5-Hour Vatnajökull Canyoning Adventure with Waterfall Rappels

The journey

Trip highlights

• 01 Jump into dazzling blue pools beneath Vatnajökull
• 02 Slide down natural water chutes in a scenic canyon
• 03 Rappel down sheer rock faces and waterfalls
• 04 River hike through igneous rock formations, greenery, and forest at the edge of Vatnajökull

Looking for an adrenaline rush in Vatnajökull National Park? This half-day canyoning adventure with Ice Guardians lets you embrace the elements by jumping and sliding through blue pools, abseiling down waterfalls, and hiking a beautiful canyon beneath the Vatnajökull Ice Cap. It is perfect on a sunny day, but just as thrilling in the rain - you are getting wet anyway. Ice Guardians are the only operators offering canyoning adventure experiences in Iceland.

Ice Guardians are the only operators offering canyoning adventure experiences in Iceland.

From the itinerary

At a glance

What this trip includes

Duration 5 Hours

Tour type Shared

Activity level Moderate

Accommodation Not included

Transport Not included

Wheelchair access No

Cities Höfn, Vatnajökull National Park

Languages English

Day by day

The itinerary

1

Day 01

Meet at Haukafell and Learn the Basics

• Meet at the Haukafell Campground and look for your guides near the hut, dressed in yellow/gold uniforms or wetsuits.
• We will review any medical conditions you have, along with your experience with rappelling, canyoning, and similar activities.
• We will then provide neoprene wetsuits and boots according to the sizes you gave during the booking process.
• Once fitted, you will receive optional neoprene gloves, a helmet, and a harness.
• We will begin hiking through the forest from the campground, stopping along the way for an intro to rappelling class, where you will practise technique and body positioning on a small rock face.

2

Day 02

Waterfall Rappels and Canyon Descent

• We will begin with a safety briefing covering hand signals, how photos will be taken, and getting the wetsuits ready before submerging ourselves in the river water.
• Over the next approximately 3 hours, depending on group size, you will enjoy a series of waterfall rappels, jumps, and slides back towards the car park. Group size is a minimum of 2 and a maximum of 6.
• In between, we will walk in and out of the river among beautiful igneous rock formations, dazzling blue pools, and greenery along the cliff tops, before seeing the river plains below us towards the town of Höfn.
• We will be able to take photos throughout the tour. Once back at the car park, you will get changed, and we will prepare a hot drink to help you warm up. It is always nice to have a chat afterwards about the tour and your trip to Iceland.
• If you pre-purchased meals, this is where we will prepare them for you.

The route

Where you'll travel

The fine print

Trip details

What's Included

• 2 adventure guides
• Hooded 5mm wetsuit, helmet, harness, neoprene boots and gloves, and personal safety lanyards
• Coffee, hot chocolate, or tea after the trip

What's Not Included

• Private transportation (your own vehicle transport to the meeting point - Haukafell Campsite, Hornafjörður)
• Lunch (a hot meal is available as an extra in the checkout for after the trip)

What to bring

• Towel
• Waterproof phone case or GoPro/action camera
• Dry change of clothes for after the trip
• Thick hiking socks that can get wet
• Swimsuit, rash vest, slim-fitting synthetic sports T-shirt, or bra
• Food for after the trip

Know before you go

• How hard is the trip
  • Difficulty rating: 2/5
  • You will be asked to declare any medical conditions to your guide(s) that will or could have an impact on the trip. If you are unsure whether a medical condition will affect the trip, please use the chat function to ask in advance.
• How many people will I be with
  • We operate on a low client-to-guide ratio (8:2).
  • The minimum age for the experience is 12 years old, and our guides have the right to ask for ID.
• Not recommended for people with a back problem.
• Not recommended for pregnant travellers.
• Not recommended for people with heart conditions.

Logistics

Meeting & route

Meeting point

Ice Guardians Iceland, í hornafirði, Road 986, Höfn, Iceland

Tour start

Haukafell Campground, í hornafirði, Canyoning Meeting Point, Road 986, 781 Höfn, Iceland

Tour ends at the same location as the start point.