Heinabergslón Kayak and Hike

by North Tides · Hiking & trekking · Boat tours · Vatnajökull & Jökulsárlón

5.0· 40 Google reviews of the operator
  • Fine on your own
  • Eco-certified
  • Self-guided

from €219.49 per person

No published departures in the coming months — ask us

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Heinabergslón Kayak and Hike — North Tides
Heinabergslón Kayak and Hike, photo 2
Heinabergslón Kayak and Hike, photo 3
Heinabergslón Kayak and Hike, photo 4

1 / 4

  • Duration

    6 hours

  • Difficulty

    Moderate

  • Season

    All year

  • Starts in

    Höfn in Hornafjörður

  • Pickup

    Meet at the start point

  • Starts at

    Hotel Smyrlabjörg

    Hotel Smyrlabjörg, Hornafjörður

  • Departs

    10:30

  • Minimum age

    14

  • Cancellation

    Cancelling costs 5% of the price within 180 days of departure.

About this experience

This tour takes you kayaking and hiking at Heinabergslón, an iceberg-filled lake which shares a valley with its namesake glacier, Heinabergsjökull. After paddling around majestic icebergs and crossing the lake, we will land the boats at its southern end and hike to a spectacular viewpoint on the nearby mountain, Hafrafell.

Hafrafell is cut off from any road access by a river, two lakes and a glacier, meaning that the only access to this mountain is by kayak or by crossing the glacier. As a result, this special place is completely free from human influence; a place where nature has been allowed to roam freely. Witness first-hand the rocky, barren land which emerges from under a melting glacier and see how this develops into mossy pastures where reindeer feed.

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, before a short walk brings us to the edge of the lake. We then inflate the boats and off we go.

We will kayak for ~1,5 hours, exploring the glacier lake and finding a path between the icebergs. We paddle at a relaxed pace so as to fully appreciate the magnificent surroundings.

After exploring the lake, we will land at its southern end at the foot of the island mountain. Here, we will take off the drysuits, put on our hiking boots and walk the mountain trail to a beautiful viewpoint overlooking an outlet glacier which descends from the Vatnajökull ice cap. Our hiking route takes us close to the glacier, through land which was under the ice less than 20 years ago. After hiking for 1-2 hours, at a leisurely pace, we return to our boats and paddle back to the car.

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

Included

Kayaking equipment, including:

  • Kayak
  • PFD
  • Paddle
  • Drysuit
  • Water shoes

Good to know

  • Hiking boots
  • Warm clothes to wear whilst hiking and kayaking. Bulky jackets such as ski jackets are not suitable as they do not fit comfortably under the drysuit.
  • Warm socks
  • Hat and gloves
  • Sunglasses
  • Phone or camera*

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

This trip consists of 1.5 - 2 hours of kayaking, followed by 1.5 - 2 hours of hiking. You will be expected to carry your boat and paddle from the car to the shore of the lake (approx. 200m). There is no maintained hiking trail; you should be confident hiking over rocky/uneven ground with short sections uphill.

Kayaking experience is not required: instruction will be given on site.

This trip is aimed at 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 wind above the treeline and river levels after rain — the guide decides on the day. Here is exactly what happens to your booking.

  1. 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.
  2. 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.
  3. 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 →

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

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.

Hiking & trekking — questions people ask

When can you hike in Landmannalaugar?

Late June to September. The highland roads to Landmannalaugar are closed by snow the rest of the year, and the opening date shifts with the weather each summer. In season, day tours from Reykjavík (/experience/16823/) run about fourteen hours with a three- to five-hour guided hike and a soak in the hot river. If you have your own 4x4, the meet-on-location hike (/experience/254326/) skips the bus.

How hard is the Laugavegur trek?

Moderate to hard. It is 55 kilometres over four days from Landmannalaugar to Þórsmörk, with river crossings, snow patches in July and weather that can turn to sleet in August. You do not need technical skills, but you need to carry a pack and walk five to eight hours a day. Guided treks (/experience/738812/) handle logistics and camping gear; the luggage transfer (/experience/1036525/) lets self-guided walkers carry a day pack only.

Can you hike to the volcano near Reykjavík?

Yes, when it is safe. The Reykjanes eruption sites at Fagradalsfjall and around Grindavík have drawn hikers since 2021, and guided tours (/experience/629086/, /experience/620679/) follow the routes the Civil Protection authority has open. If there is an active eruption, access changes daily and tours adapt or pause. The lava is usually cooled and crusted; you see fresh black rock and steam, not flowing lava. Wear boots; the ground is rough.

What should I pack for a day hike in Iceland?

Waterproof jacket and trousers, not a poncho; the wind will shred it. Hiking boots with ankle support, wool or synthetic layers, hat, gloves, sunglasses and a packed lunch with two litres of water. In the highlands add a warm mid-layer even in July. Guides carry first aid and route knowledge, not your rain gear. Cotton jeans and trainers are the most common reason people have a miserable day.

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 €12 on the cheapest pair. One basket, one payment, however many operators they come from.

from

€219.49 per person

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