Deep in France’s Champagne countryside, Krampus Expédition brought a first to the country when it opened at Nigloland on June 12, 2021: a full-circuit water coaster. Built by Mack Rides at a cost of €12 million — the largest investment in the family-run park’s history — it wraps Alpine folklore’s horned winter spirit into a surprisingly warm, adventure-flavored expedition rather than a horror show.
Boats climb 28 meters before tearing through 600 meters of coaster track at up to 79 km/h, finishing with the genre’s signature splashdown.
Key Stats
| Height | 91.9 ft (28 m) |
| Speed | 49.1 mph (79 km/h) |
| Track length | 1,968.5 ft (600 m) |
| Inversions | 0 |
| Max g-force | 3.5 |
| Duration | About 4 minutes |
| Riders per boat | 8 (2 across, 4 rows) |
| Capacity | 850 riders/hour |
| Cost | €12 million |
| Type | Steel water coaster |
| Manufacturer | Mack Rides |
| Opened | June 12, 2021 |
France’s First Full-Circuit Water Coaster
Water coasters — hybrids that run boats on coaster track between flume sections — had never existed in circuit form in France before Krampus Expédition. The ride spreads across 9,000 square meters of themed mountain landscape, alternating between airtime-laced coaster runs, a drifting water passage past Krampus-themed scenery, and a drenching splashdown finale that pulls up to 3.5G along the way.
The Krampus Legend, Family Style
Krampus is the fearsome horned companion of Saint Nicholas in Alpine folklore, but Nigloland deliberately steered the theme toward a family-friendly nature expedition — a snowy mountain village, wooden lodges, and a hint of mischief rather than menace. Six eight-seat boats cycle through the course, moving about 850 riders per hour.
Nigloland’s Biggest Bet
The €12 million project was the largest single investment since the park opened, and it paid off in attention: blooloop ranked Krampus Expédition among its 20 best new extreme thrill rides for 2021, and the park projected the ride would lift attendance by around 2.5%. It gave the charming Dolancourt park a bona fide flagship that competes with much bigger resorts.
FAQ
Is Krampus Expédition a roller coaster or a water ride?
Both. It’s a Mack Rides water coaster: the boats run a full 600 m (1,968 ft) roller coaster circuit, reaching 79 km/h and 3.5G, but also float through water sections and end with a splashdown.
How tall and fast is Krampus Expédition?
It stands 28 meters (91.9 ft) tall and hits 79 km/h (49.1 mph) — big numbers for a water coaster, and enough to make it Nigloland’s headline thrill ride.
Will I get wet?
Yes — the splashdown finale is a proper soaking, though the water sections in between are gentler than a log flume.
Photo: Freddo via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)
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