Whales and Whitewater
Take to the sea and to the river. Here we set off to find the whales of the sea and to enjoy the thrill and beauty of a glacier river!
Price: 39.990 ISK
Starting point : Elding ticket office at 08:30. Pick up for rafting at the same place at 12:30
Departures: Daily at 09:00 from May - September.
Duration: 11.5 hours
Tour Description
The day begins at the Elding ticket office by the old Reykjavík harbour where you will commence a magical journey into Faxaflói bay, surrounded by beautiful mountains. You will be guided by marine biologists to learn all about the amazing wildlife living in the bay. You will see the flourishing bird life such as puffins, gannets and guillemots.
The expert guides give a live commentary throughout the tour and let you know of any sightings as we go. You can stay outside in the fresh air on the deck or in the heated lounge making use of the large viewing windows by the cafeteria. Blankets and overalls are provided should you wish to stay outside in the sub-Arctic breeze.
The most common whale species encountered are minke whales, humpback whales, white-beaked dolphins and harbour porpoises. Whales are most abundant in summer giving us a great chance to see them up close in their atural environment.
After the venture out at sea you have time for a quick lunch. We recommend bringing a packed lunch or grabbing a burger at Hamborgarabúlla Tómasar at the beginning of the pier, right across from the ticket office.
From there we go to Drumbó River Base where you will get suited up with everything required to brace the glacial waters! Hvítá river descends from Langjökull, tumbles into Gullfoss and continues onwards to where we commence our rafting.
Hvítá has an ideal mix of fun rapids and serene canyons. We raft down 7 kilometers, through the beautiful Brúarhlöð canyon enjoying a view you can only see from a boat. No previous rafting experience is needed as this rafting trip is suitable for most ages and abilities. Rafting down Hvítá is one of the original Icelandic adventures, a trip of pure enjoyment!
What’s included?
3 hours whale watching tour with expert guidance
Whale guarantee (or try again for free)
Use of overalls and blankets on the whale watching tour
Transfer from and to Reykjavík to Drumbó River Base
Rafting trip down the scenic Hvítá with a river guide
All necessary rafting equipment; wetsuit, life-jacket, neoprene shoes, helmet and paddle
Visit to the famous Brúarhlöð canyon via the river
Hot tubs, sauna and shower after the river
What to bring?
For whale watching: sturdy footwear, hat, gloves, scarf and a jacket.
For rafting: Warm wool or fleece sweater and thermal underwear (pants) to wear underneath the wetsuit. Warm wool socks. This might get wet during your tour. Don’t wear cotton as it will not keep you warm when wet. Bathing suit to wear underneath the neoprene pants on the river and for the sauna.
For after the rafting: Towel and a change of clothing.
Important information
For the whale watching tour: As the weather in Iceland is unpredictable, we advise you to dress according to weather. In case of unfavorable conditions in the bay, the itinerary may be changed, which often results in a slightly longer tour or a cancellation. You will be notified of changes as soon as possible.
As the whale watching is a wildlife tour it is not possible to guarantee sightings of any kind. Additionally, Elding abides by a Code of Conduct for responsible whale watching to make each encounter on the animal's terms. If no whales or dolphins are encountered then we do not offer refunds, but instead give our passengers a complimentary ticket to use another day.
We welcome children from the age of 11 to join the River Fun Rafting. In the tour Family River Fun Rafting we welcome kids from 8 years so there is something for everybody. There is no upper age limit as long as you are healthy and are willing to get wet in cold waters.
Elding ticket office is situated in the center of Reykjavík, please be there at 08:30. We will pick you up from the same place, beginning our pick up at 12:30 to drive to Drumbó River Base
What is Drumbó River Base?
Drumbó River Base is our beloved rafting headquarters situated within the golden circle. From Reykjavík, it takes 1.5 hours to reach Drumbó. All of our rafting tours begin from Drumbó and there we get geared up for rafting. At Drumbó you find:
Changing rooms
Showers
Hot tubs
Sauna
Bar and coffee
Restaurant
Extras
BBQ Lamb Feast after the river - 5.290 ISK
Hamburger meat or vegan - 3.290 ISK
FAQ
What equipment do you provide on the tour?
We provide everyone with a neoprene wetsuit long johns, neoprene booties, splash jacket, life-jacket and a helmet. You need to bring warm clothes underneath that you don’t mind getting wet, e.g. fleece sweater, wool pants and wool socks. Neoprene will warm up a bit when wet.
Can I bring a camera with me onboard the raft?
Yes, you can bring your camera. However, if it’s not waterproof then it will get ruined by the river.
You have three options;
You own a waterproof camera that you bring with you
You rent a waterproof GoPro from us at Drumbó
You buy a disposable waterproof camera at the Drumbó River Base.
How does the pick-up service work?
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 centre of Reykjavík it is likely that you will have to go to your designated bus stop. You can type in your accommodation here to check whith one is yours: https://busstop.is/
You can find more questions and answers in our big FAQ.