Incredible Iceland
A complete loop of this amazing little country, including Westfjords.
Nature is untamed here. Volcanoes, glaciers, geysers, mountains, lakes, thermal pools, fjords, rivers and the biggest WATERFALLS in Europe!
Ride a late model BMW touring motorcycle across the most amazing landscapes we have found on planet Earth. (Don't be put off by the gravel road shown in the first photo here; most of the roads (90%) are perfectly sealed tarmac!)
World On Wheels founder Mike Ferris personally leads each departure.
We don’t make everyone play follow-the-leader all day. Set your own pace on the open road; we’ll bunch up through busy towns and whenever the route calls for it. The support vehicle runs at the back with your luggage. There's plenty of time to meet the locals, sit and soak it all in, and give your photography skills a good workout.
Starts and finishes in Reykjavik. Approximately 3,100km of variable riding conditions and changing temperatures. No matter what time of year, Iceland can certainly get cold!
International airfares not included. Comprehensive travel insurance is mandatory.
21 May - 04 June 2027
Open for bookings
15 days
12 scheduled riding days, with your bike also available for you on 'rest' days
Rider €8,000
Pillion €7,000
Ride your own ride. We'll keep the group connected.
We know of some tour operators who keep the whole group bunched up together like a HOG parade at Sturgis. That’s not our style at all.
Each morning we’ll show you where we’re going, how far we’re riding and where we expect to stop for lunch, fuel and sightseeing.
We use a proven corner-man system, so once we’re clear of the towns you can ride at a pace that suits you. We’ll bring everyone together through busy cities, complicated junctions and any section where it makes sense to stay close.
Isn’t this what riding is all about?
Long and exciting roads.
Our Incredible Iceland tour isn’t just the three popular 'Golden Circle' tourist attractions (although yes, we do visit these also).
It's a comprehensive tour of the whole island, including the oft-ignored Westfjords region in the extreme north. We weave our way along countless fjords, discover puffin colonies, visit small isolated towns, to take in all the spectacular beauty only Iceland can deliver. We hope you're fond of glaciers and waterfalls, 'cos you'll see plenty on this tour!
From Reykjavik across lava fields to the South Coast
Our first riding day sees us heading out of the capital and immediately you'll see steam erupting from the ground from geothermal activity. We visit the local geothermal power station exhibition for an informative look at how Iceland leads the world in this technology.
We continue along the coast past the Westman Islands and several small waterfalls, before arriving at today's highlight, the mighty Skogafoss. It's a thunderous assault on the senses, a massive body of water hurling itself over a precipice. There's a walkway to the bottom and another to the top, so you can work up an appetite for dinner at our hotel here, virtually right at the base of the waterfall.
Europe's largest glacier (and most troublesome volcano)
From 100km away we can start to see the huge Vatnajökull glacier. The Eyjafjallajökull volcano (not so easy to say) erupted underneath it in 2010. As well as the ensuing ash cloud bringing European flights to a standstill, the lava melted millions of cubic metres of glacial ice which flooded and dramatically changed the landscape. A newly re-built highway takes us right through the middle of the fresh lava fields.
Icebergs breaking off the glacier collect in a lagoon here and we'll stop for a visit. Some of the ice chunks get washed out to sea and then roll back in with the waves, forming what's known as Diamond Beach, where pieces of ice glisten on the shoreline. We've been known to collect a piece or two to enjoy a glass of whiskey with 1,000-year-old ice cubes in the evening, as we sit on our hotel balcony gazing at the glacier.
The eastern coastline & Iceland's largest puffin colony
We turn the corner from the south coast to the east. Reindeer herds can often be seen here, with remote farmhouses and small colourful fishing villages.
A long ride takes us to the puffin breeding ground at Bakkagerði. These little guys are hilarious; they are extremely agile hunters in the water, but they have stumpy little wings and when they come in to land they look like it's their first ever flight and they often crash-land.
We retrace our route a short distance to our hotel for this evening, on the way to magnificent Dettifoss tomorrow.
Europe's largest waterfall, then some whale watching
The sheer volume of water spilling over Dettifoss has to be seen to be believed. It averages about 195 cu/secs, often swelling to about 500 cu/secs in the summer snow melt.
And, as you can see, there are no safety barriers! You can stroll right up to the edge, without someone in a fluoro vest blowing a whistle at you...
We ride the north coast where Iceland touches the Arctic Circle, then proceed to Husavik, the whale-watching capital where we offer the option of sailing out across the fjord in a traditional timber vessel to view these majestic marine mammals in their natural habitat. Minkes, dolphins, humpbacks and seals are regular visitors, and an occasional blue whale can be spotted here.
Via Akureyri to the magnificent and remote Westfjords
After our one and only rest day in Akureyri, Iceland's second largest 'city' (it's basically a small town, really) we head to possibly the highlight of the tour, the spectacular Westfjords. Towns and villages are few and far between out here. We'll swing through a corner and see a town just 2km away on the other side of the fjord ...
but it will take us 40 minutes to get there because we have to ride to the end of the fjord and then back up the other side. Oh, and there's a couple of dozen more little waterfalls along the way as well.
The Snaefellsnes Peninsula, followed by the Golden Circle
The rugged Snaefellsnes Peninsula is waiting, where we have the chance to visit an underground lava cave straight out of Jules Verne's famous classic, Journey to the Centre of the Earth. On a clear day, the snow-capped volcanic cone here can be seen from as far away as Reykjavik, 80km away.
As we complete our loop of Iceland, we'll probably see quite a few other tourists for the first time as we explore the highlights of the Golden Circle. There's a huge geyser here, Strokkur, which reliably erupts every four or five minutes in a spectacular display of geothermal delight.
And yes, there's another huge waterfall also here, Gullfoss, the 'Golden Waterfall' just in case you haven't seen enough of these already on this journey.
Then it's the return ride to Reykjavik where it all began 15 days ago, to return the bikes and retire to our hotel. We'll perhaps have a few drinks with our Farewell Dinner, to reminisce over the past couple of weeks exploring this fantastic little country.
View our Interactive Tour Map
This Google map is not entirely accurate, but gives a general idea of the route. We start in Reykjavik and travel anti-clockwise around the ring road with many side trips. Then we divert to explore the fantastic Westfjords to reach the westernmost point of Europe, before returning to the Capital.
Book your World On Wheels Incredible Iceland experience today or explore our other fantastic motorbike tours to ride the open road through some of the most beautiful locations on earth.
Download the day-by-day itinerary
Watch our Incredible Iceland preview
Mick Matheson discusses with us the incredible roads, landscapes and places from the tour.
What the package includes
The €8,000 rider price covers your bike, fuel, accommodation, almost all meals, and the team behind the ride.
Your motorcycle
BMW F800GS rental (larger bikes available as upgrades)
Fuel and basic maintenance
Motorcycle insurance as detailed in the itinerary and rental terms
Top case, with panniers also available upon request
Accommodation and meals
Accommodation for the whole tour, nights 1 to 14
Clean, friendly, mid-range properties
Twin-share accommodation (single room available as an upgrade)
Breakfast and dinner on scheduled riding days
Breakfast only on scheduled 'rest' days
Your support team
WOW founder Mike Ferris as tour leader
Established local agent
Support vehicle and driver
Luggage transport
First-aid equipment
Also included
Daily maps and directions
Advice on flights and travel insurance
A copy of Mike's travel book, Free Back Issues
World On Wheels welcome pack
WhatsApp chat group
Choose your Bike
The standard package includes a BMW F800GS. Larger bike upgrades are available.
BMW F800GS
Included, standard
BMW F850GS or F900GS
Upgrade: €500
BMW F900XR
Upgrade: €500
BMW R1250GS or R1300GS
Upgrade: €1,000
Will this ride suit you?
A full and unrestricted motorcycle licence is required.
You also need enough experience to handle a large-capacity bike on unfamiliar roads.
And of course, we must insist that you take out a comprehensive travel insurance policy which adequately covers motorcycling!
The Incredible Iceland tour suits competent riders who are comfortable with:
Riding days of up to approximately 400km
Mountain bends and tight switchbacks
Changing road surfaces and weather
Cold mountain conditions and warmer days along the coast
Following daily directions and the corner-marking system
Making sensible decisions about their own pace
You’ll also need a reasonable level of health, fitness and stamina. Some riding days are quite long, and the cold can be quite intense in some regions.
Solo riders, couples and pillions are welcome.
We’ve been continually refining this route since 2008
Our Incredible Iceland tour has now operated more than 20 times.
We still make changes when we find a better road, a nicer hotel, scenic stop, or motorcycle option. The route you ride today has been shaped by nearly two decades of running the tour, not by just drawing a convenient line between Iceland's most famous places.
Mike Ferris has more than 30 years of experience in international motorcycle travel and will personally lead this departure. He is also a qualified motorcycle riding instructor, recognised and accredited by the New South Wales government in Australia. This depth of experience matters when the group reaches a difficult town, the weather turns, a motorcycle needs attention, or the day’s original plan no longer makes sense.
The part you won’t see on the map
Ask riders what stays with them and you’ll hear everything from the mountains, waterfalls and glaciers, to the puffin colonies and the spectacular regions of the Westfjords. Then somebody mentions the group members.
Three weeks on the road has a way of turning solo riders, couples and oft-returning World On Wheels clients into firm friends who are still swapping stories long after the bikes have gone back.
So, are we ready to do this?
Step 1
Download and read the fully Detailed Itinerary
Read the full route including dates, distances and conditions, and make sure the riding format suits what you're looking for.
Step 2
Complete and return the Booking Form
Return the completed Booking Form and required deposit to confirm your place.
Step 3
Receive your Confirmation
We’ll send written confirmation, a preparation checklist and further tour notes, including suggested arrival information, health checks and travel insurance requirements.
A few more moments from Incredible Iceland
Open any image for a closer look at the roads, landscapes, places and people that give the tour its character.
