Kayaking in the Westfjords

The Westfjords are a labyrinth of long, sheltered fjords walled by flat-topped mountains up to 700 metres high, and sea kayaking is the perfect way to explore their quiet, glassy waters.

Setting out from Ísafjörður, the region's small capital, you paddle beneath towering cliffs and past waterfalls, with seals hauled out on the rocks, seabirds overhead and often not another boat in sight.

In June the midnight sun keeps the fjords lit through the night, so evening and midnight paddles glow gold and pink on mirror-still water.

It's a gentle, meditative counterpoint to the Westfjords' harder adventures — accessible to beginners on guided trips yet still deeply wild, with the scale of the cliffs and the emptiness of the water making even a short paddle feel like an expedition into the far north.

Sea kayaking on sheltered fjord water, from a few-hour guided paddle to multi-day expeditions for the experienced.

The fjords are often calm and protected, which makes guided trips genuinely beginner-friendly — you'll get a briefing and travel in a group — though the water is cold, so warm layers and the supplied gear matter, and wind can pick up and change conditions.

Expect towering cliffs, waterfalls, seals, seabirds and, in June, the surreal light of the midnight sun. Multi-day trips involve camping on remote shores and carrying kit, and demand real sea-kayak experience. The pace is relaxed and the effort moderate; the appeal is the scenery, the wildlife and the stillness.

It's one of the calmest, most contemplative ways to experience Iceland's wildest region.

Paddle in summer, roughly June to August, with June's midnight sun a highlight.

For most people, book a guided half-day or day trip from Ísafjörður — guides supply the kayak, drysuit or warm layers, buoyancy aid and briefing, and pick sheltered water suited to the group, so beginners and families are welcome.

Multi-day self-guided expeditions are only for experienced sea kayakers with cold-water and navigation skills. Whatever the trip, dress warmly, be a comfortable swimmer, and be ready for the water to be cold and the weather to shift. Check conditions before heading out, as wind can turn calm fjords choppy.

A midnight-sun evening paddle is especially magical. It's an easy, rewarding way into one of Iceland's most remote and beautiful corners.