3FI2501 Iceland Fire and Ice
The Iceland tour, for one of the tour guides, starts a week earlier! In Mieming, all the motorcycles have to be loaded onto the trailer, along with the tour boxes and other equipment — making sure not to forget anything! Then the road trip can begin. Starting in Austria, I made my way north through Germany and Denmark, all the way to Hirtshals, at the very top of Denmark. It took three days! There, I boarded the Norröna ferry with the truck and trailer and began sailing across the North Atlantic. After a few days at sea — including a short stopover in the Faroe Islands — we arrived in Seyðisfjörður, on Iceland’s eastern coast. From there, I drove across the country, through stunning and surreal landscapes, until I finally reached Reykjavik, where the adventure is about to begin! It was a long journey, but an unforgettable one — from the Alps to the land of fire and ice, all for the love of motorcycles and adventure!
After a more or less long journey, everyone reached Reykjavik. And whether by plane or by boat, the island leaves a very special impression as soon as you arrive. We quickly realize that it is different here than anywhere else. Many of us use the day to explore the city and settle in. Meanwhile, the final preparations for the tour are being made in the background. In the afternoon, we finally get to know each other. After the welcome briefing, we finally get the keys to our bikes. The dinner that follows gives us a good insight into Icelandic cuisine. We can hardly wait to get started tomorrow.
We started the day under a blanket of low clouds and headed southwest, ready to explore some of Iceland’s most fascinating geological and geothermal sites. After taking a quick look at the Viking Museum, our first stop was the Bridge Between Continents, where you can walk between the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates. What a feeling! Next up was Gunnuhver, a wild geothermal area with boiling mud pools, hissing steam vents, and the strong scent of sulfur carried by the ocean wind. From there, we rode to the Blue Lagoon. We didn’t go in for a swim, but made a quick stop to take some photos of the famous milky blue waters surrounded by lava fields and rising steam—one of Iceland’s most iconic sights. By lunchtime, we reached Grindavík, a small fishing village by the sea. We had a delicious meal at a cozy harbor-side restaurant, enjoying a freat lobster soup. In the afternoon, we continued our journey toward Selfoss, riding through green fields and rolling hills, occasionally spotting Icelandic horses along the way. A wonderful first ride in Iceland!
The new day greets us with much better weather than the last. And that suits us perfectly, as today is the first big adventure driving day on the program. But before we finally hit the gravel, we pay a visit to Gullfoss, one of Iceland's most famous waterfalls. The light is perfect and we can hardly take our eyes off the beauty of this place. But the dust is calling, and after a short briefing we set off into the Icelandic highlands. The gravel road winds through the barren landscape, mighty glaciers on both sides of the road, perched on and between the mountains. It is dreamlike. This road seems almost endless. It takes us until the early afternoon to reach the north of the island. It is so much different here than in the south, with rolling hills and much more greenery. A welcome change from the desert landscape of the morning. On the way back to the hotel, we stop for a bit of culture and history to round off this great day.
Today’s ride wasn’t too long, so we left Hofsstadir without rushing and rode through the beautiful landscapes of northern Iceland. The road took us along dramatic coastlines and quiet fjords, with cool, overcast weather—classic Icelandic summer. Our main stop was the charming fishing town of Siglufjörður, where we enjoyed a coffee break before visiting the excellent Herring Era Museum. It offered a fascinating insight into the golden age of Iceland’s herring industry, with immersive exhibits and historic buildings. That must have been a tough life! Afterwards, we continued south along the coast and stopped for lunch in Hauganes, a peaceful village on the western shore of the Eyjafjörður fjord, known for its whale watching tours. Before reaching our hotel in Akureyri, we made one last stop at the Icelandic Motorcycle Museum—a true highlight for any rider!
Today, once again, we spend a little less time in the saddle. Iceland has a lot more to offer besides great roads. Due to the weather, we leave Akureyri via the direct route, an eight-kilometre tunnel, as the track over the mountain is shrouded in thick fog. Our route first takes us away from the coast to Godafoss, one of the island's most famous waterfalls. And rightly so, as we find. In general, you don't have to drive far in this part of the island to find great and unusual places. And so a little later we find ourselves in the Myvatn area. The lake landscape is not only the most biodiverse area on the island, but also geologically very interesting. And while we're there, we also pay a visit to the lava formations of Dimmuborgir. The road lies like a black ribbon in the hilly, green landscape that leads us back to the coast. Our destination for today is Husavik, which we reach by lunchtime. The town is known as the capital of whale watching. And that's exactly what we get to the bottom of in the afternoon. Some of us are even brave enough to venture out onto the Atlantic in a speedboat. The trip on the former fishing boat, however, is much more relaxed;-). Let's see who has the best pictures.
Today was a truly epic ride through the wild heart of Iceland. We started with a visit to the impressive Ásbyrgi Canyon, a massive horseshoe-shaped formation said to have been created by Odin’s horse—or by catastrophic glacial floods, depending on whether you prefer mythology or geology. From there, we continued southeast to Dettifoss, one of the most powerful waterfalls in Europe. Pictures don’t do justice to the sheer magnificence of this natural wonder! After Dettifoss, we stopped for lunch and then rode across the vast Icelandic desert—a barren, otherworldly stretch of volcanic sand, lava fields, and distant mountains. We covered many kilometers on gravel roads, adding even more adventure (and dust!) to the day. In the afternoon, we took a detour to the incredible Stuðlagil Canyon, known for its perfect basalt columns and icy blue river. A must-see, before finally reaching our destination. What a stunning day of riding!
Iceland is at its best this morning, the sun is shining. And the temperatures are almost mild by Icelandic standards. Perfect conditions for us. Compared to the barren landscapes of yesterday, the area around Egilstadir is almost a jungle... as I said, almost😉. So we stay for a while and enjoy the drive around the “Lagarfijot” before heading south. To get to the south coast, we have to - or rather are allowed to - cross the Oxi. The view from up here, down to the ocean, is breathtaking. Small waterfalls and interesting rock formations await us to the left and right of the path. The weather also plays along. Simply fantastic. In the afternoon, we follow the coastal road and enjoy the landscape, which is even more majestic than that in the north. There are already dark clouds on the horizon, but every now and then we catch a fleeting glimpse of the mighty Vatnajökull glacier, the largest glacier in Europe. Some of us can hardly wait to get up close to the glacier. And so in the afternoon we drive a little extra round through rough terrain to get to one of its many glacier tongues. A courageous ride, but well worth it.
Another unforgettable day on the road in Iceland! We left Höfn in the morning and followed the scenic south coast, with glaciers on one side and the Atlantic Ocean on the other. Our first major stop was the breathtaking Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon, where massive icebergs float silently toward the sea. We even went for a ride on an amphibious vehicle, getting up close to the floating icebergs! Just across the road, we also walked along the famous Diamond Beach, where chunks of crystal-clear ice lie scattered across the black sand like gems. A surreal and unforgettable sight! As we continued west, we stopped for lunch near the Svínafellsjökull Glacier, and then took a short hike to admire it from a closer distance. In the afternoon, the ride took us through ever-changing landscapes: moss-covered lava fields, glacial rivers, and endless volcanic plains. Before reaching Kirkjubæjarklaustur, we made a detour on the gravel road to Fagrifoss, to do some training for tomorrow (stay tuned!). The ride included a few river crossings, adding a dose of fun and thrill! And when we finally reached the hotel—surprise of the day: Thomas had prepared a welcome drink with ice cubes from Diamond Beach!
Today’s ride from Kirkjubæjarklaustur to Geysir offered two unforgettable routes—each with its own kind of adventure! One group followed the coastal road, stopping at iconic sights along the way. They visited the dramatic Black Sand Beach, admired the cliffs and the puffins at Puffin Rock, and then headed to the majestic Skógafoss waterfall, where they also stopped for lunch after a hike to the top of the falls. The other group chose a more adventurous path into the Icelandic Highlands, tackling gravel roads, crossing rivers, and enjoying the raw, untouched beauty of the interior. They reached the geothermal oasis of Landmannalaugar for lunch and then continued on gravel roads for quite a while! In the afternoon, both groups arrived in Geysir, and before dinner, we took some time to visit the famous geysers, watching powerful bursts of steam and boiling water erupt from the earth—an iconic Icelandic experience!
Last day on the road — and another beautiful ride to wrap up our Iceland adventure! We left Geysir in the morning and started making our way back toward Reykjavik, but not without a few more memorable stops along the way. Our first stop was the striking Kerið crater, a unique volcanic formation that made for great photos and a nice walk around the rim. Next, we visited the historic site of Þingvellir National Park, where the tectonic plates meet and where the world’s first parliament was founded over a thousand years ago. It’s a deeply meaningful and respected place for Icelanders! The ride then continued through the peaceful Hvalfjörður fjord, with sweeping views, calm waters, and smooth curves—perfect for motorcycles. To end the journey, we crossed the underwater tunnel beneath the fjord and rolled into Reykjavik, where we enjoyed a final lunch together before heading to the hotel. A perfect end to an unforgettable tour—filled with glaciers, geysers, gravel, and great company. Thank you, everybody, and see you on another Edelweiss tour!