Whitewater Action (East)

by Viking Rafting · Sightseeing day tours · North Iceland

5.00· 608 Google reviews of the operator

Fine on your own

Whitewater Action (East) — Viking Rafting

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27 photos from Viking Rafting. Tap any one for the full-size original.

Duration
6 hours
Difficulty
Challenging
Season
All year
Starts in
Varmahlíð
Pickup
Meet at the start point
Starts at
Family Rafting Day Trip on The West Glacial River
Hafgrímsstaðir, Varmahlíð
Guide
Guided in English
Departs
08:00, 09:00, 10:00, 10:30 …
Minimum age
18
Cancellation
Cancelling costs 10% of the price within 365 days of departure.

Meeting point, in Viking Rafting's words: Please show up at our at Viking Rafting's base (Hafgrímsstaðir) 15 minutes before your trip departure time to have a coffee and fill out some paperwork.

About this experience

In one word... AWESOME . This is like your favourite Disney World ride, but without a seatbelt. Just like that ride, you don't need previous rafting experience to discover for yourself why the East Glacial River has become Iceland's signature whitewater rafting trip. The reason we are experienced professionals is so you don't have to be. If you're scared of getting splashed by huge waves and don't enjoy the excitement, this is definitely not the trip for you. However, we're pretty confident that you'll still love our Family Rafting trip (https://vikingrafting.is/family-rafting-2/) The East Glacial River Gorge (Jökulsá-Austari) is the setting for our most action-packed and exciting rafting day tour. With spectacular deep canyon scenery and relentless heart-pumping whitewater, the East has been consistently rated one of Europe’s best rafting rivers and has topped popular guide books’ lists of "must-do's" in Iceland. One of the most remote single-day rafting trips on the planet, this whitewater adventure delivers an unforgettable journey into the untamed beauty of Iceland’s river wilderness. Combine that with a dose of adrenaline strong enough to satisfy the most powerful of cravings. For those traveling to Iceland with a thirst for adventure, this is a day tour not to be missed..

Description from the operator, Viking Rafting. Prices and availability in the booking panel are live.

Included

– All rafting equipment: drysuit, PFD, helmet, booties, gloves – Qualified, professional raft guides and safety kayakers – Transportation between our rafting base and the river – Riverside refreshments (a tasty homemade surprise.) – Iceland's ultimate rafting experience.

Good to know

The first thing you need to know about your rafting trip is that you are probably going to get wet, so don't be too surprised. The second thing is that there is nothing tropical about Iceland, and even though you are on summer vacation, your speedos will do you no good here. All of our rafting trips run on glacial rivers, which means that the water we paddle in is recently melted ice. As the environment and the elements we face are unpredictable (often cold and always wet) overexposure will not only leave you shivering and misrable, but it can easily become a serious safety concern if you manage to sneak in unprepared. It is your responsibility as participants (yes, you.) to arrive for your rafting trip with adequate warm clothing. What do we mean? Let us explain... WHAT TO WEAR ON THE RIVER – Thermal underwear / base layers – Warm fleece top / wool sweater – Fleece pants / extra long johns – Thick wool socks / hiking socks (at least 1 pair) Be prepared to get wet. All clothing worn on the river should be of a material that keeps its insulating ability when wet. We highly recommend fleece, wool, and synthetic materials. DO NOT WEAR COTTON, so NOT your jeans and favourite hoodie. WHAT ELSE TO BRING – Dry clothes for after the river – Any necessary medications (asthma inhalers, etc.) – Waterproof camera (optional) – Thirst for adventure & sense of humour.

*IMPORTANT NOTE FOR THOSE BOOKED WITH TRANSFER FROM AKUREYRI. This service is available everyday of our rafting season, with the exception that the minimum of 2 participants required to operate the trip has not been met. Pickups must be booked and paid for in advance- either in person, online, or by phone. Pickups depart from Akureyri Backpackers (Hafnarstræti 98) at 7:20. No refunds will be given for those missing their morning pick-up from Akureyri.

Cancellation for this tour

Cancelling costs 10% of the price within 365 days of departure. If the operator cancels for weather or safety, you get a full refund or a new date.

Who this is not for

Not for families with children under 18 — the operator will not take them, even with a parent.
Not for anyone unsure on their feet or carrying an injury — the operator rates this as physically demanding, and there is no easy version of the day.

Read off the operator's own conditions. If none of it applies to you, this is a good one.

Why we list it

Viking Rafting is one of 204 operators we work with — chosen for reliability, honest descriptions and how they treat guests when weather changes plans. We don't list everything; we list what we'd book ourselves. The six checks every operator passes →

What travellers say about Viking Rafting

Read all 608 reviews on Google →

Operator rating 5.0/5 from Google — these are reviews of the company, not this specific tour. Shown as Google returns them, unedited.

Phillip Leon
★★★★★ · 3 months ago
Spectacular experience. The setting is amazing. The crew are joyful and engaging. Mr. A was our guide. His safety briefings have you engaged and prepared for what may come. It is cold water rafting so bring layers to tailor your needs to the conditions. Always better to be warm and need to cool off with a quick dip in the 40ish degree water. Bhalu is awesome. He loves his "job". It was an honor to have him in our boat. Check out his insta. I recommend getting lunch at the end of the big rapids trip. It truly is a delicious feast.
Alan Cammack
★★★★★ · a month ago
Excellent experience rafting the East Glacier River. The guides are all top notch, fun, and highly trained. Drysuits were provided which were well maintained. The trip was well manged and had a "safety kayaker," so we felt very well taken care of. This is one of the coolest ways to experience Iceland and this river in particular is one of the most beautiful I have ever seen. Would highly recommend!
Jan
★★★★★ · 3 months ago
We did the Whitewater Action Tour with Viking Rafting and honestly it was one of the best experiences in Iceland so far and i live here for 4 years straight. From start to finish everything felt safe, well organized, and just really fun. Huge thanks to all the team - Anup, the senior guide and boss, for running everything so smoothly and making sure we felt looked after the whole time. Saurav and Hari, the senior guides, were fantastic on the water, profesional, but also just great, fun people to be around. Sean and Naina kept the energy up and made sure everyone was having a good time, even when we were nervous before the bigger rapids. Mike got us safely to and from the river, and Camino and Andy took care of us at the camp with amazing food and a really warm welcome, it genuinely felt like being with friends rather than just staff. This whole team is talented, kind, and clearly loves what they do. We’ll definitely be back next time we’re in the area. Highly recommend to anyone looking for a real adventure with people who actually care!
Ewa Szewczyk
★★★★★ · a month ago
It was my first time and I am absolutely blown away! I didn't expect such an amazing experience with such fantastic guides. It was extreme, but thanks to the warmth and smiles of the whole team, I felt completely safe. Now I truly feel alive! Thank you to the entire crew for the great atmosphere and unforgettable emotions. Also, I highly recommend the meal that you can order on-site – it was simply delicious! Recommended from the bottom of my heart!”

Reviews from Google · updated 21 Oct 2026

Read before you book

River rafting in Iceland: east or west river?Both rafting rivers meet near Varmahlíð in the north. One is class 4 and adults only, the other is class 2 and takes children from six.

Reviews from our travellers

Only people who booked this tour through us can write here. We publish every review in full — good or bad.

Reviews arrive the day after each trip — none yet for this one. After your tour we send one email asking how it was, and what you write goes here, unedited.

Hotels

Where to stay for this tour

From the cheapest to the top end of what is near Sauðárkrókur, from our hotel partners. Rooms are booked on our hotels site.

All hotels in North Iceland →

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Your date

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Departs08:0009:0010:0010:3011:0012:0013:0014:0014:3020:00

Sauðárkrókur: light 04:41–21:50, 17 h 8 min of daylight.

Labour Day — a public holiday in Iceland. Shops, pools and museums keep short hours or shut, and some tours do not run.

· Cancelling costs 10% of the price within 365 days of departure.
✓ Instant confirmation by email
✓ If Viking Rafting cancels for weather or safety: a full refund, or another date
✓ Card — Apple Pay or Google Pay where your device offers it — through Stripe; the charge is made in Icelandic krónur
✓ Price promise: Viking Rafting's own price, or we refund the difference
✓ One checkout, even with tours from several operators
✓ Vetted operator — the six checks every operator passes