Sea Kayaking in Reykjavík
Iceland,  Kayaking

Kayaking in Iceland

Updated January 24th, 2020

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Many people do not realize the number and variety of active things to do in Iceland. So many tourists I met stuck to the Golden Circle and other sightseeing routes. I enjoyed those too, but what stuck the most with me was all the active activities I took part in within the beautiful landscape of the country.

One morning I went on a short kayaking trip very close to Reykjavík. Iceland is typically very rainy, but as the locals said, my visit in Iceland was the nicest week of the summer so far. I had a gorgeous, sunny day to enjoy my paddle. 

sea kayaking reykjavik

One of the best parts of doing activities solo is the people you meet along the way. I had a great group of people that I enjoyed talking with. The calm waters made for a very relaxing experience too.

sea kayaking reykjavik

Well that was until I saw one guy tip over in his kayak. We had the type of kayaks that you sit inside and wear a kayak skirt around the opening so no water gets into the kayak. So when he tipped over he didn’t fall into the water all the way, he was just laying horizontal on the water. I was the closest one to him, unfortunately for him, and I kind of froze in the moment. I didn’t know what to do to help him! Everyone else was shouting to him to pull his kayaking skirt off. We found out later he was trying to right himself so his phone, inside his kayak, stayed dry. Eventually he pulled the kayak skirt cord and plunged into the cold water. I can’t say for sure, but it was probably about 50 degrees Fahrenheit or so. He had a pretty cold paddle back to shore.

sea kayaking Reykjavík

His family all made fun of him that he managed to fall in on such calm waters. He just was concerned about his phone, that got a bath, and that no-one caught it on camera. I just felt so bad I wasn’t able to come to his rescue. My redeeming quality was that at least I went after his paddle and rescued that!

Visiting Information

Where

Arctic Adventures bus pick-up stops from Reykjavík.

Company & Review

I went with Arctic Adventures on the Sea Kayking – Fjord Serenity because it was the only kayaking with pick-up from Reykjavík I could find. I have no complaints about the experience and really enjoyed it. The guides were fine, but not exceptional like I had on other tours. I wasn’t particularly impressed with the company though. They took much longer than other companies to respond to emails and they cancelled a sightseeing tour at the last minute that was not weather dependent. FYI: I think “Extreme Iceland” is the same company or under the same umbrella company as Arctic Adventures.

Location

This can change depending on weather, but we kayaked on a fjord only 10 minutes or so outside of Reykjavík.

Toilets

I was told there would be toilets at the location. The first guide I asked seemed skeptical, but the 2nd guide had keys to the little building nearby with an indoor bathroom.

FYI

If you have your own car or can get yourself to the meeting point you can kayak down the Svartá-river, on the Sólheimajökull Glacier Lagoon, or within Breiðafjörður Bay.

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