Allgäu Iller River: Rafting tour with guide & gear

Summary

Paddle down the Iller in Allgäu with a local guide and friends

You’ll paddle down the Iller River in Allgäu with a local guide, learning to steer your own raft through gentle rapids and sharing laughs with your team. Safety gear is included, so you can focus on feeling the cold splash of water and soaking up mountain views — moments you’ll remember long after drying off.

What’s the experience like?

The first thing I noticed was how the morning light hit the water — kind of silvery, almost cold-looking, but not unfriendly. We met our guide, Jonas, right by the riverbank near Sonthofen. He handed out these thick wetsuits and helmets that smelled faintly of rubber and river mud (not unpleasant, just real). There were a couple of families in our group, plus two guys from Munich who kept joking about who’d fall in first. Jonas grinned and said, “Don’t worry — you’ll all get wet.” He wasn’t kidding.

After a quick safety talk (lots of hand gestures and a bit of nervous laughter), we split into teams for the classic Iller rafting tour. The paddles felt heavier than I expected at first. Our boat wobbled as we pushed off — someone shrieked behind me when we hit the first little rapid, but then everyone started laughing. The water was colder than I thought it’d be when it splashed over my knees. It woke me up more than coffee ever could.

Jonas stayed close in his kayak, shouting encouragement and pointing out which way to steer when things got choppy. At one point he told us about how the river changes every week depending on rain or snowmelt — so no two trips are exactly alike. I liked that. We didn’t follow some rigid route; instead, he picked the best section for today’s water level. There was this moment where everything went quiet except for the sound of paddles dipping and birds overhead — I still think about that calm after all the noise.

I probably butchered “Dankeschön” at the end but Jonas just laughed and said we did great. My arms were tired but in a good way, like I’d actually done something together with these strangers-turned-teammates. If you’re thinking about a day trip rafting on the Iller from Allgäu, just go for it — even if you’re not an adrenaline junkie (I’m definitely not). It’s more about being part of the river for a while than anything else.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Rafting on the Iller River

• Safety instructions and paddling exercises
• Rafting on the Iller with experienced guides

Top questions

What level is the rafting tour on the Iller River?

This is a Level 2 white water rafting tour out of 4 levels.

Are guides included on this Allgäu rafting tour?

Yes, experienced state-certified guides accompany each group.

What equipment is provided for rafting?

You get a wetsuit, neoprene socks, life jacket, and white water helmet.

Can non-swimmers join this Iller River rafting trip?

No, this tour is not suitable for non-swimmers.

When does this rafting tour operate?

The tour runs daily from April 15th to October 31st.

Is pickup or transfer included?

If you don’t have your own car, check ahead if transfer is possible.

How many people are in each raft?

You’ll be split into teams of two or three per raft.

What’s included

Your day includes high-quality safety equipment: wetsuit, neoprene socks, life jacket and helmet are all provided before you set out with your local guide on the Iller River — so you just need to show up ready to paddle and laugh along with your team.