Family Rafting with the Locals
Family-friendly white water rafting on the Hvítá river with a small, locally owned crew. The route skips the heaviest rapids and takes you into Brúarhlöð canyon, a gorge accessible only by boat.
Overview
The Canyon
The Hvítá river cuts through a volcanic landscape south of the Golden Circle before narrowing into Brúarhlöð, a basalt canyon with sheer walls. There is no trail to the canyon floor. No viewpoint from the road. The only way in is by raft, and most visitors to the Golden Circle drive past without knowing it exists.
The River
The route starts upstream and works through lighter rapids before entering the canyon. The biggest whitewater sections are bypassed, keeping the trip accessible for families while still delivering real current, real splashes, and enough movement to keep everyone alert. Inside the canyon, the river calms and the walls close in. There is cliff jumping for those who want it and long stretches where the geology does the talking. You will be in dry suits, the kind that keep you dry and genuinely warm, not the standard wetsuits that leave you shivering by the second rapid. By the end of the run, you will have seen a part of Iceland that most travelers, including most rafters on other tours, never reach.
The Local Difference
This operation is run by two friends who built it from scratch and still guide the boats themselves. Groups are small, the base camp feels like showing up at a friend's house, and the experience is shaped around your group rather than a fixed script. This is for families and groups who want a real river day, not a conveyor belt, and not a watered-down version of the real thing.
Included
- Professional raft guides
- Full dry suit, life jacket, helmet, and river shoes
- Transportation from base to river
- Safety briefing
What to bring
- Warm base layers (no cotton)
- Fleece or wool mid layer
- 1 or 2 pairs of thick wool socks
- Dry clothes for after the river
'
Meeting Point
Flúðir Golden Circle
Specific location given upon booking.
This is a self driving tour, pickup is not included. Please arrive 15 minutes prior to the tour.
Reviews(104)
I have gone rafting in many places around the world and these guys were the absolute best. They are an intentionally small team so that they can treat all of their customers as friends. I cannot put into words how great they are as guides and worth spending a little bit more - world class experience. Also - they use dry suits which make the experience way better. These guys are great 👍🏻👍🏻
My father and I went on this rafting tour and had an absolutely fantastic time! The scenery was breathtaking, and the whole experience was incredibly well organized from start to finish.
We were lucky to have two amazing guides who were not only super professional and knowledgeable but also incredibly fun and friendly. They made sure everyone felt safe and comfortable, while also keeping the energy high and the experience exciting.
I’ve rafted/paddled across Colorado and Cali but seeing Iceland’s landscape and paddling fun pristine, drinkable glacier water was a once-in-a-lifetime experience! Manni and Hjálmur were the best and the coolest people we met during our trip. They even made reservations for us at a local, amazing restaurant for afterwards. Would absolutely recommend!
One of the absolute highlights of our trip. My partner and I did white water rafting and our guide was fantastic. The day included cliff jumping and playing through the rapids. Manni was super personable and even gave us chocolate at the end! We honestly loved it and couldn’t recommend it enough, it was great going with a smaller more local business as they knew the rapids well which meant they could challenge us to do some runs independently!
I met Manni the day before, mid-tour with another family. We happened to be at their stopping point when Manni playfully said, “Call me and we’ll book something for you tomorrow!” And he absolutely delivered. We ended up on an incredible private white water rafting tour with Hjalli and Manni. They prioritized safety while making the experience fun, thrilling, and truly unforgettable.