Vestur Adventures · Grundarfjörður
Vestur Adventures zips you into a dry suit in Grundarfjörður and leads a small group of kayaks across the calm inner fjord, with Kirkjufell rising straight out of the water ahead. It's the only trip on this site that gives you real time with the mountain, and seals often come to look at you.
Vestur Adventures works from a white building in Grundarfjörður with a large round logo facing the street. You change into a dry suit with an under-suit, neoprene shoes and gloves and get a full safety demonstration. Then you paddle the sheltered bay at the foot of Kirkjufell for about 70 minutes, the time an Icelandic booking site gives and one guest reported. A warm drink waits at the end, usually hot chocolate, often with cookies.
No experience is needed. Guides match the pace to the group, and first-timers in the reviews quickly felt at ease, though one guest called it "a bit of an arm workout". Seals often follow the kayaks, and one lucky June group paddled among flocks of puffins. Mostly you get Kirkjufell from the water, the angle almost no one sees from the falls. The listing caps the group at 11, and when few people book you may get the guide to yourselves.
There's no transport from Reykjavik, so this suits people driving the peninsula or cruise passengers: a guest reached it in a couple of minutes on foot from the tender landing. Trips run from about May to September and depend on the weather. The company cancels or moves departures when the sea is rough, with notice. The listing gives the address as Sæból 18; another booking site says Sæból 14, so follow your ticket. Anyone with heart problems or a serious medical condition should not take part.
Find the white building with the round Vestur Adventures logo in Grundarfjörður.
Dry suit over thin layers, neoprene shoes and gloves, then how to paddle and get in and out.
Across the bay below Kirkjufell, with photo stops and, often, seals for company.
Out of the suits, then a warm drink while the guides suggest what else to see nearby.
★★★★★This was so fun! It was in a little bay at the base of Mount Kirkjufell. Our guide was Greg and he was excellent. We were outfitted in dry suits so I would recommend wearing only base layers. [...] We got to see seals in the harbor too. The hot chocolate at the end was a nice touch.
★★★★★Well-organized experience. The location was easy to find, and parking was plentiful. The company provided drysuits, which we put on over our street clothes, along with neoprene gloves and boots. Several seals from the harbor followed our kayaks, which was an added bonus.
★★★★★What an experience! It was great and so glad we did this! Something very special about being in the water and experiencing the scenery and wildlife (seals) first hand (within 15 feet) of our kayaks.
★★★★★What an amazing time! Leia and Tino were incredible guides, the water was glass, sun crept out and... SURROUNDED by 3-4 flocks of puffin! Obviously got very lucky, but seeing Kirkjufell and Kirkjufellfoss from another angle was incredible.
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No. The trip is for beginners and the guides set the pace. Expect some arm work over 70 minutes of paddling.
Thin base layers. You get a dry suit, under-suit, neoprene shoes and gloves. Bring a warm hat and a dry change of clothes; our what-to-wear guide covers the rest.
Yes. The base is a short walk from the harbour; one guest walked there in a couple of minutes from the tender landing. Leave a margin before all-aboard time.
By car, about 2.5 hours each way. There's no transfer with this trip; our driving guide covers the route and winter roads.
Ready to book
Two hours on the water below Kirkjufell with a dry suit, a guide and often seals for company.
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