Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon Boat ToursKayak and Glacier Hike Combo at Jökulsárlón
This kayak and glacier hike combo puts you on the water at Jökulsárlón in the morning or afternoon and up on the ice of Breiðamerkurjökull the other half of the day. Troll Expeditions sells it on Viator for $228.87 per person, runs it in groups of up to 9 and fits both activities into about 6 hours with a short break between them. You get a certified guide for each part and every piece of gear, from drysuit to crampons. You do not get transport to the lagoon, food or the amphibian and Zodiac boats that the shore operator sells. This page explains what the day looks like, what the price covers and who should book a different tour. Compare it with the other Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon boat tours.
About This Tour
Troll Expeditions pairs a guided kayak paddle among the icebergs of Jökulsárlón with a glacier hike on Breiðamerkurjökull, the glacier tongue that feeds the lagoon. You choose the order. The 9:30 departure starts the day with the hike and moves to the kayak at 13:30, while the 10:00 departure starts with the kayak and puts you on the ice at 14:00. A super jeep carries the hiking group to the edge of the glacier.
Everything technical is provided. The kayak part comes with a certified kayak guide, a life vest, a paddle and a drysuit. The hike comes with a certified glacier guide, crampons, a harness, a helmet and an ice axe. The guide talks about how the glacier has changed in recent years, which is a real subject here, since Breiðamerkurjökull recedes by roughly 200 metres a year. Bottled water and snacks are not provided, so bring your own.
$228.87 per person on Viator
6 hours for both parts, with a short break between the kayak and the hike
Troll.is Glacier Lagoon for the hike and Iceguide Jökulsárlón Glacier Kayaking for the kayak part. No hotel pickup, you travel to the meeting point yourself
Up to 9 guests, a certified glacier guide and a certified kayak guide, guiding in English
The whole 6 hours is split between the two activities. The kayak tour starts at 13:30 on the 9:30 departure, and the hike starts at 14:00 on the 10:00 departure
Bottled water, snacks and any lunch are not included. The amphibian and Zodiac boat rides at the lagoon are not part of this tour. Cancellation is free up to 24 hours before departure for a full refund
Check Dates and Availability
Two departures are listed, at 9:30 and 10:00. Check live dates and group sizes for your travel days.
You'll confirm the exact date and time on the secure booking page.
Quick answer The combo in brief
This 6-hour kayak and glacier hike combo costs $228.87 per person and runs in groups of up to 9 with two certified guides and all gear included.
Key takeaways
- You choose the order, hike first at 9:30 or kayak first at 10:00, and you reach the ice by super jeep from the lagoon. Details in what the day is really like.
- Food, drinks and transport to the meeting point are your own cost. See what the price actually covers.
- Not for anyone under 14, over 80, or with a spinal injury. Check who this tour rules out.
- Only want the paddle? The standalone Jökulsárlón Kayaking Tour costs $154 for 1.5 hours.
What the Price Actually Covers
The $228.87 ticket buys two guided activities and all the gear for both, and nothing else on the day.
Included in the $228.87
The listing is specific. You get a certified glacier guide with all glacier gear, meaning crampons, harness, helmet and ice axe, plus a certified kayak guide with all kayak gear, meaning a life vest, a paddle and a drysuit. The super jeep ride from the lagoon area to the edge of Breiðamerkurjökull is part of the hike, so there is no separate charge for it.
Free cancellation applies until 24 hours before departure for a full refund.
- Certified glacier guide and certified kayak guide
- Crampons, harness, helmet and ice axe
- Life vest, paddle and drysuit
- Super jeep transfer to the glacier edge on the hike half
Not Included
Bottled water and snacks are explicitly excluded, and there is no lunch stop in a 6-hour day, so eat before and carry food. Hotel pickup does not exist on this tour, you drive to the meeting point at the lagoon yourself, which means fuel and any parking fee are your own costs. The amphibian and Zodiac boat rides sold at the shore are a different product entirely and not part of this combo, and the listing does not state any price for a boat add-on, because there is none to buy here.
- Bottled water and snacks
- Lunch
- Transport to the meeting point and parking
- Any amphibian or Zodiac boat ride
What the Same Money Buys Elsewhere
It helps to see this listing against the others before you commit. The figures below come from each operator's own listing as catalogued in the comparison of Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon boat tours on the homepage.
| Line | In the price | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| This kayak and hike combo, $228.87 | Both activities, both guides, all gear | 6 hours, up to 9 guests, meet on site, no food |
| Jökulsárlón Kayaking Tour, $154 | Kayak, guide and gear only | 1.5 hours, meet at the lagoon parking lot, swimmers only |
| Fjallsárlón Boat Tour and Glacier Hike, $234 | Zodiac cruise, 2-hour hike, gear | 4 hours, up to 10 guests, boat included in the fare |
| Glacier Lagoon Boat Ride Day Trip, $279 | Coach from Reykjavík and the 30-minute amphibian ride | 14 hours, hotel pickup, food at your own cost |
Sources: Vatnajökull National Park, prices, Jökulsárlón
A trekker stands on a ridged glacier surface. Photo: diego_cue, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
What the Day Is Really Like
Two start orders, one lagoon, one glacier. Here is how the listing lays it out.
Arriving at the Meeting Point
There is no pickup, so plan your own drive to Jökulsárlón on Route 1. The meeting point for the hike is Troll.is Glacier Lagoon, and for the kayak part it is Iceguide Jökulsárlón Glacier Kayaking. For the 9:30 departure you must be at the meeting point at 9:10, and for the 10:00 departure at 9:40.
Build in time to park and gear up.
- 9:30 departure: meet at 9:10, hike first, kayak starts at 13:30
- 10:00 departure: meet at 9:40, kayak first, hike starts at 14:00
The Kayak Among the Icebergs
A certified kayak guide takes the group of up to 9 out onto Jökulsárlón, the lagoon famous for its floating icebergs on blue glacier water. The guide shows you around the lagoon from water level, which is a perspective the shore paths and the big amphibian boats cannot give you. The drysuit, life vest and paddle are all supplied, and the guide handles the safety briefing before you launch.
The Break and the Super Jeep
Between the two halves there is a short break. This is when the missing snacks start to matter, since nothing is sold as part of the tour and the gap falls around the middle of the day. After the break the hiking group boards a super jeep that drives to the edge of Breiðamerkurjökull, the glacier tongue that calves into the lagoon.
The Hike Up the Ice
After a short walk from where the jeep stops, you put on crampons and hike up the glacier with a certified glacier guide, in the harness and helmet provided and with an ice axe. The guide explains the features of the glacier and how it has changed in recent years. The listing notes that Breiðamerkurjökull is known for its crystal blue ice cave, and that if you are lucky you may see one.
Treat that as a bonus, not a promise.
Where the Day Ends
The listing states no return point or return time. That leaves your afternoon or evening free for Diamond Beach, the café at the lagoon, or the drive on to your next stop.
Who This Tour Rules Out
The listing sets out several hard limits.
Age and Health Limits
The tour is sold for adults aged 14 to 80, so no younger children and no bookings above 80. The listing also says it is not recommended for travellers with spinal injuries or poor cardiovascular health. It is otherwise described as suitable for all physical fitness levels, and the glacier gear does the technical work for you, but one half is on the lagoon and the other on ice.
If anyone in your group falls outside the age range, look at the Glacier Lagoon Boat Ride Day Trip, which permits children from 6 years on a coach day with a boat ride included.
- Ages 14 to 80 only
- Not recommended with spinal injuries or poor cardiovascular health
- Suitable for all fitness levels, but you are on water and on ice
No Pickup, Small Group, Weather Calls
There is no hotel pickup of any kind, you drive to the lagoon yourself, which rules the tour out for anyone without a car. The group is capped at 9, good for attention and bad if you want to bring a larger party. The listing marks the tour as cancelled in bad weather, which on a kayak and a glacier is a real possibility, so keep a spare day in your plan and read the Jökulsárlón weather guide before you commit.
Cancellation by you is free until 24 hours before departure.
- No hotel pickup, you need your own transport
- Maximum 9 guests
- Cancelled in bad weather, full refund if you cancel 24 hours ahead
The Season and the Alternatives
Kayaking on the lagoon runs roughly mid May to September, so this combo is a summer product. Boats and paddling simply do not run in winter, when snow, rain and lower temperatures arrive from October to March. If the kayak half does not appeal but the hike does, the Fjallsárlón Boat Tour and Glacier Hike combines a Zodiac cruise with 2 hours on Fjallsjökull for $234.
If you have no car and want both a boat and a hike over two days from Reykjavík, the 2-Day South Coast with Boat and Hike handles the transport for you.
An ice cave opens at the edge of Breiðamerkurjökull. Photo: Jakub Hałun, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Getting There and What to Add
You reach the lagoon by car on Route 1, and the area around it fills a full day on its own.
The Drive to Jökulsárlón
Jökulsárlón sits 370 kilometres from Reykjavík, about 4.5 hours of driving. If you stay further west, Skaftafell is 327 kilometres from Reykjavík and only 43 kilometres from the lagoon, roughly 45 minutes away. Fuel is the thing to watch.
The stretch between Kirkjubæjarklaustur, 257 kilometres from Reykjavík, and Höfn has few fuel stops, limited to Freysnes and Fagurholsmýri, so fill up before you start it.
- Reykjavík to Jökulsárlón: 370 km, about 4.5 hours
- Skaftafell to the lagoon: 43 km, about 45 minutes
- Fuel: Freysnes and Fagurholsmýri only on the eastern stretch
Parking, Café and Toilets
Where Vatnajökull National Park charges for parking, you pay at machines in the lots or online through the Parka system. A car with 5 seats or fewer pays 1,110 ISK (about $9), a 6 to 9 seat passenger car pays 1,440 ISK (about $12), and the ticket is valid until midnight with unlimited entry and exit that day, so one payment covers the tour and an evening return. On site there are public toilets, a café, a souvenir shop and accessible parking.
The café serves sandwiches, lobster soup, cakes, pastries and hot and cold drinks with vegetarian and vegan options, which matters on a tour that provides no food.
What to Add Before or After
Diamond Beach is close to the lagoon, and the standard advice there is to stay at least 30 metres from the water and never turn your back on the ocean. Fjallsárlón, the quieter neighbouring lagoon, lies about 10 kilometres west on Route 1, where the 75-minute Iceberg Boat Tour costs 11,300 ISK (about $93) and Frost restaurant seats 90 for a hot buffet. For a night nearby, see the hotels near Jökulsárlón guide, and the Breiðamerkurjökull glacier guide explains the ice you will be standing on.
The Day, Step by Step
The listing gives exact times for both start orders. Times below follow the 9:30 hike-first option, with the 10:00 variant noted.
-
9:10 (or 9:40)
Meet at the lagoon
Be at the meeting point at Troll.is Glacier Lagoon at 9:10 for the 9:30 departure, or at 9:40 for the 10:00 departure. On the 10:00 option you start with the kayak instead and the hike begins at 14:00.
-
9:30
Gear up for the glacier
Your certified glacier guide fits crampons, harness, helmet and ice axe. A super jeep carries the group to the edge of Breiðamerkurjökull, followed by a short walk to the ice.
-
Morning
Hike on Breiðamerkurjökull
You hike up the glacier while the guide explains its features and how it has changed in recent years. If you are lucky, the listing says, you may see one of the crystal blue ice caves the glacier is known for.
-
Midday
Short break
A short break separates the two activities. Bring your own food and water, because the tour provides neither.
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13:10
Meet for the kayak
On the 9:30 departure the kayak tour starts at 13:30 from Troll.is Glacier Lagoon, with the meeting point at 13:10. The kayak half runs from Iceguide Jökulsárlón Glacier Kayaking.
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13:30
Paddle among the icebergs
In drysuit, life vest and with a paddle, your certified kayak guide takes the group of up to 9 out among the floating icebergs on the blue glacier water.
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End of the day
Off the water and done
The listing states no return point or return time, so the rest of the day is yours for Diamond Beach or the drive east or west.
What Works and What Does Not
An honest read of this listing against the other options at the lagoon.
What we genuinely like
- Two paid activities in one ticket, at $228.87 against $154 for the kayak alone and $234 for a boat and hike combo elsewhere
- Every piece of technical gear is included, drysuit, life vest, paddle, crampons, harness, helmet and ice axe
- Groups cap at 9 with a certified guide for each activity, smaller than the coach day trips from Reykjavík
- You choose the start order, hike first or kayak first, which spreads the risk if one half meets bad weather
- Free cancellation until 24 hours before departure for a full refund
The honest downsides
- No food or water of any kind on a 6-hour day on cold water and ice, so packing is on you
- No transport, no pickup and no return transfer, you drive to the lagoon yourself, 370 kilometres from Reykjavík
- The listing rates 4.9 from only 8 reviews, a thin record next to the far larger review counts on the coach tours
- Bad weather can cancel the tour outright, and winter is out because kayaking runs only from about mid May to September
- Ages are hard capped at 14 to 80, and it is not recommended with spinal injuries or poor cardiovascular health
Who it's NOT for: Anyone under 14 or over 80, anyone without a car, and anyone who wants a boat ride among the icebergs rather than a paddle, who should look at the amphibian day trips instead.
Questions About This Kayak and Hike Combo
How much does the kayak and glacier hike combo cost?
It costs $228.87 per person on Viator, which covers both activities, both certified guides, all kayak and glacier gear and the super jeep ride to the glacier edge. For a cheaper paddle-only option, the Jökulsárlón Kayaking Tour runs 1.5 hours for $154.
What time does the tour start and when do I need to arrive?
Two departures run, at 9:30 and 10:00. Be at the meeting point at 9:10 for the 9:30 departure, which starts with the hike and moves to the kayak at 13:30, or at 9:40 for the 10:00 departure, which kayaks first and starts the hike at 14:00. The what the day is really like section sets out both orders.
Do I need to bring my own gear?
No. The price includes a drysuit, life vest and paddle for the kayak, and crampons, harness, helmet and ice axe for the glacier hike. You should still bring your own water and snacks, since the listing excludes bottled water and snacks, as the what the price actually covers section details.
Is there a boat ride among the icebergs included?
No. This combo paddles the lagoon by kayak rather than riding a boat, and the amphibian and Zodiac tickets sold at the shore are not part of it. If you want a motorised boat plus a hike, the Fjallsárlón Boat Tour and Glacier Hike includes a Zodiac cruise and 2 hours on the ice for $234.
How do I get to the meeting point?
You travel to Jökulsárlón yourself, there is no hotel pickup. The lagoon is 370 kilometres from Reykjavík, about 4.5 hours on Route 1, and national park parking fee areas charge 1,110 ISK (about $9) for a standard car. The getting there and what to add section covers fuel stops and the café.
What happens if the weather turns bad?
The listing marks the tour as cancelled in bad weather, and you can cancel yourself free of charge until 24 hours before departure for a full refund. Because kayaking runs only from about mid May to September, read the Jökulsárlón weather guide and keep a spare day in your plan.
Who is too young, too old or too unfit for this tour?
The tour is sold for ages 14 to 80, and it is not recommended for travellers with spinal injuries or poor cardiovascular health, though it is described as suitable for all physical fitness levels. If your group includes younger children, the Glacier Lagoon Boat Ride Day Trip takes children from 6 years on a coach day with the amphibian boat ride included.
Prices, availability and terms are set by the operator and confirmed at checkout.
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