Glacier Kayaking Iceland

by Glacier and Volcano Expeditions · Boat tours · Vatnajökull & Jökulsárlón

5.00(104) · operator on Google

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Glacier Kayaking Iceland, photo 6Glacier Kayaking Iceland, photo 7Glacier Kayaking Iceland, photo 8Glacier Kayaking Iceland, photo 9

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  • Duration

    1 hour and 30 minutes

  • Difficulty

    Moderate

  • Season

    All year

  • Meeting

    Meet on location

  • Languages

    EN, EN

  • Departs

    09:00, 09:30, 11:30, 12:00 …

  • Minimum age

    10

  • Cancellation

    Free until 24h before

Our take on this one

Fjallsárlón is the quieter lagoon, a few kilometres west of Jökulsárlón and with a fraction of the coaches. Paddling it puts you at water level among the icebergs that have just come off the glacier, which is a different thing entirely from looking at them from the shore. Ninety minutes, six people maximum, drysuit, lifejacket and all the paddling gear provided. Graded moderate and physical — you are doing the work, and the operator sets the minimum age at ten. Bring warm clothes, a hat, sunglasses and a camera. Six departures a day from 09:00, all year. Not suitable if you have back problems or are pregnant.

Book it if
Anyone driving the southeast who wants an iceberg lagoon without a boatload of other people between them and the ice.
Skip it if
Ninety minutes of your own paddling in a drysuit — if you want to sit and be shown the ice, take an amphibian boat at Jökulsárlón.

Written by us, from the operator's own details and what we know of the route. We don't take a fee for a good word.

About this experience

Set on the stunning Fjallsárlón glacier lagoon, this kayaking tour offers a unique opportunity to paddle among icebergs formed on an active volcano. In Vatnajökull National Park, participants will embark on a scenic journey, guided to the best photographic spots while navigating through natural ice formations. With a maximum group size of 6, enjoy personalized attention and safety with provided drysuits and paddling gear. This physical tour is perfect for fit adventurers aged 10 and above, ensuring a memorable glacier experience.

- Paddle on the mesmerizing Fjallsárlón glacier lagoon among icebergs
- Expert guide leads you to picturesque spots for optimal photography
- Maximum group size of 6 for a personalized experience
- Safety gear provided, including drysuits and lifejackets

Description from the operator, Glacier and Volcano Expeditions . Prices and availability in the booking panel are live.

Included

Kayaking equipment
Kayaking tour guide

Not included

Parking Fee

Good to know

What you need to bring - warm clothing, warm hat, sunglasses, camera


  • Not wheelchair accessible
  • Not stroller accessible
  • Not suitable for pets
  • No public transportation nearby
  • Infants must not sit on laps
  • Infant seats unavailable
  • Not recommended for people with back problems
  • Not recommended for pregnant travelers
  • Not recommended for people with heart conditions

Cancellation for this tour

Free cancellation until 24 hours before departure; no refund after that. 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 sea state — the skipper decides an hour or two before departure. Here is exactly what happens to your booking.

  1. 1Glacier and Volcano Expeditions 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 1 day before departure, the operator's policy after that.

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

Sold out on your date?

Seats come back — a cancellation, or the operator adding a vehicle. Tell us the date and we will check once a day and email you if one opens. One email, then we delete the address; nothing else is ever sent to it.

Who this is not for

  • Children under 10 cannot join this one.

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

Why we list it

Glacier and Volcano Expeditions is one of 154 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 Glacier and Volcano Expeditions

Read all 104 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.

  • Tinna Kasper

    ★★★★★ · 3 months ago

    We went on a glacier kayaking tour with Guðný and Rowan on May 17th. And we had so much fun! They both are amazing guides. They told us about glaciers, about Island and it history and people. Kayaks itself were easy to use. Even that we have 0-1 experience. We can highly recommend booking through Glacier and Volcano Tours. You’ll support small Iceland businesses and get the best value for your money.

  • Matt M

    ★★★★★ · 3 months ago

    Rowan and Guðný were awesome! Our family did the Kayak and Glacier Hike trip and had a blast. Both guides were quick to adapt plans to our interests and abilities and Rowan is also a great photographer. We were even able to sneak in a little bit of ice climbing for me Andy 2 boys in the middle of our glacier hike. I would highly recommend booking any guide trip with them!

  • Amy Karki

    ★★★★★ · 3 months ago

    THIS is who you need to use if you plan on doing an expedition in Iceland. My husband and I did the kayak-glacier hike-ice climb and it was a once in a life time experience. Our guide Rowan was amazing. He had a great personality and great knowledge about the glaciers. Booking and communication were easy. 10 out of 10 for sure!

  • AJ E

    ★★★★★ · a year ago

    I went on a glacier kayaking and hiking tour with Rowan and Guðný on 5/8 and had an amazing time. They were both amazing guides and made sure we had the best time. The trip felt both very exciting yet still very safe. The views were incredible, and even though we had to cut our kayaking time short due to high winds, Rowan and Guðný made sure we still had some amazing experiences but teaching us a little impromptu ice climbing! Highly recommend booking through Glacier and Volcano Tours and supporting small Iceland businesses! You won’t be disappointed

Reviews from Google · updated 13 Sept 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.

No reviews yet from our travellers on this one. After your tour we send one email asking how it was, and what you write goes here, unedited.

Boat tours — questions people ask

Where do boat tours leave from in Reykjavík?

The Old Harbour, on Ægisgarður pier, about five minutes' walk from most downtown hotels and ten from Hallgrímskirkja. Elding and Reykjavik Sailors both have ticket offices there. Whale, puffin, sea-angling and northern-lights boats all use the same area. Arrive thirty minutes before departure to check in. The Viðey ferry (/experience/1539/) leaves from the same harbour in summer and from Skarfabakki the rest of the year.

Is the Jökulsárlón boat tour worth it?

Yes, if you are already at the lagoon. A Zodiac gets you among the icebergs and close to the glacier edge in a way the shore cannot, and the combined glacier hike and Zodiac day (/experience/716547/) is the best full day in the southeast. Boats run in the warmer months only; check the tour page for dates. It is not worth a fourteen-hour day trip from Reykjavík just for the boat.

What is the difference between a Zodiac and an amphibian boat at Jökulsárlón?

A Zodiac is a fast rigid inflatable seating around ten, with a guide who can nose it near the glacier face and into iceberg fields; you wear a flotation suit and get a bit wet. The amphibian is a slow duck boat carrying larger groups on a fixed loop. The Zodiac is the better trip and the one we list. It has a minimum age and is bumpier; the tour page has details.

Will a boat tour be cancelled if it is windy?

Quite possibly. Operators cancel whale, puffin and lagoon boats when the wind or swell makes them unsafe or pointless, and Iceland is windy. The decision usually comes the evening before or early on the day, by email or text. You get a full refund or a new date. Book boat trips early in your stay rather than on your last day so a cancellation can be rebooked.

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Pairs well with

Everything here goes into the same basket and the same single payment, however many operators it comes from.

from

€125 per person

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