cloudy

-4°C

Ísafjörður

cloudy

-3°C

Hornbjargsviti

New

Seabird Discovery

Seabird enthusiasts and adventure seekers alike will find this trip to be an unforgettable experience.

Embark on an unforgettable sea kayaking journey that offers both adventure and natural beauty.

This exciting trip starts in the picturesque Seyðisfjörður Fjord, where you’ll paddle towards the serene Vigur Island, one of the most remarkable spots for seabird watching in all of Iceland. As you glide through the crystal-clear waters, you’ll find yourself surrounded by a rich tapestry of wildlife. The island is home to a vibrant community of puffins, eider ducks, guillemots, and a multitude of other seabirds, making it a birdwatcher’s paradise. Keep your eyes peeled for playful seals basking on the rocks or swimming gracefully through the water.

As you launch into the fjords, the calm waters offer the perfect opportunity to explore the rugged coastline. Kayak along pristine shores, where towering cliffs meet tranquil waters, and discover hidden coves and secluded beaches that are often inaccessible by foot. Glide above underwater kelp forests, teeming with life, and feel the peacefulness of this untouched wilderness.

With every stroke of the paddle, you’ll experience Iceland’s dramatic landscapes in a unique and intimate way, while immersing yourself in the serenity of the fjords and the abundant wildlife that call this area home. This adventure is not only a chance to challenge yourself physically, but also an opportunity to connect with nature in one of the most spectacular settings Iceland has to offer. For those interested in an easier adventure, our calm water kayaking tour may be more suitable.

Contents of this tour

Tour overview

Description

Seeing the teeming wildlife of Ísafjarðardjúp Bay, and sometimes even a whale or two, while enjoying the unique panoramic view of the surrounding mountains and fjords, is an experience like no other. Passing Vigur Island to paddle among the puffins and eider ducks is truly a one-of-a-kind paddling experience.

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.

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, professional guide

 

Photos

Itinerary

The journey begins at our base in Mávagarður C (grey building), where you’ll meet your guide half an hour before departure and gear up. We then drive for approximately 45 minutes from Ísafjörður to Seyðisfjörður Fjord, where we’ll have a short safety briefing and a paddle lesson.

We start by paddling towards the headland of Folafótur, where you’ll see unusual rock formations caused by erosion, along with the ruins of old settlements that once housed over 100 people.

Along the way, we’ll keep an eye out for seals and whales, which are often spotted in the fjord.

Continuing our kayaking journey, we head towards the island of Vigur, where we’ll spend time among the puffins, seals, and other seabirds, circling the island.

If the group still has energy, we’ll venture across Hestfjörður to visit a seal colony that has made the tip of the peninsula its home. On the way back, we’ll take a quick break near some old farm ruins to recharge before paddling back to our starting point and returning to Ísafjörður.

What to bring

  • 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!

FAQ

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.
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.
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.
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.
You arrive in Keflavik International Airport about 40 minutes away from the capital city of Reykjavik. From the domestic airport in Reykjavik there are 2-3 daily 40 minute flights to Isafjordur. You can take the Fly-Bus between the airports and most of the time you can continue same day. Check out Air Iceland Connect for schedules and special offers. You can also rent a car and drive to Isafjordur. The drive, over mountain passes and through fjords is an adventure itself. It’s about 440-500 km depending on which route you take. A new road via Arnkötludalur opened in 2009 which completes the asphalted pathway the whole way, and kills the old myth of bad roads in the Westfjords! The drive will normally take you 5-6 hours. A new tunnel opened in September 2020 under the infamous mountain pass between the fjords of Arnarfjörður and Dýrafjörður. That tunnel makes it much easier to travel through the Westfjords all year round and shortens the route up the West coast. For accommodation in Reykjavik there are many options of hotels and guesthouses that we can book for groups. Please ask us for individual bookings. We strongly recommend you to spend a few extra days visiting the West Fjords and other parts of Iceland. We’re happy to help you arranging few days in the area or give you good tips about exciting things to do while in Iceland.

Map

A few weeks ago my wife and I were traveling around the West Fjords. It was our goal to go kayaking in the Fjords and this trip far exceeded our expectations. Even though the weather was overcast it made the scenery even more dramatic. Our guide Raguel was both knowledgeable and fun. He led us out to Vigur Island were we were treated to up close encounters with Eiders, Puffins and Arctic Terns...I am a Sea Kayaking instructor on the coast of Maine and in my opinion Borea Adventures is a top rate guiding company. We are looking forward to our return....

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