Meet the Team

Naina "Nannu" Adhikari

India

Naina comes from Nainital, India, and was named after the goddess Naina Devi. Around Viking, you'll find her guiding, safety kayaking, taking photos, helping in the kitchen, or basically doing whatever needs doing.

She came to Iceland to push her kayaking skills, leave her comfort zone behind, and learn from the toughest river crew she could find.

When she's not on the river, she's working on her Ganga Girls project, reading, writing, dancing, creating content, or watching kayaking videos. She claims she can never get bored.

Her superpower? Being impossible to discourage.

People say she is: stronger than she looks.
Guests are surprised to learn: she's 25, not 18. 😄
Favorite battle: trying over wondering.

Ragnheiður Guðmundsdóttir

Iceland

​Ragnheiður (Ragga) is the quiet powerhouse behind the scenes. A published poet and writer with a sharp eye for detail, Ragga brings both creativity and calm to the team. She joined Viking Rafting in 2014 after meeting with Anup at the Ganga Kayak Festival in India—proof that great adventures often begin on distant rivers.

Andrea "Andy"

Slovakia

Meet Andrea – or as we call her, “Swiss Army Andy” – because she literally does everything. She started at Viking Rafting as our cook, whipping up meals that made even the grumpiest guide smile. But then she picked up a paddle… and never put it down. Now she’s not only running the kitchen like a boss, but also guiding family rafting trips, clicking awesome photos and safety kayaking like it’s just another casual Tuesday.

Sean "Token" Powell

Ireland

Sean comes from Cork, Ireland, where most of the paddling community knows him as "Token", a nickname that stuck after a friend needed a way to tell two Seans apart during canoe polo training.

After spending seven months paddling in New Zealand, Sean wasn't quite ready to return home. A few conversations with Viking's crew later, and he found himself in Iceland for his first commercial rafting season.

When he's not on the river, you'll find him reading, staying involved with the Scouts, enjoying the ocean, or helping organize paddling events. He also helped publish a book celebrating 50 years of adventures from his university canoe club.

His superpower? Keeping river logistics running smoothly. Need a shuttle organized? Sean's your man.

People say he: looks like a Viking.
Guests are surprised to learn: he's only 24 (the youngest member of the crew).
Biggest fear: losing 10–0 at foosball. 😄

Saurav Rai

Nepal

Originally from Nepal, Saurav is bringing his good vibes and steady paddle to Viking Rafting for his first season. He sums himself up simply: “I am a positive guy.” And it shows—from early morning gear-ups to post-trip high fives, Saurav’s friendly energy keeps the stoke high and the team smiling. Calm, kind, and always ready to help, he’s exactly the kind of guide you want on (and off) the river.

Amit "Gappu" Thapa

Nepal

Amit, better known as "Gappu," comes from a Nepali family but grew up in India. His nickname dates back to childhood: his brother was known as "Pappu," so naturally Amit became "Gappu."

With over 10 years of river experience, Amit is one of those people who can do just about everything around a rafting company. Guiding, safety kayaking, taking photos, driving, cooking: if something needs doing, chances are he's already on it.

When he's not on the river, he's editing videos, planning his next paddling mission, cooking, playing cricket, or figuring out how to make life even more adventurous.

His river superpower? Strength, awareness, and always being ready for action.

People say he is: a beast.
Guests are surprised to learn: he can dance really well. 💃
Biggest fear: snakes. 🐍
Favorite battle: kayaking over anything.

Michail "Mike" Tzimas

Greece

Michail comes from Greece, although around Viking you'll mostly hear him respond to either "Mike" or "SIT DOWN!" With five years of river experience, he joined Viking after deciding he wanted to see more of the world, improve his skills, and challenge himself. A recommendation from a friend led him to Anup, a rushed bus license later, and the rest is history.

When he's not driving buses or chasing adventure, Mike can be found climbing, skiing, hiking, cooking, riding motorcycles, drawing, fixing broken things, or finding new ways to enjoy life.

His river superpower? Staying on the boat. His friends call him El Gato because he'll do almost anything to avoid touching the water.

People say he has: too much energy.
Biggest fear: swimming in cold water. 🥶
Favorite battle: coffee over everything else. ☕
Fun fact: If you start a conversation with Mike, don't expect to get any work done for a while.

Hari Ale Magar

Nepal

Nicknamed “Captain” by the crew (and “superhuman” by just about everyone else), Hari is a force of nature on and off the river. Originally from Nepal, he brings years of whitewater experience, and calm confidence to every Viking Rafting trip.
Whether he's navigating a technical rapid, or carrying way too many paddles at once, Hari somehow makes it all look easy!

Dr. Chris Doyle-Kelly

Canada / Iceland

When Chris joined forces with Anup to start Viking Rafting, he had the goal to create the best possible environment for both rafters and guides to thrive each and every day. Chris is currently pursuing a medical career in British Columbia and will be joining the team for as much time as he can spare. Whether he’s treating patients or tackling rapids, he somehow manages to keep a paddle in one hand and a stethoscope in the other… true Viking multitasking.

Anup Gurung

Nepal/Iceland

You won’t find this owner glued to his office chair: expect to see Anup behind the lens of a camera capturing the daily action from his kayak, or barking commands from the back of the raft. His time spent exploring Iceland’s abundant whitewater makes him a valuable resource for the new guides looking to get the most out their time here.

Mirto Menghetti

Switzerland (Ticino)

Mirto has spent seasons with Viking Rafting. Often racing his kayak to capture your smiles, he has won several photography awards for his work. Currently spending the summer in the French Alps, he visits the team whenever possible. Soon to be a dad, Mirto is preparing for his greatest adventure yet: one that may involve fewer rapids but a lot more diapers!

Bikram "Bigrum" Gurung

Nepal

Bikram comes from Nepal, but most guests know him as "BIGRUM": a slightly louder version of his name that tends to stick in people's memories.

With over 15 years in the rafting industry and eight summers in Iceland, Bikram joined Viking Rafting looking for a new challenge and a fresh environment. Fortunately for us, Viking came to the rescue at just the right moment.

When he's not on the river, you'll find him learning new English words, playing guitar, singing, taking photos, or working on his fitness and personal growth.

His river superpower? Taking his job seriously and applying common sense when it matters most.

People say he is: a very nice guy.
Most memorable river moment: giving himself a black eye with his own paddle in Green Room. 😄
Biggest fear: pitch darkness. 🌙
Fun fact: He has enough river experience to make almost anything on the water look easy.

Quality equipment

We are one of very few in the world, that provides all of our guests with drysuits. Despite the significant costs of having and maintaining this equipment, we believe it is vital to the safety or comfort of our guests in a paddling climate such as ours. Our off-river time is almost entirely dedicated to regular maintenance and repair of our equipment, all of which is done on-site, by us.

Quality service

We are a small operation with a relatively light capacity on our trips and a comfortable daily schedule. This means we are always able to deliver the personal service we like, have low guest-to-guide ratios, and take the time required to properly run the best trips. We begin each trip by thoroughly preparing everyone for the river so as to ensure a successful and enjoyable paddling experience for all.

Quality experiences

No two of our trips are ever exactly the same. Because the combination of river conditions and group dynamics always differ slightly, we make little adjustments in the way we operate our trips so that each individual gets the best possible experience. Our ability to 'micro-customize' comes from years of experience on these rivers, and is the professional signature that we proudly apply to all of our river trips.

Quality costs

The reality to all this is that quality costs. There is no way around it. We have always been slightly more expensive than our competition, and have often been asked to explain why. We are open about our reasons and proudly rigid in our standards.