White Water Rafting · Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon
The essentials
One option here, and it's a sharp one. North Tides runs a 4-hour packrafting excursion around Fláajökull Glacier, launching from Hotel Smyrlabjörg roughly 34 km east of Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon. At 171 €, this Sporty-rated outing puts you on glacial meltwater channels directly beside an active ice margin. Book it if you want raw glacier contact, not a bus window. Guides speak Icelandic and English.
The offer
Packrafting Excursion around Fláajökull Glacier, near Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon
Frequently asked questions
What makes packrafting around Fláajökull different from standard river rafting?
You're paddling inflatable one- or two-person rafts along glacial meltwater channels right at the edge of Fláajökull's ice margin. The water comes directly from the glacier, so it stays extremely cold, and the landscape shifts constantly as the ice retreats. It's less about rapid-grade adrenaline and more about raw proximity to a live glacier system.
How intense is the physical effort over 4 hours?
The tour is rated Sporty, meaning you need a solid baseline of fitness. Expect active paddling across varying water flows, some scrambling on uneven glacial terrain, and 4 continuous hours of exposure to sub-zero wind chill off the ice. It's not extreme, but it's not passive either.
What's the coldest part of the experience?
The water temperature is the real test. Glacial meltwater from Fláajökull hovers close to 0°C, and even a brief splash or capsize would be intense. Guides from North Tides provide the necessary protective gear, but the cold is a constant presence throughout the excursion.
When is this excursion available?
The season runs from May through September, when glacial meltwater volumes are highest and access routes around Fláajökull are open. July and August offer the longest daylight and typically the most stable conditions in southeast Iceland.
Best time to go
| Month | Temperature | Rainfall | Conditions |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | -0.7 °C | 281.1 mm | Off season |
| February | -0.5 °C | 294.3 mm | Off season |
| March | -0.7 °C | 164.2 mm | Poor |
| April | 2.2 °C | 163.3 mm | Poor |
| May | 5.1 °C | 172.8 mm | Poor |
| June | 7.8 °C | 233.5 mm | Poor |
| July | 10.5 °C | 162.3 mm | Possible |
| August | 10.4 °C | 204.4 mm | Poor |
| September | 8.2 °C | 364.4 mm | Poor |
| October | 4.6 °C | 262.7 mm | Off season |
| November | 1 °C | 220.2 mm | Off season |
| December | 0.7 °C | 272.5 mm | Off season |
Practical info
Equipment
Dress in tight-fitting thermal base layers, as North Tides will provide drysuits or wetsuits over them for this Sporty, 4-hour cold-water outing. Bring waterproof gloves if you have them, a warm hat that fits under a helmet, and a change of dry clothes for after.
Getting there
Meet at Hotel Smyrlabjörg on Þjóðvegur 781, located 34 km east of Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon along Iceland's Ring Road (Route 1), reachable by car from Höfn in roughly 45 minutes.
See also
White Water Rafting elsewhere
Other activities in Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon
Updated September 2026