Reykjavik: ATV & Rafting Tour

Two Iceland thrills, one long day. This combo pairs a one-hour ATV ride through lava-country tracks with a two-to-three-hour rafting trip on the Hvítá River. I like the sharp contrast between the dry, rumbling quad-bike ride and the cold-water rush through Brúarhlöð Canyon. I also like the warm finish, with showers, sauna, and hot tubs at the rafting basecamp.

The main drawback is the handoff between operators. You may finish the ATV outing, return toward central Reykjavik, and then transfer to a different vehicle for rafting. That makes the day feel less direct than the advertised eight hours, and the ATV section is fairly short. The rafting is the stronger half of the experience.

Key points at a glance

• Reykjavik Peak delivers the best ATV view: The ride climbs toward a mountain summit overlooking Reykjavik and distant ranges.
• The ATV route is beginner-friendly: No previous quad-bike experience is required, and passengers do not need a driving license.
• Hvítá River is the main event: You raft through a glacier-fed river with Brúarhlöð Canyon as the scenic highlight.
• The day includes two separate transfers: The ATV company handles the first part, then the rafting operator takes over.
• Warm facilities are included afterward: You get access to showers, sauna, and hot tubs at Drumbó basecamp.
• Bring more than a swimsuit: Warm fleece or wool layers, spare clothes, a towel, and sturdy footwear will make the day far easier.

What the $401 price really buys you

At $401 per person, this is not a cheap add-on to a Reykjavik stay. It is priced as a full-day adventure with transport, equipment, guides, two activities, and post-rafting facilities. You do not need to rent a car, arrange a separate Golden Circle transfer, or buy helmets, wetsuits, life jackets, or other technical gear.

The value depends on how much you want to pack into one day. If you already plan to book ATV riding and river rafting separately, the package can save planning time and combine transport. If you mainly want rafting, paying for the ATV section may not be the best use of your money. The available rating is 4.2 from six reviews, and the clearest pattern is that the rafting earns the strongest praise while the ATV ride feels more relaxed and brief.

Food and drinks are not included. You can buy them at the rafting basecamp, where grilled lamb and drinks are available for purchase. Bring some cash or a payment method you normally use in Iceland, but do not count on lunch being part of the package.

Starting from Reykjavik between 9:00 and 9:30

Pickup is arranged from hotels throughout Reykjavik, with 19 listed pickup points. You need to be ready at 9:00, since the pickup window runs from 9:00 to 9:30. Hotels in restricted pickup zones may be assigned a nearby bus stop instead.

The long pickup list includes central stops such as City Hall, the Culture House, and Höfðatorg, plus hotels including Grand Hotel Reykjavik, Hilton Reykjavik Nordica, Hotel Cabin, Reykjavik Lights, Icelandair Hotel Reykjavik Natura, and Bus Hostel Reykjavik. You should check your exact meeting point before the morning of the tour. A missed pickup would be especially troublesome on a day with two operators and fixed transfers.

The first ride in the van takes about 30 minutes. It is not sightseeing time in the usual sense, but it moves you from the city to the ATV basecamp without asking you to arrange a taxi or rental car.

The one-hour ATV ride toward Hafravatn

At the ATV basecamp, your guide gives a safety and driving briefing lasting about 30 minutes. That may sound long beside a one-hour ride, but it matters if you have never handled a quad bike. The tour is designed for beginners, so you do not need previous experience.

You receive a helmet, gloves, overalls, a ski mask, and rain gear if needed. Wear sneakers or hiking boots underneath. Icelandic weather can change quickly, and the extra outer layers are useful even when the morning begins dry.

The ride heads across rough lava terrain toward the shores of Hafravatn Lake. The route is about feeling the machine beneath you while moving through open Icelandic wilderness, not about covering a huge distance. You get rocky tracks, a change of pace, and a clear sense of the land around Reykjavik.

The ATV ride is described as an adventure, but the actual character is fairly relaxed. That makes it suitable for a first-time driver or for someone who wants a taste of quad biking without committing to a demanding all-day route. If you are an experienced off-road rider seeking a long, technical course, you may find this portion too short.

All drivers need a valid driving license. Passengers do not need one. The minimum age is 11, so families with older children can consider it, provided everyone is comfortable with the physical demands of rafting later in the day.

Reykjavik Peak and the best photo stop

The route climbs toward Reykjavik Peak Mountain, where the main reward is the view. From the summit, you can look back toward Reykjavik and out to distant mountain ranges. This is the point where the ATV ride becomes more than a motor activity.

I would plan to enjoy this stop rather than rush through it. The panoramic view gives you a useful sense of the city’s setting, with open ground and mountain country replacing Reykjavik’s streets. The descent then brings back the engine noise and movement.

The tour description calls this a thrilling climb and descent, but one direct account describes the ATV segment as easy and quite relaxed. That is useful context. Expect a fun introduction with scenery, not an extreme motorsport challenge. The view from the peak is likely to be more memorable than the technical riding.

After the ATV ride, you return to the basecamp for coffee. Then comes another van ride of about 30 minutes. The planned schedule includes a 30-minute break in Reykjavik before the rafting transfer, followed by a bus journey of about 1.5 hours to the river basecamp.

The awkward middle: two operators and a second pickup

This is the part you should understand before booking. The ATV and rafting activities are handled by separate companies. Safari Quads manages the morning pickup, ATV ride, coffee, and return to your original pickup location. A rafting operator then collects you for the drive to the basecamp near the Golden Circle.

That arrangement can create a stop-start day. You may return to central Reykjavik, wait through the break, and then board another vehicle. One direct account found that the actual day did not feel like a full eight hours of activity and specifically pointed out the return to the city followed by a second pickup.

This is not necessarily a problem if you value convenience over a perfectly continuous schedule. It is a problem if you expect eight straight hours of action. The listed duration includes transfers, safety instruction, breaks, and operator changes, not eight hours on an ATV or raft.

The long drive to the rafting basecamp is part of the package. You pass through open Icelandic country on the way toward the Hvítá River. The drive helps connect the two activities, but it also explains why the day can feel longer than the active portions suggest.

Suiting up at Drumbó basecamp

At the rafting basecamp, you receive a wetsuit, life jacket, neoprene shoes, helmet, and paddle. You should arrive prepared with warm underlayers, such as fleece or wool trousers and a sweater. Pack a swimsuit, towel, warm socks, and a complete change of clothing.

Do not wear cotton as your only warm layer if you can avoid it. The provided wetsuit protects you on the river, but getting changed afterward is much more pleasant when you have dry, warm clothes waiting.

The basecamp is near the Golden Circle area and includes the practical comforts that make a wet activity easier. After rafting, you can use the showers, sauna, and hot tubs. You can also order food and drinks, including grilled lamb, at the restaurant and bar.

That warm finish is one of the package’s smartest features. Rafting in glacial water is far more enjoyable when you know a hot shower and sauna are waiting. It also gives you time to settle down after the river rather than being pushed straight onto a bus in wet gear.

Rafting the glacier-fed Hvítá River

The rafting trip lasts about two to three hours. You travel down the Hvítá River, which runs from Langjökull, Iceland’s second-largest glacier. The river later feeds Gullfoss, one of Iceland’s best-known waterfalls, so this is not an isolated piece of water. It belongs to the same wider river system that shapes one of the country’s major natural sights.

The rafting offers a different view of Iceland from the ATV route. On the quad bike, you hear the engine and feel the rough track. On the river, the current controls the pace, and the surrounding rock formations become the focus.

The key feature is Brúarhlöð Canyon. Its walls contain unusual formations and openings shaped by the force of the water. You can see how the river has cut into the breccia rock over time. The canyon gives the rafting a strong visual center, rather than making the trip feel like a simple float from one point to another.

The river section is also where the tour earns its strongest praise. One direct account called the rafting amazing, with a good mix of fun and wild action, and credited the guides with keeping it entertaining. Another rated the ATV as merely pleasant but recommended the rafting very highly.

That difference is important. You should choose this combination because you want both activities, but you should expect the rafting to be the more exciting and memorable one. The ATV ride warms you up to the day. The river supplies the bigger sense of adventure.

How demanding is the day?

The tour is aimed at thrill seekers, but the supplied information also makes clear that beginners are welcome. The ATV requires a valid license for drivers, while the rafting requires no stated experience. Your guide provides instruction and the necessary safety equipment.

The physical demands come from being outdoors for most of the day, sitting on a quad bike, handling a paddle, wearing a wetsuit, and coping with cold water and changing weather. The minimum age is 11, but age alone does not tell you how comfortable a child will be with the rafting portion.

You should not take part under the influence of alcohol or drugs. That rule is especially important here because the day combines motor vehicles, rough tracks, moving water, and safety instructions.

For clothing, plan carefully:

• Wear sneakers or hiking boots for the ATV section.
• Bring fleece or wool underlayers for rafting.
• Pack warm socks, a swimsuit, towel, and full dry change of clothes.
• Use the supplied helmet, gloves, overalls, wetsuit, life jacket, neoprene shoes, and paddle.

Who will enjoy this combo most?

I would recommend this for an active adult or family with children aged 11 and older who wants two guided adventures in one booking. It works well for you if you have limited time in Iceland and like the idea of seeing Reykjavik’s mountain setting before heading toward the Golden Circle region.

It also suits first-time participants. You do not need ATV experience, and the equipment is supplied for both activities. The guides handle the instruction, leaving you to focus on the ride, river, and scenery.

I would be more cautious if you want a long ATV expedition. The one-hour ride is short, and the overall ATV experience is described as easy rather than extreme. I would also hesitate if you dislike changing vehicles or waiting between activities. The operator switch is the main practical weakness.

If rafting is your priority, booking directly with the rafting operator may be worth investigating. The rafting can be booked on its own, and the direct account here specifically found that section strong enough to recommend separately. The combo makes more sense when you genuinely want both activities and prefer one coordinated reservation.

Booking flexibility and final drop-off

Cancellation is free up to 24 hours before departure for a full refund. You can also reserve now and pay later, which helps if your Iceland weather plans are still shifting.

At the end, the rafting company drops you back according to the arranged Reykjavik service. Safari Quads lists drop-off at the original pickup points, including City Hall, the Culture House, central hotels, the cruise terminal, and the bus terminal. Confirm the final arrangement because the day uses more than one operator.

The activity is conducted in English. Pickup and drop-off are included, but exact timing can depend on the transfer sequence and the day’s operating schedule.

Should you book the ATV and rafting combo?

Book it if you want variety. You get a mountain viewpoint from Reykjavik Peak, a beginner-friendly quad-bike ride, a scenic journey toward the Golden Circle, canyon rafting on the Hvítá, and a hot tub and sauna afterward.

Do not book it expecting eight hours of nonstop action or a serious off-road ATV challenge. The ATV is the shorter, gentler half, and the two-company setup can add waiting and backtracking. At $401, the package is worthwhile mainly when you want both activities and value having transport and equipment arranged for you.

If you must choose only one part, choose the rafting. If you want a full day with two very different kinds of Icelandic adventure, pack warm clothes, keep your expectations realistic, and this combo can be a memorable use of a Reykjavik day.

FAQ

How long does the ATV and rafting tour last?

The advertised duration is eight hours. The schedule includes pickup, transfers, a safety briefing, a one-hour ATV ride, a break, and two to three hours of rafting.

What time is pickup in Reykjavik?

You should be ready at 9:00. Pickup takes place between 9:00 and 9:30 from listed Reykjavik hotels and bus stops.

Do I need ATV driving experience?

No. The tour provides safety and driving instruction, and no previous ATV experience is required.

Do all participants need a driving license?

Only drivers need a valid driving license. Passengers do not need one.

What equipment is included?

For the ATV ride, you receive a helmet, gloves, overalls, ski mask, and rain gear if needed. For rafting, the equipment includes a wetsuit, life jacket, neoprene shoes, helmet, and paddle.

What should I bring for the rafting?

Bring warm fleece or wool underlayers, warm socks, a swimsuit, towel, and a change of clothing. Sneakers or hiking boots are suggested for the ATV section.

Is food included?

No. Food and drinks are available to purchase at the rafting basecamp, which has a restaurant and bar. Grilled lamb is one of the available meal options.