Family Rafting (West)
by Viking Rafting · Family & kids · Reykjavík
- Fine on your own
Would this be cheaper direct? No — we sell at Viking Rafting's own price and take our commission from them, not from you. What you get here is one checkout across operators, one confirmation, and one place to change or cancel it. If you ever find it cheaper on their own site, tell us and we will match it or explain why we cannot.
More photos of Family Rafting (West)
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Duration
3 hours and 30 minutes
Difficulty
Easy
Season
All year
Starts in
Varmahlíð
Meeting
Meet on location
Languages
EN, DE, IS, FR, DA, ES
Departs
09:00, 10:00, 10:30, 11:00 …
Minimum age
6
Our take on this one
Class 2 to 2+ water through a basalt canyon in north Iceland — enough to soak everyone and not enough to frighten a six-year-old. Viking Rafting put every guest in a drysuit rather than a wetsuit, which is unusual and is the difference between a cold three hours and a comfortable one, and they stop early on for hot chocolate made with water from a geothermal spring on the bank. There is a cliff jump near the end; the guides decide on the day and anyone who can swim may do it. Gear, guides, safety kayakers and the transfer from their base are included. It runs from Varmahlíð, five hours' drive north of Reykjavík, so this belongs to a Ring Road trip, not a day out from the capital.
- Book it if
- Families with children from six who are already in north Iceland and want water without whitewater nerves.
- Skip it if
- It is gentle by design — and it is in Skagafjörður, so it is not a day trip from Reykjavík under any arrangement.
Written by us, from the operator's own details and what we know of the route. We don't take a fee for a good word.
About this experience
The Best Family Rafting Trip in North Iceland
West Glacial River | Ages 6+
There's a moment early in this trip that nobody expects. You're barely into the canyon and we pull over and you're drinking hot cocoa brewed from a natural geothermal spring right on the riverbank. In the middle of a glacial canyon. In Iceland. It sets the tone for everything that follows.
The Jökulsá Vestari flows through one of Iceland's most beautiful volcanic canyons with gentle Class 2-2+ rapids, stunning basalt walls, and enough splashing to keep everyone grinning without anyone feeling overwhelmed. Perfect for first-timers, families with young kids, and anyone who wants Iceland's raw landscape without the white-knuckle intensity. If you want that instead, our Whitewater Action trip is right there. And at the final stretch - a cliff jump. Our guides make the call on the day and we rarely skip it. If you can swim, you're in.
Like all our trips, every guest gets a full drysuit. Not a wetsuit. A drysuit. One of the very few rafting companies in the world doing this. The whole family stays warm, dry, and comfortable the entire way through.
What's included:
- Class 2–2+ rapids, safe, fun, suitable for ages 6+
- Stunning volcanic glacial canyon, only reachable by water
- Geothermal hot cocoa stop
- Cliff jump
- Full drysuits for everyone
- No experience needed
- Daily departures from Hafgrímsstaðir, North Iceland (near Akureyri & Varmahlíð)
No experience needed. No cold. Just one of those days your family talks about for years.
Description from the operator, Viking Rafting. Prices and availability in the booking panel are live.
Where you go
- Family Rafting
Included
Good to know
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.
Why this one and not the cheaper one?
The nearest cheaper Family Beach Ride from Vik Horse Adventure is €79 — €79 less. Here is every difference we can actually measure.
| Viking Rafting · €158 | Vik Horse Adventure · €79 | |
|---|---|---|
| How long it runs | 3.5 hours | 0.5 hours |
| Changing your mind | Not stated | Free until 48 h before |
| How hard it is | Easy | Very easy |
The €79 buys you 3 more hours out. Whether that is worth it is your call — but that is what the difference is.
Sold out on your date?
Seats come back — a cancellation, or the operator adding a vehicle. Tell us the date and we will check once a day and email you if one opens. One email, then we delete the address; nothing else is ever sent to it.
Who this is not for
- Children under 6 cannot join this one.
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 154 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 602 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.
★★★★★ · 2 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.
★★★★★ · 2 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!
★★★★★ · a month ago
Our rafting experience with Viking Rafting was absolutely unforgettable! From start to finish, everything was perfectly organized, and the entire team made us feel safe, welcome, and excited. The guides are true professionals who clearly know what they’re doing. They were incredibly friendly, fun, and passionate, making the whole adventure even more enjoyable. We laughed a lot, admired the stunning scenery, and created memories that will stay with us for a long time. If you’re visiting Iceland and looking for an exciting adventure, I highly recommend Viking Rafting. Thank you to the amazing team for such an incredible experience!
★★★★★ · 2 months ago
There's a reason why those guys have 5 star rating with hundreds of reviews. First - you will have a great experience (if you are not afraid of water ofc) Second - you won't get cold or wet, just wear a lot of layers and listen to the guides. You don't need any prior experience also. Thank you guys for great time, and maybe we'll meet in Nepal ;)
Reviews from Google · updated 13 Sept 2026
Read before you book
- Reykjavík with kids works when every tour is under three hoursWhat actually holds a child's attention in Reykjavík — short boats, a lava tunnel, the city pools, a ferry — and the long tours to leave for another trip.
Reviews from our travellers
Only people who booked this tour through us can write here. We publish every review in full — good or bad.
No reviews yet from our travellers on this one. After your tour we send one email asking how it was, and what you write goes here, unedited.
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