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

Paddle a stable sit-on-top kayak across Sólheimajökull Glacier Lagoon, passing icebergs with the glacier ahead. Your guide handles safety, instruction, and local stories. Daniella, Sebastian, Fernanda, and other guides are praised for friendly, clear help. Bring warm clothes and expect a rough walk to the water.

“This was a very peaceful way to see the glacier and ice bergs up close and away from the crowds. I really enjoyed the overall experience and tranquility of it. Our guide Carla Paz was very friendly, informative and easy going - loved having her as our guide!”

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2.Guided Kayaking Tour on the Glacier Lagoon

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

Paddle a sit-on-top kayak around floating icebergs at Sólheimajökull Glacier Lagoon. Your English-speaking guide, such as Sebastian, Fernanda, or Carla-Paz, teaches the basics, provides a dry suit, and shares stories about the glacier. No kayaking experience is needed, but bring warm layers, a hat, and spare socks.

“Our kayaking trip with Renata was phenomenal! She was friendly, informative, and helpful! Exceeded our expectations!”

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3.Mt. Kirkjufell Daytime Kayaking Adventure

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

Meet Vestur Adventures in Grundarfjörður for a guided sit-atop kayak trip beneath Mt. Kirkjufell. Guides such as Sony, Greg, and Reda provide dry suits, safety coaching, local stories, and help for beginners. Paddle about 70 minutes to Seal Skerry and along the coast, then finish with a hot drink.

“Fantastic experience with lovely guides. First time kayaking and it was not too strenuous. Beautiful views and a seal even popped up to say hello! The team were very friendly and helpful - chatting to us on the way and taking pictures for us. Then they recommended nearby attractions. Best experience of our trip! Worth the drive from Reykjavík!”

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4.Classic Kayaking Adventure by Mt. Kirkjufell

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

Paddle the calm waters near Grundarfjörður with guides such as Kate, Sonny, or Carl, taking in Kirkjufell and Kirkjufellfoss from the sea. Your two-hour outing includes kayaking gear, instruction, a small snack, and hot chocolate afterward. Groups are capped at 11 people.

“Friendly guides, made everyone comfortable Not difficult at all. Most could do this and enjoy the adventure!”

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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 beside Kirkjufell in a small group of up to 11. Your guide, possibly Reda or Greg, gives clear beginner instruction, shares local stories, and helps you spot seals and birds. Drysuits keep you warm, and hot chocolate with cookies finishes this three-hour evening outing.

“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.Midnight Sun Kayaking Adventure

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

Paddle for about two hours beneath Kirkjufell with an English-speaking guide, looking for seals at Seal Skerry and birds along the shore. Vestur Adventures supplies a dry suit, gloves, shoes, and safety briefing. Guides such as Sonny, Sony, Reda, and Greg add local stories, with a hot drink afterward.

“Abbiamo fatto tour in kayak al tramonto. Esperienza bellissima con il sole che spariva dietro la penisola occidentale. Abbiamo visto il monte kirkjufell da vari punti di vista e abbiamo incontrato anche un gruppo di foche sulla spiaggia. Per concludere le guide super simpatiche e disponibili Greg e Sony ci hanno offerto cioccolata e biscotti. Esperienza super consigliata.”

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7.Stykkisholmur Sea kayak Day tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 27 reviews · from $99

From Stykkishólmur’s old harbor, a professional guide such as Stefan or Lucas teaches you sea-kayaking basics before leading a small group among Breiðafjörður’s islands. Expect dry suits, seabirds, possible seals and dolphins, a warm drink, and a visit to the abandoned Thorgeir shipwreck.

“Great kayaking trip around bird sanctuary island and working harbor. Sit in kayaks and dry suits provided kept us warm and dry. Kristin owner was knowledgeable and very helpful. Would recommend”

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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 trip capped at six people. Your guide supplies a kayak, paddle, drysuit, boots, gloves, and life vest, then leads you past a shipwreck, avalanche site, and lighthouse while sharing local geology and culture.

“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 Bakkaflöt for a two-hour guided sit-on-top kayak trip on the gentle Svartá River. Guide Norris explains the basics and checks on the group as you paddle through horse country near Skagafjörður. Equipment, safety gear, transport, and hot-tub access are included.

“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

From central Stykkishólmur, an English- or Icelandic-speaking guide leads a small group of up to eight through Breiðafjörður Bay. You’ll wear a dry suit, paddle past Landey and shipwrecks, watch for white-tailed eagles, and return after two hours.

“Interesting and different from the usual, the guide did not give us much explanation on how to paddle and so we had some problems. Unfortunately, being French his English is incomprehensible at times... we saw a few sea birds and little more.”

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11.Siglufjörður / Siglufjordur: Guided kayak tour.

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

Join a small, beginner-friendly kayak tour from Siglo Sea HQ and paddle the Sigló fjord for 2.5 hours. Your guide trains you before setting out to see the shipwreck, Selvíkurnef lighthouse, Evanger avalanche site, birds, seals, and stories of Siglufjörður.

“Het kajakken was heel leuk en relaxed. De gids was aardig en kon ons veel over het plaatsje vertellen. Prachtig plaatsje, geweldige uitzichten”

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

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

Set out with Sigló Sea guides Tom or Laken for a private 2.5-hour kayak trip around Siglufjörður. You’ll learn basic paddling, wear a sealed drysuit, and visit a shipwreck, the Evanger avalanche site, and Selvíkurnef lighthouse while hearing local stories.

“What a great experience. We can’t say enough about Tom, his communication, his management of our rainy trip and the relationships he has developed w/ the local community. We had an incredible experience. Despite the weather we enjoyed our paddling around the harbor in Siglo. We had no issues w/ the gear and were provided w/ both a warm fleece, gloves and an outer dry suit that kept us warm and dry. We stopped at a local cafe on the way back with limitless fish soup and local bread which everyone loved and ate until we were bursting. We had no issues whatsoever and would recommend this trip without any…”

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13.Icelandic Kayak Trip

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

At Bakkaflöt near Varmahlíð, you’ll gear up for a gentle sit-on-top kayak trip on the Svartá River. English-speaking guides lead you upriver, explain safety and paddling, then guide you through calm currents, fjords, and bird-rich scenery before a hot-tub soak.

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

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