GROUP RIERA
NORTHERN MTB ADVENTURE – ICELAND 2020
A NEW 6 DAY MTB TOUR THAT TAKE PLACE IN THE NORTH-EAST PART OF ICELAND. STARTING FROM ASKJA CALDERA IN THE MIDDLE OF THE COUNTRY AND BIKING NORTH ALL THE WAY TO THE ATLANTIC OCEAN.
THIS SUMMER WILL BE THE FIRST EXPERIENCE WITH RIDERS THAT ARE READY TO PUSH THEMSELF OUTSIDE THEIR COMFORT ZONE IN A TRUE ADVENTUROUS SPIRIT!
A bike tour that goes from Mt Askja, through Lake Myvatn and the Canyon of Jökulsargljufur, all the way to the Tjörnes peninsula.
This is one of the country’s most exceptional areas that offers fantastic outdoor pursuits in its remote mountains. Endless lava fields mixed with vegetation and bubbling muddy hot springs.Some days we bike in a deserted location, without meeting a single and other days we are passing in more visited areas like the Lake Myvatn.
We have a support of a 4×4 jeep that carries our entire luggage and a comfortable backcountry hut or hostel, awaits us every day with a warm welcome, gourmet meals and friendly chat throughout the everlasting arctic nights.
DAY 1 – JULY 13th
FLIGHT TO ICELAND
We will pick you up at the airport of Keflavik and drive to your hotel in Reykjavik. We can keep your bikes and will bring it with us when we pick you up for the domestic flight. The bikes will be build up in the north.
Night: Hotel in Reykjavik (booked directly by you).
DAY 2 – JULY 14th
FLIGHT TO AKUREYRI – DRIVE TO DREKI – HIKE & BATH IN VITI VOLCANO
Pick up very early in the morning. The domestic flight to Akureyri leaves at 7.10 AM followed by a drive down to Askja Caldera for about 4 hours.
After a good lunch we can go for a hike (45 minutes each way) therefore we are not allowed to bike in this area. Once you reach the rim of Lake Öskjuvatn, you’ll witness one of the most stunning views in all Iceland. If the weather is good, you’ll see the Dyngjufjoll Mountains almost perfectly reflected on the lake. And in the foreground, Víti (Hell) Volcano where we can have an epic bath in the hot lake in the middle of the crater. In the evening we take our time to build up our bikes and get ready for the next 5 days bike adventure.
Drive: Distance 200 km (4 hours)
Bike + hike: Distance 17 km
Elevation: Gain / loss 690 m
Night: Dreki Hut
DAY 3 – JULY 15th
ASKJA – BOTNI
The drive to the north will take all day, so we reccomend a domectic flight to Akureyri at 8.00 AM followed by a drive down to Askja Caldera for about 4 hours.
After a good lunch we can go for a hike (45 minutes each way) therefore we are not allowed to bike in this area. Once you reach the rim of Lake Öskjuvatn, you’ll witness one of the most stunning views in all Iceland. If the weather is good, you’ll see the Dyngjufjoll Mountains almost perfectly reflected on the lake. And in the foreground, Víti (Hell) Volcano where we can have an epic bath in the hot lake in the middle of the crater. In the evening we take our time to build up our bikes and get ready for the next 5 days bike adventure.
Ride: Distance 68 km
Elevation: Gain 670 m /loss -950 m
Night: Botni Hut
DAY 4 – JULY 16th
BOTNI – MÝVATN
On this day we are on a road that leads us straigt up to lake Myvant. This is a unique trail, that is next to an other one much more used. So we will probably be alone this day surrounded by a lunatic desert landscape with a mountains that pups up alone here and there in front of us. We will drop down in between valleys and probably crossing few cold rivers before joining our comfortable hostel by the lake.
Ride: Distance 48 km
Elevation: Gain 670 m /loss -950 m
Night: Dimmuborgir Guesthouse
DAY 5 – JULY 17th
MÝVATN – KRAFLA
Today´s ride is a round trip to and from our hostel at Myvatn. This can be a rest day or possible to take a shorter bike ride. We would like to take you on a bike trip to Krafla, that is one of the country’s most explosive volcanoes, having gone off approximately 29 times since the country was first settled. The trails are mixed of mountain roads and single tracks through lava fields and rocky area. In the afternoon we can visit the surrounding of Myvatn and take a dip in the Blue Lagoon of the north.
Today´s ride is a round trip to and from our hostel at Myvatn. This can be a rest day or possible to take a shorter bike ride. We would like to take you on a bike trip to Krafla, that is one of the country’s most explosive volcanoes, having gone off approximately 29 times since the country was first settled. The trails are mixed of mountain roads and single tracks through lava fields and rocky area. In the afternoon we can visit the surrounding of Myvatn and take a dip in the Blue Lagoon of the north.
Ride: Distance 30 km
Elevation: Gain /loss 800 m
Night: Dimmuborgir Guesthouse
DAY 6 – JULY 18th
DETTIFOSS – JÖKULSÁRGLJÚFUR
We start the day by driving from Myvatn to Dettifoss, on a mountain road that is a quite a traffic. The ride starts at Dettifoss, the biggest waterfall in Europe.
The scenery all along the way is simply incredible, no matter where you look.
The first part of the trail is a rocky single track, technically challenging section on the edge of the canyon of “Jökulsargljufur” the deepest glacial-river-canyon of Iceland. On the second part we change out the single track for a gravel road and some old horse trails in order to comply with the rules on MTB in a national park. We will get some more flowy tracks again with a very short final stretch on asphalt road. Our tour ends at the nature reserve of Ásbyrgi, a horseshoe-shaped garden surrounded by steep cliffs up to 100 meters high.
Drive: Distance 50 km
Ride: Distance 30 km
Elevation: Gain 500 m /loss -800 m
Night: Hotel Skulagardur
DAY 7 – JULY 19th
ÁSBYRGI – HÚSAVÍK – DRIVE BACK TO REYKJAVIK
Our last day is by the Atlantic Ocean sea shore, followed by a climb up a mountain and down on the other side. After the ride we get a good lunch in a local restaurant in the village of Húsavík before hitting the road all the way to Reykjavík
Ride: Distance 30 km
Elevation: Gain 700 m /loss -860 m
Drive: 460 km (5-6 hours)
Night: Hotel in Reykjavik (booked directly by you).
DAY 8 – JULY 20th
FLIGHT BACK TO SPAIN
Transfer to the airport of Keflavík for your flight back home.
Adéu!
There is always possibility of alterations to the itinerary, here above, as weather or terrain conditions dictate. This is for your own good to improve the trip quality and ensure that we choose the best ride that suits each day.
PRICE: 380.000 ISK per participant.
Included:- Pick up and drop of to and from the airports in Keflavik and Reykjavik
- Expert local leadership (1 guide / 1 local driver)
- The domestic flight Reykjavik with your bikes
- Transfer by car from Húsavík to Reykjavík
- All transports during the trip to and from Akureyri
- Assistance vehicle to carry the luggage
- Accommodation in mountain huts for two nights
- Accommodation in hostels for three nights
- All meals and snacks from lunch on day 2 to lunch on day 7
- Accommodation and meals in Reykjavik before and after the trip
- Single room supplement when possible
- Trip insurance
- Your mountain bike and related equipment needed to ride
- Personal items like drinks, snacks and energy supplements
- Optional tipping to guides
TRIP LEVEL IS MODERATE - CHALLENGING: This tour passes mostly on gravel roads that can be quite rough though. There will be some single track trails and short technical up- and downhill sections that can easily be hike-a-biked. Some previous mountain biking experience is required including good fitness with an open minded attitude.
TECHNICAL LEVEL: You don’t have to be an advanced biker, and you don’t have to be super fit for this tour. Most of those who join us have these qualifications to varying degrees and one compensates another. If you lack skills, you may be fine with good fitness, and if you are very skilled, you may do well with less fitness.
- You have good general trail riding skills.
- You can ride +5 hours at a moderate pace over a few days. You are confident in your climbing and descending skills.
FITNESS LEVEL: As you know, the more fit you are, the more fun you’ll have. This trip can be demanding at times in a remote landscape.
- You are physically strong even though you do not practice regularly.
- You are an open minded person, ready to be pushed outside of your physical comfort zone.
GROUP SIZE: 8 participants.
BIKING DISTANCE: ~68 - 30 kilometers pr. day.
THE BIKE: The perfect bike for this trip is a five or six-inch all-mountain full suspension mountain bike with disk brakes.
CLIMAT: Iceland can be chilly, even in summer. Expect nights to dip down to below 10°C ( 50°F) and days to warm up to 15-20°C (60-70°F) and warmer. In mountains, weather can change quickly and drastically and rain is common. Participants need to be prepared for a wide range of weather.
YOUR SAFETY: Our trips take place in remote regions where limited evacuation options are available. Bear in mind, there are always risks and hazards on the trails that we ride. If you choose to participate in our trips, it is up to you to ride well within your limits, to ride conservatively and to be safe as mountain biking is a dangerous sport. Participants must keep their bikes in good working condition; they must be hydrated and rested and alcohol and drugs are not permitted while riding. Our guides have basic first aid training and if a serious injury is suspected they will call for a helicopter search and rescue at the cost of the participant. Personal medical travel insurance is mandatory.
THE NEXT STEPS: Once your online registration form has been received we will send you a confirmation in form of a ticket for the trip. Please make sure you have read and understand our Terms and Conditions and do not hesitate to get in touch if you still have questions.
QUESTIONS? Feel free to send us an email at info@bikecompany.is if you have any questions.
DREKI HUT
A small and charming hut, located next to th Mt. Askja Caldera.
14 JULY - SLEEPING BAG ACCOMMODATION IN A HUT
BOTNI HUT
A very small hut owned by the Touring Club of Akureyri.
15 JULY - SLEEPING BAG ACCOMMODATION IN A HUT
MÝVATN GUESTHOUSE
A very nice hostel by the lake Myvatn.
16 & 17 JULY - MADE UP BED WITH SHARED BATHROOM
ÁSBYRGI HÓTEL
Hotel Skúlagarður is located in the relaxing countryside next to the Arctic Ocean sea shore.
18 JULY - MADE UP BED WITH PRIVATE BATHROOM
OUR SAFETY POLICY
Accidents and incidents can never be completely eliminated in travels of adventurous nature. But we believe that with a good understanding of the hazards, risks assessment and well trained guides with good judgement, accidents and incidents can be minimised.
THE MEALS
In our tours the meals are just as important as the selection of the trails. The food is hearty and typical of the area and the strength of the Icelandic cuisine lies in its pure ingredients and imaginative use of them.
STAY ON THE TRAIL!
We don't like reckless and off trail riding! We want to run a sustainable tourism with low impact travel. And we aim to leave no trace in nature leaving it as unspoiled as possible to the future generations!
TERMS AND CONDITIONS
Make sure you read and understand our terms and conditions and do not hesitate to get in touch if you still have questions.
PHOTO GALLERY
