Glacier Hike and Kayaking Combination
Skaftafell, Vatnajökull
Iceland
Discover the beauty of Vatnajökull National Park with the ultimate glacier hiking and kayaking adventure during one tour at one location!
Join us to escape the crowds and enjoy the serene glacial landscapes on a human powered journey on land, water and ice. This is a meet on location tour featuring a hike upon Fjallsjökull glacier and a kayaking journey amongst the beautiful icebergs of Fjallsárlón glacier lagoon.
General tour details
Availability- This tour is available as a private tour only, please Contact us for pricing and availability
Duration - 5 hours total
Meet on location at - Viewpoint of Fjallsjökull
Link to meeting location: https://goo.gl/maps/nKMw4azAt8Nsdjvw7
Ability level - This is a physical tour designed for those who hike or exercise frequently.
Boat weight limit - 110Kg/ 240lb.
Minimum age - 10 years
Languages - English or Icelandic
Gear provided - Boat, paddle, PFD, drysuits, backpack, crampons, harness
Single person and double kayaks are available
For reservations please contact us before booking
Drysuits available: S,M, L, XL and XXL please check the size chart in the gallery ensure that you fit into a drysuit. You can fit a drysuit that is a little too big, but you cannot fit a drysuit that is a little too small for your body!
What you need to bring - Hiking boots, waterproof jacket, waterproof pants, warm clothing, warm hat, gloves, sunglasses, camera, lunch, water bottle.
We do not rent boots, rain jackets, rain pants.
Additional information on glacier kayaking can be found on The Best Glacier Lagoon Kayaking Guide To Iceland page
Please read the information on The Best Glacier Tour Guide To Iceland page to be sure you know what to bring with you and what to expect from the glacier aspect of the tour.
By purchasing a ticket to join a group or private tour with Glacier and Volcano Expeditions you hereby accept our terms and conditions
You can read about who we are by visiting this web page here.
For more tour options please visit Glacier and Volcano Expeditions
Glacier hike and kayaking combination tour description
The best glacier hike and kayaking tour in Iceland
The Glacier Hike and Kayaking Combination tour will lead you onto a stunning glacier lagoon where you kayak amongst icebergs before you are guided up and onto Iceland’s largest and most dramatic glacier that flows directly off Iceland’s highest volcano.
Kayak on a glacier lagoon
You will be embark upon on a unique adventure that allows you to absorb the breathtaking beauty of Iceland's glacial lagoon landscapes as you paddle amongst towering icebergs, glistening in shades of blue and white. The tranquility of the surroundings creates a surreal atmosphere, making it a truly unforgettable experience. Our knowledgeable guides will provide you with the necessary equipment and safety instructions, ensuring a safe and comfortable kayaking journey.
The kayak that you will use is an inflatable boat called a packraft. Packrafts are easy to paddle and are incredibly stable boats so there is very little chance that you will tip out. We have single and double boats available.
Hike on Vatnajökull glacier
The glacier hiking portion of our tour is an exhilarating adventure that will leave you in awe of the raw beauty of Iceland's most impressive glacier. Equipped with crampons and ice axes, our experienced guides will lead you through a fascinating and vast landscape of glistening ice. As you make your way across the glacier you'll have the opportunity to explore intriguing ice formations, and learn about the geological forces that have shaped this fascinating and unique area and eat your picnic lunch on the ice.
Drysuit sizing
Glacier and Volcano Expeditions require all participants to wear a provided drysuit whilst kayaking on the glacier lake and we have a limited size range available. We can accommodate for people with a height range between 140cm (4’6 ft) and 198cm tall (6’6 ft).
The weight limit on the single boats is 100Kg/ 220lb.
Drysuit sizes available: S, M, L, XL and XXL - please check the size chart in the gallery to ensure that you fit into a drysuit. You can fit a drysuit that is a little too big, but you cannot fit a drysuit that is a little too small for your body!
We also have children’s drysuit sizes available, however we kindly ask families to please contact us prior to making a reservation as we have age limits on the public tour departures.
Risk involved with the tour
All outdoor activities involve an element of inherent risk and the tours offered by Glacier and Volcano Expeditions are no exception. Each tour is led by professional guides experienced in recognising, assessing, and managing known and foreseeable risks in wilderness environments. While every effort is made to mitigate and manage these risks, participants should understand that inherent risks—both known and unknown—cannot be entirely eliminated.
By joining a tour, all participants, including children under the supervision of their parents or guardians, acknowledge and accept these risks and agree to the terms and conditions.
The physical aspect to the tour
This is a physical tour that is suitable for those who are accustomed to hiking or exercise. You will be required to carry your boat (which weighs 5kg), paddle and equipment 300m to and from the lake. Paddling the boat does require having the core strength to sit with your body in a 90 degree position for over an hour.
Our kayaking tour is designed for participants who are in good general health and reasonably fit. For individuals who are active and accustomed to regular exercise, the tour is considered easy and enjoyable.
However, kayaking does require physical effort, balance, and stamina. The experience may be more difficult and uncomfortable for participants who are overweight, have limited mobility, or have pre-existing medical conditions that affect endurance or movement. In such cases, the tour can feel more demanding.
Weather conditions also play a significant role. On calm days, the tour is accessible to most people with average fitness. In windy conditions, however, paddling becomes more physically challenging and requires extra strength and effort. Your tour may involve cold and rainy conditions and this does add an additional layer of challenge to the experience.
The hiking will consist of approximately 2/3 of the tour duration and you will walk approximately 5 kilometres total. The hike to access the glacier involves walking within a dynamic glacier and moraine environment and therefore the route that we take changes frequently due to environmental developments. The hike may involve walking over terrain that is not a formed path. This terrain is often challenging as it involves steep loose gravel, loose rocks and boulders. The route that we take may be wet and muddy and your shoes may become wet and muddy as a result.
If you have any medical issues such as recent injuries or surgeries, history of dislocations, or any other conditions please contact us to discuss the feasibility of the tour. Please refer to the terms and conditions for more details.
Participant health and medical conditions
You are required to inform Glacier and Volcano Expeditions of any health or pre-existing medical conditions prior to making a reservation.
The health and pre-existing medical conditions that you need to notify Glacier and Volcano Expeditions of includes any medical issues, injury, surgery, impairments, disabilities, psychological conditions, overweight, pregnancy, prosthetic implants, diseases or anything that may hinder your ability to complete the tour or endanger others.
Please contact us prior to making a reservation in order to ensure that it is safe and comfortable for you to participate in the tour.
Glacier and Volcano Expeditions reserve the right to refuse participation to guests who who have not informed us of the above information prior to making a reservation since this may put the client’s well-being and safety at risk. Should we refuse a guest to participate based on the above circumstances our cancellation policy that is outlined in our terms and conditions will apply.
The meeting location and beginning of the tour
Please arrive early for your tour at Our meeting location which is at the “View point of Fjallsjökull”.
There is no sign that will lead you to our meeting location.
To get there you will need to navigate via google maps and drive down a gravel road off the side of the ring road route 1. Look for the white Ford Transit van with the chimney.
If you need help to find the meeting location please contact us.
There are no opportunities to use the bathroom at any point during this tour as it is a wilderness experience. Please use the bathroom elsewhere before the tour begins.
Please read the information on the best glacier lagoon kayaking tour guide to Iceland page to be sure that you know what to bring with you and what to expect from the tour.
Making a reservation
To book please Contact us and we will offer you availability and pricing.
