Top Glacier Kayaking Tours & Activities in Iceland
Kayaking on a glacier lagoon offers a direct connection to Iceland’s Arctic environment. Paddling through calm waters allows you to navigate around icebergs that have detached from ancient glaciers, providing a perspective that shore-based viewing cannot match. It is a quiet, immersive experience set against some of the country’s most dramatic volcanic and glacial backdrops.
Experience Iceland’s glacial environment from the water with a guided kayaking tour in Vatnajökull National Park. These excursions take place on glacier lagoons—lakes formed by melting ice—where large icebergs break off the glacier and float toward the Atlantic Ocean.
We operate in two distinct areas on Iceland's South Coast:
Jökulsárlón: Iceland’s deepest and most famous lagoon. It is located directly on the Ring Road (Route 1), approximately 5 hours by car from Reykjavík. It is known for its massive, bright blue icebergs and local wildlife, such as seals.
Heinabergslón: Situated a short distance from Jökulsárlón, this lagoon is more remote. It offers a quieter, more personal experience with fewer tourists, making it ideal for those seeking a peaceful environment.
Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon Kayaking
Available May – 30th of September
Glacier Lagoon Kayaking in the Jökulsárlón Glacier lagoon which is considered as one of the natural wonders of Iceland. Paddling on the Glacier lagoon provides outstanding experience and gives participants a magnificent view of the ice cap and the vast dome of ice that rises above.
Come with us on this unique journey where we paddle amongst floating icebergs and wildlife, seals and birds.
Glacier Lagoon Kayaking is the tour for those who want to be environmentally friendly while exploring nature.
The tour is fully guided and all participants are provided with a two piece suite and all other necessary equipment. Our Kayaks are SIT-ON-TOP boats, very stable and should be suitable for persons who have not gone kayaking before.
Heinabergslón Glacier Kayak Adventure
Available May 15th – October 15th
Glacier kayaking is the ultimate way to experience the magnificence of the world famous Vatnajökull National Park.
Join us in an unforgettable trip and enjoy unbeatable panoramic views of the surrounding mountains and glaciers and their reflection in the mirror like water of the Heinaberg Lagoon.
This is the tour for those who want to be environmentally friendly while exploring nature.
Our Kayaks are SIT-ON-TOP boats, very stable and are suitable for first time kayakers as well.
Top Kayaking Tours in Iceland
Kayaking in Iceland offers a unique way to experience the country’s glaciers up close, with two main options: Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon and Heinaberg Lagoon. Jökulsárlón is the most famous, with massive floating icebergs and frequent seal sightings, making it ideal if you want to paddle through an ever-changing icy landscape. Heinaberg Lagoon, on the other hand, offers a quieter, more remote experience where you can get even closer to the glacier itself, without the crowds or boat traffic.
Both locations use stable kayaks, require no prior experience, and can be combined with other activities like glacier hikes, allowing you to explore the ice both from the water and on foot for a full-day adventure.
Kayaking and Glacier Hikes Combo Tours
This full-day combo package offers two essential glacier experiences in Southeast Iceland for maximum adventure. Highlights include a guided kayaking adventure among the icebergs of Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon and an exhilarating glacier hike on a Vatnajökull outlet glacier in Skaftafell Nature Reserve. This tour efficiently pairs two distinct, guided activities—on water and on ice—in one day. All necessary safety gear and instructions for both the kayaking and glacier trekking are provided by certified guides.
Skaftafell & Jökulsárlón
3 Hours + 1.5 Hours
Not Included
SummerThis full-day combo tour offers two distinct, fully guided adventures in Vatnajökull National Park for maximum immersion. Highlights include an exhilarating kayaking tour among the floating icebergs of Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon, followed by an adventurous glacier hike on Breiðamerkurjökull (an outlet of Vatnajökull). You will witness dramatic glacier cliffs, explore deep ice formations, and experience two of Iceland’s most iconic activities—on water and on ice—in a single, efficient day. All safety gear is provided, and the entire experience departs from the same convenient location.
Jökulsárlón & Breiðamerkurjökull 3 Hours + 1.5 Hours Not Included SummerTwo thrilling glacier adventures, one unforgettable day. This 6-hour combo tour takes you deep into the wild, icy heart of Iceland’s southeastern coast. Paddle through the serene, iceberg-filled waters of Heinaberg Glacier Lagoon, far from the crowds, and then explore the ever-changing landscapes of Breiðamerkurjökull Glacier, an outlet of Europe’s largest ice cap, Vatnajökull. Led by certified guides and packed with breathtaking scenery, this full-day combo tour lets you experience Iceland’s glaciers from both water and ice.
Heinabergslón & Breiðamerkurjökull 7 hours Not Included SummerFrequently Asked Questions
We do not make any exceptions on the age limits.
Warm outdoor clothing like regular hiking pants and fleece sweaters. Headwear and gloves. Good socks, synthetic or wool.
It can rain a lot in Iceland, we do not let rain stop us from going out and enjoy nature. Sometimes we say there is no such thing as bad weather just bad choice of clothing. Nature does not adapt to us, we have to adapt to the nature.
Of course we have safety as our top priority. If we at any point feel that conditions are not safe we cancel our tours and do our best to reschedule the tour. In case of cancellation, you´ll receive a full refund.
All of our tours can be cancelled due to weather with short notice. If our tours gets cancelled because of weather or safety reasons participants will receive a full refund.
Reasonable fitness is required for the kayak tours. Overweight people can expect having problems fitting the drysuits. Our biggest suits are XXL size, for further info you can look at the GUL.COM
We have shoes from size 34-48 european size.
Reasonable fitness is required for this tour. Oversized people can expect having problems fitting the drysuits, and therefore not being able to participate.
For safety reasons participants cannot exceed 120 kg (270 lbs) in weight for single kayaks (kayak for one person) or 180 kg (395 lbs) combined weight for double kayaks (kayak for two persons)
This is a personal choice of course but women in good health and active should have no problems joining us in their early stages of pregnancy.
At the Glacier lagoon Kayaking jökulsárlón we paddle on the lake for approx 1 hour, we do not step on to the glacier/icebergs at Jökulsárlón.
In our kayak tour at Heinabergslón Glacier kayak Adventure in Heinabergslón we paddle on Heinabergslónfor about 1h 1 1/2 hour and do a short introductory walk on a giant iceberg approx. 20 min for better view and to stretch our legs.
In our tours we use tandem SIT kayaks (boat for two persons) for their safety, easy handling and stability. We also have single SIT kayaks only in case of single travellers and/or odd number bookings. When booking, you select the number of passengers, not boat or boat type. The type of boats will be chosen on spot accordingly by the guide, not upon request.
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You can call us just about anytime. Our customer service team works around the clock. You can reach us by phone anytime, except from 10 pm and 6 am on Saturday and Sunday nights, Icelandic time. Contact info@troll.is or call us at +354 519 4455 and our dedicated team will help you out.
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