Iceland is one of the most fascinating places on earth. The price we pay, to explore the lava island in the Polar Sea autonomously, is the rough and very windy climate, a difficult terrain and challenging rivers. Every now and then we take a small group of packrafting adventurers into this unique packrafting Eldorado.
"Iceland is made of waterfalls, magic and lava rocks, held together by moss"
- An Icelander about Iceland -
Follow us into the loneliness of the rough, partly barren Icelandic highlands. This packrafting expedition from North to South, takes us from the highlands of the southern Icelandic coast, through a landscape built from lava, over glaciers, torrential rivers, glass clear blue lakes and creeks into wide glacier streams.
As a challenging and demanding tour this expedition is almost only off tracks in the Icelandic highlands. It requires, that you carry all equipment (including food for the full expedition duration) on your own.
Partly you have to climb long distant ascents with heavy gear.
- Difficult terrain on land and water. Partly wide, spreading and confusing glacier streams, sandy easy ground, steep slopes, snow fields, lake crossings if necessary despite strong winds.
- Day stages between 15km and 25 km.
- Limited to 6 participants.
- For preparation you will receive packing lists, weather information and competent and personal advice through our guides.
Tales of the previous expeditions in our Land Water Blog:
Long report of the expedition 2018
Short stories from the expedition 2019
The next expedition date is planned for early July 2025 and we have started to find the expedition team. When interested in participation, please request participation (click here) or contact us for more information (click here).
Requirements
The minimum requirements for participation in our Iceland expeditions are:
- Personal invitation from the LWA-team after previous training participation or an interview with the guide-team on your previous experience
- Participation in at least one four-day Multiday-Packrafting-Training
- Participation in a whitewater-training or similar previous experience in whitewater-kayak/-packraft
Depending on experience and knowledge the expedition team can customize these requirements individually.
The following trainings are suitable for preparation for this expedition:
Multiday Packrafting trainings Hunsrück (4 days)
Whitewater packrafting trainings Tyrol (3 days)
Whitewater packrafting trainings Slovenia (3-5 days)
Packrafting expedition training Norway (7 days)
The requirements to your outdoor equipment is, due to the stormy weather and rough climatic conditions, very high. We recommend an expedition suitable tent, a waterproof backpack and high-quality outdoor gear.
Thomas, participant of the Iceland Expedition in 2017:
"Two years after my trip to the Sylan Mountains I again was one week on tour with LWA – an individual trip in the southern part of Iceland.
I don’t want to deal with the description of this country, to be any way near in describing these unforgettable and fascinating impressions you must be a writer or poet. I am neither, just a 60 year old, reasonably fit, townsman who learned to trust in Sebastian from LWA: If Sebastian offers me a hiking/rafting trip to the Icelandic highlands, he will be sure that I can make it, and that is all I need to know.
This trust paid off. I experienced the capability of a man, having an experienced guide, precise preparation and a bit of flexibility on-site. In every single way a challenging but fulfilling week, in which I partly was happy doing nothing but following Sebastian’s wide back. In the last two years LWA became an even more professional provider of adventure trips. I highly recommend anyone to take the chance and explore your own limits."
More information
Gallery
Route and area
Arrival and departure: Reykjavik, Iceland (Flight), then transfer
Route
The area of this expedition is the South East of Iceland close by known spots like Landmannalauger and Thorsmörk. North of this, the lonely part of the Icelandic highlands begins.
This is where our expedition starts. The route changes every year and is not set in advance. We will try to find our way through a mix of rivers, lakes, country and glacier crossings, from our drop off point in the highlands, to the South cost of Iceland.
Depending on the weather conditions, the group set and the on site circumstances, like glacier river levels, the expedition will end at one of the exit points, we planed in advance.
You will be extensively prepared by briefings and documents, that you will receive in advance.
Area of expedition is the South East of Iceland.
Team
Expedition lead: Sebastian
Prices, logistics and registration
- Expedition participation: Contact us for an overview of participation costs of this and similar expeditions (Iceland, Canada). The acutal costs per participant will be calculated once an actual expedition date and team is set for a fixed year.
- Includes all transfers from and to the team hotel in Reykjavik.
- Packrafting equipment rental (optional): We generally recommend using your own packraft equipment for expedition-type tours. Of course, participants can also rent high-quality, expedition-ready packrafts with or without internal storage system as well as dry suits and accessories from us. Equipment will be shipped to Germany and most EU countries before the start of the expedition and back after the end of the expedition.
- Does not include: flights, food and the nights before and after arrival and departure in Reykjavik (recommendations for accomodation are part of the expedition documents).
Please contact us through the form below if you are interested.
Booking flights: We ask you to arrive latest on the afternoon of the day before the first expedition day, so we can brief the entire group, the evening before the tour starts. Early in the morning on our first expedition day we will transfer you from Reykjavik to the start point of the Icelandic highlands. The return flight should not be earlier than on the first day following the last expedition day.
For preparation and tuning in we will have a virtual meeting through a video-call. We will plan the expedition date as soon as the group is completed.
The required minimum number of participants is 3.