Fjallsárlón Kayaking & Skaftafell Glacier Hike

About 6 hoursGroup: Small group, up to 6 guests per guideModerateMeet at FjallsárlónAge 10+May to September

Yellow kayak beside a blue iceberg on Fjallsárlón

Two ways to see Vatnajökull in one day. In the morning you paddle a kayak between icebergs on Fjallsárlón, right below the glacier. Then you drive to Skaftafell and walk on Falljökull with crampons and an ice axe.

Kayaking among the icebergsDrive to SkaftafellGlacier hike on Falljökull

Kayaking among icebergs on Fjallsárlón
Glacier hike on Falljökull
Groups of up to six
Drysuit and glacier gear included

Your day, stop by stop

Click a stop for photos and practical tips.

1Meet at FjallsárlónMeet your kayak guide at the Fjallsjökull viewpoint by Fjallsárlón, just off the Ring Road west of Jökulsárlón.

Meet your kayak guide at the Fjallsjökull viewpoint by Fjallsárlón, just off the Ring Road west of Jökulsárlón. You get a drysuit and life jacket. There are no toilets at Fjallsárlón.

Read our Fjallsárlón guide →

Kayaking among the icebergsYou carry the kayak, about 5 kg, some 200 metres to the shore, get a short paddling lesson and set off.

You carry the kayak, about 5 kg, some 200 metres to the shore, get a short paddling lesson and set off. For about an hour and a half you paddle among floating ice, with the glacier front of Fjallsjökull ahead of you. Single and double kayaks are available.

Drive to SkaftafellYou drive yourself west along the Ring Road to the glacier base in Skaftafell, which takes about 45 minutes.

Glacier hike on FalljökullAt the base camp your glacier guide fits you with crampons, helmet, harness and ice axe.

At the base camp your glacier guide fits you with crampons, helmet, harness and ice axe. A 25-minute transfer and a 30-minute walk take you to the edge of Falljökull, and then you spend about an hour and a half on the ice, looking at crevasses and moulins (deep holes carved by meltwater).

About the kayaking and glacier hike combo

Fjallsárlón is a quieter neighbour of Jökulsárlón. Its icebergs break off Fjallsjökull, which you see right in front of you from the water. Kayaking lets you get close to the ice in a way no boat tour can.

In the afternoon you switch to a glacier hike on Falljökull, an outlet of Vatnajökull in Skaftafell. The hike covers about 3 km and 200 to 250 metres of climbing, with about an hour and a half on the ice.

Groups are kept to six guests per guide. You drive between the two meeting points yourself, so you need a car.

Make it your own

Optional extras, at extra cost

Hiking boots (glacier hike)
Waterproof jacket (glacier hike)
Waterproof trousers (glacier hike)

Included

Guided kayak tour on Fjallsárlón
Kayak (single or double), paddle, life jacket and drysuit
Certified, English-speaking glacier guide
Crampons, helmet, harness and ice axe
Vatnajökull National Park fee

Not included

Transport (you drive yourself between Fjallsárlón and Skaftafell)
Parking fees
Food and drinks
Hiking boots and waterproof clothing for the hike (available to rent)

What to bring

Warm wool or synthetic layers to wear under the drysuit
Hiking boots with ankle support for the glacier (required, or rent them)
Waterproof jacket and trousers
Hat, gloves and sunglasses
Snacks and water
Camera

Good to know

Duration: about 6 hours including the drive between the two activities
Minimum age 10. Children must be with an adult on the glacier
Kayak weight limit: 110 kg in a single, 180 kg combined in a double
Drysuits fit heights from 140 to 198 cm
Crampons fit shoe sizes EU 35 to 50 only
No toilets at Fjallsárlón
Both parts run in most weather. If one is cancelled you get a partial refund or can rebook
Meeting point: Kayak: Fjallsjökull viewpoint at Fjallsárlón. Glacier hike: glacier base camp in Skaftafell
Open the meeting point in Google Maps

Questions people ask

Do I need kayaking experience?

No. The guide gives you a short lesson before you set off, and the lagoon is calm.

Will I get wet?

You wear a drysuit over your clothes, so you stay dry even if you splash.

How do I get from the kayak to the glacier hike?

You drive yourself along the Ring Road, around 45 minutes.

Is it suitable for children?

From age 10, as long as they fit the drysuit (140 cm tall or more) and the crampons (shoe size EU 35 or more).

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From26,990 ISKPer person