Circumnavigation of Iceland Motorcycle Tour

This Iceland Motorcycle Tour is a 12 day itinerary, with 11 nights accommodation and 10 riding days.

Day 1: Arrive Reykjavik
Please fly in no later than 12:00 and make your way to your hotel by taxi or shuttle bus.  Collect your bike from the port this afternoon, only a few miles from the city centre.  Then out in the evening to one of our recommended restaurants to try some Icelandic delicacies and to welcome you to the tour.

Day 2: Reykjavik to Geysir (92 miles)
In the morning, we will have our Motorcycle Tour Briefing and aim to leave Reykjavik by midday.  Ride by Iceland’s geothermal pipeline and visit waterfalls, geysers and glaciers along the way.  Pingvellir – see the continental drift and the ancient place where Iceland’s chieftains first met to create what is now the oldest existing parliament.  You will see the original “geysir”, after which all are named and wonder at the mighty Gullfoss Waterfalls.

Day 3: Geysir to Kirkjubæjarklaustur (171 miles)
Heading back to the main Ring Road, we see the waterfalls of Seljalandsfoss and Skogafoss.  All spectacular, thundering cascades of water.  You’ll also visit the most southern point of Iceland and the Dyrholaey Reserve.

Day 4: Kirkjubæjarklaustur to Breiðdalsvík (233 miles)
You continue  this motorcycle tour with amazing views as you ride towards the largest glacier in Europe, Vatnajokull and the Skaftafell National Park.  Get up close to Svinafellsjokull and hear it cracking and grinding as it moves and melts.  Cross vast glacial plains and head to Glacier Lagoon and Iceberg Beach, where chunks of the glacier break off and float down to the ocean.

Day 5: Breiðdalsvík to Lake Myvatn (194 miles)
Stunning, remote landscapes around the north of the island.  Stop off at Hverir, a geothermal spot with mud pots and fumaroles – smell the sulphur!  Detour to Dettifoss, Europe’s most powerful waterfall and then spend the night close to Lake Myvatn.

Day 6: Lake Myvatn to Akureyri  (114 miles)
It is a short morning ride to give you the afternoon free to enjoy Iceland’s 2nd city or to take a whale watching tour.  It’s also possible to take a boat trip to Grimsey Island – the only part of Icelandic Territory that is on the Arctic Circle.

Day 7: Akureyri to Hvammstangi (196 miles)
Ride along the Eyjafordur, with great coastal views to Siglufjordur, before reaching a perfectly preserved turf farmhouse, Glaumbaer.  Overnight at Havmmstangi, with the opportunity to visit the Seal Centre.

Day 8: Hvammstangi to Heydalur (159 miles)
Now we head to the Westfjords, the most remote and isolated part of Iceland and we think maybe the most stunning part of this motorcycle tour!  There are some small sections of good graded unpaved road on this section, easily done by a road bike.  In Holmavik, you can visit the small witchcraft & sourcery museum and learn about some of the magic of the Westfjords.  Stay overnight on a traditional farm, that has some wonderful “hotpots” to soak in.  You can try horse riding and kayaking here too.

Day 9: Heydalur to Patreksfjordur (192 miles)
We wind in and out of the fjords and the possibility of spotting whales along the coast.  This is simply stunning coastal riding and we can stop off in Isafjordur for a fish lunch before reaching the tiny town of Pingeyrie, where the paved road stops and there is 60 miles of solid dirt road (achievable by a road sports bike, last year a Honda CBR 1000 RR rode this route) to get us to the stunning cliff and coastal views from our hotel in Patreksfjordur.

Day 10: Patreksfjordur to Stykkishólmur (207 miles)
Stunning coastal riding on the mainly tarmac road on the southern edge of the Westfjords.

Day 11: Stykkishólmur to Reykjavik (110 miles)
A short ride into Reykjavik with a lunchtime arrival. Early afternoon, so you can drop off the bike at the depot for return date freight to the UK.  Your motorcycle tour of Iceland has come to an end, but you will leave with unforgettable memories.  Head out for a farewell meal in Reykjavik at one of our recommended restaurants.

Day 12: Depart Reykjavik
Depart from your hotel in Reykjavik to Keflavik Airport.

Flights
For clarity, we do not include your passenger flights.  It is your responsibility to organise your own flights to and from the destination.  You need to book a return flight to the start point, Reykavik.

Please also refer to our Booking Conditions.

It is important to understand that other than Akureyri (18,000 popn) and Greater Reykjavik (200,000 popn), all other settlements in Iceland are very small. Places marked in large, bold writing may be villages of 200 – 1,500 people. Places marked on a map can look as if they will be towns, but they are only a family homestead or a ranch. Some hotels are on the map in their own right as they consist of a hotel, a restaurant (maybe a petrol pump) and that’s it. Outside the greater Reykjavik area in the South West and Akureryi, everywhere is Iceland is remote and quiet, dominated by farms and fishing activities.  This is great for our motorcycle tour as it means that the roads are very quiet!

In Reykjavik, we recommend a good standard 3* hotel with private parking. However, once we leave Reykjavik, the accommodation varies, but we always aim for recommended hotels to be an equivalent 3* standard, which are chosen to reflect the area we are in; sometimes it is the only accommodation available in the area. On other occasions the location of the accommodation is stunning and the local food served is excellent, whilst the rooms may be small, more basic, but clean and tidy.  Sometimes rooms do not have televisions and on rare occasions, depending on availability, you may have to share a bathroom.  Wifi is available at all hotels, but in remote locations, you need to expect it to be slow and not consistent.

Just a note about the sleeping arrangements and what is the norm in Iceland. Beds are often single beds which are pushed together (for a double bed) or pulled “apart” (for two single beds), depending on the type of bed you have requested. Two single beds for people who are sharing, can still often be pushed close together. Please feel free to pull the beds away from each other! You should also note that it is normal to have two separate sleeping duvets for a couple using one large bed (one large duvet is just not the way it is done in Iceland).

We also like to draw to your attention that Iceland uses its geothermic waters for heating and bathing.  In some areas, the hot water in the hotels is incredibly hot immediately and it can often have a sulphuric smell, which people can find a little “distracting”!

If you wish to travel in peak season (July and August) we recommend booking at least 6 months in advance to ensure you have the choice and availability for popular locations.

You have the benefit of booking your motorcycle tour with a UK operator, acting in accordance with The Package Travel and Linked Travel Arrangements Regulations 2018, ensuring your money paid in advance is protected.

Before you go

• Access to the GlobeBusters Team for one to one meeting about preparing for the tour and what to expect.
• Motorcycle Tour Travel Pack, including Tour Specific Guidance Handbook & hard copy Michelin / Reise Know How Maps, marked with route.
• Daily hard copy route notes with GPS co-ordinates and information about the hotels, the roads and the sights
• Loan SD Card with open source GPS mapping for the region (suitable for Garmin units), downloadable routes and custom waypoints for hotels, lunch stops, viewpoints etc

En Route

• Hotel bed and breakfast accommodation on a shared basis (unless Single Room booked).
• Standard of accommodation is either hotels or guesthouses of mainly 3* (or equivalent) and some 4* standard.
• 6 evening meals, including your Welcome & Farewell Meal.
• Local overnight hotel parking charges.
• Entrances to National Parks are free.
• Team Tour Shirt

Support Crew

• Motorcycle Tour Manager on motorcycle to accompany the group.
• GlobeBusters Support Vehicle, equipped with mobile phone, spare fuel, water, tools, selected spare parts and emergency first aid kit, acting as a sweeper vehicle
• Support Driver, with motorcycle mechanical experience and first aid qualifications

Motorcycle Freight

• We do NOT include freight of your motorcycle to Iceland.  However, we will book this on your behalf with the shipper, Eimskip, and prepare all paperwork necessary for the import and export of your bike to Iceland.  All you have to do is drop off and collect your bike from their depot in Immingham (UK).  You then pay Eimskip directly for your return freight.  Budget around GBP£1,500, including in-transit insurance.

Motorcycle Rental (if selected)

Where you have chosen to rent a motorcycle, this is organised by us with the local motorcycle rental provider, Biking Viking, who is the Approved BMW Travel Partner for Iceland. Your rental fee includes:

• 11 days of motorcycle rental of the model as chosen by you (or equivalent model)
• Motorcycle is supplied with side cases / panniers
• Rider/passenger injury insurance, 3rd party damage insurance and a full damage insurance with deductible self risk of EUR 3,000:- held on a credit card.

Your contract for motorcycle rental is with Biking Viking and not with us and you must comply with their terms and conditions for rental. We act as agent for Biking Viking, and on arrival you will be required to sign the local motorcycle rental contract. You can request a copy of these terms and conditions from us by contacting us in advance. You must provide the local provider with valid credit card details with sufficient credit limit as a guarantee against damages up to the agreed insurance excess of EUR 3,000.  Please note that on rare occasions the local provider may need to substitute your choice of motorcycle for something equivalent.

Not Included

• Transfers to / from the airport at the start and end of the tour.
• Return passenger airline flights to get to the start and from the finish point for the tour.
• Return Motorcycle Freight of you motorcycle to and from Iceland
• Personal travel, accident and medical insurance (covering matters such as medical expenses, repatriation, cancellation, curtailment, loss or damage to property)
• Entrance fees to sights and parks, optional excursions, meals (all except where stated).
• Personal spending money, tips, souvenirs or other extras.
• Personal documentation (eg visas, passport), vaccinations, motorcycle documentation
• Fuel, oil & other motorcycle consumables
• Toll road fees, traffic fines or other charges relating to breach of the law
• Any travel, subsistence & hotel costs to and from the freight depot when you drop off or collect your motorcycle.
• We do not supply riding gear; you must bring a minimum of your own helmet, jacket, trousers, boots and gloves.
• Any other item not specifically included in the price.

Flights
For clarity, we do not include your passenger flights.  It is your responsibility to organise your own flights to and from the destination.  You need to book an outward flight to our start point, Reykjavik to arrive no later than midday on the official start date.  The earliest leave date is any time on the official end date.   However, do not book your flights until the tour is designated as a Guaranteed Departure.

Should you wish to arrive before the official start date or stay after the official end date, please simply request extra nights at the time of booking and we can make the reservation at our group hotel.

Please also refer to our Booking Conditions.

What type of bike do I need?
We recommend that you use a dual purpose / adventure style bike.  We support any make and model.  Our Support Crew normally ride the Triumph Tiger 900 Rally or Tiger 1200 Rally.  We also have extensive experience with the BMW GS motorcycle range, having ridden them for over 15 years.  What is important is that you have a reliable and robust bike that you are comfortable riding and that it has been properly prepared and fully serviced prior to the start and has new tyres.

What riding experience do I need?
This is a 95% paved road tour, with some small sections of graded gravel roads. Traffic levels are extremely low with good driving standards. Iceland can have changeable weather conditions all year, however we consider that the end of August is the best time for motorcycle touring.  It is your responsibility to ensure your motorcycling skills are up to the requirements for this tour.

How does the motorcycle freight work?
Your tour price does not include the freight of your motorcycle from the UK to Reykjavik.  You need to budget around GBP£1,500 for the return shipment of your motorcycle to Iceland and back.  We will make the freight booking for you and complete all necessary paperwork.   You must bring your bike to the Eimskip shipping depot (close to Grimsby, UK) for sea freight out to Iceland.  The drop off for your motorcycle is normally around 10-12 days prior to the start date.  Eimskip will load the container and once it arrives in Iceland, we facilitate the Customs procedures.  Depending on timing, we may take your bike to the hotel so it is waiting for you or you may be required to collect your own bike from the port with us.  The port is only located 3 miles from our hotel.  At the end, on the final day, we all ride the bikes back to the shipping depot in Iceland for sea freight back to the UK.  Eimskip will issue an invoice directly to you for the freight of your motorcycle, which must be paid in full before they will release your motorcycle in Iceland.

Can I hire a bike?
Yes, please select this option on booking.  Where you have chosen to rent a motorcycle, this is organised by us with the local motorcycle rental provider, Biking Viking, who is the Approved BMW Travel Partner for Iceland.

• 11 days of motorcycle rental of the model as chosen by you (or equivalent model)
• Motorcycle is supplied with side cases / panniers.  No other equipment is available to rent.
• Rider/passenger injury insurance, 3rd party damage insurance and a full damage insurance with deductible self risk of EUR 3,000:- held on a credit card.

Your contract for motorcycle rental is with Biking Viking and not with us and you must comply with their terms and conditions for rental. We act as agent for Biking Viking, and on arrival you will be required to sign the local motorcycle rental contract. You can request a copy of these terms and conditions from us by contacting us in advance. You must provide the local provider with valid credit card details with sufficient credit limit as a guarantee against damages up to the agreed insurance excess of EUR 2,000.  Please note that on rare occasions the local provider may need to substitute your choice of motorcycle for something equivalent.

What about flights?
We do not include flights in your tour price.  Once we tell you that this motorcycle tour is a Guaranteed Departure, you must book your own passenger flights to arrive / depart Reykjavik.  From the UK, there are direct flights from London, Aberdeen, Belfast, Manchester with a combination of Iceland Air, British Airways, Easyjet.  Airport transfers are not included – you can use an airport taxi or the coach transfer.  Details about this are provided in our Tour Guidance Handbook prior to departure.  Do not book any flights until we confirm that the tour is a confirmed departure.  When you do book flights please make sure that you arrive no later than midday on the official start date.

Do I have to ride in a group?
No!  We do not make you ride in convoy.  We offer you the freedom to decide how you would like to ride.  We give you a road book, with recommendations for lunch or coffee stops, fuel stops and hotel information.  You also get an SD card with mapping, custom routes & GPS co-ordinates to download to your GPS.  You can use these tools to self-navigate.  Most riders prefer to have this freedom, so they can stop where they want and for how long they want without feeling under pressure.  However if you prefer to ride with our Motorcycle Tour Manager, then you can do this.  They will give you a time to start in the morning, so please be prompt and ready to ride with them.  Each day you can change between riding on your own, or with a small group of other riders or with the Tour Manager.  We like to have a very flexible approach.

What is the average group size?
Our groups are normally 8 – 12 riders (some riders will have passengers).  The majority of customers are from the UK, but we also get riders from North America and other European countries.

Is this ride suitable for a passenger?
This is suitable for a passenger who is an experienced tourer and has previously been a passenger on gravel roads.  There is a very good standard of comfortable accommodation each night. Your passenger must ride the motorcycle each touring day – there is no option to sit in the support vehicle as this is for participants who are ill or injured, unless the road conditions are too difficult for a rider and passenger to attempt two-up.

Is there a support vehicle?
Yes, this tour operates with a Support Vehicle and Driver.  It is capable of carrying two motorcycles and two passengers.  Our support vehicles carry a mobile phone, medical  kit, spare fuel, water, tools, some spare parts, some spare tyres.  Our support vehicle provides temporary assistance to you if you have a mechanical problem or an accident and are injured.  It will carry one small piece of luggage per person (maximum 60 litre bag), which must be waterproof and dustproof. Suitcases and wheelie trolleys are not suitable and can be left in the hotel in Reykjavik.

What will the weather be like?
Iceland is a long way north, so it is never going to be hot and weather can be unpredictable, even in peak summer season.  We have chosen to travel just towards the end of the summer season.  It is likely to rain at some point during the tour, so make sure you have rain gear.  But there is also the possibility of it being quite chilly and sea mists, so you need to make sure you have extra layers with you.  Think of riding in Iceland a bit like, riding in the UK on a day in Spring.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/weather
http://www.worldclimate.com/

How expensive is Iceland?
So it comes as no shock to you once you are there, and so that you can budget, we estimate the following approximate costs for food & drink in Iceland – don’t be surprised to spend a minimum of £60-80 per night per person on a three course evening dinner.

• Cup of coffee – £5 + (although with some meals, coffee is provided free)
• Starter – £15 +
• Main course – £35-£45 + (sometimes soup is provided free of charge with a main meal)
• Dessert – £15 +
• Bottle of wine with dinner – £35 +
• Bottle of beer in bar or restaurant – £12 +

What documents do I need?
You will need your original documents as follows:  Passport, Motorcycle Registration Document or Title (if riding your own bike), Driving Licence from the country of your residence, minimum 3^rd Party Motorcycle Liability Insurance Certificate (if riding your own bike),  Travel Insurance Certificate (see below).  Visas are not required for UK/EU, USA or Canadian citizens.

Note that Iceland follows Schengen area rules.  For non-EU citizens, your passport must:

• have a ‘date of issue’ less than 10 years before the date you arrive – if you renewed your passport before 1 October 2018, it may have a date of issue that is more than 10 years ago
• have an ‘expiry date’ at least 3 months after the day you plan to leave the Schengen area (the expiry date does not need to be within 10 years of the date of issue)

You can travel to the Schengen area, which includes Iceland, for up to 90 days in any 180-day period without a visa.

You should note that we need to request copies of some of the above documentation, which we have to send to suppliers such as Icelandic hotels, freight forwarder / shipping line, customs authorities in Iceland and the UK.  Please refer to our Privacy Policy.

What about my health when I am abroad?
You need to be physically fit and healthy and also take the necessary health precautions.  It is essential for you to consult your doctor or travel clinic for up-to-date medical travel information prior of travel, particularly if you have a pre-existing medical condition. For up-to-date medical advice you may wish to use the Medical Advisory Service for Travellers Abroad “MASTA”  https://www.masta-travel-health.com/ , the NHS website  http://www.fitfortravel.nhs.uk/home.aspx   or NaTHNaC https://travelhealthpro.org.uk/ .

You will be obliged to disclose any medical condition or medication that you are taking to GlobeBusters in advance and to your Tour Manager at the start of your Tour, for health and safety purposes. We provide you with our Emergency Details Form for this purpose and to collect information about who to contact for you back home in the event of an emergency.

Do I need Travel / Medical Insurance?
It is a condition of you travelling with us that you are adequately insured.  Your insurance policy must cover you for the costs of any medical expenses, medical treatment or repatriation needed, due to injury or illness on this trip, including those that occur whilst motorcycle touring, either as the rider or a passenger.  It is important that your insurance company understands that the MAIN PURPOSE of your trip is motorcycle touring, using your own large capacity cc motorcycle or a rental motorcycle.  Your insurance must cover you for the full duration of the trip and for all countries we travel through.  Your policy must also cover you due to cancellation of curtailment due to COVID-19.

In addition, we strongly recommend that your insurance policy has cover for loss or damage to your personal belongings, delay at your outward or homeward point of departure, personal liability, overseas legal expenses and cancellation and curtailment.

We also strongly recommend that you take out your travel insurance at the time of booking your trip as cover will commence for pre-departure cancellation from the policy issue date. This will therefore provide cover should you have to cancel your trip for an insured reason such as illness or serious injury. We do not refund your deposit simply because you failed to take out insurance in sufficient time.

Is Iceland safe?

The Foreign & Commonwealth Office (FCDO) monitors overseas destinations and provides destination travel advice for UK nationals. GlobeBusters monitors the advice from the FCDO and any decisions taken regarding a Tour’s safety and security will use the vast experience of the company’s 20 years of operating as well as the FCDO advice. In the interests of your safety and security, changes may be made to your Tour based on any FCO warnings given.

We strongly recommend that you read the information about the country you are planning to visit to be fully informed – each country has a summary and general information as well as advice on safety & security, local laws & customs, entry requirements and health, and road conditions.  At the time of writing (August 2025) the British FCDO states that there is no travel warning for Iceland.

If you are not a UK national please make sure you have checked your own country’s travel advice for your destination/s: The US Department of State: http://travel.state.gov  Canadian Foreign Affairs: www.voyage.gc.ca  Australian Government Travel Advice: www.smartraveller.gov.au  NZ Government Travel Advice: www.safetravel.govt.nz .

What about local currency?
The local currency in Iceland is the Iceland Krona.  Pounds, Euros and Dollars are readily exchangeable.  However you should note that Iceland is largely a cashless society with the use of credit/debit cards on a chip and pin basis being very common and can be the only way to pay for fuel at remote petrol stations. Make sure you bring debit/credit cards with you.  Websites below will give you the current rates of exchange.

http://www.oanda.com/
http://www.travelex.co.uk/

Minimum Numbers
We require a minimum number of 8 riders on this tour.  If we do not have this number of bookings, then we reserve the right to cancel the tour. If we have to cancel the tour we will provide you a minimum of 84 days notice prior to departure.