4-Day Glacier Kayaking Tour In Iceland

The tour starts when we meet you at our base in Mávagarður C at 8 a.m. for last-minute gear checks. After that we catch the ferry and depart for Hesteyri. Hesteyri once was the biggest settlement in Hornstrandir, but after the fishing crisis at the beginning of the 20th century, the village was completely abandoned. The last person moved away in the 1950s, leaving only a doctor’s house, a school, and a small church bell behind.

Now most of the abandoned buildings are used as summer houses by travelers and locals alike. We will be staying at one of them, the doctor’s house. Once we reach the shores of Hesteyri, we drop off our belongings at the house and get ready to paddle along the fjords to the nearby Sletta Lighthouse.

We won’t paddle a lot. The first day of the tour is all about getting to know your kayak and refreshing paddling techniques while also exploring the Icelandic waters. After a quick paddle, we’ll have dinner at the doctor’s house and settle in for the night.

After a hearty breakfast at the doctor’s house, we set out on our paddling adventure. Today we will paddle around 9 mi (14 km) towards Kvíadalur Valley and farmhouse. Along the way, we’ll pass some of Iceland’s most beautiful scenery: Hesteyrarfjörður and Veiðileysufjörður Fjords. We’ll stop for brief breaks to take pictures without disembarking the kayak. There’s also a high chance to see whales and white-tailed eagles, both residents of the surrounding waters.

Our day’s voyage will end at the beach beneath the hill on which Kviar Farmhouse stands. The farmhouse was built in 1923 by a family that lived in the house up until 1948, right before Hornstrandir Nature Reserve was completely abandoned. The building of the farmhouse was a hard, difficult, and vigorous project, especially without the tools and appliances we have these days. It took two years to build it and after more than 20 years, the family was heartbroken when they had to leave the house.

The farmhouse was renovated in 2012 and now is ready to host travelers from all over the world. We will have a mouth-watering dinner and head to the sauna afterward.

On the third day of the tour, we’ll leave our belongings at the farmhouse and head out to explore fjords and wildlife. The farm is nestled not too far from Lónafjörður Fjord, said to be the most beautiful fjord in Iceland. As we paddle past it, incredible views of Hornstandir Nature Reserve open up from the ocean. As usual, we’ll stop to take some pictures.

Soon we approach Sopandi Bay, home to an abundance of birds, a seal colony and arctic foxes. We will paddle along the coast, meeting the wildlife and taking pictures of the scenery. The total distance for the day is12 mi (20 km).

At around 11 a.m. a passenger ferry will pick us up from Kvíar Lodge and take us back to Ísafjörður. On our way back to Isafjordur, you might not be accompanied by a guide as sometimes they have to stay back and get ready for the next adventure group. Worry not, as the crew on the ferry will take great care of you!