Thorli is Iceland's most accessible quality wave—a right-hand reef break on the Reykjanes Peninsula where North Atlantic swells meet volcanic rock in one of Europe's most dramatic settings. The wave breaks over lava reef with steam vents and geothermal activity visible nearby, and the Northern Lights can illuminate evening sessions during autumn and winter. The water is cold but surprisingly not as frigid as the latitude suggests, thanks to Gulf Stream influence. For surfers seeking waves in truly unusual places, Thorli offers quality surf with a side of Nordic otherworldliness.
Return flights to KEF, departing today with a 5-day trip window.
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Water temp
10°C
Wetsuit
5/4mm + boots
Difficulty
6/10
Crowd level
2/10
Access: 45min from Keflavik airport. Good road access.
Thorli works best on a mid tide, ideally between 0.5m and 2m on the local tide chart. The tide chart above shows today’s strike window.
Offshore wind at Thorli blows from the ENE (60°). Anything in the 20° to 100° range grooms the faces; outside it, expect chop or bumpy conditions.
Thorli wants WSW swell (220° to 290°) between 1m and 3m, with a period of 14s or more for quality waves.
The main season at Thorli is Sep-Nov. A secondary window runs Mar, Apr. Autumn best. Consistent North Atlantic swells.
Fly into KEF, then allow about 45 minutes by road. 45min from Keflavik airport. Good road access.
Thorli is a reef break, a right-hander. Difficulty is rated 6/10.
Peak: Sep-Nov
Secondary: Mar, Apr
Autumn best. Consistent North Atlantic swells.