The 11 Iceland Rafting Tours We Would Book Again

1.Iceland’s Top Grade 4 Rafting – Drysuit, Canyon & Adrenaline

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 438 reviews · 6 hours (approx.) · from $290 a head Our pick

From Hafgrímsstaðir near Varmahlíð, you’ll spend about three hours on the East Glacial River with Viking Rafting guides such as Hunter, Mark, and Tarzan. Expect Grade 4 whitewater, canyon scenery, safety kayakers, drysuits, riverside refreshments, and a lamb lunch. Transport from Akureyri is available only with the selected booking option.

“Super freundliches und kompotentes Team mit sehr viel Humor. Für uns das beste Erlebnis auf Island. Lieben Dank an das Team für den mega tollen Tag.”

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2.Top-Rated Family Rafting-Warm Drysuits, Volcanic Canyon, Epic Fun

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 411 reviews · 3 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $187 a head

Meet Viking Rafting in Hafgrímsstaðir for a 10 km family rafting trip through a basalt canyon. You get a warm drysuit, safety coaching, hot cocoa made with spring water, and optional swimming or a 5-meter cliff jump. Guides such as Amy, Lucas, Roshan, and Benji have helped make this a fun first rafting trip for children and adults.

“This was an excellent trip for our kids 10 and 12 who are novices at whitewater. The guides did a great job explaining safety rules, the equipment and how a boat works together to go through rapids. We had a great time drinking hot chocolate made from fresh volcanic spring water and jumping off of a cliff into ice cold glacier water thanks to the dry suits. My kids loved the day and were doing things I never expected like jumping off a cliff! Thanks Phil and the rest of the team for making our day safe and fun!!!”

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3.River Rafting on the Golden Circle

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 114 reviews · 3 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $177 a head

Join Arctic Rafting on the Hvítá River near Selfoss for a 3.5-hour trip through Golden Circle scenery. You get rafting gear, safety training, transport to the river, and a warm-up in the sauna and hot tubs. Guides such as Katelynn, Lulu, and Mayte have been praised for calm, clear instruction. Bring a swimsuit, wool socks, and warm layers.

“It is worth living this experience, very professional monitors, especially the Spanish Mayte. Very fun activity, with all the necessary equipment, beautiful landscapes and to finish in the sauna and jacuzzi in an ideal environment. We had a great time, thanks to all the team!!!Auto-translated”

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4.Selfoss: Golden Circle Rafting Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 23 reviews · 3 - 8 hours · from $173 a head

From Selfoss, you’ll raft 7 kilometers of the Hvítá River through Gullfoss canyon and Brúarhlöð, with trained English-speaking guides such as Arjun leading the way. Expect calm stretches, rapids, river-only views, and a possible cliff jump. Wetsuits, helmets, and hot tubs are included.

“Super Rafting Tour. Organisation war trotz großer Gruppen sehr professionell. Der Transport in alten US Bussen war klasse. Das rafting an sich hätte noch etwas anspruchsvoller sein können, gerade am Ende haben große Stromschnellen gefehlt, dies wurde jedoch mit lustigen Aktionen ausgeglichen, sodass es immer extrem Spaß gemacht hat!”

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5.Varmahlíð: Top-Rated Family Adventure Rafting in Drysuits

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 22 reviews · 3h 30m · from $172 a head

Set out from Viking Rafting near Varmahlíð for a 3.5-hour family rafting trip on Iceland’s West Glacial River. Your guide, perhaps Gustavo, Sorav, Ray, or Amy, leads you through gentle rapids, canyon bends, riverside hot springs, water fights, and optional 4-meter cliff jumping. Drysuits and transport are included.

“La guida Gustavo insieme ai suoi colleghi molto bravi e gentili ci siamo veramente divertiti in sicurezza, bellissima esperienza”

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6.North Iceland: Europe’s Wildest Rafting in DRYSUIT

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 13 reviews · 6 hours · from $246 a head

Spend six hours with Viking Rafting on North Iceland’s East Glacial River. You’ll ride Grade IV rapids in a full drysuit, with transport, safety kayakers, and professional guides such as Hunter, Harry, and Mark. The trip suits first-timers who want serious whitewater, cold glacial water, and a strong dose of highland adventure.

“These guys are the BEST!!!! We had an epic time on the east glacier river. Hunter was our guide and he did not disappoint. He’s hilarious and fun but super safety conscious and makes sure you’re ok at all times. Go do it!! You won’t regret it.”

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7.West Glacial River Family Rafting

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 9 reviews · 3 hours · from $156 a head Cheapest seat

You’ll raft the class 2 to 3 West Glacial River from Bakkaflöt, with a guide, full cold-water gear, geothermal hot chocolate, and an optional cliff jump. The three-hour outing suits families with children 12 and older who want canyon views and a real splash of adventure without a full-day commitment. Bastian has been praised for friendly guiding and photos.

“This was so amazing! Our tour guides were so funny and helpful, this was a great way to kick off our trip!”

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8.East Glacial River Extreme Rafting

★★★★★★★★★★4.1 · 7 reviews · 5 hours · from $238 a head

Spend five hours rafting 16 kilometers through Iceland’s East Glacial canyon with an English-speaking guide. Bakkaflöt Travel Service provides wetsuits, dry tops, helmets, life jackets, and booties. Expect named rapids, optional cliff jumping, hot Icelandic meat soup, and a hot tub afterward. You must be at least 18.

“Es war ein richtig schöne und aufgeregende Erfahrung. Vor allem Danke an unseren Guide Bikran, er hat es absolut fantastisch gemacht!:)”

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9.Reykjavik: ATV & Rafting Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.2 · 6 reviews · 8 hours · from $401 a head

Start with a one-hour ATV ride from Reykjavik to Hafravatn Lake and Reykjavik Peak, then travel to the Hvítá River for two to three hours of rafting through Brúarhlöð Canyon. Gear, hotel pickup, guides, hot tubs, sauna, and return transport are included. Bring a license, warm layers, swimwear, and a towel.

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10.ATV & Rafting Full day adventure from Reykjavik

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 5 reviews · 8 hours (approx.) · from $375 a head

Ride an ATV across lava trails to Hafrafell Mountain, then raft the Hvítá River through Brúarhlöð canyon. Pickup from Reykjavik, equipment, certified guides, sauna, showers, and hot tubs are included. You need a valid driver’s license, warm layers, swimwear, and a towel.

“The tour's atv/ rafting were awesome highly recommended . But when booking it’s not clear on the itinerary they don’t tell you it is 2 separate tours companies . And there not contacted . You’re not getting picked up and continuing to your next tour . We had no idea of who or what time the second part was happening. Very confusing and unclear when booking. But other then that it was a awesome day”

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11.Reykjavik Whales & White Water Rafting Adventure

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 2 reviews · from $250 a head

Spend a full Icelandic day pairing a three-hour Elding whale cruise from Reykjavík’s Old Harbour with a guided Hvítá River rafting trip. Watch for humpbacks, minke whales, dolphins, porpoises, seabirds, and puffins, then paddle through rapids with all major safety gear supplied. Hotel pickup is offered.

“I give the whale watching 4 stars. They keep a good distance from the whales, so the few we saw were fairly far away. You could see a tail flip or a fin, but it was not the most exciting. At least we saw some! The WWR was great. A few decenRead more”

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