Day 1: London – Keflavik Airport - Reykjavik (overnight)

On this first day you can arrive whenever your flight allows in Keflavik and then transfer to hotel in Reykavik. Keflavik International Airport, is 50 kilometres outside Iceland’s capital city of Reykjavik. The earlier you arrive the more time for sightseeing in Reykjavik – a fascinating city with an active shopping and nightlife. We also recommend the music and there are some fascinating places to visit. If you bring your own bike there is plenty of time to get it assembled or ready for transfer.

Day 2 Reykjavik - Thingvellir – Gullfoss – Geysir - Kerlingarfjöll

(Walking 10 km)

From Reykjavik we’ll travel by 4WD to the North of Iceland. Our journey north takes in the three principal markers on Iceland’s ‘Golden Circle’ tourist trail. First we’ll make a brief stop at breathtaking Thingvellir, the original home of the Icelandic parliament, which was the first of its kind in the world. Thingvellir and the surrounding National Park have a unique geological history, centred around an enormous rift created by shifting tectonic plates. The scenery is spectacular, with imposing craggy cliffs and meandering rivers running into a vast lake. Also visible are the remains of the ancient parliament itself: fragments of around 50 booths built from turf and stone. We’ll continue on to Geysir, the first geyser ever recorded by Europeans. Geysir is mostly dormant, but eruptions can hurl boiling water up to 70 metres in the air. Just a few minutes up the road is Gullfoss, a powerful waterfall with a 105-foot double cascade plunging into a narrow canyon down to the River Hvítá. We’ll have something to eat at Gullfoss and then continue on into Iceland’s remote interior, heading for the Kerlingarfjöll mountains. We will have a fabulous evening walk through these extraordinary mountains composed of rhyolite, a rare multi-coloured rock formation, which makes the terrain shimmer in reds, greens and yellows. There is also a natural thermal pool for an open air dip – well recommended! We’ll spend the night here in cosy mountain huts, just a few miles away from Vatnajökull, Iceland’s largest glacier and the largest ice cap in Europe.

Day 3: Kerlingarfjöll – Hveravellir – Saudarkrokur - Siglufjordur (cycling 30 kilometres)

In the morning we will travel further inland to Hveravellir. This stunning geothermal nature reserve is dotted with bubbling hot springs, and for those who want another chance, the option to bathe in one of its colourful pools. Then it’s onto the bikes and a stunning downhill ride to Saudarkrokur, one of the largest towns on the north coast of Iceland and the cultural and commercial center for the Skagafjörður district. Saudarkrokur is set at the foot of rolling hills and looks out over the dramatic snow-capped fjords that surround the town. Our final destination today is the pretty fishing town of Siglufjordur, once famed for its herring industry. We’ll stay the night in the town’s only hotel which has great hot showers and an evening meal is provided at the nearby dockside restaurant, full of character and good food!

Day 4: Siglufjordur - Stíflan Valley – Ólafsfjörður – Eyjafjörður – Dalvík (cycling 80 kilometres)

We’ll set off from Siglufjordur, passing underneath the Strákar mountain via the 800 metre-long Strákagöng tunnel. We’ll continue along the coastline to the Máná weather station, which gives panoramic views to other side of the fjord. Our route then turns inwards from the coast. We’ll cycle uphill through the stunning Stíflan Valley, vibrant with lush vegetation, and over the Lágheiði mountain road. It’s then a downhill ride for 18 kilometres to Ólafsfjörður. Ólafsfjörður is a traditional Icelandic fishing town set at the mouth of the fjord Eyjafjörður. The town edges a crystal-clear lake and is flanked by towering greenery-clad mountains topped with snow. We’ll cycle along the scenic shores of Ólafsfjörður and pass through the tunnel under the Ólafsfjardarmúli mountain. As we emerge from the tunnel, breathtaking views open up before us. Here, moss-coloured mountains capped with snow meet the cool blue waters of the fjord. This stunning seascape also offers panoramic views to Grímsey Island, set directly on the Arctic Circle and Iceland’s northernmost inhabited territory. Our journey now takes us along the Eyjafjörður coastline. Eyjafjörður is northern Iceland’s longest fjord, a long, narrow strip of water, surrounded by hills and mountains. We’ll be able to see across the fjord to Dalvík, our final destination for the day. Set among deep green valleys, Dalvík is a lively coastal town with a healthy fishing industry. It’s also one of Iceland’s best-known Alpine ski areas and has an outdoor geothermal swimming pool.

Day 5: Dalvík – Akureyri - Mount Vaðlaheidi – Goðafoss – Laxa Valley (cycling 73 kilometres; trekking 2 kilometres)

After breakfast, we’ll take a 45-minute transfer from Dalvík by Land Rover to Akureyri, also located along the Eyjafjörður coastline. Nicknamed the capital of North Iceland, Akureyri is surrounded by imposing mountains sweeping down to the sea. We’ll have the chance to explore this town, the largest in Iceland outside Reykjavik. It’s packed with museums, restaurants and shops, and is home to both the world’s most northerly golf course and most northerly botanic gardens. We’ll then continue along a picturesque route across the Eyjafjarðará River, before taking a rough road track across Mount Vaðlaheidi. This lush mountain is dotted with farmsteads and groves and gives magnificent views over the Fnjóskárdalur Valley. We’ll then arrive at Goðafoss, one of Iceland’s most spectacular waterfalls. This horseshoe-shaped cascade drops 12 metres into the Skjálfandafljót River and has a religious significance. It’s name means ‘Waterfall Of The Gods’, commemorating the time when Icelandic chieftain Þorgeir Ljósvetningagoði tossed pagan idols into the waterfall having converted to Christianity. The final 25 kilometres of today’s ride takes us through remote farmland rich in greenery. Our accommodation for the night is truly special. We’ll stay in luxury Icelandic-style cabins set into the rural landscape. After an award winning homemade dinner, we’ll head outside to watch the midnight sun!

Day 6: – Húsavík - Tjörnes Peninsula – Asbyrgi – Lundur (cycling 89 kilometres; trekking 3 kilometres)

Two options this morning! For those who are keen there is an early cycle ride into Husavik to catch the mid-morning whale watching trip. For others it is a vehicle tranfer into town. The journey is through the lush valley of Adaldalur, covered with crater-filled lava fields. Húsavík, s a picturesque fishing town, home to a striking timber church and also renowned as a centre for whale watching. Over ten species have been spotted off Húsavík’s coastline, including minke whales, white-beaked dolphins, porpoises, and enormous blue whales After lunch at the dock or at a museum on route, our journey then continues around the mountainous Tjörnes Peninsula. This fascinating land mass is indented with valleys and gorges, and is lined with cliffs embedded with two-million-year-old fossils. We’re now at the most northerly point on our journey and we’ll have the chance to explore the area, hunting for fossils, walking among the puffins that inhabit the peninsula, and visiting the local museum. Our route continues to Asbyrgi, part of the Jökulsárgljúfur National Park. Asbyrgi is a unique horseshoe-shaped canyon, flanked by dramatic 100 metre-high cliffs. Icelandic folklore tells that the depression of a mythical giant’s foot created the massive land rift. According to scientists however, a catastrophic flood pouring from the great Vatnajökull icecap formed the fissure. We’ll embark on a short trek through the canyon, wooded with birch, willow, and mountain ash, and take in the stunning views. We’ll then transfer by Land Rover to our accommodation in Lundur.

Day 7: Lundur - Jökulsárgljúfur National Park – Hólmatungur – Hljóðaklettar – Dettifloss – Reykjahlíð (cycling 88 kilometres; trekking 12 kilometres)

Today we’ll embark on some off-road cycling through exhilarating landscapes. Our journey will follow the River Jökulsá á Fjöllum, which runs through the Jökulsárgljúfur National Park. The park is known as Iceland’s Grand Canyon due to its deep gorges, unusual rock formations, caves and waterfalls. Its unique terrain was created by a volcanic eruption beneath the Jökulsá riverbed 8,000 years ago. As we continue along the river, we’ll stop on the way for three short treks. First at Hljóðaklettar, nicknamed ‘Whispering Cliffs’. These basaltic rocks form unique swirling and spiralling patterns and create an unusual echo. This first trek ends with a short climb up a rhyolite volcano. On our second trek we’ll visit an immense fresh water spring surrounded by lush vegetation called Hólmatungur, in an area of rich greenery studded with more beautiful basaltic rock formations.. Finally we’ll walk to a vantage point, which gives panoramic views of Dettifloss, Europe’s most powerful waterfall. This majestic waterfall drops 44 metres into the canyon below with shattering force, and is often framed by spray-filled rainbows. Depending on the time, we have the option of a transfer for the last 20 kilometres of the journey. Otherwise, this final stretch of cycling takes us off road, through an awe-inspiring frozen wilderness. Our destination for the evening is the small town of Reykjahlíð, set on the northeastern shores of Lake Mývatn. This stunning lake, dotted with lava islands, is fed by nutrient-rich spring-water and is populated by a variety of sea birds.

Day 8: Reykjahlíð – Leirhnjúkur - Lake Viti – Námaskarð - Mount Hverfjall – Dimmuborgir – Hofdi – Lake Myvatn shore (cycling 30 kilometres; trekking 15 kilometres)

Our day will be spent cycling through the area around Lake Mývatn, getting on and off our bikes to explore the sights. We’ll start the day with a brief transfer to Leirhnjúkur. This geothermal field was created by lava flow from the nearby Mount Krafla, and is characterised by boiling mud-bogs, sulphurous gases, and brightly coloured mineral deposits. We’ll trek across the lava field’s lunar-style landscape, towards Lake Viti, a mineral-rich lake of opaque blue water, which sits on top of a volcanic crater. We’ll then ride back downhill to Námaskarð, one of Iceland’s most active volcanic regions. An area of outstanding natural beauty, Námaskarð is renowned for its sulphurous mud springs and steaming fumaroles. This geothermal site is barren of vegetation, but is rich in colour from its vibrant mineral deposits. We’ll climb up to the top of Námaskarð and take in stunning 360-degree views of the surroundings. Then it’s back on the bikes for a ride to the base of the cone-shaped Mount Hverfjall, an enormous volcano with a gigantic tephra crater. We’ll scale Mount Hverfjall’s summit and walk around its narrow rim with its magnificent views over Lake Myvatn and the surrounding snow-capped mountains. We’ll then walk down the volcano and trek our way to Dimmuborgir. Dimmuborgir is a surreal lava park towering with unique rock formations and dotted below with pretty flowers. These crenellated rocks were formed by hot lava flowing over pools of water, from which steam escaped and hardened. It’s then back on the bikes, transferred for us to Dimmuborgir, and we’ll cycle alongside Lake Mývatn to Hofdi. Hofdi is particularly unusual: a headland populated with birch and spruce trees and wild flowers, it’s shores are lined with caves and lava pillars that seem to rise out of the crystal-clear waters. For the final 12 kilometres of today’s itinerary, we’ll cycle along the south side of Lake Mývatn. We’ll get a different perspective of the lake from here and hopefully see the sun setting behind the volcanoes in a blaze of yellow and crimson. Once back at the hotel, we’ll have a celebratory dinner, marking the end of our cycling and trekking expedition.

9 Akureyri - Reykjavik

In the morning we’ll transfer to Akureyri – around 80km on road for a 30-minute flight to Reykjavik and for those who need to get home they can connect with international flights the same day, or if requested we can book you an extra night in Reykjavik so you can enjoy a more gentle return to civilisation! For those who need to save money we can also offer a return by road option. If you take your own bike then if you fly back to Reykjavik you will need to wait until that evening to collect your bike since it is not guaranteed that bikes can be carried on the internal flights due to the small size of the aircraft. In this event you would fly home the following day staying overnight in Reykjavik.

Please note this itinerary is subject to alteration in the event of changing weather conditions.