3-Day Rafting Expedition

by Viking Rafting · Sightseeing day tours · Multi-day packages · North Iceland

5.00(602) · operator on Google
3-Day Rafting Expedition — Viking Rafting

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 3-Day Rafting Expedition

3-Day Rafting Expedition, photo 63-Day Rafting Expedition, photo 7

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

  • Duration

    3 days

  • Difficulty

    Demanding

  • Season

    All year

  • Starts in

    Akureyri

  • Meeting

    Meet on location

  • Languages

    EN, DE, IS, FR, DA, ES

  • Departs

    10:00

  • Minimum age

    18

About this experience

You are about to embark upon a 3-day highlight reel of desert moonscapes, sprawling glaciers, hot springs, world-class whitewater, remote mountain cabins, and gourmet riverside cuisine, all from the heart of north Iceland's most pristine and otherwise inaccessible wilderness. Set sail where few expeditions have been before, in a committing self-support conquest of Iceland's most challenging rafting river. This adventure begins with a rugged drive into the Sprengisandur desert towards the source of the legendary East Glacial River (Jökulsá-Austari) river at the foot of the mighty Hofsjökull glacier. Somewhere in the vast expanses of this arctic desert, a cluster of secluded cabins around a thermal oasis provides us shelter on our first night, and it is from here that we plunge into our committing 2-day descent of Iceland's best rafting river. In these two days, we navigate the full 55km of the East Glacial River through its twisting valleys and canyons, facing an ever-evolving blend of heart-pumping whitewater, breathtaking scenery, and wilderness solitude. The trip wraps up on the third evening at our rafting base at Hafgrímsstaðir with a celebration of our achievements, barbecue feast, and a farewell fiesta with your guides and fellow rafters.

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 into the highlands & to and from the river – 2 nights accommodation in backcountry lodges – All meals/snacks from lunch on Day 1 to dinner on Day 3 – Iceland's ultimate rafting adventure.

Good to know

Note: detailed packing list will be provided in a full information package provided at the time of booking. – 1 set of river clothing (warm, lightweight, layered clothing of fleece, wool, or synthetic materials– NO COTTON. We reccommend a set of thermal underwear/base layers, warm fleece top & pants, and thick wool/hiking socks.) – 1 set of hut clothing: warm and comfortable, waterproof/windproof jacket, footwear for walking around camp. – 3 pairs of extra socks – Sleeping bag – Personal hygiene kit, toiletries – Any necessary medications (asthma inhaler, EpiPen, etc.) – Swimsuit and towel for thermal pools – Camera (optional but recommended) – Thirst for adventure & sense of humour.
Please note that the cancellation policy differs from that of our day trips. This trip is 80% refundable up until 30 days prior to the trip, 50% refundable up until 15 days beforehand, and non-refundable after that.

Cancellation for this tour

Cancelling costs 20% of the price within 365 days of departure, rising to 50% within 30 days. If the operator cancels for weather or safety, you get a full refund or a new date.

If the weather cancels this tour

Iceland's weather is real. What usually stops this one is a forecast the operator judges unsafe. Here is exactly what happens to your booking.

  1. 1Viking Rafting decides, and tells us. Operators cancel when it is unsafe or pointless, and we back that call every time — we do not ask them to run anyway.
  2. 2We contact you by email, and by phone if your tour is the same or next day. You choose: another date if there is one you can make, or a full refund. There is no fee and nothing to argue.
  3. 3The refund goes back to the card you paid with, through Stripe, usually visible within a few working days. If this tour was one of several in your booking, the others are untouched.

What you do not get is the day back. If this is the only free day in your plan, put a spare day next to it — the planner leaves days free with the rest-day option. And if you want out because the forecast looks bad, that is your own cancellation: free until the cutoff shown above, the operator's policy after that.

Questions on the day: [email protected] · +354 497 1373. How cancellations work in Iceland →

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

  • 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 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.

  • Phillip Leon

    ★★★★★ · 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.

  • Jan

    ★★★★★ · 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!

  • Анастасия Зайкова

    ★★★★★ · 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!

  • Tomas Varnas

    ★★★★★ · 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

Reviews from our travellers

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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.

Multi-day packages — questions people ask

Are multi-day tours in Iceland worth it compared to day trips?

For the southeast, yes. Jökulsárlón and the ice caves are five hours from Reykjavík, so a day trip is fourteen hours of mostly bus. A two- or three-day tour (/experience/6131/, /experience/923386/) sleeps out there, sees the lagoon at a sane hour and adds an ice cave in winter. For the Golden Circle and South Coast alone, day trips are fine. Multi-day tours cost more per day but include the hotel.

What is included in a multi-day tour?

Transport in a minibus with a driver-guide, accommodation with breakfast, all the listed activities such as glacier hikes and ice caves, and the entrance fees on the route. Lunches and dinners are usually not included; you stop at guesthouses and cafes and pay your own way. Single travellers pay a supplement for their own room. Check the tour page for exact inclusions, the hotel standard and luggage limits, which are tight on small buses.

How many days do you need for the Ring Road on a tour?

Six to eight. Six-day tours (/experience/785082/, /experience/876949/) get round with one night in most regions and long driving days. Seven and eight days (/experience/20483/, /experience/33665/) add the highlands or Snæfellsnes and give more time out of the bus. Anything shorter than six is not a Ring Road tour. Summer versions have the highland detours; winter versions swap them for ice caves and shorter daylight.

Should I arrive in Iceland the day before a multi-day tour starts?

Yes. Multi-day tours leave Reykjavík between 08:00 and 09:00 and do not wait for delayed flights. Land the day before, sleep in the city, and start fresh. On the other end, tours arrive back in Reykjavík in the evening, so do not book a flight home the same night. In the planner, put arrival on day one, the tour from day two, and leave the last day for the flight.

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