Two Fjord Kayaking
Sea Kayak Trip in Iceland
Kayak tour from fjord to fjord
The bay of Ísafjarðardjúp offers excellent kayaking. The serene beauty of the fjord system is well known by locals but unfamiliar to the outside world. The coast of Snæfjallaströnd really gives you the feeling that you are close to the Arctic Circle with its snow cowered hills and the fifth largest glacier in Iceland just around the corner.
This is our longest day trip, an adventure into a truly special region of Iceland. We travel the whole length of Seyðisfjörður fjord, around the Folafótur (e. Horse Leg) peninsula and into Hestfjörður fjord. Along the way we often spot whales, seals, dolphins and a huge variety of seabirds. Paddle under the steep cliffs which guard the mountain of Hestur, while listening carefully for distant barks of the Arctic Fox.
Enjoy your lunch on Folafótur peninsula which holds a rich history. Over a 100 people lived here and the ruins of their settlement are still visible today.
Meeting point: Our base at Mávagarður C (grey building) close to the Eastern Harbour.
Departure: 9:00 AM. Be there half an hour before departure time.
Guaranteed departures: We have guaranteed departures every Tuesday and Thursday.
Minimum age: 16 years.
Group size: We need a minimum number of 2 participants to operate the tour. Maximum group size is 8, but most of our tours are between 2–6 people.
Trip Difficulty: Moderate.
Duration of trip: 8 hours.
Included: Transportation, kayaking gear and professional guide.
Borea Adventures set me up with "Two Fjords" kayak trip with an enthusiastic and energetic guide that pointed out not only the local recent history of the area, but also the tectonic and geological highlights, along with the local flora and fauna.
On my want list was puffins and we saw several by the kayak! We saw seals, eagles, horses, and lots of birds. The water was so clear in places you could see the bottom - beautiful emerald green, blues, with seaweed and urchins. Very nice.
We stopped for the lunch on shore with delicious sandwiches and sweet bar from the cafe topped off with tea.
There was no hurry and no problem for repeated breaks to just enjoy the day.
The journey begins at our base in Mávagarður C (grey building), where you meet your guide and gear up.
We then drive for around 45 minutes from Ísafjörður to reach the head of Seyðisfjörður fjord, where we have a short safety briefing and paddle lesson.
We begin kayaking under the imposing mountain Hestur, with its steep cliffs and unique shape. After a couple of hours, we land at the very point of Folafótur peninsula, where we land on a beautiful sandy beach to see the unusual rock formations caused by erosion while enjoying our lunch. We will keep a good look out for seals, whales and white-tailed eagles as this is a place where they are often seen.
Paddling along the coast of Hestfjörður is our next mission and we land close to the main road, where our car will be waiting to take us back to Ísafjörður.
- Warm woollen or fleece clothing including top, bottoms and socks. Please avoid cotton as it keeps you cold when wet and takes a very long time to dry.
- Spare clothing in case you get wet!
- Sunhat, sunglasses and sunscreen, it can get sunny up here!
- Lunch for the day. One or two sandwiches and your favourite snacks.
- Water bottle.
- Don’t forget your camera!
Can I bring a camera/phone with me?
You can bring cameras and phones to capture those great moments. However, as we all know, water and electronics don’t mix very well. We at Borea hold no responsibility over your personal electronics. That being said, we have very few accidents and you’re unlikely to drop or damage your items if you're careful. We recommend using a waterproof case.
Will I get wet?
Our kayaks are very stable and capsizes are rare, therefore, you’re unlikely to get soaked. But it’s important to remember that we are kayaking and it’s normal to get caught by a few splashes. Our kayak gear will keep you somewhat protected but getting a little damp is normal.
What kind of kayaks do you use?
We use plastic sea kayaks. We have both single and tandem kayaks available. We highly recommend using tandem kayaks for our trips as they are faster, more stable and a lot more social than the singles! Tandem kayaks are not only for beginners, in fact, experienced kayakers will know the benefit of tandem kayaks. However, if you are an experienced paddler, then of course the single kayaks are available.
I have never kayaked before or have limited experience; can I still join the tour?
This trip is suited to those with some experience. The longer distance requires good strength and technique which takes some practice. If you are a beginner we recommend Calm Water Kayaking.
How do I get to Ísafjörður?
Here you can see your options on how to travel to our beautiful town: How do I get to Ísafjörður.
