Gravel
Iceland
Gravel Iceland Westfjords
A must-see (must-ride) for gravel lovers, the Westfjords region of Iceland is a gravel paradise
Ready for a real adventure? Join us on this gravel trip to Iceland and feel the power of raw nature.
Overview
Details
Next Departure
August 18th 2024
From
USD $6,495
Duration
7 days / 6 nights
Non-Rider Friendly
No
Rental Bike
Not available
Ride Program
Total Distance
Total Elevation
Daily Av. Distance
Daily Av. Elevation
Overview
Iceland is an incredibly wild land where volcanos, hot springs, unique rock formations, glaciers and huge waterfalls dominate the landscape. It’s a country that everyone should visit at least once in their lifetime, it really is that special and unique.
After the huge success of our 2021 “Beyond Tarmac” trips, we wanted to include the Westfjords region of Iceland as a destination for those gravel riders looking for that ultimate adventure and off-road wilderness experience. We’ll provide the usual Thomson legendary support, with our regular ride leaders, mechanics and van drivers being joined by some experienced locals. The terrain is not technical, mostly smooth and fast gravel with a few more broken or tricky sections here and there, quite a lot pavement stretches as you approach the small towns.
You’ll stay in incredibly remote hotels, some of which will provide fairly basic amenities – but you will experience a truly authentic Icelandic adventure.
Are you ready for the ride of your life?
Trip Technical Difficulty
Ride Surfaces
Bike Setup Recommendations
Recommended Tires
700×38
A minimum 700×38, but feel free to use more rubber for more comfort and grip if your bike has extra tire clearance.
Recommended Gearing
38T × 11-42
We recommend a minimum gear ratio of 0.90 using a 38T chainring × 42 rear cog (or equivalent). Check your gear ratios at www.bikecalc.com/gear_ratios.
Gravel Explained
Read below for a brief description of our gravel definitions. We have classed the surfaces into five categories, from tarmac to boulders, to give an indication of the amount and level of rough stuff on each trip.
Itinerary
| Day | Description | Distance | Elevation | Hotel | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | Welcome to Iceland | Malarhorn Guesthouse | |||
| 02 | Across country to Heydalur | Heydalur Country Hotel | |||
| 03 | Cruising the fjords to Isafjordur, the roadies' stage... | Hotel Isafjordur Torg | |||
| 04 | South to Bildudalur | Hotel Harbour Inn | |||
| 05 | In search of puffins | Breidavik Hotel | |||
| 06 | Final push to Flokalundur | Hotel Flokalundur | |||
| 07 | Takk! | ||||
| Daily Averages |
Itinerary Detail
Day 1
Distance
Elevation
Welcome to Iceland
Your trip starts in Reykjavik where our staff will pick you up at your hotel before the transfer to the first hotel of the trip in Drangsnes.
After lunch, orientation meeting and bike build-up, you’ll head out for your first ride, a magnificent coastal loop through the Drangsnes Peninsula.
Day 2
Distance
Elevation
Across country to Heydalur
Your journey through the Westfjords region of Iceland begins today with a stunning ride from Drangsnes to the countryside hotel in Heydalur. You’ll be riding into a remote wilderness with incredible Icelandic landscapes that are unique to this part of the world.
Day 3
Distance
Elevation
Cruising the fjords to Isafjordur, the roadies' stage...
Am amazing ride today which follows the dramatic coastline of the Ísafjarðardjúp fjord, one of the largest fjords in Iceland and whose name translates to “fjord of sea ice”. The route is mostly flat and paved as it follows the coast, up and down numerous smaller fjords before we arrive in Isafjordur. With a population of around 2500, Isafjordur is the biggest town in the region and in the evening we’ll enjoy a stroll around the tin-roofed wooden houses and cafés that form the picturesque town centre of the “metropolis” of the Westfjords.
Day 4
Distance
Elevation
South to Bildudalur
Today’s ride takes us along the western edge of the Westfjords, through magnificent scenery and crossing several small fjords as we make our way south to the tiny village of Bildudalur. Greenland lies less than 1000km across the North Atlantic and this part of the ocean is famous for whale watching, so keep your eyes peeled as you ride around the fjords.
Don’t forget your bike lights since we have some tunnels to ride through today, one of them the long and amazing 6km long Vestfirdir, or the Dýrafjarðargöng later on!
A rear light is enough , although you can add the front one …our support van will be with us anyway, and you can always jump on the seats inside if not happy with riding in the tunnels!
Day 5
Distance
Elevation
In search of puffins
We continue our journey south and west, reaching the most westerly point of Iceland close to Hvallatur. The ride kicks off with a couple of beautiful climbs to jump from one fjord to the next, then it’s mostly flat across the Latrajbarg region where impressive cliffs protect the interior from North Atlantic waves and provide sanctuary to a huge population of puffin birds. A steep climb through the Hnjotur hills is our final challenge of the day, before the long descent to our remote hotel in Breidavik.
Day 6
Distance
Elevation
Final push to Flokalundur
Our final day of riding and we close of the trip with another epic day in the saddle, following the southern coastline of the Westfjords to our final hotel in Flokalundur. We’ll be crossing an extremely remote part of the Westfjords region with the typical unique Icelandic landscapes at every turn in the road.
Day 7
Distance
Elevation
Takk!
Unfortunately, your trip across Iceland has come to an end.
We’ll transfer back to Reykjavik where our shuttle can drop you off at Reykjavik – Keflavik Airport or at a hotel in town.
Map & Profile
Surface Details
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Dates & Prices
| Date | Booking Status | Availability | Price / Per Person | Single Supplement | Non-rider Discount | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | |||||||
Aug 18 - 24 |
Taking Bookings |
Limited spots available |
USD $6,495
|
USD $1,000 |
USD $1,240 |
Book this trip | |
Waiting List
Sign up to the waiting list for this departure, to be notified if a space becomes available. Please fill out the information below:
Trip Hotels
Malarhorn Guesthouse
Heydalur Country Hotel
Hotel Isafjordur Torg
Hotel Harbour Inn
Breidavik Hotel
Hotel Flokalundur
What's Included
| What's Included | What's Not Included |
|---|---|
Accommodations & Meals
 Transportation
Cycling Support
Nutrition during the ride
|
|
| What's Included |
|---|
Accommodations & Meals
Transportation
Cycling Support
Nutrition during the ride
|
| What's Not Included |
|
Pick-up/Drop-off Info
Arrival
| Pickup Location | Time |
|---|---|
|
Reykjavik Keflavik Airport |
8:00am |
OR |
|
|
Any hotel in downtown Reykjavik |
9:00am |
Departure
| Drop Off Location | Time |
|---|---|
|
Any hotel in downtown Reykjavik |
2:00pm |
OR |
|
|
Reykjavik Keflavik Airport |
3:00pm |
Gravel Iceland Westfjords
The Westfjords region of Iceland is a gravel paradise, discover it with Thomson Bike Tours
