Intro to Glacier Packrafting

by North Tides · Glacier hiking · Vatnajökull & Jökulsárlón

5.0· 40 Google reviews of the operator

Fine on your own
Eco-certified
Self-guided

from €168.11 per person

No published departures in the coming months — ask us

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Intro to Glacier Packrafting — North Tides

1 / 5

Duration
3 hours and 30 minutes
Difficulty
Moderate
Season
All year
Starts in
Höfn in Hornafjörður
Pickup
Meet at the start point
Starts at
Hotel Smyrlabjörg
Hotel Smyrlabjörg, Hornafjörður
Departs
10:00
Minimum age
14
Cancellation
Cancelling costs 5% of the price within 180 days of departure.

About this experience

The meeting point for this tour is Smyrlabjörg Hotel. We begin the trip with a short briefing on the weather conditions and what to expect, before departing in our 4x4 vehicle towards the glacier. The journey will take approximately 20 minutes, driving mainly on a gravel road. Upon arriving at the destination, we will get our gear ready and start the 30-minute hike towards the glacier. We hike along a green mossy trail, past the cascading Bolstaðafoss waterfall and to the lakes edge.

At the lake, we will inflate the boats and put on our drysuits. After some paddling instruction and safety briefing, we will paddle across the lake taking time to admire the mountains and ice surrounding us. We will then land the boats on a skerry which is still emerging from under the melting glacier, and hike 10 – 15 minutes to get a great view across the lake, up close to the impressive and intimidating glacier. Safety permitting, we will briefly walk onto the ice so that we can say we have stepped foot on the largest glacier in Europe*.

*The glacier is constantly changing and safe access cannot be guaranteed. The guide will assess access to the glacier each trip and take a decision based on safety- this decision is final.

Description from the operator, North Tides . Prices and availability in the booking panel are live.

Included

Included:

-All kayaking equipment (boat, paddle, PFD, drysuit, water shoes).

-Waterproof backpack to carry gear to the lake

Good to know

Hiking boots
Warm clothes to hike in and wear under the drysuit. Avoid very bulky items such as ski jackets, as this will not fit under the drysuit.
Warm socks
Hat
Gloves
Sunglasses
Phone or camera*

*Electronic items are brought at the owner's risk. We recommend bringing a waterproof case or drybag if your phone/camera is not waterproof.

This trip consists of approximately 1.5 hours hiking and 1 hour kayaking. When hiking to/from the lake (2 km each way), you will be expected to carry your kayaking equipment (7kg total). In places, the trail is rocky and uneven with short uphill sections. The kayaking and hiking are performed at a relaxed pace, so people in good shape will find the trip easy. This trip is designed for active people who have some experience hiking outdoors. It is not suitable for very unfit/overweight people.

Cancellation for this tour

Cancelling costs 5% of the price within 180 days of departure. If the operator cancels for weather or safety, you get a full refund or a new date.

If the weather cancels this tour

Iceland's weather is real. What usually stops this one is high wind or rain on the ice — the guide decides at the meeting point, sometimes after you have set off. Here is exactly what happens to your booking.

1North Tides decides, and tells us. Operators cancel when it is unsafe or pointless, and we back that call every time — we do not ask them to run anyway.
2We contact you by email, and by phone if your tour is the same or next day. You choose: another date if there is one you can make, or a full refund. There is no fee and nothing to argue.
3The refund goes back to the card you paid with, through Stripe, usually visible within a few working days. If this tour was one of several in your booking, the others are untouched.

What you do not get is the day back. If this is the only free day in your plan, put a spare day next to it — the planner leaves days free with the rest-day option. And if you want out because the forecast looks bad, that is your own cancellation: free until the cutoff shown above, the operator's policy after that.

Questions on the day: [email protected] · +354 497 1373. How cancellations work in Iceland →

Why this one and not the cheaper one?

The nearest cheaper Glacier Wonders from Arctic Adventures is €101 — €67 less. Here is every difference we can actually measure.

	North Tides · €168	Arctic Adventures · €101
How long it runs	3.5 hours	4.2 hours
Changing your mind	Not stated	Free until 24 h before
How hard it is	Moderate	Easy

On everything we can measure, the Arctic Adventures tour is the better buy. The €67 is not buying anything we can point to, so unless you want this operator in particular, take the cheaper one.

Who this is not for

Not for families with children under 14 — the operator will not take them, even with a parent.

Read off the operator's own conditions. If none of it applies to you, this is a good one.

Why we list it

North Tides is one of 204 operators we work with — chosen for reliability, honest descriptions and how they treat guests when weather changes plans. We don't list everything; we list what we'd book ourselves. The six checks every operator passes →

What travellers say about North Tides

Read all 40 reviews on Google →

Operator rating 5.0/5 from Google — these are reviews of the company, not this specific tour. Shown as Google returns them, unedited.

Thai Luong
★★★★★ · 4 weeks ago
Had a great time with Rory. He was knowledgeable, friendly, and had a great itinerary for our group of 4. His route is his own, so we didn't see a single other soul on the excursion. We did the longest excursion he offered and it was cool to kayak and then climb a glacier. It was accessible even for our friend who had never kayaked before. You don't need to be in terrific shape, but being somewhat in shape (able to carry a 20lb pack for 30 minutes) is recommended! It was a one of a kind experience and I would do it again in a heartbeat.
Heather Nicholds
★★★★★ · 2 months ago
We had such a wonderful time kayaking amongst the icebergs! The views were incredible, and we had a nice leisurely 2 hour paddle round the lake, which we had entirety to ourselves. Rory was a fantastic guide, very kind to accommodate our timing and make sure my dad would be able to manage the trip. He is super knowledgeable, has a nice relaxed pace, and very safety-conscious. Highly recommend taking a trip if you can book a time!!!
Jody Andrade
★★★★★ · 3 months ago
Rory is an excellent guide. We were the only people on the water and glacier. We kayaked among icebergs and then to top it off, he led us on a gorgeous hike to the edge of and onto the glacier. Surpassed our expectations and then some.
Johnny LI
★★★★★ · 6 months ago
Rory is a great tour guide with glacier knowledge. We spent great time in the full day ice cave tour which is a small group tour(6 people). We started from some ice cave which other normal tours will not come. And then in the afternoon, we go head to the stunning crystal blue ice cave. And avoid high peak time and enjoy the cave photo shooting. 🫡👍

Reviews from Google · updated 21 Oct 2026

Read before you book

Canyoning in Iceland: the half day under VatnajökullIceland's canyoning runs near Höfn from June to mid-September only, from €277. Minimum age twelve, own car needed. Packrafting is the gentler alternative.
Höfn í Hornafirði: the glacier baseIceland's best-placed small town for Vatnajökull. Ice caves, glacier walks and langoustine, an hour east of Jökulsárlón and a long way from Reykjavík.
Best Glacier Hike in Iceland (2026): 5 PicksThe glacier hikes we would book ourselves in Iceland, on Sólheimajökull and in Skaftafell, with real adult prices, departure points and who each one is not for.

Reviews from our travellers

Only people who booked this tour through us can write here. We publish every review in full — good or bad.

Reviews arrive the day after each trip — none yet for this one. After your tour we send one email asking how it was, and what you write goes here, unedited.

Glacier hiking — questions people ask

Which glacier is best for a first glacier hike?

Sólheimajökull on the South Coast, about two and a half hours from Reykjavík. It is the most accessible glacier tongue, the walk from the car park is short and the three-to-four-hour tours (/experience/6853/ or /experience/914990/) suit beginners. Skaftafell in the southeast has bigger ice and fewer people, with tours like Glacier Wonders (/experience/17340/), but it is a five-hour drive each way, so it only works if you are staying out there.

Can you hike on a glacier in Iceland in summer?

Yes. Glacier hiking runs all year. In June to August the ice is grey and gritty on the surface with blue crevasses and meltwater channels, and the weather is milder. In November to March the ice is whiter and you may see ice formations, but daylight is short and the wind bites. Neither is better; summer is easier, winter is prettier. The one thing you cannot do in summer is visit a natural blue ice cave.

How fit do I need to be for a glacier hike?

Moderately. You walk two to three hours on uneven ice in crampons, with some short steep sections. Anyone who can manage a hilly day walk will be fine; the pace is slow because the guide is checking the route. It is not for anyone with knee or balance problems, and most operators set a minimum age of eight to ten. Check the tour page. Longer tours like Glacier Explorer (/experience/17338/) push further onto the ice and need more stamina.

What do I need to bring on a glacier hike?

Sturdy boots with ankle support, waterproof jacket and trousers, warm layers, gloves and a hat, plus water and a snack. The operator provides crampons, a harness, a helmet and an ice axe. Jeans and trainers are not allowed on the ice, and guides do turn people away. Most meeting points rent boots and rain gear for a small fee; check the tour page and book them in advance in summer.

Hotels

Where to stay for this tour

From the cheapest to the top end of what is near Skaftafell, from our hotel partners. Rooms are booked on our hotels site.

All hotels in Vatnajökull & Jökulsárlón →

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Pairs well with

Add any of these to this tour and 3 % comes off both at checkout — about €11 on the cheapest pair. One basket, one payment, however many operators they come from.