Go Bicycle Touring in Iceland
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Iceland is a Nordic island country which marks the juncture between the Atlantic, and Arctic Oceans. It spans a total of 103, 001 square kilometers, and has a population of around 325,000 people. It’s capital city of Reykjavik is the northern-most capital city in the World. Iceland is uniquely known for it’s use of geothermal energy. Iceland is located over a volcano – and is therefore able to use the energy produced by it’s unique location to produce power, the Icelandic people even enjoy heated pavements in the winter!
From a cycling perspective, Iceland has lots to offer visiting cyclists. From Reykjavik (the country’s capital city) to the many fjords that run through it’s famous – and most popular cycling destination, “The Ring Road”. A fifteen hundred kilometer route which traverses the country. The Vatnajokull National Park offers fantastic mountain biking, and some of Iceland’s best scenery. Many other destinations can be found along the “Ring Road”, and although the under-wheel terrain is tough – as large sections of the road are unpaved, as long as you bring either a mountain bike, or tough touring tyres, you’ll be able to enjoy Iceland in all it’s glory.
Popular Bike Tour Destinations In Iceland
- The Circle Road will take you on a circular route of the entire country and is by far the most popular place among touring cyclists who visit Iceland. It begins in the Icelandic capital of Reykjavik, and traverses the island for the next fifteen hundred kilometers. Most of the road is paved and sparsely populated. Offering touring cyclists perfect bicycle touring conditions – except, perhaps for the remoteness of the road in some places. Travelling this route will take you about one month, so prepare for isolation, but prepare also to take in all that Iceland has to offer, in a stunning circular route.
- Reykjavik is the Icelandic capital. It was originally founded in 1786, and began as a trading town, over the years it grew and expanded and is now the cultural hub of Iceland. Among it’s many attractions are the “Culture House”, which houses many of Iceland’s national treasures. The city is home to people from at least 100 different countries, and the city has it’s own bicycle hire service.
- Vatnajokull National Park is one of three National Parks in the country. It is Europe’s second largest national park, covering some 14,000 kilometers of land. The park has been uniquely forged by rivers, volcanic and geothermal activity, and glacial ice. Although very large portions of the park are “protected” and therefore you’re not allowed to cycle there – there are sections of the park where the best way to get around and see things are by mountain bike.
- Akureyri is Iceland’s second-largest city. It perches on the southwestern shores and offers many of the typical tourism attractions. Among them are the city’s Botanical Gardens, and the Natural History Museum. In the backdrop of the city, their lies gravel paths meandering throughout picturesque farmland, and gentle slopes up granite mountains. Akureyri also the warmest climate in the country, despite being only sixty miles from the Arctic Circle. Temperatures in Summer reach as high as 20 degrees Celsius. While the city itself can be seen from the saddle of a road or touring bike, the mountainous backdrop is better seen from a mountain bike.
- The Blue Lagoon is an Icelandic treasure. It’s a geothermal spa, and is also one of the best places to go mountain biking in Iceland. You traverse the moonscape of this popular tourist attraction, riding on gravel trails which bisect the various pools and lakes throughout the Lagoon. Taking a break? Relax in pools that are warm and kept heated by the earth itself!
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Iceland is awe-inspiring. The landscape, so newly formed, refreshingly pristine, and geologically active, defies portrayal with words and pictures, although it will inspire you to try! Steam rises from hot pools on volcanic mountainsides, and glacier-fed waterfalls tumble down to the lush lands below. [/one_third] [one_third]
Join this scheduled tour in a mini-bus and bicycle combination which includes all three highlights of the south west of Iceland — Geysir geothermal area, Gullfoss Golden waterfall and Thingvellir Parliament plains — with the added bonus of a bicycle ride in the most scenic places. [/one_third] [one_third_last]
Experience Iceland’s evening sun from a bicycle saddle. Join us on a trip along Reykjavik’s coast, the perfect way to spend a midsummer’s night in town.
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Facts About Iceland
- Iceland is Europe’s most sparsely populated country.
- Icelandic is the official language of Iceland, although some Icelandic children watch television shows in English with Icelandic subtitles.
- Iceland boasts some of the highest life expectancies in the world. With an average of 81.3 for women, and 76.4 for men.
- In 2006, according to an international study, Iceland was declared the “Fourth Happiest Nation” in the world.
- Icelander’s place a strong value on literacy. They have the highest number of books-per-capita.
- In 1980, Vidgis Fionnbogadottir was elected by the Icelandic people to be their head of state. And was also the world’s first female head-of-state (by election).
- Icelandic is one of the world’s most unchanged languages – it remains largely unchanged since it’s inception and use, almost 1,000 years ago.
- 71.7% of all of Iceland’s energy is produced using the country’s own resources. 53% of which comes from it’s geothermal energy resources.
- Icelandic culture believes hugely in gender equality and civil rights.
- Many Icelanders believe in elves. There are certain roads in the country that have been re-routed to avoid disturbing areas where elves are believed to inhabit.
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