Frequently Asked Questions
What equipment do you provide on the tours?
We provide everyone with a neoprene wetsuit long johns, neoprene booties, splash jacket, life-jacket, a helmet and a paddle of course.
What should I bring?
Bring a bathing suit to wear underneath the neoprene pants. Warm wool or fleece sweater and thermal underwear (pants) to wear underneath the wetsuit. Warm woolen socks. All of this will get wet during the tour.
Do not wear cotton as it will not keep you warm when wet. You also need to bring a change of clothing for after the river and a towel. And that’s it! Everything else we will provide.
Can I bring a camera or my phone with me onboard the raft?
Yes, you can bring your camera. However, if it’s not waterproof then it will get ruined.
Luckily, you have a few options to get that great photo;
1. You own a waterproof camera or phone that you bring with you
2. You use our specifically designed laminating machine and make your phone waterproof while still being operational for the river ride.
3. You rent a GoPro from us at Drumbó River Base
4. You buy a disposable waterproof camera at the Drumbó River Base.
Do I need to know how to swim to go rafting on Hvítá?
Short answer; Yes, you need to know how to swim.
Long answer; You will get a life jacket that will keep you afloat if you go overboard but we do require that everyone knows how to swim and is comfortable in the water for safety reasons.
What is the minimum age to go rafting?
On River Fun Rafting the minimum age is 11 years old.
On Family Fun Rafting the minimum age is 8 years old.
How long does the tour take?
Time on the river is around 1-1.5 hours. With the preparation and bus ride to the river that stretches to around 2.5-4 hours.
Is there a guide on each boat?
Yes. There is a trained river guide on each boat.
What is rafting exactly?
Rafting is an outdoor activity that uses an inflatable raft to sail down a river. The boats are made of advanced nylon and at Arctic Rafting we have boats that fit groups of 8-10 people. Everyone on the team is equipped with a paddle and teamwork is needed to navigate down the river. All team members need to paddle according to the instructions of the river guide.
How does the river grading system work?
Whitewater is separated into classes based on the difficulty of each river, mostly based on how demanding the rapids are. The classes are from Class 1 up to Class 6 with Class 1 being the easiest, and Class 6 the most difficult. If there is one class 3 rapid on the river, the whole river rafting tour is graded as class 3, even though some of the rapids are class 2.
Hvítá is graded as Class 2, therefore it contains some rough water and requires maneuvering. Your guide will give out the appropriate commands for each rapid. The skill level required for Hvítá is basic and is suitable without previous rafting experience.
How far is Drumbó River Base (Drumboddsstadir) from Reykjavík?
Drumbó is 98 kilometers (around ~61 miles) from Reykjavík, about 1.5 hours in a car. We are on the Golden Circle just a short drive from the iconic waterfall Gullfoss and Geysir hot spring. See map here below:
What services does Drumbó River Base offer?
At Drumbó we have a reception area, café, restaurant, pool table, seating area inside and outside, changing rooms, showers, hot tubs and a Finnish sauna. It’s a nice place.
Can I combine rafting with other tours?
Most certainly. Rafting pairs extremely well with other activities. The most popular combination is the Golden Circle and River Fun Rafting, as Hvítá is in the center of the Golden Circle. This we consider to be a very good use of a day.
Another popular combination is Rafting and Riding. Two things the Vikings loved, horse riding and sailing. The people who book this are very versatile people, who are obviously up for a lot of diverse fun.
Do I need to bring an extra set of clothes?
Yes, the warm clothes that you wear to the river will get wet. We recommend having something dry and cozy to change after the tour.
Can I go rafting if I’m pregnant?
No, rafting is not recommended when pregnant. The river is not going anywhere, so hopefully next time you can join us!
How many people are aboard one raft?
Our boats accommodate 8-12 people so it’ll always be a small group experience.
Does it cost extra to use the shower, sauna and hot tubs?
No, it’s all included in the price after the trip.
What’s the itinerary once I arrive at Drumbó River Base?
About 15-30 minutes before scheduled tour departure you arrive at Drumbó River Base. You then check in at the reception. This gives you time to prepare, use bathroom facilities or maybe even grab a coffee.
When indicated, all rafters gather in the big hall and a raft guide explains to the group the equipment needed for the glacial river.
You will receive all the information there, however should you like to be prepared, it is more or less like this:
Receive neoprene trousers, splash jacket and neoprene booties.
Go to the changing room, first put on your bathing suit. Next, thermal long johns, and woolen sweater. Then neoprene trousers. Followed by neoprene booties. Lastly, splash-jacket.
Receive a life-jacket & helmet. Put it on.
Snap a quick “before” group photo.
All set, get on the river bus! Beep beep!
The bus drives for 20-25 minutes until we reach the river bed. The guides begin preparing the rafts for you, it usually takes a few minutes.
You will be paired with a guide, based on your group size. He will be qualified and fun. He will explain to the paddling team (that’s you now) about river safety and how to paddle on a raft.
Then bada-bing, bada-boom, we set sail. The first rapid, the wave-train, is just around the corner. You will be on the river for approximately 60-90 minutes, depending on the river flow that day. It’s great fun. After about 7 km of rafting we end up right below Drumbó River Base with a bus ready to pick us up.
Afterwards, you have the choice of changing right into dry clothes, taking a shower, or taking a shower and warming up in the sauna and hot tubs.
If you like, you can order food from us or stay a little longer and grab a beverage at the bar.
Can I wear glasses while rafting?
Yes, if your vision is very bad without them. To avoid your glasses becoming one with the river we recommend using goggle straps, you can buy them from us.
Do I need to paddle, or can I just sit in?
You will need to paddle the raft. It’s not too difficult, we promise! The only exception are small children on the Family Fun Rafting tour.
When does the season begin?
The season begins mid April, and ends when the calendar says October.
How big are your wetsuits and neoprene trousers?
We have sizes up to XXXXL.
Can I participate in rafting even though I have a medical condition?
We have had guests with different health related issues rafting with us including persons with disabilities. It depends on your medical issues and your own comfort levels if the river is a suitable place for you. Contact us beforehand if you have questions regarding this. It is vital that you notify us if there is anything specific so that we can take precautions.
What is the difference between rafts and inflatable kayaks?
A raft is made of advanced nylon or kevlar infused plastics and can sit 3-12 passengers. Passengers aboard rafts have paddles with blades on one side and a T-grip on the other. An inflatable kayak is also made of advanced nylon or kevlar infused plastics but can sit only 1 or 2 persons. The paddles for the inflatable kayaks are with blades on both sides and therefore do not have a T-grip. Neither type of boat fill up with water.
How does the pick up service work?
If you have booked River Fun Rafting with pick up from Reykjavík or a Golden Circle tour or another combination tour through us then we will pick you up at your designated pick up location at the time stated on your voucher. Please note that the pick up can take up to 30 minutes. If you are staying at the very center of Reykjavík it is likely that you will have to go to your designated bus stop as arranged by the city of Reykjavík to minimize traffic in the center. You can type in your accommodation here to check which one is yours: https://busstop.is/
Is lunch included on the Golden Circle and River Fun Rafting?
Lunch is not included. We make scheduled stops on the Golden Circle where you can buy snacks or lunch. Should you like, after the afternoon rafting you can add to your booking a delicious traditional Lamb BBQ, hamburger or vegan hamburger to enjoy after the river.
Can my children do the Family Fun Rafting but us the grown-ups do the whole River Fun Rafting trip?
Indeed they can! The trip set up is that first we drive to the River Fun Rafting starting point. There, the grown-ups can be dropped off to do the bigger three rapids and the kids can continue with the River Bus to Brúarhlöð, where the river calms down. One grown-up will have to accompany the kids though. The kids will arrive a few minutes before the boats do and be ready to jump aboard to continue the rafting adventure with the rest of the grown-ups on the smoother part of the river. Perfect family fun!
Any other questions? Shoot us a line at info@arcticrafting.com or in the chat down in the right hand corner.