Kayaking Tour in Iceland’s Westfjords

What you get on this adventure:

• • An experienced, local kayaking guide with extensive knowledge of the area
  • 3 or 4-day kayaking tour in the Westfjords, depending on the itinerary you choose
  • Accommodation
    • Tents for both 3-day tours
    • Houses for the 4-day tour
  • Food and cookware (as listed in the itinerary)
  • Kayaking gear — kayaks and paddles, neoprene pants, a dry top, a spray skirt, a life vest, paddling boots, paddling gloves, and additional dry bags
  • Ferry and car transfer

Note: You’re welcome to bring your own paddling gear and clothing. We suggest bringing good dry pants and a top with rubber cuffs or at least a 3mm neoprene wetsuit with a windproof top. For footwear, neoprene boots wink ankle support and thick coles will work best. To keep your hands warm, bring neoprene gloves, mittens, or pogies.

What’s not included:

• • Transportation to the meeting point in Iceland
  • Personal equipment and clothing (option to rent a dry suit, sleeping bag, and sleeping pad at an additional cost)
  • Personal insurance
  • Some meals (as listed in the itinerary)
  • Transportation to the meeting point
  • Guide gratuities — optional

While there aren’t challenging river rapids in the Westfjords, this kayaking tour in the sea is still strenuous. Depending on the chosen tour, you’ll paddle anywhere between 5 and 15 miles per day (8-24 km), so excellent fitness and good stamina is still required!

The less you have with you when you’re kayaking, the easier it will be! If you pack wisely, you’ll have plenty of space in your kayak, so pack light.

Here’s a list of the equipment you need to bring:

• • Thermal underwear
  • Thermal mid layer (wool or fleece)
  • Hiking pants (avoid cotton)
  • Waterproof and breathable pants and jacket (the lighter, the better)
  • Spare clothes for layering
  • A hat (wool or fleece)
  • A pair of warm gloves
  • 2-3 pairs of socks (wool or synthetic)
  • Light hiking shoes for walks onshore
  • A sleeping bag (at least 0°C, down is best) & sleeping pad (thin and inflatable ones are the best) — for both 3-day tours
  • Sunglasses
  • 1 L water bottle
  • Personal medical kit
  • Personal medication
  • Toiletries (sunscreen, hand sanitizer, toilet paper)
  • 2x dry bags to keep your gear dry — your guides have small selection of dry bags that you can use, but best bring at least two of your own and make sure everything fits beforehand)
  • Small binoculars for wildlife viewing — optional, but recommended
  • Camera — optional, but recommended
  • Swimsuit and towel for the sauna at Kvíar (for the 4-day tour)

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 prices:

• • For the 3-day kayaking tour in the Westfjords, the maximum group size is 8 and the client-to-guide ratio is 8:1.
  • For the 4-day glacier kayaking tour in Hornstrandir Nature Reserve and the 3-day kayaking tour in Isafjardardjup Bay, the maximum group size is 10 and the client-to-guide ratio is 10:1.
  • It takes a minimum of 2 people for this tour to operate.
  • The cost does not decrease as the group grows.

Kayaking in Iceland’s Westfjords can be arranged for larger groups. Contact us to make arrangements.

Min. age requirements:

• • If you are older than 18, you’re good to go.

If your group has hikers under the age of 18, contact us prior to booking to make arrangements.

All kayaking tours depart from Isafjordur, the largest town in the Westfjords. Your guide will let you know the exact address on time. There are two ways to reach Isafjordur, either by car or by plane from Reykjavik.

If you have enough time, driving from Reykjavik takes 5-6 hours and it is an incredibly scenic drive. You can also reach Isafjordur by plane—there are scheduled flights 2-3 times every day from Reykjavik to Isafjordur and it takes around 40 minutes. Once you get to Isafjordur, ferry and/or car transportation are included in the price of the trip.

On the last day of the tour, your guides will drop you off in Isafjordur around 4 pm, just in time for the afternoon flight for those flying back to Reykjavik.

57hours is committed to providing safe outdoor adventure experiences. We require all guides using our platform to have a COVID-19 safety plan and to make the details of that plan accessible to travelers. In most cases, group sizes will be reduced, guides will avoid overcrowded locations, and other safety measures will be met depending on the location and activity.

We also expect clients to respect local regulations and take measures to protect themselves, their guides, and the communities they’re traveling to. For more information on COVID-19 measures in Iceland, please refer to Iceland’s COVID-19 information.

Please contact us if you have any questions or require further information. We are happy to provide you with the most up-to-date information!

Iceland, the “Land of Fire and Ice”, has forever lived with volcanic activity. Minor and major eruptions have occurred every few years since the island was formed. Some of Iceland’s appeal, aside from sheer natural beauty, surely stems from this very fact.

However, every new eruption, such as the recent Reykjanes Peninsula fissure, will make some travelers, tourists, and adventurers uneasy, especially given the fact that sensationalist media is not immune to misinformation and speculation.

Since we work with a number of expert local guides in Iceland, we thought we’d share their input and fill you in on what’s actually going on.

First of all, air traffic has not been affected. Flights to and from Keflavík International Airport and Reykjavík Domestic Airport are operating as they always do.

Second, the effects of volcanic activity have been localized, with some roads closed, and all services in Iceland are operating as usual. Reykjavik, the capital, is around 40 km (25 miles) away from the volcanic fissure, and life there is as normal as ever.

And third, trips offered by 57hours are taking place much further away, and are thereby even less likely to be affected by the volcanic activity, being perfectly safe for adventurers. Naturally, the authorities (and guides) are monitoring the situation and doing everything possible to keep both local residents and visitors safe and well informed.

In case you have any additional questions or dilemmas, feel free to get in touch with either your guide or 57hours. For more information, please visit:
https://safetravel.is/
https://www.visiticeland.com/article/volcano-info

Or watch the video with Dr. Matthew Roberts from the Icelandic Meteorological Office explaining the recent volcanic activities in Iceland:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QA3-BXYuYrw