Three day tour to North Iceland for river rafting on the Jökulsá Austari, “ The East Glacial River”

River difficulty 4+ out of 5 possible – Action Packed & Demanding

This is undisputably Iceland’s ultimate river rafting experience and Arctic Rafting’s crown jewel and most popular expedition.

Your adventure starts with an easy coach transfer from Reykjavík or Akureyri to our pick up point in Varmahlíð Village in North Iceland’s Skagafjörður Fjord. From there the road quickly turns from asphalt to gravel to mountain path as we ascent to the Sprengisandur Desert, inching our way towards the source of the legendary Austari Jökulsá river at the Hofsjökull Glacier. Our first night is spent at the cozy mountain huts in Laugafell, where we can soak in the natural hot springs and enjoy the never setting midnight sun and the incredible highland surroundings. On the morning of our second day we dive into an adrenaline filled, action packed two-day descent of all the runnable rapids on Iceland's best rafting river. As we wind our way through the valleys and canyons of the river, you will find yourself immersed deep in some of the most remote, pristine, and otherwise inaccessible wilderness in Iceland and for that matter Europe. You will face a constant onslaught of classic whitewater such as “the Green Room” and “Lost” not to mention the mind-blowing scenery along the way! The trip culminates at our base camp in Skagafjörður with a relaxing dip in our thermal pools, a barbecue feast, and a farewell fiesta with your guides and fellow rafters.

Guaranteed departures every Tuesday for minimum 4 persons from the 22nd of June to the 24th of August:
Guaranteed departures every Tuesday for minimum 8 persons from the 31st of August to the 28th of September:

Details:
Price: 79.990 ISK per person including transfer from Reykjavík or Akureyri.
Price: 69.990 ISK per person excluding transfer, meet us in Varmahlíð at 13:00 or at our base at 13:30.

Some experience of river rafting or a strong spirit of adventure recommended!

Price includes: Transfer back and forth from Reykjavík or Akureyri, two nights accommodation in mountain huts in the Icelandic Highlands with full board, two days of awesome river rafting on the East Glacial River, BBQ after the second rafting day and some awesome memories, guaranteed for life!

From Reykjavík City:
Pick-up from Reykjavík is available every Tuesday from the 22nd of June to the 24th of August at 8:30 AM from the BSI bus terminal in down town Reykjavik. Please be there 20 minutes before your departure. Transfer length: 4,5 hours by bus (3,5 hours by car). You are back in Reykjavík in the evening of the third day at 23:10 PM.

From Akureyri Town:
Pick-up from Akureyri is available every Tuesday from the 22nd of June to the 24th of August at 8:30 AM from the SBA bus terminal in Akureyri. Please be there 20 minutes before your departure. Transfer length: 1-1,5 hour. You are back in Akureyri in the evening of the third day at 22:50 PM.

Distance from Reykjavik: 294 km. Duration of trip: Three full days. Minimum: 4 persons on Tuesdays from the 22nd of June to the 24th of August. Minimum: 8 persons on Tuesdays from the 31st of August to the 28th of September. Maximum: 18 persons. Age limit: 18 years.

Please call or email to see if you can join a group!

Click here for details on our cancellation policy.

Bring with you:
·  River clothing: warm, lightweight, layered clothing-made of synthetic materials, fleece, or wool (no cotton)
·  Hut clothing: warm and comfortable, waterproof/windproof jacket, footwear for hiking around the camp.
·  3 pairs of extra socks
·  Sleeping bag
·  Personal hygene kit/ toiletries
·  Any personal medications (asthma inhalers, etc.)
·  Swimsuit and towel for thermal pools
·  Camera (optional but recommended)

* Please keep in mind that while we are on the river, all personal gear will be packed into plastic bags and drybags and brought along in the rafts. We cannot guarantee the safety of your personal belongings, and therefore discourage bringing valuables on the trip. Due to space limitations, we also encourage participants to avoid bringing excess or unnecessary personal belongings.

Detailed Itinerary:

Day 1:
Check in at 8:30 AM in the BSI bus terminal in Reykjavík or the the SBA bus terminal in Akureyri, your bus is the one going to Varmahlíð village. Get off in Varmahlíð (that is a 4 hour drive from Reykjavík and 1 hour drive from Akureyri), we will pick you up from there and drive the 15 km to our base camp. There you will meet your guides and fellow participants and go over the order of events and general plan for the trip. Here we fit you with a dry suit and all necessary rafting equipment, and provide you with a dry bag for your personal gear. After making sure that everyone is fully packed and adequately prepared, we load up and begin the adventure! We spend the next 4 hours traveling the deserted backcountry roads into the highlands of Iceland's rugged interior. With the majestic Hofsjökull Glacier looming on the horizon, we negotiate the vast expanse of the Sprengisandur Desert, fording rivers and streams, and arriving in Laugarfell in time for a hearty meal and a relaxing soak in the natural thermal pool under the late night sun. A night of restful sleep in one of the mountain cabins should be our final preparation for the adventures that lie in the days ahead.

Day 2:
Wake up to the smell of freshly made coffee and energize yourself with a hot breakfast feast. After packing up we set off on a 20-minute off-road excursion to our put-in. While the guides make final equipment preparations and load the gear raft, your trip leader will give you a full safety briefing and any necessary instruction. Now we are ready to hit the water! The first hour is a meandering float down the milky glacial runoff, a time your guide will use to train you up until they are confident in your team's ability to successfully negotiate the rapids that lie ahead. Because once the action starts, it is unrelenting for most of the day! The river's gradient suddenly steepens as you face continuous and technical class 3/4 'boulder garden' rapids, a nonstop rush that will challenge your nerves as much as your muscles! After about 3 hours the river's fury finally settles down, where we break for lunch at the river's edge to rest up and refuel the tanks. Another hour-long 'cool-down' stretch lies between us and tonight's riverside backcountry hut. Spend the evening relaxing in good company with a well-deserved dinner and warm drinks, and resting up for a second round of whitewater action tomorrow.

Day 3:
Today's section begins with an easy warm-up float through the lush greenery of the Austurdalur valley. After about an hour the landscape begins to change quickly and dramatically, and as we commit ourselves renowned lower gorge of the East Glacial River, you will notice a stark contrast to the previous day's landscape and rapids. This 80m deep volcanic rock gorge is home to some of Iceland's most spectacular whitewater and mind-blowing scenery alike. The nonstop rush through big waves and steep pool-drop class 3/4+ rapids will get your adrenaline surging for the next two hours! Once successfully through the major rapids, we pull over for riverside lunch and cliff jumping session. From here, we raft the remaining few kilometers of the East to its confluence with the West Glacial River, where you will have a final opportunity to unwind on the raft, take in the majestic surroundings, or go for one last invigorating dip in the river! Upon our arrival back in Varmahlíð, we welcome you to our summer cottages where the rewards await: a steaming stone hot pool, a mouth-watering barbecue feast with your guides and fellow rafters, a glass of wine, and perhaps a farewell party!

Disclaimer: All river rafting trips are undertaken on the responsibility of its participants. Arctic Adventures does not assume any responsibility for accidents which are caused by its customers or can be traced to there own actions. Participants have to sign a waiver before undertaking all trips stating that they realize that all outdoor activities carry an inherit risk.