Top 11 Iceland Kayak Tours

1.Kayaking on the Sólheimajökull Glacier Lagoon

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 421 reviews · 2 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $170Our pick

Paddle calm, iceberg-dotted water beside Sólheimajökull Glacier in a stable sit-on-top kayak. Your guide provides instruction, a dry suit, boots, gloves, and glacier stories. Sebastian, Fernanda, Daniella, and Thomas are among the guides praised for clear safety advice and friendly help.

“Such a wonderful experience! Being up close to icebergs with the glacier as a backdrop is incredible. Fernanda is an amazing guide taking extra time to teach while we explored many aspects of the lagoon. She is also a great photographer and make up artist with the lava mud pulled from an iceberg.”

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2.Sólheimajökull: Guided Kayaking Tour on the Glacier Lagoon

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 179 reviews · 3 hours · from $170

Paddle a sit-on-top kayak across Sólheimajökull Glacier Lagoon for three hours, circling icebergs beneath the glacier. Your English-speaking guide provides a dry suit, safety briefing, paddling help, local stories, and photos. No kayaking experience is needed, but bring warm layers, a hat, and spare socks.

“Sebastian was an excellent guide. Very safety conscious and very knowledgeable.”

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3.Grundarfjörður: Mt. Kirkjufell Daytime Kayaking Adventure

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 170 reviews · 2 hours · from $120

Meet Vestur Adventures by the sea in Grundarfjörður for a guided sit-atop kayak trip beneath Mt. Kirkjufell. Guides such as Reda, Greg, Sony, and Kate share local stories while you paddle to Seal Skerry, watch for birds and seals, and finish with hot chocolate and cookies.

“This was one of my favorite days in Iceland! Our guide, Kate, was extremely knowledgeable and so so nice. She made sure we were prepared and answered all of our questions, but also wasn't overly talkative when the point of this excursion was to spend time enjoying the nature of the area. We kayaked around the bay, where we got to see/learn about some of the history of the area, and we even got to see a playful seal + puffins during our tour. Being out on the water and seeing the scenic views from that viewpoint was unreal, and I highly recommend this tour for everyone! Plus, the hot…”

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4.Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon Kayaking Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 165 reviews · 1.5 hours · from $162

Meet IceGuide by Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon, gear up in a two-piece suit, then paddle a sit-on-top kayak among floating icebergs for about 1.5 hours. English-speaking guides such as Fabio, Tim, and Nic provide safety instruction, glacier information, and help you spot seals and birds.

“Once in a lifetime! Awesome tour of the lagoon, getting a peaceful and personal view of the glaciers away from the crowds, and a seal or two to keep you company. Good warm gear, friendly & informative guides.”

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5.Grundarfjörður: Midnight Sun Kayaking Adventure

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 29 reviews · 3 hours · from $155

Paddle for about two hours beneath Kirkjufell with an English-speaking local guide. Sony, Sonny, Reda, and Greg are praised for lively stories and helpful instruction. Dry suits, gloves, shoes, safety gear, seal watching, birdlife, and a warm drink are included.

“We had an unbelievably wonderful experience! The guides were great, the tour was fun and we even got to see a seal 😍”

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6.Guided kayak tour in Siglufjörður / Siglufjordur.

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 24 reviews · from $97

Meet Sigló Sea in Siglufjörður for a 2.5-hour guided kayak trip through the fjord. You’ll learn the basics, practice with a guide, and paddle past a shipwreck, avalanche site, and lighthouse in a small group of no more than six, with all kayak and safety gear provided.

“This was an amazing experience. Our guides were so interesting and informative and had all the gear necessary to outfit us and keep us safe. Our family had a terrific time!”

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7.Guided Sit on Top Kayak Tour near Akureyri

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 19 reviews · 2 hours (approx.) · from $79Best value

Meet at Bakkaflöt near Varmahlíð for a two-hour guided sit-on-top kayak trip down the gentle Svartá River. Your guide, including Norris on some departures, provides safety gear and instruction before you paddle through North Iceland scenery. Hot tubs and a small pool await afterward.

“27th July 2023. Great oportunity to experience icleandic nature. It is much more than admiring the river, you become the part of it. Do not worry, it is not deep. And you do not need much experience in kayaking because the wonderful guide Norris explains everything and check all the time how everyone is doing.”

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8.Stykkishólmur: 2-Hour Sea Kayak Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.4 · 18 reviews · from $96

From central Stykkishólmur, you paddle a small group sea kayak route through Breiðafjörður Bay. A local English or Icelandic-speaking guide leads beginners and experienced paddlers past Landey, old shipwrecks, seabirds, and remote islands. Dry suits are supplied, but bring spare clothes and wear light shoes.

“Really enjoyed our trip. Great guide and lots of interesting birds and shoreline. Though the weather was going to be a problem but it was fine especially since we were given nice dry suits to wear. Clear and patient explanations made it as enjoyable for those in my family with less experience as it was for those with lots of experience. Highly recommend”

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9.Siglufjörður / Siglufjordur: Guided kayak tour.

★★★★★★★★★★4.4 · 9 reviews · 2.5 hours · from $107

Meet your English-speaking guide at Siglo Sea HQ for a 2.5-hour paddle through Siglufjörður. After safety practice and kayak coaching, you’ll visit a shipwreck, the Selvíkurnef lighthouse, and the 1919 avalanche site while watching for birds and seals.

“Tom was amazing! I got lucky and it became a private tour. There were lots of birds, a seal and tons of Iceland history and stories! 10/10 recommend”

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10.Private: Guided kayak tour in Siglufjörður / Siglufjordur.

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 9 reviews · 2 hours 30 minutes (approx.)

Set out from Siglufjörður with Sigló Sea guides such as Tom and Laken. After a safety briefing and practice session, paddle the fjord past a shipwreck, avalanche site, and lighthouse while hearing about local life, nature, and history. Warm gear is supplied.

“What a great experience. We can’t say enough about Tom, his communication, his management of our rainy trip and the relationships he has developed w/ the local community. We had an incredible experience. Despite the weather we enjoyed our paddling around the harbor in Siglo. We had no issues w/ the gear and were provided w/ both a warm fleece, gloves and an outer dry suit that kept us warm and dry. We stopped at a local cafe on the way back with limitless fish soup and local bread which everyone loved and ate until we were bursting. We had no issues whatsoever and would recommend this trip without any…”

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11.Icelandic Kayak Trip

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 5 reviews · 1.5 hours · from $103

Meet at Bakkaflöt near Varmahlíð for a gentle sit-on-top kayak ride on the Svartá River. Guides provide gear, a safety briefing, and a 15-minute upriver transfer. Expect birdlife, fjord views, easy paddling, and hot tubs afterward.

“Engagerade och proffsiga guider. Nära naturen resa. Lagom utmanade tur för en ganska ovan paddlare.”

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