“Explore the highlands of Iceland by motorcycle”
13 Day Fire and Ice Guided Adventure Motorcycle Tour in Iceland
KEX Hostel, Reykjavik, Reykjavikurborg, Capital Region, Iceland
Breathtaking Motorcycle Tour Iceland
The perfect destination for a unique and exciting experience on two wheels. Off-road riding in Iceland is one of the best in Europe, and offers a lot of variety through breathtaking nature! Leave the tarmac behind and explore not only the more known highlights but also the desolate Highlands of inner Iceland.
Key information
- Terrain: offroad, gravel, and unpaved road
- Bike: your own ADV-bike like a Yamaha T700, Honda Africa Twin, BMW GS, Triumph Tiger, KTM 690 / 790 / 1090, Husqvarna 701, etc. with knobby tires and protection for an occasional fall. Or a rental bike (BMW GS) when you’re not from Europe or don’t have your own ADV-bike
- Daily rides: 150 - 220 kilometers / 93 - 137 miles
- Meals: Not included
Meet the instructors
Chris & Sverrir
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Highlights
- Guided walk over a glacier
- Ride to Laki - a row of 120 volcano craters
- Fantastic on- and offroad riding through Iceland, mostly in the Highlands
- Unique accommodations up in the Highlands - far away from all the tourists
- Impressing waterfalls like Dettifoss and Aldeyarfoss
- Thingvellir - where tectonic plates drift apart
- Enjoying natural hot-springs
- 12 nights accommodation
Skill level
- Beginner
- Intermediate
11 days with instruction
Group size: 6-12 participants
Accommodation
You will stay mainly in cabins when up in the Highlands, far away from the touristy ring road and often in amazingly beautiful places. Some of them are very basic and have no electricity (power pack!). A hot shower is available in all of them to freshen up after a long day in the saddle. Some have a hot spring or hot tub J. Sleeping is either on matrasses on the loft, and/or in bunk beds, so bring a set of earplugs.
Hotel arrival / departure
You will stay in KEX Hostel (in twin rooms) in the center of Reykjavik. An eclectic place with a great bar and restaurant and they have often live music. You will also come back and stay here the last night before going home.
Program
This motorcycle adventure will show you landscapes, which are truly unique in the world. It’s an adventurous tour where you will experience different aspects of great nature. We will drive on unpaved mountain roads (F-roads) as much as possible. Stay in basic mountain cabins, far away from the touristy places, and will be crossing the inhospitable and deserted Highlands of Iceland twice. This is only allowed and possible by 4WD or an adventure bike!
An overwhelming environment that is dominated by glaciers, waterfalls, volcanoes, black lava desert, wild rivers, hot springs, and rainbow-colored mountains awaits you!
Itinerary
- Day 1: Home to Reykjavik
- Day 2: Reykjavik to Hekla (220 kilometers / 137 miles, 40% off road)
- Day 3: Hekla to Vík (210 kilometers / 130 miles. 60% off-road)
- Day 4: Vík to Laki (150 kilometers / 93 miles. 70% off-road)
- Day 5: Laki to Landmannahellir (160 kilometers / 99 miles, 85% off-road)
- Day 6: Landmannahellir to Nýidalur (185 kilometers / 115 miles, 100% off-road)
- Day 7: Nýidalur to Stöng (170 kilometers / 106 miles, 100% off-road)
- Day 8: Stöng - resting day (TBD)
- Day 9: Stöng to Laugafell (175 kilometers / 109 miles, 70% off-road)
- Day 10: Laugafell to Kjölur (200 kilometers / 124 miles, 100% off road)
- Day 11: Kjölur to Geyser (120 kilometers / 75 miles, 75% off road)
- Day 12: Geyser to Reykjavik (165 kilometers / 103 miles, 40% off road)
- Day 13: Keflavík International Airport (KEF) - Home
Bike options
You can bring your own adventure bikes such as Yamaha T700, Honda Africa Twin, BMW GS, Triumph Tiger, KTM 690 / 790 / 1090, Husqvarna 701, etc. with knobby tires and protection for an occasional fall. Or rent a BMW 750 GS or BMW 1250 GS from Explore360°.
If you choose to bring your own bike, your bike will be shipped by sea in a sealed container from the UK (Immingham), Sweden (Helsingborg), The Netherlands (Rotterdam), Norway (Fredrikstad), Denmark (Aarhus), Germany (Bremerhaven) or Poland to Reykjavik in Iceland and back. You can ship your gear with the bike (strapped on it in a bag).
Off-road riding
Off-road riding is strictly FORBIDDEN in Iceland! It damages nature in such a way that tracks can be seen for many years after causing, so off-road riding (of the prepared F-roads and tracks) is strictly forbidden and can lead to high fines! Don’t worry, you will have enough routes/tracks that will challenge you.
Riding abilities
Am I good enough to join this tour? First of all, you don’t need to be a hard-core off-road / rally expert to join the tours. This Iceland tour is a level 2 tour (out of five). You’ll need some experience with traveling and with riding on gravel and preferably have joined a (two) day off-road course.
The days can be long, depending on many factors, so you have to be comfortable in most situations in order not to suffer fatigue too quickly. The pace is relaxed; it’s not a competition. You are traveling and will take a break frequently. There will be time enough to take pictures, movies, rest, etc.
On this tour, you’ll have a resting day (optional) to enjoy all the local cultural highlights and refuel your energy. Explore360° does want to emphasize that for off-road tours you need to be healthy and in a good physical condition. The riding, in combination with the weather, can make it challenging and strenuous.
Road travel in Iceland
Iceland has not an extensive road infrastructure. The ring road (which is mostly tarmac) was only finished in 1973 and lots of roads are (well-prepared) gravel roads.
The Highlands have so-called F-roads. F stands for Fjäll which means mountain in Scandinavian languages and is only passable by 4WD, horses, bicycles, and dual-sport motorcycles. Most F-roads are in good condition, but there are a few exceptions, and we know some great other tracks – yeahhh!
Traffic
In Iceland the traffic is on the right-hand side and very organized. Especially in the Highlands, you will not see many cars. The risk of hitting a sheep is so much higher.
Speed limits
Keep an eye out for the designated speed limit as these may vary depending on road conditions and law enforcement does take place next to the road.
Driver’s license
You should bring a valid driver’s license issued in your own country.
Fuel
Fuel is not included in the tour price and you will refuel with the whole group at gas stations. You’ll bring an extra jerry can with fuel for emergency reasons when up in the Highlands.
Skill level(s) required for this tour: beginner and intermediate
Beginner:
- can ride for 2-3 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 3-4 hours
- average riding experience
- little assistance required
- comfortable with extreme curves and leans
- average experience with unsurfaced roads
- steep ascents and descents
Included excursions
During this tour, you will also have a guided walking tour on a glacier with the professional guide.
Instructors
Chris Wilthius
Explore 360 Degrees is run from Sweden by Dutchman Chris Wilthuis, combining his two greatest passions which are traveling and riding a motorcycle. In the last 15 years, he visited over 60 countries by motorbike so it is safe to say he is an expert. After a long trip through America's with his Swedish wife Anna, he decided to take the jump and turned his passion into his job in 2012. Since then, he led dozens of trips as a guide and offers a growing choice of inspiring tours with Explore 360 Degrees.
Sverrir Thorsteinsson
During his normal job, Sverrir goes around as "The Happy Boss", the owner of Happy Campers, the biggest camper-van rental company in Iceland. But his real passion is motorbike riding. Together with his brother, he circumnavigated the world already twice. First through Russia and back via the USA. The second time from Alaska all the way to Ushuaia in Patagonia. There is no corner left on Iceland which he did not cover yet on his bike and that many times. He is always up for adventure and besides that, a hell of a chef. So you are lucky that he will join the tour.
Location
Iceland
Iceland is a Nordic island country between the North Atlantic and the Arctic Ocean. It has a population of 332.529 and an area of 103,000 km2 (40,000 sq mi), giving the island the lowest population density of any country in Europe. The capital and largest city is Reykjavík. Reykjavík and the surrounding areas in the southwest of the country are home to over two-thirds of the population. Iceland is volcanically and geologically active. The interior consists of a plateau characterized by sand and lava fields, mountains, and glaciers, while many glacial rivers flow to the sea through the lowlands. Iceland is warmed by the Gulf Stream and has a temperate climate, despite a high latitude just outside the Arctic Circle.
Food
Meals are not included in the price. You’ll bring your own food and drinks, there are no restaurants up in the Highlands, and everyone will cook for the shared meals. Your help is highly appreciated and contributes to the team spirit
Water in Iceland is very clean and safe to drink. It’s actually one of the cleanest in the world. You can even drink from clear-water rivers and streams!
Kitty
You will create a kitty, a common wallet, where you pay for food and drinks, which you bring in the support vehicle. You have to do grocery shopping several times during the tour. Be aware that Iceland is one of the most expensive countries when it comes to food and alcohol, so once Kitty is empty you’ll fill it up again.
What's included
- 13 days holiday with 11 riding days
- Transport of your motorbike by sea container (only from pre-assigned harbors)
- 12 nights of accommodation in guesthouses, hostels, cabins, and mountain huts
- Very experienced guide on Iceland
- Guided tour on a glacier
- 4-WD support vehicle (for luggage, food, gasoline, spare parts, etc.)
- Emergency equipment: repair kit for punctures, tools, first aid kit
- Garmin inReach (GPS) emergency system
- Jerry-can for extra fuel
- Welcome drink first evening and an Explore360 welcome gift
What's not included
- Flight tickets to and from Iceland
- Meals and (alcoholic) drinks
- Travel, medical, and cancellation insurance (make sure you have checked and arranged this yourself)
- Transport from Keflavik Airport to Reykjavik by airport coach
- Gasoline
- Additional excursions / entry fees like whale watching, visiting “the blue lagoon”, etc.
- Travel insurance (mandatory), transport, and cancellation insurance (recommended)
- Transport to / from the harbor in the country of origin (shipping your own motorcycle)
- Security deposit for the rental bike
- Single room supplement: 350 EUR (only at KEX and Stöng)
How to get there
Recommended Airports
KEF
Keflavík International Airport
37 km
Transfer not provided
Arrival by airplane
Please book your flight to arrive at Keflavík International Airport (KEF). Keflavík International Airport (KEF) is located about 50 kilometers southwest of the capital. It is a 45-minute drive from Reykjavík. Iceland has no train system so your only options are on four wheels.
Arrival by bus
The Flybus+ is operated every day, all year long, in connection with all incoming flights. Upon exiting customs there's a small ticket office to the right. There's also a ticket automat next to the terminal exit. The buses will be waiting just outside the exit. Credit and debit cards are accepted. The Flybus+ drops its passengers off at some of the major hotels and guest-houses in Reykjavík with the last stop at Reykjavík bus station.
Departures from Keflavik Airport are in connection with all arriving passengers' flights. The Flybus departs from Keflavík Airport 35-40 minutes after each flight arrival. Busses are located right outside the terminal building. If you are arriving late at night or your flight is delayed, don't worry, there will be a Flybus waiting for you! The main stop is BSI Bus Terminal, in the center of Reykjavik. Transfers are available from BSI Bus Terminal to most major hotels. The Flybus+ driver will ask you to board a smaller bus for these hotel transfers. Pick-up for the Flybus+ is available on request from KEX and should be booked at the reception the evening before. Please check the correct pick-up times from the reception staff if your accommodation provides this service.
Arrival by taxi
The taxis are parked outside the terminal but ordering beforehand is never a bad idea. Rates are high!
Cancellation Policy
- A reservation requires a deposit of 20% of the total price.
- The deposit is non-refundable, if the booking is cancelled.
- The rest of the payment should be paid 30 days before arrival.
For this organizer you can guarantee your booking through Tripaneer.com. All major credit cards supported.
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