3FI2602 (31.07.26 - 11.08.26) - Iceland - Fire and Ice
Today is THE day that our tour around Iceland finally is going to start! Some of us have already discovered it's capital Reykjavik. The bulk part of the Icelandics live here and like their houses they are colorful people During the welcome briefing we get to know our travel companions and it looks like we're in for a lot of fun!
Day 2 – The Adventure Begins | Welcome to Iceland! Today our second Fire & Ice tour of the year finally got underway here in Iceland! After the morning welcome briefing, our new group eagerly listened to what lay ahead before it was finally time to fire up the engines and begin our adventure. Our first ride took us southwest to the Reykjanes Peninsula, where we stopped at Viking World. Standing next to the full-scale Viking ship, it's impossible not to wonder how these fearless explorers crossed the wild North Atlantic to reach Iceland over a thousand years ago. Looking at the vessel, you can only admire their courage and determination. From there we continued to one of Iceland's geological highlights—the meeting point of the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates. It was here, around 15 million years ago, that the island of Iceland began to form, and the plates are still drifting apart today. Crossing the small bridge between the two continents, we literally jumped from America to Europe—without needing a passport. Next up was the geothermal area of Gunnuhver, and it never disappoints. Long before arriving, the rising clouds of steam announce its presence. Up close, the boiling mud pools, hissing vents, and the unmistakable smell of sulfur create an unforgettable reminder that Iceland is very much alive beneath our feet. By now it was time for lunch, so our next stop was the world-famous Blue Lagoon. Nestled in the middle of an ancient lava field near Grindavík, its milky-blue geothermal waters are famous for their mineral-rich, healing properties. It's easy to understand why this is one of Iceland's most visited attractions. After recharging ourselves—and the motorcycles—it was time to head back onto the road. The afternoon introduced us to our first gravel sections, giving everyone a small taste of the off-road riding that awaits over the coming days. Smiles quickly replaced any nervousness, and it became clear that this group is ready for adventure. For a first riding day, it couldn't have been a better introduction. Incredible scenery, fascinating history, volcanic landscapes, and just enough gravel to leave everyone wanting more. Tomorrow, the real adventure begins as we head deep into Iceland's legendary Highlands, with glaciers, remote mountain tracks and endless wilderness waiting for us. Stay tuned and follow our journey here on the blog—you won't want to miss what's coming next! See you tomorrow, Jan & Axel
On this morning, when looking to the sky, we have the impression being on a tropical island. A clear sky, a bright sun and warm temperatures. After a healthy breakfast we're heading to the Gullfoss waterfall. Everey second thousands cubic meters of water fall 35mtr down. Fed by the Hvítá glacier the waterfall gets it name because of the rainbows it creates. It's truly impressive to see the sheer power of nature. No wonder the Icelandics produce electricity from this. And there it is, our first real off road section! It leads us between 2 glaciers, the Hofsjökull and the Langjökull. We even do a little river crossing! For lunch it's healthy fish soup and a soak in a thermale bath. In the meantime the sun is shining like we're in Fiji! And of we go again, more gravel, more dust, more stunning scenery. A couple picture stops further we leave the off road section behind us and continue on more civilised surface. At Viðimýrarkirkja we visit an old church and graveyard. The building as made of peat, like they did hundreds of years ago. Tired, but full of adrenaline, we arrive in our beautiful hotel. A well deserved hot shower, beer and meal are waiting for us.
Fjords, Coastal Roads & the Capital of North Iceland - Akureyri Today's ride may be one of the shorter ones, but it delivers some of the most scenic coastal roads in northern Iceland. Following the shoreline, we pass two spectacular fjords, each with its own character and breathtaking views. Our first companion is Skagafjörður, a wide fjord framed by the Skagi and Tröllaskagi peninsulas. Along the way, we stop in the charming fishing village of Siglufjörður. Once the herring capital of Iceland during the boom years of the 1940s and 50s, the town still proudly tells its story in the fascinating Herring Era Museum. Today, with just around 1,000 residents, it has become one of Iceland's most picturesque hidden gems, connected to the rest of the country by impressive mountain tunnels. From there, the road hugs the dramatic coastline before reaching Eyjafjörður, Iceland's longest fjord at around 60 kilometers. At its end lies Akureyri, often called the Capital of North Iceland. Despite having only around 17,000 inhabitants, Akureyri surprises visitors with its vibrant atmosphere. Cozy cafés, excellent restaurants, local breweries and lively streets create a unique mix of Icelandic charm and urban life. For motorcycle enthusiasts, the local motorcycle museum is a worthwhile stop and guess what - we took a closer look. One of the city's landmarks is the striking Akureyri Church, perched high above town. Climb the iconic staircase and you'll be rewarded with panoramic views across the harbor, colorful rooftops and the surrounding snow-capped mountains that frame the fjord. With its beautiful setting, endless summer light and relaxed northern vibe, it's easy to understand why so many Icelanders consider Akureyri one of the country's most beautiful towns—and the perfect place to spend the evening after another unforgettable day on the road. Well well that was day 4 and we will enjoy now the Akureyri and we will see us tomorrow here. Jan and Axel
Today we have one of the shorter riding days, but it's fild with many highlights. We start of with a nice gravel section into the mountains. There's even a little river crossing! As soon as we come out of the mist a beautiful view unfolds in front of us: we see a huge valley with green rolling hills, dotted with white clouds. Not a bad way to start the day! Just before coffee we stop at the Goðafoss waterfall. Legends has it that in the year 1000bc, pagans dismissed their gods by throwing them into the waterfall. As a result they defeated an invasion from Normans. At the Dimmuborgir lava fields it's the raw power of the volcanoes we admire. 3000 years ago an eruption created a ruff landscape, dotted with lakes. Upon arrival in Husavik we enjoy a good fish meal and then it's time to start our whale watching tour. Dressed in warm safety overalls we soon see the first of these mammals. One after the other is coming to the surface to take a big breath of air before diving down again for a good meal of krill. It was a truly impressive experience amd it's good to know that the whales have a safe haven here in Iceland
Day 6 – Into Iceland's Wild Heart | Húsavík to Egilsstaðir Today was the day Iceland showed its true character. We left Húsavík behind and headed deep into the remote northeast, where every kilometer brought wilder landscapes and even more unforgettable riding. Our first stop was the breathtaking Ásbyrgi Canyon. Surrounded by towering cliffs rising up to 100 meters, this horseshoe-shaped canyon shelters one of the few dense birch and willow forests in Iceland. Stretching 3.5 kilometers in length, it feels like a hidden oasis in the middle of the rugged north and is one of the natural jewels of Vatnajökull National Park. From there, we turned onto the rough 864, following the mighty Jökulsá á Fjöllum river toward one of Europe's most powerful waterfalls. Passing the dramatic Hafragilsfoss, the landscape became increasingly surreal before we reached the thunderous Dettifoss. Fed by glacial meltwater from the Vatnajökull ice cap, an average of 193 cubic meters of water crashes over the 45-meter-high, 100-meter-wide waterfall every second. The roar can be heard long before the falls come into view—and once you're standing beside them, the sheer power is unforgettable. The adventure continued across the remote 901, offering fantastic gravel riding through Iceland's untouched highland scenery before we followed Road 907 to the spectacular Stuðlagil Canyon. With its striking basalt columns and vivid blue-green river, it provided the perfect finale to an incredible day. Today had everything: challenging gravel roads, endless wilderness, and some of Iceland's most spectacular natural wonders. After a day like this, we could finally say it with confidence: Now we've truly arrived in Iceland.
Having a rest day for some of us means sleeping in, going for a hike, doing some shopping and enjoying a hottub. For others it means exploring the east coast of Iceland on our motorcycles. Mjölfjörður fjord is a remote area, only accessible via gravel road. It's a good thing we have our trusty machines, they will bring us to the end of civilisation. Our objective is the lighthouse of Dalatangi, but before we get there we are in awe of what we see: A beautiful view on the fjord! Clouds hover on the tops of the mountains, a glistering sea where young ducklings are being guarded by there mother. The impressive Klifbrekku waterfall is a photo stop worthy. Fascinating to see how it cascades down the mountain. Sheep look at us as if we're invading there territory, wich we are. And just before we think that there is no end to the road, we arrive at the lighthouse. Not evry impressive, but the view in the ocean is! The ferry to Denmark is just passing by and so are some local horses. On our way back we get to enjoy everything again. A sandwich stop to fuel our bodies and even some waterfalls we didn't see on the way up. Another good thing about this rest day rise is that we still have plenty of time to relax and soak our bodies in the hottub.
Sadly we have to say goodbye to the beautiful hotel where we've stayed the last 2 nights, but a new adventure awaits us! The weather conditions have changed a little bit. A slight drizzle guides us to the first highlight, the Snæfellsstofa visitors centre. Here we learn more about the biggest glacier of Europe, the Vatnajökull. At surtain point this glacier is up to a kilometer thick and it covers 8% of Icelands surface. On top of the Öxi pass the clouds open up a bit and this creates a beautiful view on the Folaldafoss waterfall. We slide down the mountain and hungry as horses we devour our lunch in Djúpivogur, a little fishing village. We've reached the south coast of Iceland and the scenery is, again, totally different. Tired and contempt we arrive in our next hotel were it is time for a hot shower. And a well deserved beverage!
Ice, Rain & the Wild Coast from Höfn to Kirkjubæjarklaustur Today, Iceland once again showed us its wild and spectacular side – accompanied by some very typical Icelandic weather: rain, wind, and low-hanging clouds. Our first highlight was Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon, a fascinating world of water and ice. Massive icebergs, some made from thousands-of-years-old glacial ice, drifted through the lagoon in countless shapes and intense shades of blue. Riding through this incredible landscape on an amphibious boat allowed us to experience the icebergs from a completely different perspective. Despite the rain – or perhaps because of it – the scenery was absolutely breathtaking. From there, we continued to Diamond Beach, where pieces of glacial ice are carried onto the black volcanic sand by the Atlantic waves, sparkling like diamonds. And there was an unexpected bonus waiting for us: seals! Swimming between the ice chunks, they seemed completely at home in the rough Atlantic waters. After the Diamond Beach, our route continued west along a steep, rugged and almost mystical coastline. Before long, we reached another highlight of the day: Svínafellsjökull Glacier. We parked our motorcycles and continued on foot. After a short hike, the view suddenly opened up to the glacier lagoon. What a sight! Once again, we found ourselves standing speechless in front of the sheer power and beauty of Iceland’s ice. From there, we continued towards Kirkjubæjarklaustur, our destination for tonight. Here we bring another incredible day to an end – because tomorrow, we still have a few of the final elements that make Iceland so unique waiting for us. Wind and air? What could fit better than a cliff full of puffins? Fire? That’s waiting for us tomorrow too. And let me put it this way: tomorrow, we’re going deep into the visual heart of Iceland. That was our day – and now, enjoy the pictures! Jan and Axel