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My wife has always wanted to go to Iceland. So I thought I'd surprise her this year and sort out a trip. Absolutely no idea what it's like or what's on offer, where I should think of staying etc. mountain biking looks good out there from some initial research.
Can anyone offer any advice, info?
I was there a year ago today. Fantastic place.
Northern lights, geysers, thermal pools, volcanoes, Reykjavik is a cool city. People really friendly.
We went with the kids for 3 nights. Had a ball.
Expensive of course when you are there which is why a short break is probably best. Loads of companies doing tours of all the attractions from Reykjavik.
Would really recommend it.
Great. Cheers. I was actually thinking of going for a few nights, taking the bikes and just riding as much of the place as possible (wife is a keen biker) and experiencing the country that way, plus I was hoping it would be a cheaper means to enjoying what's on offer.
Went earlier in the year for a long weekend. Great trip. Crazily expensive...
Went on a city tour ride, then a 5hr mtb ride with this lot:
The mtb ride was just around the city, but had some nice riding. Really nice people too. Borrowed one of their personal bikes.
Wilderness type riding needs investment in terms of time and commitment from what I can see.
Kria cycles https://en-gb.facebook.com/kriacycles down by the harbour is run by a Brit. He's also head of the Icelandic cycling federation!
Icelandic mtb culture is far less developed than I expected tbh, given all the mag features you seem to read.
Enjoy!
It's great place to go, there are some older threads on here about it if you dig a little. If you do hire a car I can recommend SAD cars, cheap to rent, well worn in vehicles so they aren't too precious about them.
I didn't get out on a bike over there, but it is often open and windy and even in Septamber/October we saw snow in the North. It is also far bigger than you expect and way mor remote than the UK.
As others have said though it is a cool place with loads to see, I particularly liked the Iceland air hotel in Reyjavik.
Good luck with the planning and enjoy!
Cheers guys. It's actually the remoteness that appeals to my wife the most I think. Hence I thought that taking the bikes and just riding the 'wilderness' would be a good way to experience it, although I approach this with zero experience of Iceland so I could be completely off.
In terms of the expense of the place, what is it that tends to be most obviously expensive over there? Accommodation? Trips and excursions? Food and drink?
Food & Drink is expensive as the majority of it is imported.
It's an incredible country - we went about 7 years ago without bikes & had a great time.
Me and the girlfriend went last August. We did 4 days mountain biking in the region surrounding Reykjavik. We hired a car and camped so it really wasn't that expensive, we took our own bikes via esyjet also. The riding was great, we pieced together routes from the internet and speaking to the local bike club. There is some incredible riding with 2hrs or Reykjavik. There is no such things an OS map though, we basically had to rely on crappy hiking trail maps, google earth and common sense!
Riding through hot springs
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Amazing trail down from the famous "ash cloud" glacier along the Skogar river.
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EasyJet fly there from Bristol now .Last time I looked the flights were very cheap
Brilliant Tomd. Looks absolutely fantastic. You did exactly what I had in mind. Maybe camping is the way to go. Flights are dirt cheap via easyjet too. How much did they charge you for the bikes?
£60 per bike both ways last year. Although this year they have capped the total baggage allowance so you'll need to watch weight.