North Iceland cycling adventure

Few areas in the world offer such natural beauty as North Iceland. The diverse mountainous landscape - which combines active volcanoes and vast black deserts, with lush oases, hot springs and fumaroles - are sights seldom encountered elsewhere on earth. It is this stunning terrain that Cyclewild's week-long July 2007 'Cycling Adventure' will explore.

Today, 20 million years after its formation - the result of a massive eruption beneath the ocean - Iceland remains one of the most volcanically active spots on Earth. Its breathtaking wilderness regions are home to steaming lava fields, sheer granite mountains, glaciers, thundering waterfalls, plunging fjords, boiling mud pools and spouting geysers.

No surprise, then, that naturalists have described the island as one of the Seven Wonders of the Natural World.
Comprising a mix of on- and off-road riding, specialist tour operator Cyclewild's Cycling Adventure spans eight days, and takes in all the many 'must-sees' - including many natural features that would be inaccessible by any other means.

Four-wheel drive
Upon arrival in Keflavik, the group will transfer by four wheel drive bus to the North of Iceland, passing through Reykjavik and the interior, stopping off at Thingvellir - the original location of the ancient Icelandic parliament (the oldest in the world) - as well as Gullfoss (a most majestic waterfall) and Geysir (the original geyser) which erupts every 20 minutes, spewing steam into the air.

Following the long day, the group will spend the night in a hut, in the remarkable rhyolite mountains of Kerlingafjoll, which are situated only a few miles from two of Iceland's major icecaps.

On day two, following a short exploratory trek along the edge of the Kerlingafjoll mountains, to see the ice sheets and fumaroles, the route will continue through the interior to Hveravellir, where there will be an opportunity to bathe in the hot springs.

Then it is on to Saudarkrokur, on the coast at the head of Skagafjordur fjord, and finally to Siglufjordur the starting point 'proper' of the expedition.

Midnight sun
The following morning, the cycling tour commences, through the Strákar mountain, via the 800m long Strákagöng tunnel, and on to the Máná weather station, which offers stunning views to the far side of the fjord. From thereon the route turns away from the coast, with an uphill cycle through the spectacular Stíflan Valley and over the mountain pass at Lágheidi, and beyond to Ólafsfjördur, along the shores of Ólafsfjördur and through the tunnel under Ólafsfjardarmúli.


Exiting the tunnel, the group will continue along the coastline of Eyjafjördur - with its spectacular mountain and seascape views - and on to the pretty coastal town of Dalvík. Later that day, from a noted viewpoint overlooking the Arctic Sea, the party will experience, for the first time, the bewildering phenomenon of the midnight sun.

Following breakfast, and a 45-minute coach transfer, the tour will visit Akureyri, the capital of North Iceland, which is surrounded by 1,000-1,500 metre mountains which sweep down to the sea. Then it's on to Godafoss (the Waterfall of the Gods), by way of the mountain pass of Vaðlaheidi.

The final 25kms ride of the day, through lush farmland, culminates in a night's accommodation at a former school house set in a remote rural location.

Whale watching
Next day, the group will head north, to Husavik, a fishing village on the north coast which is now famous for its whale watching trips. Continuing around the dramatic Tjörnes peninsula - a truly beautiful peninsula, with many unique fossils embedded into its cliffs - the group will enjoy a picnic lunch, before travelling on to Asbyrgi, a natural amphitheatre within which it will make camp for the night.

The next day - six - features off-road cycling through a wild, barren landscape, following the River Jokulsa, which has created a gorge known as Iceland's Grand Canyon. En route to the night's hotel, at Reykjahlid - on the banks of one of Iceland's most beautiful lakes, Mývatn - three stop-off treks will visit Hólmatungur and Hljódaklettar (the so-called Echo Cliffs), Raudhular (a rhyolite volcano), and Dettifoss, Europe's most powerful waterfall.

Mud pools
Lake Mývatn is a paradise for nature lovers in general, and bird watchers in particular. Most of the day will be spent exploring its many lava pinnacles and pseudo craters (which are formed from underground steam that has forced its way through the rocks).

A subsequent trek to Dimmuborgir, a natural lava 'garden' phenomenon, is followed by a climb up Iceland's most impressive tephra volcano, Hverfjall, which offers glorious views of the lake and the distant snow-capped mountains.

Next, it's on to the volcanically active area of Námaskard - with its many fumaroles and boiling mud pools - and the lava field of Leirhnjukur, before returning to the hotel, for a celebration dinner.

The eighth and final day may be spent relaxing by the lake, or by taking advantage of an optional excursion to Husavik for a whale watching boat trip.

Departing Myvatn, after lunch, the party will catch a late afternoon flight back to Reykjavik, where those wishing to do so may sample the city's rich Saturday night life.
The following morning will be spent exploring Reykjavik, and visiting the Blue Lagoon, one of Iceland's pools of pure, mineral-rich, geothermal seawater, set amongst fields of lava against a spectacular backdrop of green rolling hills.

At nearby Keflavik Airport, the riders will then bid their final, reluctant farewells to this most diverse of islands, boarding their return flight to Heathrow, which lands later that same day.

A truly comprehensive itinerary you will doubtless agree - and an adventure that is open to any reasonably fit person who has undertaken regular cycling training within the two months preceding the ride.