Iceland: Dramatic North Bike
Seven nights; seven days. A challenging bicycle tour on paved and gravel roads along Iceland's Arctic Coast Way.
“Iceland is the lead character in this movie.. a troubled hero, at times uncooperative, but with such natural generosity and overpowering beauty, you can't look away.” – Erik N.
WHY THIS TRIP?
- Discover Iceland’s less-traveled northern landscapes.
- Easy access from Reykjavik, Iceland’s vibrant capital.
- Experience otherworldly landscapes: volcanic craters, lava fields, and glacial rivers.
- Natural beauty in every direction – snow-capped mountains, gorgeous valleys, striking coastlines.
- Enjoy the Midnight Sun's endless daylight.
- Visit Akureyri, the “Jewel of the North”.
- Marvel at Europe’s most powerful waterfall, Dettifoss.
- Witness Lake Mývatn’s unique geology and thriving birdlife.
ROUTE EXPECTATIONS:
Click here to learn about our difficulty rating system.
35-95 km/day on mostly paved roads with occasional gravel sections, featuring some climbs and descents, and more hills than South Iceland. Recently, Iceland was named one of the world's top ten destinations by both National Geographic and Lonely Planet.
Daily Distance:
- 1: Introductions.
- 2: Sauðárkrókur to Hofsós via Hólar ~57km (+415m / -421m).
- 3: Sauðárkrókur to Siglufjörður ~96km (+956m / -957m).
- 4: Siglufjörður to Akureyri ~55km (+498m / -570m).
- 5: Akureyri to Húsavík ~112km (+1122m / -1146m).
- 6: Húsavík to Reykjahlíð ~52km (+891m / -612m).
- 7: Lake Mývatn Loop ~37km (+400m / -400m), and Jökulsárgljúfur Canyon National Park.
- 8: Transfer to Reykjavik.
(Click image to enlarge)
Activity Levels
The easiest routes we offer, these are generally flat and cover relatively relaxed distances. You will be comfortable riding a hybrid bike, walking in sneakers, or paddling a light kayak, and will normally have time to take many photos and enjoy extended lunches.
This is primarily an easy route, but some days may fall into the moderate category. You can expect time to stop and smell the roses, but some of the rides may be on more hilly terrain.
Requiring moderate fitness levels, these cover terrain with hills and valleys, and tend to include distances of 50-80km (30-50mi.)/day cycling, or 3-6 hours of walking per day. Most Freewheeling Adventures fall into this category, and are suitable for most ability levels.
This is primarily a moderate route, suitable for most ability levels, but some days may be a little more challenging. You can expect some long distances, and/or some big climbs/descents.
The most challenging trips, these include longer distances, bigger hills, long hikes, exposed paddling, and full days of activity. We recommend a higher degree of fitness and training to make the most of the experience.
There is also a rare double black diamond, reserved for only the most difficult adventures.
Start: Reykjavik, BSI Bus Terminal, 10:00, day one.
Finish: Reykjavik, 16:00, day eight. ~$100 flights to Reykjavik from Akureyri as alternative to complimentary van transfer.
Meal inclusions: Listed for guided trips only, please see dates & pricing section for accurate inclusions per support level.
Please contact us to arrange alternate meeting and departure plans, if necessary.
DAY 1:
Introductions.
Pickup in Reykjavik at the BSI Bus Terminal for the 4-hour drive to Sauðárkrókur. Along the way, you will visit the still-active Víðimýri Church, a stunning example of 17th-century Icelandic architecture, and the Glaumbær Farmstead, whose turf houses were the eventual home of Snorri Thorfinnsson – the first Viking born in North America at Newfoundland's L'Anse aux Meadows. In Sauðárkrókur, you can test your bikes, visit the nearby geothermal-heated swimming pool, or stretch your legs on the back of an Icelandic horse before dinner. Optional flights are available from Reykjavik to Sauðárkrókur through Icelandair.
Meal Inclusions: Dinner.
Hotel Tindastoll, Sauðárkrókur; or Hofsstadir Country Hotel, Hofstadir.DAY 2:
Sauðárkrókur to Hofsós via Hólar ~57km (+415m / -421m).
From Sauðárkrókur, ride through a river valley known for its horses and ethereal blue light. Picnic in the mountain-nestled village of Hólar, the seat of the bishop from 1106 to 1801 and the last stronghold of the Catholic Church during the Reformation. You can visit the cathedral, restored to its original state. Enjoy an afternoon ride along the coast of Skagafjörður to Hofsós, with a transfer back to your lodging at day's end.
Meal Inclusions: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.
Same lodging.DAY 3:
Sauðárkrókur to Siglufjörður ~96km (+956m / -957m).
Follow the coast around the Tröllaskagi Peninsula – the Peninsula of Trolls – to lunch in Siglufjörður, a small fishing town once known as the herring center of Iceland. A visit to the Herring Era Museum provides insight into the boom that shaped this region during the 20th century. Later, views of Grímsey Island enhance the beauty of the ride.
Meal Inclusions: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.
Sigló Hótel, Siglufjörður; or Brimnes Hotel & Cabins, Ólafsfjörður.DAY 4:
Siglufjörður to Akureyri ~55km (+498m / -570m).
An easier ride along the coast toward Akureyri, acknowledged as the home of some of the world's most beautiful people, and known by golfers for the Arctic Open Championship. Visit the botanical gardens, old houses, and relative abundance of restaurants and bars, where the fun is heightened by the location near the Arctic Circle.
Meal Inclusions: Breakfast.
Berjaya Akureyri Hotel, or Hotel Kea, Akureyri.DAY 5:
Akureyri to Húsavík ~112km (+1122m / -1146m).
Follow the Eyjafjörður coast from Akureyri toward Laufás, where well-preserved farm buildings and some of Iceland's oldest thatched houses enhance the gorgeous charm of an already scenic valley. Enjoy lunch at Stórutjarnir or at Goðafoss, Iceland's most spectacular waterfall, known as the "Falls of the Gods." Continue through the salmon-rich river valley to the coast at Húsavík – locally proclaimed the whale-watching capital of Europe and home to an intriguing whale information center.
Meal Inclusions: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.
Fosshotel Husavik, or Cape Hotel, Husavik.DAY 6:
Húsavík to Reykjahlíð ~52km (+891m / -612m).
Today's ride takes you past a small geyser, expansive greenhouses, and through a lava river valley with pseudocraters—formed by cooling lava bubbles rather than extraterrestrial impacts—toward Lake Mývatn. This stunning area features myriad islands, diverse ducks, and picturesque vistas. Note that approximately ten kilometers of the route near Mývatn is unpaved.
Meal Inclusions: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.
Fosshotel Myvatn, or Berjaya Myvatn Hotel, Myvatn.DAY 7:
Lake Mývatn Loop ~37km (+400m / -400m), and Jökulsárgljúfur Canyon National Park.
Today is a day to immerse yourself in the unique surroundings of Mývatn. Begin with a morning bike ride circumnavigating the lake, followed by an afternoon exploring the area's attractions. Relax in the natural mineral baths, often called the "Blue Lagoon of the North," or join your guide to visit outlying sites. For an unforgettable experience, consider an optional sightseeing flight over Askja—the world's largest caldera—where US astronauts once trained for moon landings.
Meal Inclusions: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.
Same lodging.DAY 8:
Transfer to Reykjavik.
This is an approximately 6-hour drive. Optional flights from Akureyri to Reykjavik are available through Icelandair.
Meal Inclusions: Breakfast.
All details and pricing are subject to change without notice.
SELECT A DATE BELOW TO RESERVE, OR START A NEW DATE
2025 DATES:
2026 DATES:
Don't see what you want?
(Inclusions & pricing are listed below)
PRICING
Our tour costs are ALL IN, including fees & taxes.
Guided: C 6695 (per person, double occupancy)
Includes 8 days, 7 nights, 7 breakfasts, 5 lunches, 6 dinners, support vehicle, full-time guide(s), maps, route instructions, hybrid bicycle rental, taxes.
Small groups or private tours, fully supported with drivers/guides and vehicles, all lodging and most meals included. Choose from existing dates or request new departures. Read more on our “What to Expect” page.
Self-Guided: C 6195 (per person, double occupancy)
Includes 8 days, 7 nights, 7 breakfasts, inn to inn luggage transfers, maps and route instructions, hybrid bicycle rental, taxes.
Semi-supported, independent tours including welcome briefing, lodging, luggage transfers and necessary vehicle transfers. Choose from existing dates or request new departures. Read more on our “What to Expect” page.
Single Occupancy: Add C 1295
Tour cost excludes airfare and travel to and from the starting point, costs for activities listed as optional, bar and beverage bills, meals not shown as included, gratuities for your driver and/or guides.
Bike Rentals:
Hybrid-Fitness: Included
Flat bars. Trek FX 2 Disk, or similar, with rear rack/trunk bag.
* Change to E-bike: C 995
Flat bars. Allant+ 7 Lowstep, or similar , with rear rack/trunk bag.
* E-bikes are very limited and are on a first-come first serve basis. If your booking is contingent on an e-bike, please indicate this in your order comments.
All details and pricing are subject to change without notice.
Please see above for accurate pricing and inclusions, unless we have proposed a customized trip for you and those details are provided in your custom proposal.
1. Choose an advertised date to join a small group, or see our Join a Group page to see where groups are already forming.
2. Pick your own dates. We will confirm quickly, and are happy to talk with you as you make your choice. If you would like a private guided date, this usually comes at a surcharge depending on the details, please get in touch for more information. If you prefer self-guided, we usually only require two participants to initiate a new date at the advertised price, and can sometimes reduce prices for you if you have four or more.
BEST TIMES
The best time to enjoy this tour is June to August.
- Spring, April to May, is relatively dry and bright. Daytime average high temperatures range from 6 to 10 °C (43 to 50 °F). Note that seasonal businesses and routes may still be closed, or on off-season hours, until mid-June.
- Summer, June to August, typically peaks around 14 °C (57 °F).
- Autumn tends to be the rainy season, though temperatures in September and October can still be mild, similar to spring.
GET TO THE START
Fly into Keflavik International Airport (KEF), approximately 45 minutes from the capital city of Reykjavik.
The easiest and most economical method of travel from the airport to Reykjavik is the Flybus. The service operates in connection with all arriving flights. The Basic Flybus ticket will take you from the airport to the BSI Bus Terminal in Reykjavik, which is also adjacent to the domestic airport (REK). If you would like transportation directly to your inn you will need to purchase the Flybus+ and book one of the hotels/guesthouses listed on their webpage. Tickets can be purchased upon your arrival from airport kiosks or in advance by booking online.
Otherwise, Reykjavik is a small city, and almost everything is within walking distance. Some areas are traffic free.
Taxis are also available from the airport.
For those looking to avoid a long transfer to the start of the tour, optional domestic flights are available through Iceland Air from Reykjavik to Sauðárkrókur.
AFTER THE FINISH
On day eight you will be transferred back to Reykjavik by van; the journey takes about six hours. To avoid the long van transfer from the north, Iceland Air operates daily flights between Akureuri and Reykjavik’s domestic airport (REK).
BEFORE AND AFTER
If you have one extra day:
We recommend adding an extra day in Akureyri at the end of your tour to explore the botanical gardens and hotpots; this will require independent travel between Akureyri flights are available from Akureyri to Reykjavik through Iceland Air.
Other options are extending you trip by a day to include hiking the glacier at Snæfellsnes, or add a night or two for exploring Reykjavik. A popular day tour is a visit to nearby Inside the Volcano.
If you have several days:
Join our Fertile South Bike tour for a well rounded active Iceland holiday.
Iceland Air links North America, Iceland, and Europe, making it easy to add a visit to over 20 destinations in Europe, before or after your adventure.
We recommend the following accommodations in Reykjavik for before or after your tour; please let us know if we can assist with reservations:
- Hotel Oðinsve, Ph: +354 511 6200
- Hotel Borg, Ph: +354 551 1440
- Hotel Fron, Ph: +354 511 4666
- Snorri’s Guesthouse, Ph: +354 552 0598
MORE READING
The long fjords and river valleys flanked by alpine mountains make this a collection of outstanding rides for bicycle touring. The midnight sun, drier climate, and greater shelter from prevailing winds produce more fertility than expected; the vegetation includes flourishing botanical gardens in Akureyri and trees like nowhere else in Iceland. Akureyri – the gem of the north at the end of Eyjafjordur is also known for the blonde beauty of its people. On the way from Akureyri to Lake Myvatn, you will stop in the European whale watching capital at Husavik, for a special night, with views of snow-capped mountains across the fjord. The approach to the lake takes you through marshland peppered with small lakes and ponds, which attract more birds than anywhere else in Iceland, and can make the approach to Myvatn very memorable. Cycling around the lake itself is particularly interesting because of the many green pseudocraters and islands. On day seven, you can visit Jokulsar Canyon National Park and Dettifoss – the biggest waterfall in Europe.