Overview
The Kayak River Ride is a whitewater run on the Hvítá, the glacial river that rises in Langjökull. Instead of a large raft, two of you share a small inflatable kayak, so the waves are met at close range. Arctic Rafting grade the trip 3 out of 5, challenging, and recommend it for people in good physical condition, ideally with some previous whitewater experience.
You meet at Drumbó, the operator's river base in the south, and get kitted out there: wetsuit and splash top, life-jacket, neoprene shoes, helmet and paddle. A bus then takes the group to the put-in, a few kilometres downstream of Gullfoss. From there it is about seven kilometres of river. The first stretch is the busy one, rapid after rapid; the lower stretch calms down and runs through Brúarhlöð, a canyon you can only see properly from the water. The kayaks are built so they do not fill up and are straightforward to manoeuvre, but going over is likely, and the safety team is on the river to help you back in. Afterwards you return to the base for a shower and the sauna.
Two versions of the same trip are sold. The meet-on-location option leaves Drumbó at 11:00 or 15:00, with arrival fifteen minutes before departure; Drumbó is roughly an hour's drive from Reykjavík and ten minutes from the Geysir and Gullfoss area. That version is listed at three hours in total. The other option includes pick-up in Reykjavík between 12:30 and 13:00 for the 15:00 departure, so it takes up the afternoon, and you give your pick-up point when booking. Guiding is in English.
Wear wool or fleece under the wetsuit, including thermal trousers; cotton is no use once it is wet. Bring a change of clothes, plus a swimsuit and towel for the sauna. Towels, food and drink are not included, though a towel and a hot meal can be added when you book. The base has changing rooms, showers, the sauna, a bar and a restaurant. You do not have to swim, but you should be comfortable floating in water. The kayak seats two; a single-rider version is available as an extra.
