Iceland Gravel Adventure in the Westfjords

Day 1

july 6, 2025

View the Route 49 km | 1,050 m | 31% gravel

Welcome to the Westfjords, where the mountains meet the sea! Ísafjörður is served by a regional airport with daily flights from the Reykjavík Domestic Airport. We’ll pick you up from the Ísafjörður airport at 9:45 AM, or if you’ve already arrived, meet us at the Fjord Hub at 10:30 AM.

If you brought your own bike, it’s time to start assembling it. If you’re renting from us, we’ll get you set up. Once the bikes are ready, we’ll have a pre-trip meeting in our community room to ensure everyone is on the same page about the week ahead.

Next, we’ll walk next door to the local café Heimabyggð for coffee and lunch together. Once we’re full, we’ll check in to the hotels and then change into our bike kits.

Today’s ride is an out-and-back to the top of Lookout Mountain, Bolafjall. Along the way, we’ll ride an abandoned road slowly being reclaimed by the sea. The climb starts after 15 km, giving us a taste of the gravel and inclines we’ll face in the days ahead. At the summit, we may even catch a glimpse of Greenland!

We’ll return to the Fjord Hub to address any bike issues before departing the next day. Dinner will be at the restaurant Húsið, where we’ll enjoy delicious local dishes. Accommodations will be at Hotel Ísafjörður Torg, featuring private rooms and bathrooms.

Day 2

july 7, 2025

View the Route 73 km | 1,070 m | 45% gravel

We’ll start the day with breakfast at Hotel Ísafjörður Torg. From the breakfast table, we’ll pack brown-bag lunches to enjoy on the road. After breakfast, load your bags into the Fjord Hub mobile van. We’ll begin our ride directly from the Fjord Hub at 9:30 AM.

Today’s route takes us up and over one of the old mountain passes. If the pass is impassable due to weather, we’ll use the van to go through the tunnel. The old mountain pass, Breiðdalsheiði, was the main route until the 5-kilometer tunnel was built in 1996.

This mountain pass is not for the faint of heart, as we’ll start climbing almost immediately upon leaving town. The ascent features smooth gravel, but once we reach the top, the terrain shifts to chunkier gravel. We’ll carefully descend together and rejoin the main road.

The rest of the ride takes us along the base of two fjords before we finish in Þingeyri. Dinner will be in town, and accommodations will be at Við Fjörðinn Guesthouse, featuring private rooms with private bathrooms.

Day 3

july 8, 2025

View the Route 83 km | 850 m | 88% gravel

We’ll start the day with breakfast at Við Fjörðinn Guesthouse. Afterward, we’ll pack lunches to enjoy during the ride.

Today’s ride is an adventurous gravel route along Svalvogar. This double-track gravel road, looping around the peninsula, was built by a farmer using his own bulldozer. Aptly named “The Teaspoon,” he created it to reach his neighbor’s house directly without having to circle the entire peninsula.

The route includes several river crossings, some of which may reach knee-level. Don’t worry—the support van will accompany us, ready to assist or provide a lift if needed. After navigating the most challenging sections, we’ll stop at Hrafnseyri Café to recharge before finishing the ride.

As a highlight, we’ll visit Dynjandi, the Westfjords’ most spectacular waterfall, before heading to our final destination for the day.

We’ll end the day at Laugaból Farm, where a home-cooked meal and a soak in natural hot springs await as a well-deserved reward for the day’s effort. Accommodations are in private bedrooms, though bathrooms are shared due to the remote location. The stunning views and solitude of the Westfjords make it more than worthwhile!

Day 4

july 9, 2025

View the Route 69 km | 980 m | 67% gravel

We’ll start the day with a simple breakfast at Laugaból Farm before backtracking to the “Pearl of the Westfjords,” Dynjandi. From there, we’ll tackle Dynjandisheiði, a long mountain pass with a profile shaped like an “M.” Don’t be fooled by the first descent—you’ll climb back up another hill before the gravel dreams truly begin.

Afterward, we’ll descend directly to sea level and wind our way through scenic fjords. Sandwich supplies will be available in the support van for a mid-ride snack. This section of the ride is packed with highlights, from the iconic A-frame sheep shack to numerous breathtaking Westfjord viewpoints.

The day concludes in Bíldudalur at the Harbour Inn. Dinner will be at Vegamót, renowned for its fish and chips. If we’re up for it, we’ll cap off the day with a soak in one of the best hot pots in the Westfjords. Accommodations are in private bedrooms with private bathrooms.

Day 5

july 10, 2025

View the Route 88 km | 1,750 m | 43% gravel

We start the day with breakfast at Harbour Inn before setting off on our final day of riding. The route takes us over two paved mountain passes before arriving in the town of Patreksfjörður for a light lunch.

From there, we’ll head into the last gravel section, following the coast and seaside cliffs straight to the ocean. Along the way, you’ll take in stunning views of beautiful beaches and the final fjords. The route then passes our hotel for the night—if you’re ready to check in, you can do so. However, the main route continues to the westernmost point of Europe: the Látrabjarg cliffs.

These magnificent seaside cliffs are perfect for bird watching, and we may even spot puffins! At our final destination, we’ll gather to celebrate with a cliffside party, waiting for everyone to complete the ride and marking the end of our journey.

We’ll then shuttle back to the hotel for dinner at Hotel Breiðavík. Accommodations are in private bedrooms with private bathrooms.

Day 6

july 11, 2025

We’ll enjoy a leisurely morning with breakfast at Hotel Breiðavík before loading up the bikes and driving back to Ísafjörður. Once we return to the city, we’ll have lunch and then head to the Fjord Hub to break down our bikes.

To cap off the tour, we’ll celebrate with dinner at Tjörhúsið, an all-you-can-eat fish buffet you’ve been waiting for. We’ll feast to our hearts’ content and take part in Fjord Hub shouts—a chance to reminisce about the incredible adventure we’ve shared.

With our bellies full of fish and our hearts full of joy, we’ll retire to Hotel Horn in Ísafjörður. Accommodations are in private bedrooms with private bathrooms.

Day 7

july 12, 2025

We’ll have one last breakfast together at the hotel before shuttling to the airport and saying our final goodbyes. Takk fyrir komuna og sjáumst. Thanks for coming and see you later.