Iceland Route Details

Few areas in the world offer such exhilarating natural beauty and awe-inspiring scenery as that in North Iceland. The diversity of landscape from mountain and fjord, volcanoes, waterfalls and canyons, from sub-arctic desert wastes to lush riverside vegetation is quite astonishing. Most striking of all is the sheer vastness of space with far reaching visibility from the crystal clear northern air and the geological array of multi-coloured volcanic rocks. We will be cycling and trekking through breath-taking landscapes and nature at its most wondrous.

The route is challenging but not technically difficult with only a few steep cycling hills. Both cycling and trekking will be within the capabilities of any reasonably fit person who has undertaken some regular cycling practice in the two months preceding the Ride.

 DAY  1

Fly from London Heathrow to Keflavik and transfer by road into the interior. We will pass through Reykjavik (we will have our last night's celebration in Reykjavik) and onto Thingvellir (the site of Iceland's ancient parliament), then to Geysir (the giant hot spring).

Then finally to Gullfoss –one of the largest and most beautiful waterfalls in Europe before our hut stop in the mountains around Kerlingafjall.

DAY 2 – Kerlingafjall -Siglufsjordur

After a short exploratory trek on the edge of the Kerlingafjoll mountains to see the icesheets and fumeroles we will continue through the interior to Hveravellir where there will be an opportunity to bathe in hotsprings. Then it is on to Saudarkrokur   on the coast at the head of Skagafjordur fjord and finally to Siglufjordur the starting point of the expedition, and once the world capital of the herring fishing industry in the 1950's. We will reside in the only hotel and fit up our mountain bikes ready for the morning.

DAY 3 - Siglufjordur - Olafsfjördur - Dalvik  Cycling 85 km.  Elevation gain 410m

The following morning we commence the cycling tour through the Strákagöng tunnel, 800m long, which takes us through the Strákar mountain. From there we continue along the coastline to the Máná weather station with lovely views to the other side of the fjord. Now we turn away from the coast and start cycling uphill through the spectacular Stíflan valley and over the mountain pass at Lágheidi (409m). From here, the next 18kms are downhill to Ólafsfjördur. We will now cycle on the superb new road along the shores of Ólafsfjördur before cycling through the tunnel under Ólafsfjardarmúli.  When we come out of the tunnel we should, in good weather, see the island of Grímsey on the Arctic Circle.

 DAY 4 - Dalvik – Akureyri - Godafoss Waterfall – Cycling 89km, Elevation gain 1180m

After breakfast we will cycle from Dalvík along Árskógsströnd to Möðruvellir one of Iceland's historical churches, and on to Akureyri. In Akureyri, the capital of North Iceland, we will have the opportunity to walk around town with an opportunity to shop for souvenirs.  During the afternoon we shall cycle towards Godafoss (Waterfall of the Gods) along a beautifully scenic route, crossing the Ejafjardará River before cycling the wonderful mountain pass, Vaðlaheidi (520m). From the top of Vaðlaheidi, there is a magnificent view over the Fnjóskárdalur Valley. At Godafoss we will have dinner and turn-in to recharge our batteries.

 DAY 5 - Godafoss- Asbyrgi – Cycling up to 100 km- Trekking 4km, Elevation Gain 420m

Having explored the magnificent waterfall on foot, we will head north through the lush valley of Adaldalur towards the town of Husavik, a fishing village now famous for its whale watching trips (see Day 8). We will continue around the dramatic Tjörnes peninsula (our most northerly point) to Ásbyrgi. Tjörnes is a very beautiful peninsula with interesting and unique fossils. During the day we will stop at a small museum and walk to the seashore and have a look at the fossils, before reaching our destination where we may camp out in a giant natural amphitheatre within a beautiful campsite.

DAY 6 - Asbygi – Myvatn – Cycling up to 88km – Trekking 12km, Elevation Gain 580m

Today we experience the finale of the main cycling adventure with real off road cycling through a weird and wild barren landscape, following the River Jokulsa which has created a gorge known as Iceland's Grand Canyon and we stop on the way for three short treks; through the magnificent Hólmatungur and Hljódaklettar (Echo cliffs) viewing on the way the fantastic rock formation culminating in a short climb up Raudhular, a rhyolite volcano; a walk to a giant water spring with a great variety of lush vegetation; and a spectacular view of Dettifoss, Europe's most powerful waterfall. We will stay overnight in Reykjahlid on the banks of Iceland's most beautiful lake - Myvatn.

DAY 7 - Around Lake Myvatn – Cycling 20km*– Trekking 15km – Elevation Gain 300m

Lake Mývatn is a paradise for nature lovers with a superb variety of bird life and where most of the wonders of Icelandic nature are to be found. We will spend most of the day on the areas most exciting and varied trek – to Dimmuborgir, a natural lava garden phenomenon, then climb Iceland's most impressive tephrer volcano, with magnificent views of Lake Myvatn and the distant snow-capped mountains.

We will continue towards Námaskard, one of the most volcanically active areas with its fumaroles and boiling mud pools. If there is time or energy there will be options to cycle around Myvatn (37kms) - a photographer's paradise - or to trek across Leirhnjukur, the lava field created between 1975 and 1984 from the outpourings of the nearby Mount Krafla. The lava field is still warm and steamy. Just a little further on is the volcanic crater lake Viti (meaning Hell).  Sunset at Lake Myvatn is a worthy sight with the possibility of a mountain glow soon after 11pm.

DAY 8 -  Day of rest at Lake Myvatn or Optional Excursions

You can spend the day relaxing by the lake; or have a choice of taking an optional excursion of taking a short coach trip back to Husavik for a Whale Watching boat trip where you are almost guaranteed to view minke or fin whales or even seeing a blue whale the size of a Boeing 747 right by the boat; or local trekking to Mt Krafla if not visited the previous day with a possible visit to the Geothermal Power Station. 

 In the afternoon we road transfer to Akureyri and fly back to Reykjavik where we will celebrate our achievements with a finale dinner and cabaret and have the opportunity to visit the infamous city bars.

DAY 9 - Return to London via The Blue Lagoon

Before we leave for London we will take a short coach trip to the Blue Lagoon, one of Iceland's pools of pure, mineral-rich, geothermal seawater, set amongst fields of lava against a spectacular backdrop of green rolling hills, before saying farewell from the nearby Keflavik Airport. 

The flight arrives in London later the same day.

NB: Tour leaders reserve the right to amend the itinerary at any time.

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