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Mountain biking offers the best way to handle Iceland's varied and exciting terrain, from black deserts of volcanic sand to lush valleys and hot springs.
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Iceland's unique landscape ranges from rainbow-shrouded waterfalls, deep in the lush wilderness, to lava fields where the first astronauts practiced their moon-walking, to steaming geysers and hot springs.
Jules Verne's adventurers set out from Iceland on their Journey to the Center of the Earth, and while we'll travel mostly above ground, mountain biking in the South Highlands region will often leave us feeling like one of Verne's explorers. Five days on mountain bikes take us amidst the colorful mountains, to rivers naturally warmed underground, and along the base of Heklas, a volcano that erupted as recently as 2000. At either end of the trip, there's time to enjoy the lively capital of Reykjavik. .
- Bike to the majestic Gullfoss (Golden Falls), the largest waterfall in Iceland, and to Geysir, the hot spring area for which geysers worldwide have been named.
- Walk through a lava tunnel created by one of Iceland's still-active volcanoes.
- Relax from a day of mountain biking in a geothermally warmed river.
- Explore the ruins of an ancient Viking farm.
- Stand atop the towering fissure at Thingvellir, where the European and American tectonic plates are slowly moving apart.
- Back in gay-friendly Reykjavik, lounge at one of the heated outdoor pools around which much of Iceland's social life revolves.
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This exciting trip is of moderate to challenging difficulty, with the level of difficulty varying partly by the weather; biking distances are about 27 to 38 miles per day on roads that are often-unpaved, comparable to an average of 50 miles a day on smoother roads. Most terrain is flat; portions are hilly. On our biking days (5 nights) we will sleep in shared hut accommodations, some of which do not have electrical power; our guide organizes all meals, but everyone is expected to help with meal preparation.
"Meeting people was the best part of this challenging, beautiful Icelandic experience."— Apryl Steele, Denver, Col.
"The scenery was awe-inspring. The cycling and hiking were challenging yet rewarding. The group was quite diverse and non-stop fun. An incredible way to experience such an amazing country!"— Thom Mistele, Flemington, N.J .
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We don't offer every trip every year, and no departures are currently scheduled for this trip. Our home page will make it easy to locate forthcoming departures of interest.
Prices are per-person, based on double occupancy. Tours often fill up months before departure. We regularly update our travel schedule to show the status of this and other trips.
So are most of the people who travel with us. You do not need to pay extra to travel by yourself. Prices are per-person, and the single supplement applies only if you'd like a room by yourself. For selected trips, including cruises, we will charge half the single supplement if you request a roommate but we can't match you with someone.
Reykjavik, Iceland
Blue Lagoon excursion;
All group transportation within Iceland, including arrival airport transfer (if arriving on starting day of tour);
Use of mountain bike, on biking days;
Transportation to get luggage (and tired cyclists!) to destination;
All accommodations, in a mix of hotels (in Reykjavik) and while biking, in wilderness huts with shared accommodations and bathrooms, and sometimes with no electricity (we will provide sleeping bags);
Breakfast every day, lunch and dinner every day but one, with wine or beer included at dinners.
Airfare;
Airport transfer on departure, and airport transfer on arrival if arriving on day other than first day of tour;
Souvenirs, snacks, admissions;
Lunch and dinner on one day;
Optional evening horseback ride;
Gratuities for guides.
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