Trip itinerary

Please note that this itinerary will almost for certain change because of reasons beyond our control. In case of a good weather window, we might cover longer distances and be able to take it easier later on.

Day 1
Leave in the morning for a 4-5 hour drive to our first destination in Ófeigsfjörður. We might stay there the first night getting our gear ready, or start paddling for few hours if the weather is good.

Day 2
Paddle north along the shore from Ófeigsfjörður to Drangavík. This small cove is well known for the jagged pinnacles of Drangaskörð formed by sea erosion through millions of years and reach far into the sea. The farm in Drangavík was abandoned in 1947 but the houses remain and remind us of the harsh conditions people lived in the far north. Distance: 14km.

Day 3
After a hearty breakfast we begin today´s journey by paddling under the Drangaskörð pinnacles. The peaks are for sure best viewed from the water. We continue along the shore, enjoying the magnificent view that opens up every minute. We plan to camp on the banks of Meyjará River. 12km.

Day 4
We leave the camp at Meyjará and glide pass abandoned farms and fishing huts on the shores. Many of them bear names that sound strange in the modern native language and many have stories behind them. Lots of seals can be spotted in Skjaldabjarnarvík before we pass Mt. Geirólfsnúpur and head west to Reykjarfjörður where we plan to camp. In Reykjafjörður we´ll enjoy the geothermal hot pool with great view of the Drangajökull Glacier. Distance 16km.

Day 5
Our aim for the day is to reach Bolungarvík. There are many things to explore on the way. Rocky outcrops, sand beaches and wildlife. Bolungarvík is very exposed to NE winds and landing there can be tricky. But it´s a sand beach and we can maybe use the opportunity to practice surf landings. There is rich birdlife in Bolungarvík and we´ll have time to explore the surroundings. Distance 14km.

Day 6
This day follows a rugged coastline pass the bays of Barðsvík and Smiðjuvík. Close to the designated camp for the night, we'll pass the beautiful waterfall Drífandi that plummets right off the cliffs. It´s possible to bathe under the waterfall in the kayak if you dare! We will head to shore in Hrollaugsvík cove and camp there for the night. Distance 18km.

Day 7
This day is one of the highlights of the expedition. We'll paddle to Hornvík bay, by many thought to be the most beautiful in the nature reserve. The sheer cliffs of Hornbjarg rise almost 600 meters from the Atlantic and the sound of millions of seabirds make this paddle a one of its kind in the world. You wonder about the the ancestors whose livelihood depended on collecting eggs and hunt birds in the cliffs, with only hemp ropes and WWII helmets for protection. Distance 17km.

Day 8
Rest day. There is no better place to take it easy than Hornvík bay. There are many options for those who want to stretch their legs. The most obvious one is to hike up the bird cliffs of Hornbjarg.

The hike is very easy on soft grass all the way to the edge. The Arctic fox is definitely on home ground in Hornvík. There is a great chance that we'll see them running along the edge of the cliffs looking for food or just protecting its territory from other foxes. There is also a chance to climb the Kálfatindar Peaks for a great panoramic view over the whole area. Arctic char lives in the Hafnarós River and challenge awaits those who want to catch some for dinner!

Day 9
After an easy morning, we paddle the short distance to Hlöðuvík bay, under the cliffs of Hælavík with few stops on the way to enjoy the scenery. Distance 15km.

Day 10
From Hlöðuvík we'll paddle between sea stacks and reefs along the coast of Almenningar around the headland of Kögur to Fljótavík bay. We'll end the day by paddling up the short river to the big lake. Hopefully on high tide. The lake is probably the best lake in Iceland for catching Arctic char. We'll hopefully have that for dinner. Distance 20km.

Day 11
This is our last day of kayaking and the longest in distance. The first leg is about 6km to Rekavík bay (e. Driftwood bay) that really lives up to its name. It´s loaded with driftwood that escapes the rivers of Siberia and ends up in north Iceland with ocean currents. The reason for the driftwood is also because of land erosion in Arctic regions where trees simply fall to the sea when the land gives away. After a good break we paddle the last stretch around Straumnes where we´ll see the remains of MV Goðafoss that stranded there in the fifties. The farmers rescued all men with great difficulties. It was considered to be quite a heroic feat in those days. We´ll land on the shores in Látrar in Aðalvík where we camp for the last night.

Day 12
Pickup by a speed boat and arrive in Ísafjörður in the afternoon. Farewell dinner at a local restaurant.