In Northern Iceland, the mighty Vestari Jökulsá is waiting for those intrepid explorers who dare to raft its winding river waters. This genuinely exciting rafting tour is an excellent opportunity that you shouldn’t dare pass up!
Also known as the “West Glacial River”, Vestari Jökulsá is a glacial river that winds its way through relatively level terrain. The source of this river is the impressive Hofsjökull glacier. This scenic tour will take adventurers through a gorgeous canyon and beautiful valleys while the sound of the water soothes the travelers’ souls. As the land is pretty flat, this scenic trip is suitable for both young and old.
Hafgrímsstaðir, just 68 mi. (110 km) from the northern town of Akureyri, is the starting point for the rafting tour. After making your way to the rafting base camp, you’ll meet your experienced guides and go through a quick introductory session. This session will give you all the information you need about river rafting and safety procedures. The guides will then equip you with all of the gear you need for the tour, including a helmet and a dry suit so that you can be sure that this rafting experience will be as safe and enjoyable as possible.
Once equipped with the gear and the knowledge you need, you’ll climb on board a vehicle for a ride down to the river. This is when the real adventure begins! Once everyone is comfortably seated on the raft, you’ll speed down the river as it twists and turns along its path while the waves crash against the sides of the raft. As if that were not enough, you will also get to float through a sensational canyon and pass through several verdant valleys.
Along the way, you can swim in the waters of the glacial river. There is no need to worry about the cold because your drysuit will be sure to keep you nice and warm. There will be other rafts around, so you’ll even be able to engage in friendly water fights with the other boats. There will be some hot cocoa, made using natural spring water, waiting for us back on dry land.
How many times in your life will you have the chance to raft down a glacial river? This rafting tour is perfect for the whole family. Enjoy the beauty of Icelandic nature while having a thrilling adventure at the same time.
The following is important information applicable to this tour. If you have any questions please don’t hesitate to contact us by email or phone, we are here to make your tour exceptional!
Operation:
This tour is operated by our trusted partner.
Meeting point:
The Viking Rafting base at Hafgrímsstaðir is located on Road no.752, 15km from its junction with road no.1 at the west end of Varmahlíð. Simply follow no.752 up the valley for about 10-15 minutes until you see us on the left-hand side of the road. From Reykjavík: 305km/190mi (4-hour drive). Follow road no.1 (Ringroad) towards the North. Just after you descend a long hill into the Skagafjörður valley, road no.752 is on your right, about 500m before the centre of Varmahlíð (where the Tourist Info & N1 gas station are located). From Akureyri: 110km/68mi (1.5-hour drive). Follow road no.1 towards the West. Continue along about 500m past the left turn in the centre of Varmahlíð (where the Tourist Info & N1 gas station are located) until you reach road no.752 on your left.
Booking:
Our day tours are very popular and we have many days when all available seats are booked out. Please book your tour early to avoid disappointment. You can book this tour online using the booking form or just call our office. We typically respond to phone calls from 8:00 AM to 17:00 PM GMT – if you do not reach us, please send an email and we will reply your message as soon as possible.
Prices:
All prices are per person. We accept payment by major credit and debit cards with no additional fees. Gratuities are not included.
Tour itinerary changes:
At all times your safety is our first priority. You can expect any kind of weather in Iceland. For this reason, the tour itinerary may be subject to change the sights without notice or the tour might be canceled due to weather, or other unforeseen circumstances. If the timing changes, we will need your valid mobile phone number to contact you and inform you of the time change. Please don’t forget to fill out your phone number on the booking form. If the tour is canceled, you can choose to receive a full refund or to reschedule your tour for another day. We make every effort to avoid any such changes wherever possible.
What to bring:
The first thing you need to know about our trip is that we give you a dry suit. This incredible piece of gear should keep you 95% dry during your rafting trip, but they will not keep you warm. There is nothing tropical about our river or environment. The water we will be rafting on is fed directly by a Glacier, so it’s very clod. The key to being happy on the river is to stay warm. We strongly encourage you to bring multiple layers; tops, bottoms, and socks to keep you feeling comfortable while rafting. If you bring the correct clothing, you won’t be cold at all. Avoid cotton. As you are paddling down the river you are going to sweat. When cotton gets wet, it makes you cold. Fleece, wool, and synthetics are the best materials to wear because when they get wet, they keep your body warm. If you only have cotton, we can still make it work.
Medical conditions:
Please let us know of any allergies or medical conditions that you may require assistance with.
Authorized Tour Operator and Travel Agency certified by the Icelandic Tourist Board, a proud member of the Icelandia family. Tours offered on this website are sold under the license of Ferðaskrifstofa Kynnisferða.