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Make the most of the Midnight Sun in Iceland and spend three days out in a remote backcountry lodge in Hornstrandir Nature Reserve in the Westfjords.
This wildlife tour invites you to stay in an authentic farmhouse surrounded by water and wilderness. Hike in the mountains, kayak in a fjord, and spend your evenings relaxing in a sauna.
Summer nights are the best time to spot Arctic Foxes that live around the lodge, so if you’re a wildlife enthusiast, this tour is perfect for you!
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This three-day tour takes you far away from the worries of everyday life and into the wilderness.
Kvíar farmhouse is only accessible by boat, and it’s the only house for many miles, so you can enjoy nature undisturbed. The backcountry lodge features authentic rooms and a sauna where you can relax after a day of hiking, kayaking, and watching wildlife.
The itinerary of this tour is highly flexible and depends on your preferences. We offer plenty of activities, but if you feel like curling up in the high grass with a book in your hands, that’s fine too!
Bright Icelandic summer nights are the best time to spot Arctic Foxes in their natural habitat. These charming animals are most active at night when they come out of their dens to play and hunt. For many years, the Kvíar farmhouse was uninhabited, allowing wildlife to take over. That’s why foxes in the area are tame and playful.
We’re aware that summer is breeding time for Arctic Foxes and we respect wildlife. We walk carefully, never come too close to animals, and always follow the rules and guidelines provided by wildlife specialists.
At 7 a.m. we meet up at the Borea Adventures office in downtown Ísafjörður. Here we’ll have a briefing, make final preparations, and answer all your questions.
At 9 a.m. we’ll depart from Ísafjörður harbor on the Bjarmi speedy boat. We’ll reach Kvíar farmhouse at the Hornstrandir Nature Reserve in about an hour’s ride. The farm is nestled on the peninsula between Veiðleysufjörður and Lónafjörður fjords.
The ferry will take us through a picturesque route and we’ll have a good chance to see humpback whales along the way!
Once we reach the farm, take your time to get settled and have a stroll around. A panoramic view of the Jökulfirðir bay opens up in front of the farm.
Kvíar shares an interesting story: the last residents left the farm in 1948 and up until 2012 it stood uninhabited. Volunteers, friends, and professionals worked hand in hand to bring the farm back to life again. Kvíar isn’t accessible by road, so all materials and tools had to be brought in by boat. It took four years to rebuild the farm into the authentic lodge that you see today.
In the evening, enjoy a home-cooked meal and relax in a wood-heated sauna. Don’t forget to bring your bathing suit!
We begin the day with a hearty breakfast at the farmhouse and then head out to explore surrounding mountains and fjords.
We have an option to hike in the morning and join a sea kayaking tour to Lónafjörður fjord in the afternoon. However, we’re flexible and can change the plan depending on your preferences. If you’d rather spend the day hiking or do a full day of kayaking, we can adjust the itinerary.
During the hike, we’ll take a short walk up the valley to the mountain edge for a birds-eye view of Lónafjörður fjord. Enjoy the tranquility of Hornstrandir Nature Reserve and keep an eye out for Icelandic wildlife.
The area around the hiking path is rich in wildlife. We have good chances of spotting the Arctic Fox. The nature reserve is home to many bird species, including common ducks, swans, snipes, and oystercatchers, as well as the rare white-tailed eagle.
After lunch, we’ll make our way to the shore for sea kayaking if weather allows. Sea kayaking doesn’t require special skills and is a fun activity even for beginners. We use stable kayaks and comfortable paddles so you can feel safe while gliding across the water.
Back at the farmhouse, we’ll enjoy a tasty dinner and then spoil ourselves with another sauna session.
On the last day of the tour, we can enjoy an adventurous RIB (Rigid Inflatable Boat) ride. The boat is small and fast, perfect for exploring the surrounding fjords. RIB is the best transport to visit secluded spots, and we can sail farther away from Kvíar.
We have the option to pack up a picnic, sail to a beautiful spot, turn off the engine, and enjoy lunch in the remote wilderness surrounded by water and mountains. Keep an eye out for seals that live along the shores of the Hornstrandir Nature Reserve.
The RIB is sometimes unavailable, but we offer other activities around the farm. We have kayaks and SUPs (stand up paddleboards). You can also always choose to hike or scout for wildlife. Kviar is the only house for many miles around, so wild animals, especially Arctic Foxes, are tame and playful.
Once we get back to the farmhouse, we’ll get ready for the trip back to Ísafjörður. The passenger ferry will pick us up around 5-6 p.m. and we’ll be back in town by 7 p.m.
The meeting point is Borea Adventures office in Aðalstræti 17, Ísafjörður at 7 a.m. We’ll depart to the lodge from Ísafjörður harbor at 9 a.m. on the passenger ferry Bjarmi.
The itinerary might slightly change due to weather, sea conditions, and abilities of the group.
We recommend that participants wear warm outdoor clothing, for example, a fleece or wool sweater and pants. You should also bring a change of clothing and swimwear.
No prior kayaking experience is required for the tours as our professional guides will teach the technique on location.
Our kayaking tours are all listed at a level easy or moderate so most people should be able to do the tour. Just keep in mind that the activity is an outdoor nature activity so some physical strength is needed.
All our kayaking tours are operated by experienced and certified professional 4 star BCU sea kayak guides.
We use top of the line plastic sea kayaks.
Our kayaks are very stable and easy to use.
Yes, they can tip over, although they are very stable and it happens rarely. If they tip over the guide has the necessary equipment and ability to quickly tip them over again.
If the kayaks tip over participants don’t have to worry too much, all participants get life jackets and neoprene suits so they will stay warm even if they fall in.
Taking a waterproof camera is a great idea when going on a kayak tour. However, it is not recommended to take too much on this day tour as there is really no need for it.
Although you don’t need to “swim” while sea kayaking, we recommend that you can. People that can’t swim tend to panic when they are in the water. You have to be comfortable with floating in water.
