Overview
- Bike: rental bike - KTM 690 R
- Terrain: off-road and gravel road
- Mileage: 1,110 kilometers / 690 miles
- Daily rides: 134 to 234 kilometers / 83 to 145 miles
- Meals: 6 breakfasts, 6 lunches, 6 dinners, snacks, coffee, and water
Day 1 - Selfoss to Fremstaver (179 kilometers / 111 miles)
Today, you will have a historic and scenic ride from Selfoss to Gullfoss. This ride takes you past the Nesjavellir Geothermal Power Station through Þingvellir National Park, where the oldest continually running parliament in the world first assembled in 930 AD. From there, it’s into the Skjaldbreiður Lava Field to Geysir Hot Springs and Gullfoss Waterfall.
This trip highlights the town of Selfoss, Úlfljótsvatn Lake, Nesjavellir Power Station, Þingvallavatn Lake, Þingvellir (original site of Iceland’s parliament), Þingvallaskógur Forest, Skjaldbreiður volcano, Þjófahraun Lava Fields, Mount Skriðutindar, Mount Hlöðufell, Lambahraun Lava Fields, Geysir Hot Spring, and Gullfoss Waterfall.
Day 2 - Fremstaver to Sultarfit (192 kilometers / 119 miles)
You will ride north on F35 to Hveravellir Hot Springs where you will bathe along the Langjökull Glacier, in the Kerlingafjöll Mountain Range, within the geothermal area of Hveradalir. As the scene unfolds, you will capture the sight of mini glaciers, high energy steam springs, and arctic vegetation which together create unique color combinations. You will also be crossing a river with a bank of black sand.
The trip highlights Hvítárvatn Lagoon, Langjökkull Glacier, Hveravellir Hot Springs, and Kerlingafjöll, a tall mountain range part of a large tuya volcano system.
Day 3 - Sultarfit to Hungurfit (234 kilometers / 145 miles)
Now, you will go onto F26 Sprengisandur over to Þórisvatn, Iceland’s largest lake and then to Veiðivatnahraun Lava Field and the Central Highlands of Iceland. The Veidivötn Lakes create a magnificent highland oasis. Some of the very best brown trout and arctic char fishing in Iceland (or anywhere) is found here. Then you will be bound to Mt. Hekla, one of Iceland’s most active volcanoes. In the old days, they called Hekla, “the Gateway to Hell.”
Trip highlights include Sultartangi Hydroelectric Power Plant, volcano desert at its best, Veiðivötn (lakes and surroundings), and Mount Hekla.
Day 4 - Hungurfit to Skaftárdalur (171 kilometers / 106 miles)
The Fjallabak region takes its name from the numerous wild and rugged mountains with deeply incised valleys. It is said that riding there is like being in the Lord of the Rings movies. You will spend some time in the hot pools at Landmannalaugar where you will bathe as it is one of many manifestations of geothermal activity in the area. From the hot pools, the track takes you to Tungnaá River toward Vatnajökull Glacier and Langisjór Lake.
Then, it’s back down by the Skaftá River to a volcanic fissure stretching from Mýrdalsjökull Glacier almost to Vatnajökull and over to Eldgjá, a canyon about 60 kilometers long, 600 meters wide and up to 150 meters deep. It was formed in the year 934 during one of the largest volcanic eruptions in Iceland in historical times.
This day's highlights include glaciers, Landmannalaugar Geothermal Area, Langisjór Lake, and Eldgjá (a canyon and volcano).
Day 5 - Skaftárdalur to Skaftárdalur (134 kilometers / 83 miles)
%From the farm Skaftárdalur, you ride east towards Laki, a series of craters that were formed in one of the world’s largest mixed eruptions in recorded history. In 1783, lava flowed across the flat land destroying a large number of farms, stopping just outside the small town of Kirkjubæjarklaustur. The total area of the resulting lava field is 565 kilometers square. You will go over a small section of it on your way to Kirkjubæjarklaustur.
This trip highlights Lakagígar, Fagrifoss Waterfall, Kirkjubæjarklaustur, and Fjaðrárgljúfur Canyon.
Day 6 - Skaftárdalur to Selfoss (200 kilometers / 124 miles)
From the farm in Kirkjubæjarklaustur, you head closer to the coastline towards the small village Vík. On the way, you will visit Reynisdrangar Basalt Sea Stacks situated under Mount Reynisfjall by the Reynisfjara Black Sand Beach. Then, you will go to the majestic Skógarfoss Waterfall and a few more sites.
Next, you will visit Seljavallalaug, the old mountain swimming pool, where you bathe deep in the glacial valley. You will end the trip there staying overnight in a luxury log cottage equipped with a hot tub and sauna. For dinner, there will be a barbecue and you will tell stories into the night.
This trip highlights Hjörleifshöfði, Þakgil (secret mountain trail), Reynisfjara black pebble beach which features an amazing cliff of regular basalt columns, Seljavallalaug, and Skógarfoss.
Day 7 - Selfoss to Reykjavík
After a good night's sleep, you will be taken back to Reykjavík.
Skill levels required for this tour:
Beginner:
- Can ride for two to three hours
- Minimal riding experience
- Assistance required
- Comfortable with curves and leans
- Basic experience with unsurfaced roads
- Short distance ascents and descents
Intermediate:
- Can ride for three to four hours
- Average riding experience
- Little assistance required
- Comfortable with extreme curves and leans
- Average experience with unsurfaced roads
- Steep ascents and descents
Advanced:
- Can ride for five to six hours
- Extensive riding experience
- Assistance on demand (if required)
- Experienced with riding a variety of motorcycles
- Comfortable with any terrain and weather conditions
