Iceland is one of our absolute favorite countries when it comes to adventure riding! Or what can be more adventurous than lava fields, glaciers, waterfalls, volcanoes, hot springs, geysers, river crossings and never ending dirt roads that disperses into the horizons? As always on our tours, an amazing riding experience is the top priority, but if you are in Iceland, there are of course some highlights you have to visit along the way. During this tour we ride from Selfoss, just east of Reykjavik, north via the most exciting places Iceland has to offer such as Geisyr, the waterfall Gullfoss and Unesco world heritage Þingvellir. During a long day, we then cross the Icelandic Highlands to mystical-filled Myvatn, Husavik & one of Iceland’s largest volcanoes Askja. We then cross Iceland’s remote highlands once again via even more exciting roads to finish the journey through the fairy-tale landscape Landmannalaugar.
We have put together a tour with as many highlights as humanly possible on an 8 days tour. The tours are arrange in the late summer, the only time of year when you can be sure that the snow melted on all the passes and the weather is at its best. We manly ride on gravel roads of mixed quality, but of course there will also be some asphalt. For two of the days, there are easier as well as more advanced routes as alternatives for those who wish. We always have our support vehicle with us at all time providing us with lunch, coffee, spare parts and tools if necessary. This is an intensive week of riding, and it is our strongest recommendation that you have done Rider training BASIC or ADVANCED, before your tour.
Photo on this page: Ann Cathrin Erga, John Brown & David Johansson
The riding in Iceland is an endless mix of gravel roads, but we also ride some asphalt to transport us between the nice gravel roads. You don’t have to be a master on gravel to go to Iceland, but you have to feel comfortable on smaller gravel roads. Your physics should be relatively good as we sometimes ride long days. We simply have to get to the next hotel no matter what time it is. At tougher challenges such as sand or river crossings, we stop, talk about riding technique, and get through together and help each other out. Iceland is an adventure and you have to be prepared that it can sometimes be hard, but we also dare promise that you will have an absolutely amazing riding experience!
We have two long riding days during the tour as we cross the central parts of Iceland on gravel. After both of these days, you have the opportunity to choose an easier tour the next day. This is an intensive week of riding, and it is our strongest recommendation that you have done rider training BASIC or ADVANCED, before your tour.
During the tour, we pass a number of rivers we have to cross, most of them relatively easy but also a few bigger ones. The crossings vary from year to year and from day to day. When we come to the bigger river crossings, we stop and help each other and get through as a team. Some of the gravel roads we ride on are rocky, and the stones can be tough on both riders and the motorcycles, so it is important to adjust the speed to the roads and slow down when looking at the fantastic view. Sand we really only ride during the Advanced routes you can choose two of the days.
Throughout the trip, we stay comfortably in a good hotels and of course with toilet & shower on the room. Part of twin room are included in the price. Single rooms can be booked for a supplement (see cost for this in the booking). At one point during the tour, we stay at the same hotel for two nights in a row and then you have the opportunity to take a rest day if you wish.
Breakfast is included every day and next to the hotels there are always good restaurants. Coffee and lunch we usually have with us in our support vehicle so we can stay whenever and wherever we want for lunch. The same applies to our coffee/”fika” breaks, every time we stop there is always the opportunity to get something energy-rich.
Hydration is important when you work hard and it is our strongest recommendation that you use a hydration system and make sure to always fill it up before we leave in the morning.
”First time I visited Iceland was in 2003, only a few months after I crossed Africa from north to South on a motorcycle. The reason that I booked the tour was simply that I got really restless after I got home, and I needed a new adventure. Maybe Iceland dosen´t sounds like an adventure after Africa, but in fact I realized that after only a week on Iceland I had been riding on more different terrain than during my six months in Africa. The riding is unbeatable, like riding in a fairy-tale that consists of everything you could wish for when it comes to challenges!
After my first trip to Iceland in 2003 is has been many more, 2006, 2011, 2012, 2015, 2016, 2018 & 2022. In total I have spent more than half a year on this fantastic island, and there are always more to be fascinated over. Since 2016 you have the possibility to join us for motorcycle tours on Iceland, and I promise that it will be an experience of a life time!”
– David Johansson, CEO Ride Nordic AB & certified BMW Motorrad Tourguide.
Our support vehicle is equipped with tools, spare parts, wheels, tires, water, coffee, snacks and lunch, which is set up at a nice spot on one of the breaks. In case of emergency, the support vehicle and the tour guides motorcycles are equipped with first-aid kits. All our tour guides are trained in first aid and CPR. In our support vehicle we also alwyas have a satellite phone and a defibrillator (AED).
Select a day for more information.
The whole Saturday is day of arrival. Arriving in Iceland early or late is optional. We arrange transfer from Keflavik Airport several times during the day. Once in Selfoss there are both restaurants and shops within walking distance. In the evening, after dinner with you will get all the information you need about the upcoming week.
We gather in the morning and start with a presentation of ourselves and the motorcycles. After some set-up of the bikes, the day offers an approx. 150km ride where the first part goes on asphalt/larger dirt roads to Þingvellir, where the Eurasian and North American continental plates meet. The Icelandic parliament, Alltinget, was also created here in Tingvalla in year 930. We continue on exciting gravel roads along the Langjökull glacier and here you get a first impression of what the week will offer. We also take the opportunity to look into some basic techniques for sand riding and river crossings. After lunch we continue towards the waterfall Gullfoss and Geysir where we stay for the night. The tour got its name since we pass some of Iceland’s more famous tourist attractions. After this day, we are more adventurers than tourists!
A long day of nearly 400km as we cross Iceland from south to north for the first time. The first half offers easy-to-ride dirt roads through a vast landscape. At the first coffee break, we take the opportunity to visit the Hveravellir thermal area. We ride on and pass, among other things, the Blue Lake. The landscape changes and becomes greener before we reach the sea on the north side of the island. The last 200km of the day are on tarmac along road no. 1, Iceland’s ring road, with fantastic views of the Arctic Ocean. The day ends at lake Myvatn where we will stay two nights at the same hotel.
On this day you have a couple of choices:
Time to head south again. Today’s route, which is about 300 km, starts with some nice asphalt to the beautiful waterfall Godafoss before we turn south on the road through Sprengisandur. We pass another very impressive waterfall, Aldeyjarfoss, before it is time for some 100 km free ride across the remote Icelandic highlands. We start with a bit of space so that you and your riding buddy really get the feeling that you are alone in this the remote landscape. Our tour guides and support vehicle are of course always close by if you need assistance. After a few more exciting water crossings, where we once again help each other, and some fast gravel bits we arrive at the goal for the day, Hrauneyjar.
Another exciting day awaits. Where we start by riding around the amazing Litli Sjör – one of the most beautiful places in Iceland. We then make our way back to Hrauneyar for lunch before crossing Landmannalaugar which offers plenty of smaller river crossings. When we see the sea on the south coast, we arrive at the hotel of the night. On this day, there is also the opportunity to rest in the morning and ride the afternoon tour only.
We continue in the same spirit with wonderful gravel riding and, if possible, even better views. Black, green, white and hopefully blue, are the colours of the day. The 250km route passes impressive lava fields and several exciting river crossings along the Myrdalsjökul glacier before the last 100km of asphalt back to Selfoss.
The adventure is over for this time… Whether you depart early or late is up to you, we adapt the transfer to suit you. For those of you who leave later in the day, there is a lot to see in Selfoss. But you are probably most interested in resting and thinking back on a magical week with a smile on your face. See you soon on another adventure tour with Ride Nordic! 😊
Flight to/from Keflavik, dinners, and riding gear.
| Incl. BMW R1250 GS | 79 500 SEK |
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