Iceland · CANOES & KAYAKS
A shortlist rather than a catalogue: 13 canoes & kayaks tours, compared on cost, length and what is actually included, so you can decide in a couple of minutes.
Beginner kayak with dry suit gear on Sólheimajökull Glacier Lagoon near Vik, small group. Calm icebergs, expert instruction, about 2.5 hours.
“Guide Ferdinand is wonderful - she gave a great explanation of the history of the glacier and the reason for all the volcanic ash.”
Paddle Sólheimajökull Glacier Lagoon on Iceland’s south coast. Dry suits included, beginner-friendly kayaking, small group up to 8.
“Fernanda is an amazing glacier lagoon kayak guide. She goes the extra mile to ensure everyone feels safe and confident on the water. Her passion for the glacier and her deep knowledge about the area make the whole experience fascinating and memorable. She’s patient, friendly, and genuinely cares about giving you the best possible adventure. Highly recommended!”
Paddle past seals and birds at Seal Skerry, then circle Mt. Kirkjufell for Game of Thrones views, with dry suits and hot chocolate included.
“Greg was the best guide! Took his time to relay history and legends of the area. Would ask for him next time!”
Paddle a guided kayak among floating icebergs at Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon, with suits and safety gear included for a 1.5-hour tour.
“Guide was amazing! I highly recommend this tour. It was a great experience seeing the glaciers and learning from them at a close distance. The guide was really professional and made sure everyone knew the basics on kayaking to ensure we all had a great time.”
Paddle near Mt. Kirkjufell in Western Iceland on a small-group kayaking tour. Gear, hot drinks, and snacks included, great wildlife chances.
“Kate and Sonny were the best! We had no issues finding the location, getting into our dry suit was quick and easy, and we were on the water in no time. We did have to reschedule for a later time (1pm changed to 4pm) because of the weather, but better to be safe than sorry.”
Midnight-sun kayak near Kirkjufell in Iceland. Small group, warm drysuits, possible seals and puffins, and hot chocolate after, 3 hours.
“Really fun activity, particularly for those with little sea kayaking experience. Great leaders who provide information about the area and point out things to you. We were lucky enough to see Puffins on the water and a seal.”
Kayak under Kirkjufell in Iceland’s midnight sun, spot seals and birds, then warm up with a hot drink after 2 hours on the water.
“Fantastische tour geweest. Mede dankzij Sonny onze gids. Wat een leuke enthousiaste guide. Veel kennis en leuke weetjes. Helaas geen middernachtzon gezien, maar de tour was echt super gaaf”
Guided sit-on-top kayak on the Svartá River near Akureyri, then warm up with hot tubs and a small pool for $79.
“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.”
Paddle at Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon near Hofn, Iceland. Small group kayaking, wildlife spotting, and a weather-dependent plan for 1.5 hours.
“Because of much fog and permanent rain, we could not paddle as normal for safety reasons, many motorboattours are on the laggoon too. So we often stopped to have a very long look at the ice in the lagoon. We didn't even see the end of the glacier. So put on many layers of clothes if you have the same weather conditions. On a bright day it must be a highlight.”
Paddle the Sigló fjord on a guided, beginner-friendly kayak tour from Siglufjörður. Drysuit gear, small group, local history, wildlife.
“William was an excellent guide and the area was gorgeous! Well worth the trek! Jess Wolfe and Ed Rollins, USA”
Private guided kayak tour in Siglufjörður, Iceland. Drysuits and coaching, fjord landmarks like a shipwreck, and local food tips.
“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…”
Kayak the calm Svartá river near Bakkaflöt, spot birds as you paddle, then warm up in hot tubs. 1.5 hours, English guides.
“Engagerade och proffsiga guider. Nära naturen resa. Lagom utmanade tur för en ganska ovan paddlare.”
Kayak Heinabergslón icebergs in a packraft, then hike to Vatnajökull outlet glacier views. Small group, 6 hours.
“A wonderful experience! I was a bit nervous at first and wasn’t sure if I could do it, but the trip was amazing. The glacier lagoon was beautiful and took our breath away. I felt completely safe in the kayak the whole time, which made the experience even better. Our guide was very kind, funny, and patient. He showed us hidden places in Iceland and helped us enjoy and appreciate nature. This is a tour we will remember for the rest of our lives!”
Pick the kind of day you want. Every one of them is ranked.
