, fleece layer, and beginner-friendly instruction before visiting the shipwreck, Selvíkurnef lighthouse, and Evanger avalanche site. Guides such as Tom and William bring local stories, wildlife spotting, and a relaxed pace to this small-group tour.

“Tom was amazing! I got lucky and it became a private tour. There were lots of birds, a seal and tons of Iceland history and stories! 10/10 recommend”

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12.Private: Guided kayak tour in Siglufjörður / Siglufjordur.

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 9 reviews · 2 hours 30 minutes (approx.)

Join Sigló Sea for a private 2.5-hour kayak tour from Norðurtangi in Siglufjörður. Tom, Laken, or another professional guide fits you with a drysuit, teaches the basics, and leads your group past a shipwreck, avalanche site, and Selvíkurnef lighthouse. The tour is in English and suits groups of up to six.

“Truly magical experience! Kayaking across the fjord, learning the history of Siglufjörður, and spotting local wildlife were just some of the highlights. Highly recommend this activity - it was well worth the drive.”

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13.Icelandic Kayak Trip

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 5 reviews · 1.5 hours · from $103

Paddle a sit-on-top kayak along the calm Svartá River near Varmahlíð. Your English-speaking guides provide safety instruction, dry gear, and a 15-minute ride upriver before launch. Afterward, warm up in the included hot tubs at Bakkaflöt. The trip suits beginners and families with children age 12 and older.

“Engagerade och proffsiga guider. Nära naturen resa. Lagom utmanade tur för en ganska ovan paddlare.”

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