Family Rafting Day Trip from Hafgrímsstaðir: Grade 2 White Water Rafting on the West Glacial River
5.0
284 Ratings
Varmahlíð
The West Glacial River, with its mild whitewater, breathtaking landscapes, and geothermal hot springs along its banks, provides an exceptional venue for paddling enthusiasts of every age group! Traverse the magnificent glacial gorges by floating and discover the unexplored parts of Iceland, inaccessible by motorized vehicles or on foot.
Duration:
3 hours, 30 minutes
Cancellation:
1 day
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Highlights
- Viking Rafting - This afternoon family-friendly adventure delivers an unforgettable, hands-on journey into the untamed beauty of northern Iceland’s river wilderness.
Make your way to the rafting base in Hafgrímsstaðir where your adventure starts. Begin by meeting your international team of guides at the river base, where you will get prepared and dressed in drysuits for your trip. From there, the rafting bus will take you on the short road to the put-in point for the raft at the West Glacial River. After a full explanation, demonstration, and training with your guides, push off from the river bank for a 90-minute, 10km descent of gentle rapids, spectacular scenery, and riverside hot springs. Conditions permitting, boost your excitement with a friendly cliff jump and a swim in the bubbling glacial waters of northern Iceland.
Along the way, enjoy a steaming cup of hot cocoa made directly with natural hot water from a riverside hot spring!
What's Included
- Experienced rafting guides and safety kayakers
- Riverside hot refreshments
- Transport to and from the river
- Complete rafting gear provided
What's Not Included
- Food and drinks, unless specified
- Transportation to rafting base from Akureyri/Reykjavik
- Gratuities
Additional Information
- Minimum age: 6
- Recommended items to bring with you: Thermal underwear/base layers, warm fleece top/wool sweater, fleece pants/extra long johns, thick wool socks/hiking socks (at least 1 pair), change of clothes for after the river, any necessary medications (asthma inhalers, etc.), waterproof camera (optional)
Location
Viking Rafting
Hafgrímsstaðir
We are located 15km south of Varmahlíð on Road #752. We are on your LEFT just after crossing a little bridge over a river.
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Customer Ratings
5.0
(284 Ratings)
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Pioneer66812273645
May 29, 2024
Extremely professional and welcoming! - We had a thoroughly enjoyable trip with Viking Rafting on the West Glacial River! All the staff members were extremely welcoming, especially Anup who showed us around when we arrived. We camped at the company location. The valley where the raft company is located is beautiful! Our guide, Benjy, introduced himself the night before our trip and described the trip and other details about what to wear under the dry suit. The dry suits were great and we all stayed warm! Benjy was an extremely experienced guide, super friendly, and knowledgeable about the river and area. There was a special hot chocolate treat midway through the trip which was very fun! Pablo kayaked along with the raft and took wonderful photos which we are grateful to have!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Helen-clare-oldham
May 28, 2024
Glacial rafting in the best of hands - Lucas Hunter and Rosan were amazing guides. They instilled confidence and safety in the group. The scenery was awesome. We jumped into the water from a rock and swam alongside the boats. A very memorable experience
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Nabeel_c
May 21, 2024
Great adventure - Rafting was an awesome experience. We were all first timers and we had a blast. The cliff jumping and swimming was the cherry on top. Benj, Roshan, and Lucas were awesome guides.
Review provided by Viator
76evelined
May 14, 2024
Unforgettable - That was an unforgettable trip.
The super friendly team brought us closer to nature in a special way. It was an incomparably beautiful trip that gave us one of the best holiday memories.
Highly recommended.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Susan
Sep 17, 2023
Must do in Iceland - From the moment you arrive, top notch facilities, staff and location. Maude is an excellent guide. Best day on the Ring Road.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Y3314accynthiac
Sep 8, 2023
They take their fun seriously! - The best organized excursion I’ve ever been on. The logistics, instructions, and personnel are top notch. We had so much fun with Benji our guide and Hunter our spotter (and Gabriel our driver!). It was educational, exhilarating and 100% safe. We had so much fun - the paddling, floating in the river, hot chocolate from a hot spring and cliff jumping are beyond words. It was the best part of our 10 day Iceland trip. Benji and the crew are hysterical. Definitely worth it. I wish we could do it again today!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Navigator14483859247
Sep 6, 2023
Fun family adventure! - I would have liked to do the Class 4 river (but kids under 18 are not allowed) so I booked the family-friendly trip instead down a Class 2+ section of the Glacier River for my family, including my 80+ year old parents and my adolescent boys, and was not disappointed! It was a blast - the whole team very friendly, humorous, professional, qualified, and super understanding and helpful with my parents. We all got outfitted with dry suits, were given a safety briefing, told the commands and how to sit/behave on the raft, and were treated to not only stunning scenery and a fun river ride, but some nice surprises as well - hot chocolate out of a natural warm hot spring riverside and jumping off a cliff into the ice cold water, which my two sons eagerly did! Dreaming of coming back again in a few years to do the other arm of the Glacier River!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
R7000ltankeh
Sep 5, 2023
Big smile on our faces! - It was such an amazing tour for us and our kids! Benji was a great captain, and we had a lot of fun! We would do it again! Big smile on our faces😊
Review provided by Tripadvisor
L1881gkmattd
Sep 4, 2023
Gentle rapids make for a great day - A great day on the river with professional and friendly guides. Would love to come back another time for the grade 4 for a bit of an adrenaline rush. If you want to get wet, ask to sit at the front of the boat (or take up the option of going for a river swim).
Review provided by Tripadvisor
572adairs
Sep 3, 2023
Great way to experience Iceland’s nature! - Had an amazing trip rafting though a beautiful canyon! We really liked the stop for hot chocolate from a geothermal spring. We went as a couple because we wanted a shorter, less intense experience and really enjoyed it. The food was also very good and I would highly recommend getting lunch or dinner from them when you get off the river. I was expecting soup and bread but it ended up being a full meal with local ingredients that tasted better than some of the restaurants we went to in Iceland. Highly recommend this rafting trip!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
