3-Day Rafting Expedition

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

5.00· 608 Google reviews of the operator

Fine on your own
Self-guided

3-Day Rafting Expedition — Viking Rafting

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

Duration
3 days
Difficulty
Demanding
Season
All year
Starts in
Akureyri
Pickup
Meet at the start point
Departs
10:00
Minimum age
18
Cancellation
Cancelling costs 20% of the price within 365 days of departure, rising to 50% within 30 days.

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.

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.
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.
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 →

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 207 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 23 Oct 2026

Read before you book

Kjölur or Sprengisandur: which highland crossingKjölur is bridged, shorter and has hot springs; Sprengisandur is emptier and harder. Both are summer only, and for most people a guided day is wiser.

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.

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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Your date

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Departs10:00

· Cancelling costs 20% of the price within 365 days of departure, rising to 50% within 30 days.
✓ 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