Most people drive through Akureyri without knowing there's a river canyon in the middle of it. Glerárgil cuts right through town, and Zipline Akureyri has strung five ziplines across it. Even plenty of locals have never seen it from this angle.

The canyon is a protected area, and the operator built a trail and the lines to make it accessible in a sustainable way. You spend the time between zips on forest paths, not in a car park.

What you'll do on the Akureyri zipline tour

You meet at the Zipline Akureyri base at Þingvallastræti 50, near the upper edge of town, where the guides help you into your safety gear. Then:

• A 2 to 3 minute walk to the first zipline
• Five ziplines, between 25 and 260 metres long, every one crossing the river
• Short forest paths between each line
• A walk of about 10 minutes back to base after the last zip

Two guides run each group. One zips ahead and receives guests on the far side, one at a time, while the second helps clip you in at the start. The whole thing takes one to two hours depending on group size and how the group moves; it's listed at about an hour and 45 minutes. All safety equipment, including helmets, is provided, and groups are small.

Good to know before you go

The minimum age is 8, children must be with an adult, and the weight limit is 120 kg (260 lbs). You need to be able to walk on uneven paths at a moderate pace for up to 10 minutes at a time. The operator doesn't recommend it for people with back problems or heart conditions, or for pregnant travellers.

It runs in all weather, so dress for the day and wear sturdy shoes with good grip. Gloves aren't needed but are nice when it's cold, and a thin hat fits under the helmet. Tie long hair back in a low bun. Phones and cameras are allowed, but use a safety strap or zip them into a pocket while you're on the line.

Pro tip: bring a spare hair tie and a phone lanyard. Dropping a phone into a river canyon from a zipline is a very Icelandic way to lose it.