Included: An experienced, local woman hiking and sea kayaking guide with extensive knowledge of the area 3-day women-only hiking and sea kayaking adventure in Hornstrandir Nature Reserve (3 days of hiking and kayaking) Accommodation for 2 nights at a remote historic farmhouse lodge with a wood-heated sauna All food during the trip Passenger ferry from Ísafjörður to Hornstrandir and back Guided sea kayaking in Lónafjörður, including the use of stable sea kayaks Briefing in Ísafjörður before departure and a briefing on the history of Hornstrandir at the lodge Add-ons (pricing shown at checkout): Vegan or gluten-free diet (pescatarian free of charge) Not included: Transportation to Iceland Travel to and from Ísafjörður before and after the trip Food on the first day until the trip departs Personal equipment and clothing Anything not mentioned in the ‘Included’ section above Travel insurance — mandatory, available to add at checkout Guide gratuities — optional

How fit do I need to be?

In order to join this Hornstrandir hiking and sea kayaking tour, basic fitness is required as well as no previous hiking or kayaking experience . Across the three days you’ll cover 10-30 km (6-19 mi) in total, split between hiking in the mountains around the lodge and paddling in Lónafjörður. The plan is flexible and built around the group. Your guide adapts each day to what everyone feels like doing, so you can go for a full day of hiking, a full day on the water, or simply slow down and enjoy the surroundings. The kayaks are stable and seaworthy, which makes paddling easy and comfortable even if it’s your first time. The terrain is pathless and mixed, with wet grass, loose rock, snow patches, streams, and sand, so waterproof high-top hiking boots with ankle support are a must. If you have any concerns about the difficulty, get in touch beforehand and your guides will talk it through with you. Want to see what else is there in the area? Discover our collection of Iceland hiking adventures !

What do I need to bring?

Clothing & footwear: Warm outdoor clothing, including hiking pants and warm upper layers (please avoid cotton, as it keeps you cold when wet and takes a very long time to dry) Waterproof jacket and waterproof pants Waterproof high-top hiking boots with ankle support (mandatory) Hat and gloves Slippers for inside the house Towel and bathing suit for the sauna Spare clothing Gear: Small backpack Water bottle Sunglasses Binoculars for watching wildlife (optional) Camera Other: Personal medical kit, including band aids, throat lozenges, lip salve, and seasickness tablets Any personal medication you may need (e.g. an asthma inhaler, even if you don’t always use it) Sunscreen and after-sun cream Toiletries and personal items A note on boots: the terrain here is a mix of wet grass, loose rock, snow, streams, and sand, so high-top boots give far better support than hiking shoes and keep your feet dry. Your guides recommend Scarpa leather boots or nylon versions with Gore-Tex, and rate La Sportiva, Mammut, Merrell, and Meindl as good options too. Dress comfortably and for the weather in clothes you can move in. We suggest bringing clothing appropriate for the season. Layers are best and don’t wear jeans.

Group sizes and age requirements

Group sizes and pricing: It takes a minimum of 2 people for this Hornstrandir hiking and sea kayaking tour to operate. The maximum group size is set at 8 participants . This is a special women-only departure, led by an experienced female guide. Hornstrandir hiking and sea kayaking tour can be arranged for larger groups, so contact us to make arrangements. Min. age requirements: If you are older than 18 , you’re good to go. Minors older than 16 may be permitted to join the Hornstrandir hiking and sea kayaking tour on a case-by-case basis, but must be in the presence of a parent or legal guardian. If your group has participants under the age of 18, contact us prior to booking to make arrangements.

Getting there and meeting location

The starting point of your Hornstrandir hiking and sea kayaking tour is Ísafjörður , in the Westfjords. To get there, most people fly into Keflavík International Airport (KEF) , about 40 minutes from Reykjavík. From Reykjavík’s domestic airport there are 2-3 daily flights of around 40 minutes to Ísafjörður , and the Fly-Bus connects the two airports, so most of the time you can continue the same day. You can also rent a car and drive, which is an adventure in itself over mountain passes and through fjords: roughly 440-500 km (273-311 mi) depending on the route, normally 5-6 hours, fully asphalted since the Arnkötludalur road opened in 2009, with a tunnel between Arnarfjörður and Dýrafjörður added in 2020. You will meet your guide at 8 am at the office on Aðalstræti 17, downtown Ísafjörður , for a briefing and final preparations. The passenger ferry leaves the harbour in Ísafjörður at 9 am and sails to Kvíar in Hornstrandir. If you’d like a hand arranging accommodation in Reykjavík or a few extra days in the Westfjords, your guides are happy to help.

Safety measures and insurance

Having insurance is mandatory for this adventure. To make your booking and traveling experience as carefree as possible, you’ll be offered to simply insure your trip with Redpoint at checkout. Redpoint—the official 57hours insurance partner—tailors protection packages for adventure travel, offering a comprehensive travel program, even in remote locations! Trip cancellation, natural disasters, pandemic coverage, medical evacuation, primary medical expenses—regardless of the travel interruption that may happen, Redpoint will have you covered.

Hornstrandir Nature Reserve | Iceland

Women’s Arctic Escape: Hiking & Kayaking in Hornstrandir

Name: Hornstrandir Hiking and Sea Kayaking Tour
Brand: 57hours
Availability: InStock
Rating: 5 (2 reviews)

3 days | Easy to Moderate | 5.00

From $1,721 ()

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Kvíar sits alone above a beach in the Hornstrandir Nature Reserve, with no road in and no neighbours for kilometres. We sail there from Ísafjörður, watching for humpbacks and puffins along the way, then spend three summer days hiking the ridges above the fjords, paddling stable sea kayaks along an untouched coastline, and keeping a respectful eye out for the Arctic foxes that den nearby. Evenings bring home-cooked meals, a wood-heated sauna, and the midnight sun that refuses to set. Designed for a small group of women and led by an experienced female guide, this is an adventure with room for everyone to find their own rhythm — whether that means exploring further into the wild or simply slowing down and soaking it all in.

Nicole

Hiking guide

Adventure Highlights

Women-only, small group: Three days in the Arctic with a handful of like-minded women and an experienced female guide
A house at the end of the world: Kvíar is the only farmhouse for kilometres, reachable only by boat, with a wood-heated sauna waiting after each day out
Hike, paddle, or simply sit: Mountain ridges above Lónafjörður, sea kayaking on calm days, and zero pressure to fill every hour

Duration

3 days

Season

June

Group size

Up to 8 people

The adventure, day by day

Download itineraries

We meet in downtown Ísafjörður on the first morning for a briefing, then sail by passenger ferry into the Hornstrandir Nature Reserve and step ashore at Kvíar, our historic farmhouse lodge for three days. Afternoons and mornings are spent hiking up Kvíadalur and along the ridges above Lónafjörður, with sea kayaking when conditions allow, and the last day left open for whatever the group fancies before the evening boat back to town. Boat transfers and all food are included, along with nightly sauna sessions and long midnight-sun evenings together. The plan flexes with the weather, the sea, and the group.

Day 1: Sail to Hornstrandir and hike up Kvíadalur

Sail to Hornstrandir and hike up Kvíadalur — Active Adventures in Iceland

We meet at the office on Aðalstræti 17 in downtown Ísafjörður at 8 am for a briefing and final preparations, then board the passenger ferry at the harbour at 9 am and sail towards Hornstrandir. Keep your eyes on the water for humpback whales, puffins, and other seabirds. Depending on the boat schedule there may be a stop or two before we’re dropped off at Kvíar, where the old farmhouse sits just above the beach. Once the boat pulls anchor, the quiet takes over. After settling in and a short talk on the history of the area, we hike up Kvíadalur through lush lowlands to the glacier-carved lakes and ridges above the fjord, then follow the river back down past waterfalls. Home-cooked dinner and the wood-heated sauna round off the evening.

Meals: Lunch, dinner
Accommodation: Kvíar Lodge

Day 2: Morning hike above Lónafjörður and afternoon sea kayaking

Morning hike above Lónafjörður and afternoon sea kayaking — Active Adventures in Iceland

After a hearty breakfast, we walk up the valley to the mountain’s edge for a wide view over Lónafjörður. We keep a careful lookout for Arctic foxes along the way, walking at a respectful distance as the wildlife guidelines require, and there’s plenty of birdlife too: eider ducks, swans, oystercatchers, snipes, and if we’re lucky, a white-tailed eagle. After lunch, conditions permitting, we head to the shore and get on the water. The kayaks are stable and seaworthy, so paddling the coastline is easy and good fun even if you’ve never tried it. Dinner back at Kvíar and another sauna session finish the day. The plan is flexible, so a full day of hiking or a full day of paddling is fine too, just tell your guide.

Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Accommodation: Kvíar Lodge

Day 3: A day at your own pace before the ferry back to Ísafjörður

A day at your own pace before the ferry back to Ísafjörður — Active Adventures in Iceland

Our last day is yours to shape, with extra flexibility if the sea wasn’t kind to us for kayaking earlier. Head out on another hike, get back in a kayak, or stretch out in the grass and just listen to the place. Packing a picnic and walking to a good spot is always a winner, with curious seals and foxes often around the shores and fields. The sauna can be fired up one more time if anyone fancies a polar plunge. Later we gather our things at Kvíar and wait for the passenger ferry, which usually arrives between 5 pm and 6 pm, putting us back in Ísafjörður around 6 pm to 7 pm.

Meals: Breakfast, lunch

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Lodging & Food

Kvíar Lodge

Home for these three days is Kvíar Lodge, an old farmhouse sitting just above the beach in the Hornstrandir Nature Reserve. It’s the only house for many kilometres and can only be reached by boat, so once the ferry pulls anchor and disappears around the headland, the quiet settles in fast. We make our beds, settle in, and let the valley, coastline, and mountains take over. The real treat after a day outside is the wood-heated sauna, followed by a polar plunge if you’re feeling bold. An Arctic fox family has denned in the backyard for years, and the cubs often get curious when guests turn up, though they’re wild animals and nothing is guaranteed. To keep the place feeling the way it does, expect to lend your guide a hand now and then, drying a few dishes and tidying your room before you go.

Home-cooked meals

All food during the trip is included, from hearty breakfasts before we head out to hot dinners back at the lodge in the evening. Lunches often happen outdoors, and it’s lovely to pack a picnic and carry it to a good spot with a view over the fjord. Evenings are the best part: a delicious home-cooked meal around the table, stories from the day, and the midnight sun still hanging over the water. If you have dietary requirements or allergies, let your guides know ahead of time and they’ll plan the menu around you.

Adventure, packed to go

Women’s Arctic Escape: Hiking & Kayaking in Hornstrandir

Adventure Brochure

Adventure brochure

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Meet your guide

Seasoned pros, local legends, and passionate adventurers—your trip is in the best hands.

5.00

Nicole

Hiking guide

Nicole is originally from Germany and moved to Iceland to study. She quickly fell for the country’s wild scenery and for surfing in its cold, isolated corners. Today she lives in Flateyri, a small fishing village in the Westfjords, where she runs an ocean adventure center. Nicole is an experienced guide on land and on the water, and she knows Iceland’s remote northwest well. That makes her a great companion for a week of hiking through Hornstrandir.

What others say about this adventure

5.00 (2 reviews)

Hui-Jung Chuang

we are the 3 ladies who come from Taiwan and join the hiking tour in Hornstrandir national reservation park, we really enjoy the hiking, the good weather, the fresh air, the clear sky, the flowers and the colorful moss est . we are so lucky to see an arctic fox near the little house!! We especially want to thanks our tour guide ( sorry can’t know how to write his name) keep our safety and help use choose easier road, and cooked the delicious meat ball. Ｗe really enjoy the hiking and thanks you all help also the boat stuff. we already introduce our friends to join your trip !!

UKclaire___12

We did the 3 days, 2 nights Hornstrandir Traverse trip with Nicole as our guide. What a great trip! The walks were all beautiful, a good length and taken at a pace that slowed plenty of time for photos and taking in the views. The camp was comfortable with good tents with camp beds, and a central eating tent. Nicole was a star- she looked after us really well cooking great meals and doing an excellent job guiding. We were very lucky with the weather on the second day and got to see the horn and surrounding cliffs in stunning form in the sun. We also saw plenty of arctic foxes with their cubs. Highly recommended trip.

Show all reviews

Hui-Jung Chuang

UKclaire___12

Things to know

Included:
- - An experienced, local woman hiking and sea kayaking guide with extensive knowledge of the area
  - 3-day women-only hiking and sea kayaking adventure in Hornstrandir Nature Reserve (3 days of hiking and kayaking)
  - Accommodation for 2 nights at a remote historic farmhouse lodge with a wood-heated sauna
  - All food during the trip
  - Passenger ferry from Ísafjörður to Hornstrandir and back
  - Guided sea kayaking in Lónafjörður, including the use of stable sea kayaks
  - Briefing in Ísafjörður before departure and a briefing on the history of Hornstrandir at the lodge
Add-ons (pricing shown at checkout):
- - Vegan or gluten-free diet (pescatarian free of charge)
Not included:
- - Transportation to Iceland
  - Travel to and from Ísafjörður before and after the trip
  - Food on the first day until the trip departs
  - Personal equipment and clothing
  - Anything not mentioned in the ‘Included’ section above
  - Travel insurance — mandatory, available to add at checkout
  - Guide gratuities — optional
In order to join this Hornstrandir hiking and sea kayaking tour, basic fitness is required as well as no previous hiking or kayaking experience. Across the three days you’ll cover 10-30 km (6-19 mi) in total, split between hiking in the mountains around the lodge and paddling in Lónafjörður.

The plan is flexible and built around the group. Your guide adapts each day to what everyone feels like doing, so you can go for a full day of hiking, a full day on the water, or simply slow down and enjoy the surroundings. The kayaks are stable and seaworthy, which makes paddling easy and comfortable even if it’s your first time.

The terrain is pathless and mixed, with wet grass, loose rock, snow patches, streams, and sand, so waterproof high-top hiking boots with ankle support are a must. If you have any concerns about the difficulty, get in touch beforehand and your guides will talk it through with you.

Want to see what else is there in the area? Discover our collection of Iceland hiking adventures!
Clothing & footwear:
- - Warm outdoor clothing, including hiking pants and warm upper layers (please avoid cotton, as it keeps you cold when wet and takes a very long time to dry)
  - Waterproof jacket and waterproof pants
  - Waterproof high-top hiking boots with ankle support (mandatory)
  - Hat and gloves
  - Slippers for inside the house
  - Towel and bathing suit for the sauna
  - Spare clothing
Gear:
- - Small backpack
  - Water bottle
  - Sunglasses
  - Binoculars for watching wildlife (optional)
  - Camera
Other:
- - Personal medical kit, including band aids, throat lozenges, lip salve, and seasickness tablets
  - Any personal medication you may need (e.g. an asthma inhaler, even if you don’t always use it)
  - Sunscreen and after-sun cream
  - Toiletries and personal items
A note on boots: the terrain here is a mix of wet grass, loose rock, snow, streams, and sand, so high-top boots give far better support than hiking shoes and keep your feet dry. Your guides recommend Scarpa leather boots or nylon versions with Gore-Tex, and rate La Sportiva, Mammut, Merrell, and Meindl as good options too.

Dress comfortably and for the weather in clothes you can move in. We suggest bringing clothing appropriate for the season. Layers are best and don’t wear jeans.

Got everything you need? Grab your gear through Active Junky and earn cash back on top outdoor brands — plus a $10 bonus on your first $25+ purchase. Shop now at Active Junky!
Group sizes and pricing:
- - It takes a minimum of 2 people for this Hornstrandir hiking and sea kayaking tour to operate. The maximum group size is set at 8 participants.
  - This is a special women-only departure, led by an experienced female guide.
  - Hornstrandir hiking and sea kayaking tour can be arranged for larger groups, so contact us to make arrangements.
Min. age requirements:
- - If you are older than 18, you’re good to go.
  - Minors older than 16 may be permitted to join the Hornstrandir hiking and sea kayaking tour on a case-by-case basis, but must be in the presence of a parent or legal guardian.
  - If your group has participants under the age of 18, contact us prior to booking to make arrangements.
The starting point of your Hornstrandir hiking and sea kayaking tour is Ísafjörður, in the Westfjords. To get there, most people fly into Keflavík International Airport (KEF), about 40 minutes from Reykjavík. From Reykjavík’s domestic airport there are 2-3 daily flights of around 40 minutes to Ísafjörður, and the Fly-Bus connects the two airports, so most of the time you can continue the same day. You can also rent a car and drive, which is an adventure in itself over mountain passes and through fjords: roughly 440-500 km (273-311 mi) depending on the route, normally 5-6 hours, fully asphalted since the Arnkötludalur road opened in 2009, with a tunnel between Arnarfjörður and Dýrafjörður added in 2020.

You will meet your guide at 8 am at the office on Aðalstræti 17, downtown Ísafjörður, for a briefing and final preparations. The passenger ferry leaves the harbour in Ísafjörður at 9 am and sails to Kvíar in Hornstrandir. If you’d like a hand arranging accommodation in Reykjavík or a few extra days in the Westfjords, your guides are happy to help.
Having insurance is mandatory for this adventure. To make your booking and traveling experience as carefree as possible, you’ll be offered to simply insure your trip with Redpoint at checkout.

Redpoint—the official 57hours insurance partner—tailors protection packages for adventure travel, offering a comprehensive travel program, even in remote locations! Trip cancellation, natural disasters, pandemic coverage, medical evacuation, primary medical expenses—regardless of the travel interruption that may happen, Redpoint will have you covered.
Secure your spot with a 30% deposit upon booking! The remaining 70% of the trip price must be paid 90 days prior to departure at the latest. If booking within 90 days of departure, the full amount is required at the time of booking.
- If canceled within 48 hours of booking, a full refund will be issued.
- If canceled 60 or more days before departure, a 70% refund of the total trip price will be issued.
- If canceled within 59 days of departure, no refund will be issued.
- Booking fees are non-refundable after a 48 hours grace period.

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