Ride & Raft

Begin with a two-hour horseback riding tour with Hestasport, exploring the scenic landscapes of Skagafjörður on the renowned Icelandic horses. Then, embark on a family-friendly rafting journey down the gentle rapids of the West Glacial River. This combined experience offers a perfect blend of equestrian exploration and river excitement, suitable for all ages and skill levels.

Rafting at 03:00 PM

Horseback Riding at 10:00 AM

Easy (II+)

Minimum age: 6

Kid's price (6-12)

Yes!

Meal of the day

On request (4.500 ISK p.p.)

Drysuit

Provided in every single trip

Photographer

On request (7.500 ISK)

Make the most of your day in North Iceland with this fun-filled combo tour, perfect for families and first-time adventurers! You'll experience two of the region’s most iconic activities: horseback riding with Hestasport in the morning and family rafting on the West Glacial River in the afternoon.


10:00 – Horseback Riding with Hestasport

Your day begins in Varmahlíð, where Hestasport’s friendly guides will match you with one of their calm and sure-footed Icelandic horses. You'll ride through beautiful landscapes — from green valleys to lava fields — and get to experience the unique tölt gait that makes these horses so special. This ride is easy-going and suitable for beginners and kids alike.


15:00 – Family Rafting on the West Glacial River

After a break for lunch and a bit of relaxation, it’s time to head to the river! Our Family Rafting trip is the perfect introduction to whitewater — gentle rapids, crystal-clear glacial water, and plenty of splashy fun. Our experienced guides ensure a safe and entertaining journey through the stunning river canyon, with optional cliff jumping for the adventurous.


This combo is the ultimate way to enjoy the nature, culture, and excitement of North Iceland — two unforgettable adventures in one perfect day!



WE PROVIDE:


- All Rafting equipment: Drysuit, PFD, helmet, booties, gloves.


- Qualified, professional IRF raft guides and safety kayakers.


- Transportation between our rafting base and the river.


- Riverside refreshments.


- Iceland's ultimate rafting experience!



YOU BRING:


- Thermal underwear / base layers


- Warm fleece top / wool sweater


- Fleece pants / extra long johns


- Thick wool socks / hiking socks (at least 1 pair)


- Dry clothes for after the river


- Any necessary medications (asthma inhalers, etc.)







The first thing you need to know about your rafting trip is that you are probably going to get wet, so don't be too surprised! The second thing is that there is nothing tropical about Iceland, and even though you are on summer vacation, your speedos will do you no good here. All of our rafting trips run on glacial rivers, which means that the water we paddle in is recently melted ice. As the environment and the elements we face are unpredictable (often cold and always wet) overexposure will not only leave you shivering and miserable, but it can easily become a serious safety concern if you manage to sneak in unprepared. It is your responsibility as participants (yes, you!) to arrive for your rafting trip with adequate warm clothing. Be prepared to get wet! All clothing worn on the river should be of a material that keeps its insulating ability when wet. We highly recommend fleece, wool, and synthetic materials. DO NOT WEAR COTTON, so NOT your jeans and favourite hoodie!

We had the best time! Being river fanatics and past guides/current kayakers ourselves we were unsure how we were going to feel in the customer seat but it was great! We felt VERY safe and all of the staff was extremely friendly... read more

Most memorable highlight. Highly experienced guides that'll give you the confidence to tackle Class 4 rapids. The safety briefing was thorough and made us well-prepared. As long as you're in good shape and feeling adventurous, you'll have a great time. Be careful, they set the bar so high, it's unforgettable. Worth all the stars!

I cannot express how amazing this trip was. The whole organization was professional, courteous, and experts in customer service. The guides, support kayakers, bus driver and chef exceeded my expectations. The river did not disappoint. Exceptional rapids and scenery. Anup was an excellent guide and lead. I thought his emphasis on safety and rescue technics were to hype up the trip but they all came in handy... read more

Most memorable highlight. Highly experienced guides that'll give you the confidence to tackle Class 4 rapids. The safety briefing was thorough and made us well-prepared. As long as you're in good shape and feeling adventurous, you'll have a great time. Be careful, they set the bar so high, it's unforgettable. Worth all the stars!

Common Questions

  • What are your business hours?

    We live and work at our rafting base, so we are usually ready to answer any inquiry. Of course, we also need to sleep a few hours, so you should ideally contact us between 08.00 and 22.00.

  • Where is your rafting base?

    The Viking Rafting base at Hafgrímsstaðir is located on Road #752, 15km from its junction with Hwy #1 at the west end of Varmahlíð. Simply follow Road #752 up the valley for about 10-15 minutes until you see us on the left-hand side of the road!


    FROM REYKJAVÍK:

    305km/190mi (4-hour drive). Follow Highway #1 (Ringroad) towards the North. Just after you descend a long hill into the Skagafjörður valley, Road #752 is on your RIGHT, about 500m before the center of Varmahlíð (where the Tourist Info & Olis fuel station are located).


    FROM AKUREYRI:

    110km/68mi (1.5-hour drive). Follow Highway #1 (Ringroad) towards the West. Continue along about 500m past the left turn in the center of Varmahlíð (where the Tourist Info & Olis fuel station are located) until you reach Road #752 on your LEFT.


    Please meet us 15 before your departure time!

  • What are your cancellation policies?

    In order for us to confirm your booking, we need your money, it's that simple! For all of our day trips, we require full payment at the time of booking, which is 90% refundable up until 48 hours prior to the departure of your trip should your plans change. Within the last 48 hours, we reserve the right to keep partial or full payment to cover the cost of last-minute cancellations. Our multi-day, private, and custom trips are 80% refundable up until 30 days prior to the trip, 50% refundable up until 15 days beforehand, and non-refundable after that.


    Having said all that, we're reasonable and understanding people, so if your whale-watching boat breaks down out at sea and you have to swim back to shore, or your horse refuses to take you back from your riding tour, (or you can impress us with an equally believable story), we'll do our very best to compromise. Above all, we want to make sure that everyone leaves with a smile. We kindly ask you to reciprocate our gesture and let us know if your plans change at the last minute so that we can keep things running as smoothly as possible for everyone else.

  • Can I drink before rafting?

    We enjoy a cold beer after a day's rafting as much as anyone, and we look forward to sharing one (or three) with you after an epic day on the river. The keyword here is "after". We make you a promise, one that we will never break, to always be sober when we take you on the river, and we expect the same in return. Our safety on the river is in each other's hands, and we depend on you almost as much as you depend on us. If you are reckless enough to show up under the influence of alcohol or drugs, we will politely refuse to take you rafting, keep your money, and direct you to our bar where you can indulge until we're back from the river!

  • Do I need a travel insurance?

    As world travelers and adventurers ourselves, we know the unpredictable nature of life on the road and the risks it involves to our safety and our money. For this reason, we recommend that all our guests have some kind of insurance policy that covers them for accidents and changes in travel plans. This kind of travel insurance is usually relatively inexpensive and well worth it.

  • Can I go rafting if I am pregnant?

    As much as we would love to, we do not recommend any extreme activity during pregnancy. 

  • Is the minimum age flexible?

    While our official age minimum is 18, our "unofficial" policy about age is if parents are aware of the nature and risks of the trip, and the children are fit, strong, confident swimmers, and have rafting experience, then we can consider bending our "official" policy. Please note that we'll require a parent to sign the waiver form on behalf of any minors, and given the conditions (water levels, etc.) on the day of the trip, our guides may have them walk around the biggest rapid on the river, Green Room. If all that sounds like something you can agree to, we'll trust your better judgment, and certainly not unnecessarily stand between you and one of the world's great rafting trips! 


    Please contact us in advance if you have a minor in your group.

  • Can I get a discount?

    The short answer is NO.

    As much as we would love to make this trip affordable for everyone, we strongly believe that the quality of our operation is worth every penny, and many of our reviews agree with this statement.


    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.