Our Iceland mountain bike holiday is a wild roller-coaster journey in a land unlike any other. With surprises round every corner, it's a guaranteed sensory overload for mountain bikers. From the incredible series of waterfalls at Haifoss, the riding follows a mix of jeep track and singletrack through the remote Tolkienesque landscape of the Fjallabak. Venturing into an area that rarely sees bikes, we cross lava fields and enjoy views of the active volcano, Hekla. After a relaxing soak in the Landmannalaugar hot springs and overnight there, we continue this classic ride by way of a series of river crossings and via the stunning Eldgja Gorge to the foot of the Vatnajokull Icecap. Heading southwards, our cross-country bike route leads through a surreal black volcanic desert, with jagged mountains on one side and the Myrdalsjokull Icecap on the other. We end up at Porsmork, close to the southern coast, after 6 full and unforgettable days of mountain biking across the interior of Iceland. One thing to bear in mind is that we will enjoy near-constant daylight, so it will never be too dark to ride! Remember, too, that the weather is notoriously unpredictable and can have a big influence on the difficulty of the ride. Not for the faint hearted, this is a memorable journey and a real wilderness adventure.

Day 1: Arrive Reykjavik

Rendezvous at the group hotel in Reykjavik. A single group transfer is provided from Keflavik Airport, timed to meet the preferred flights from the UK. KE Land Only package services begin with the overnight at the group hotel. Reykjavik is a modern city that is home to 190,000 of Iceland’s tiny total population of 280,000. Its centre is small and easy to walk around from our accommodation. Our local guide will give us a briefing on what to expect over the next week and will recommend several restaurants for our evening meal. Reykjavik is quite an experience on a Saturday night. Young Icelanders go out late and stay up until morning. Meals included: None.

Day 2: Haifoss, Strong and the Gjain Valley

After an early breakfast, we pack our bikes and equipment onto our support vehicle (which follows our bus) and we head east over the high moorland of Hellisheidi, before turning inland towards Mount Hekla. Mount Hekla is Iceland’s most infamous volcano (at least it was until the Eyjafjallajokull eruption in 2010). After A 3-hour ride, we are dropped off at the Holaskogur Hut, where we have a picnic lunch and then set off to sample some of the superb biking that’s available in Iceland's Southern Highlands. We will complete a circuit ride from the hut that takes us well off the normal tourist track. We start with a short climb on a jeep track to the spectacular waterfalls of Haifoss, one of Iceland’s highest falls. From the viewpoint at the falls we follow a faint but excellent singletrack route down the valley to the ancient Viking settlement at Strong. From here, we turn for home on a dirt track through the beautiful Gjain Valley. The support vehicle is only available for the second half of this route, but for a first day this is a relatively easy ride. Total distance approx. 20km/13 miles. Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner. (B,L,D)

Day 3: Around Hekla to the hot springs of Landmannalaugar

A more challenging day, as we cycle across the volcanic wilderness of the Fjallabak (backcountry). Starting with a warm up ride of about 10km/6 miles on tarmac, we then hit a good jeep track that takes us through the Domadalur Valley. The route skirts the foothills surrounding Mount Hekla and, in places, we cycle through the ashes of recent eruptions. Entering the Fjallabak National Park, there are a couple of good climbs and a few river crossings before we pass Lake Frostasdavatn and reach the famous hot springs at Landmannalaugar. After lunch, we have a full afternoon for a relaxing soak - once you have got into the hot springs you will not want to get back on your bike! Tonight we stay overnight at the Landmannalaugar hut. Total distance approx. 55km/34 miles. (B,L,D)

Day 4: To the Eldgjá Canyon - Holaskjol

Today’s ride follows one of the most beautiful jeep tracks in the whole of Iceland. The track winds its way across canyons, unbridged rivers and mountain passes, taking us through a surreal landscape, which would be a natural home for Gandalf and the Hobbits. A final steep climb and descent brings us to the Eldgja Canyon, a 30km/19 mile-long fissure, which in 934 AD discharged the biggest volcanic eruption in historical times. We should have time to take a break and walk into the canyon to view the magnificent Ofaerufoss waterfall. Back on the bikes it’s an easy and relatively short ride along the banks of the Skafta River to the welcome sight of our excellent mountain hut at Holaskjol. With around 45km/28 miles of riding, 650m/2133ft of ascent and descent and plenty of river crossings, this is a proper day’s mountain biking. The support vehicle can follow us throughout the day and can give those with tired legs a break if needed. (B,L,D)

Day 5: Blautulon - Eldgjá Canyon Circuit

A day-ride again today which gives us the chance to dry off any gear that got wet in yesterday’s river crossings. Our ride is a classic horseshoe route into the real wilderness of Iceland. Retracing the last 8km/5 miles of yesterday’s route involves a steep climb and a thrilling descent, before we turn off the main trail into the remote Noroariofaera Valley. Following a faint dirt track towards Langisjor Lake, we reach the smaller Lake Blautulon and follow a singletrack trail along its shore. Leaving the lake behind, we climb for about 300m/985ft, with the odd push on the sandiest sections, until we hit the top of the ridge at the head of the Eldgjá Canyon. Here we are rewarded by magnificent views of the huge Vatnajökull Icecap. From this remote spot, rarely visited by anyone let alone mountain bikers, we have a fast and furious descent to the Skafta River. A final climb after visiting another isolated hut turns into another downhill blast before we end the route with a major river crossing. A wet end to the day, but our hut is only a short distance away. The support vehicle cannot follow today’s route, which is approx. 50km/31 miles of biking, with 600m/1969ft of ascent and descent. (B,L,D)

Day 6: Myrdalsjökull and Lake Alftavatn

Starting with 7km/4 miles of excellent singletrack, we follow a little-used pony trail through the gorge of the Alftavatn River before joining the main jeep track that winds its way through the last of the Fjallabak highlands. Emerging onto the bizarre plateau beneath the Myrdalsjökull Icecap, we enter a dramatic lunar landscape. Biking across this vast black desert of volcanic ash, dissected by a multitude of river courses, is a unique experience. It is not however, the easiest of biking terrain. Sustained sections of the route, involve biking through shallow water and across soft sand that does not permit a fluent pedaling action! However, the wicked scenery of black ash and green volcanoes, surrounded by towering ice cliffs, more than make up for the tough biking. Crossing this true wilderness is a challenge, but after 5km/3 miles the route does get firmer and the cycling easier. It’s simply a question of not giving up! We end the day by climbing back into the Fjallabak highlands and stay overnight at a hut beside the stunning Lake Alftavatn (Swan Lake). We have access to the support vehicle all day. Approx. 55km/34 miles of biking. (B,L,D)

Day 7: Let’s get technical - to Thorsmork

Our final day’s biking takes us from Alftavatn to Thorsmork, at first following much the same route as the walkers on the famous Landmannalaugar to Skogar trek. We soon turn off, however, and follow an old 4-wheel-drive track running next to the footpath at Hatfell via Botnar Hut. This is a spectacular and challenging day’s ride, with a dramatic change in scenery, from a high boulder strewn volcanic plateau to the green pastures and rock faces of the alpine Thorsmork Valley. The last part of the ride is through thick birch forest, where even the lava ridges are covered with scrubby trees and the lovely arctic flowers, which bloom for only a few weeks each summer. Thorsmork means Thor’s forest and it is not hard to see why this lovely area should be considered to belong to a god. It is out of this world! The valley is guarded on all sides by tremendous, fast-flowing rivers and steep glacier-clad mountains. We overnight in one of the huts at Thorsmork. Vehicle support for only part of the day. 35km/22 miles of biking, 10km/6 miles on jeep track and 25km/16 miles on technical singletrack. (B,L,D)

Day 8: Return to Reykjavik

In the morning we load our bikes for the two and a half hour transfer back to Reykjavik, with a stop off at the superb waterfall at Seljlandsfoss. Then it is straight to the Blue Lagoon geothermal pool (entry is included) for an hour’s soak and relaxation. There isn’t a better way to ease the aches and pains of a week’s wilderness biking. By late afternoon we are back at our Reykjavik accommodation, with plenty of time to pack our bikes, before yet another Saturday night on the town. A fitting way to celebrate the end of a superb holiday, Icelandic style. (B)

Day 9: Services end with breakfast

KE Land Only package services end with breakfast at the hotel. A single group transfer to Keflavik Airport is provided. (B)

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