Family rafting in Iceland: from what age?

Yes, young children can raft in Iceland, but only on the trips built for them. Arctic Rafting’s Family Fun trip on the Hvítá takes children from age 8. Viking Rafting’s family trip in North Iceland takes them from age 6. The regular rafting trips are 11 and up, and no amount of asking nicely changes that.

So the real question is which family trip, and whether it is worth the drive.

The Hvítá, near Gullfoss

The Family Fun Rafting (about €146, three hours) runs on the lower Hvítá, the glacial river that feeds Gullfoss. Arctic Rafting rates it 1 out of 5 for difficulty. The water is gentle, the waves are small, and the setting is a canyon at Brúarhlöð. Departures are at 11:00 and 15:00 from the Drumbó river base, which has changing rooms, showers and a sauna. The sauna after a cold river is the best part for most children.

The adult category starts at 16. Children are 15 and under, with a separate category for ages 8 to 10. You wear a wetsuit with neoprene trousers, so pack a warm wool layer and a change of clothes. No cotton.

You meet at Drumbó, which is a drive of about an hour and a half from Reykjavík. If you have no car, the same trip with Reykjavík pickup is about €205 and takes eight hours, because the drive is part of the day. That is €59 more per adult for the transport. It also puts the youngest child in a minibus for three hours in total. Decide whether that is a problem for yours.

The Jökulsá Vestari, North Iceland

The Family Rafting (West) (about €161, three and a half hours) starts in Hafgrímsstaðir near Varmahlíð, which is an hour or so from Akureyri. The river is Class 2 to 2+, a step up from the Hvítá, and the minimum age is 6. Children aged 6 to 12 are booked in the child category and everyone 13 and over pays the adult fare.

Viking Rafting issues a full drysuit to every guest, not a wetsuit. That matters for a small child, because a drysuit keeps them warm for longer. The trip stops for hot chocolate made on a geothermal spring, and near the end there is a cliff jump. Your guide decides on the day, and you can say no for a child who does not want to.

The catch is geography. If you are doing the Ring Road with a seven-year-old, this is an easy stop in the north. If you are based in Reykjavík, it is a flight or a very long day. Choose the Hvítá instead.

The standard trip, for older children

The River Fun Rafting (about €168, three hours) from Selfoss is the regular Hvítá trip, with more waves and more splash. Arctic Rafting sets the minimum age at 11. A strong eleven or twelve-year-old who has done a swimming lesson or two will enjoy it more than the family trip. A nervous one will not.

Do not book it for a nine-year-old on the grounds that the child “is big for their age”. Guides check, and you will lose the day.

What to check before you book

• Swimming. You do not need to swim to raft, but the operators ask that you are comfortable floating. If your child hates getting their face wet, wait a year.
• Season. Both rivers run in summer. Ask about spring and autumn dates before you plan around them.
• Cancellation. Arctic Rafting offers free cancellation until 24 hours before departure. Viking Rafting charges 10% of the price on cancellation, so read its terms.
• Cold. Glacial water is cold even in July. Pack a warm hat for the ride back.

Our honest take

If you are in the south, book the Family Fun Rafting from Drumbó and drive yourself. It is the cheapest option, it is gentle, and the sauna makes the day. Use the pickup version only if you have no car.

If you are in North Iceland, the Jökulsá trip is the better one, because the drysuit and the younger age limit suit smaller children. Its rapids are livelier, so it is not the choice for a child who is wary.

Neither is a thrill ride, and that is the point. A family that wants thrills should wait until the children turn 11.