Fláajökull Kayak and Glacier Hike: Full Day Combo Tour

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

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

from €241.52 per person

No published departures in the coming months — ask us

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Fláajökull Kayak and Glacier Hike: Full Day Combo Tour — North Tides
Fláajökull Kayak and Glacier Hike: Full Day Combo Tour, photo 2
Fláajökull Kayak and Glacier Hike: Full Day Combo Tour, photo 3
Fláajökull Kayak and Glacier Hike: Full Day Combo Tour, photo 4
Fláajökull Kayak and Glacier Hike: Full Day Combo Tour, photo 5

1 / 5

  • Duration

    7 hours

  • Difficulty

    Challenging

  • Season

    All year

  • Starts in

    Höfn in Hornafjörður

  • Pickup

    Meet at the start point

  • Starts at

    Hotel Smyrlabjörg

    Hotel Smyrlabjörg, Hornafjörður

  • Departs

    09:30

  • Minimum age

    16

  • Cancellation

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

About this experience

This glacier hike takes place on one of southeasts Iceland’s most impressive outlet glaciers: Fláajökull. We reach the glacier by hiking through a seldom visited landscape of green moss and tall waterfalls, before paddling across a secluded lake. This tour takes you far off the beaten path and away from the crowds, allowing you to enjoy this spectacle of nature just as it should be.

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 20 - 30 minutes, driving mainly on a gravel road.

The hike to the glacier takes 30 minutes and passes the beautiful waterfall Bólstaðafoss, a triple-drop waterfall cascading 100m down the mountainside. When we reach the lake, we inflate our kayaks and begin paddling across the lake, just metres from the huge wall of glacier ice. Around 30 minutes paddling takes us across the lake and to the starting point of our glacier hike at the glacier terminus of Fláajökull.

We will strap on crampons and explore the glacier visiting huge crevasses, moulins and enjoying the amazing icescape. Fláajökull is a hidden gem, and we are the only tour company operating on this glacier.

After hiking on the glacier we will return to our boats, paddle back across the lake and hike back to our car and the starting point.

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

Included

All equipment for safely kayaking and hiking on the glacier, including:

  • Boat, paddle, PFD, drysuit, water shoes
  • Crampons, helmet, harness, ice axe

Good to know

  • Hiking boots
  • Warm clothes for hiking and paddling.
  • Warm socks
  • Hat and gloves
  • Sunglasses
  • Phone or camera*

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

This trip is a full-day, human-powered adventure. When hiking, we will carry our boats, drysuits, paddles and glacier gear (approx. 10kg), in addition to personal gear such as clothing, food and water. We hike over rocky, uneven terrain including some uphill sections: this tour is designed for people who are physically active and are used to hiking and being outdoors.

The kayaking section of this tour is suitable for people with no experience; instruction will be given by your guide.

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.

  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 →

Why this one and not the cheaper one?

The nearest cheaper Glacier Wonders from Arctic Adventures is €101 — €141 less. Here is every difference we can actually measure.

North Tides · €242Arctic Adventures · €101
How long it runs7 hours4.2 hours
Changing your mindNot statedFree until 24 h before
How hard it isChallengingEasy

The €141 buys you 2.8 more hours out. Whether that is worth it is your call — but that is what the difference is.

Who this is not for

  • Not for families with children under 16 — the operator will not take them, even with a parent.
  • Not for anyone unsure on their feet or carrying an injury — the operator rates this as physically demanding, and there is no easy version of the day.

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.

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

from

€241.52 per person

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