Coastal Kayaking Adventure

We meet at our base in Mávagarður C (grey building) at 7am for a briefing, where we will answer any questions and make final preparations. We depart from the harbour in Ísafjörður on our passenger ferry Bjarmi at 8am. The destination is our renovated farmhouse Kvíar which stands on the shore between the fjords of Veiðleysufjörður and Lónafjörður. Please note that your guide may already be at Kvíar with the group on Paddle in the Wild, in which case you’ll join their trip. Of course, there will be another member of staff at the office to brief you and help prepare before handing you over to the crew on the ferry who will deliver you safely to your guide at Kvíar.

We pack our boats and start paddling. Our first task is to paddle across the bay to the South side of the fjord near Höfði to get a good look at Leirufjörður fjord with the elegant Drangajökull glacier in the distance. The name Leirufjörður (e. silty fjord) explains itself when we see the clay and silt coming from the glacial river of Drangajökull. We then head along the shoreline towards Grunnavík Bay. En-route is a nice rock arch that we can pass under at high tide. There is also a good chance to spot porpoises close to the shore, especially if the sea is calm. At Grunnavík there are a few summerhouses and a nice church that we can take a look at. We set up camp, eat dinner and sleep on the beach.

Distance: 18km

Today we head out of the Jökulfirðir glacial fjords and into the big bay of Ísafjarðardjúp. We pass many beautiful waterfalls on the way that people rarely experience since they are so inaccessible by foot. We continue along the coast of Snæfjallaströnd and camp either in the beautiful cove in Ytraskarð (20 km) or near the breathtaking Möngufoss waterfall (24 km), all depending on conditions. Campfire on the beach and watch the beautiful sunset.

Distance: 20-24 km

Our first stop on the last full day of kayaking is the island of Æðey. The island is inhabited by one family during the summer months and is a nice place to stop, relax and enjoy life on the island. The waters around the island are covered with puffins and other sea birds. Literally! After visiting the island, we do a long crossing (9 km) to the island of Vigur. The birdlife on the island is quite amazing and the farmers have raised special rock walls for the eider ducks to nest. Puffins are found all over the island. The beautiful and colourful houses are very picturesque and the small coffee house is a great place to stop and relax. We then get going again for the last leg of the trip. We paddle to the village of Súðavík, where a car will pick us up. We then make the 20 minute drive back to Ísafjörður. We arrive back in town at approximately 4pm, in time for the afternoon flight for those flying back to Reykjavík.

Distance: 22km

PLEASE NOTE: This itinerary is a guide only and is subject to change depending on the weather, sea conditions and the ability of the group.