riding on the moon: 553 km Across Iceland’s Unforgiving Highlands
7 Days in the Highland Void: Fording 5°C Glacial Rivers on a Rigid Bike.
Riding across Iceland’s interior from Akureyri in the north to Vík in the south is a 553 km traverse across a landscape so barren, raw, and hostile to human life that you'll feel like you've landed straight on the moon.
Over 7 days in mid summer, pushing through 5,674 m of relentless elevation gain, you get a quick, unvarnished lesson in true self reliance. Here’s what it actually takes to survive and thrive on one of the world's most severe remote routes.
Expedition Snapshot
Distance: 553 km
Elevation Gain: 5,674 m
Duration: 7 Days (Akureyri to Vík)
Terrain: Volcanic ash, deep sand, wheel grabbing mud, razor sharp lava rock, and glacier rivers
Accommodation: Emergency refuge huts (no fireplaces, just pure shelter from the gale)
Resupply: 100% autonomous for food and water for 2/3 of the route
Who Is This Expedition For?
Mental Toughness: Extremely High. You need serious grit to pedal through endless head winds, cold rain, and wheel grabbing mud without losing your drive.
Fitness Level: Intermediate to Advanced. You will be spending long days in the saddle carrying a fully autonomous, heavy setup over soft sand and rough tracks.
Technical Bike Skills: Intermediate. You do not need technical downhill jumping skills, but managing a loaded rigid mountain bike through loose volcanic ash, deep sand, and mud requires solid control.
Wilderness Experience: Perfect for adventurous riders looking to step into extreme off grid territory with peace of mind, knowing an expert guide is managing river crossings, route navigation, and safety protocols.
Ready to Ride Remote?
Tackling Iceland's interior demands sharp navigation, cold water river safety, and bulletproof gear setups. Skip the guesswork and join our guided expeditions to experience the ultimate off grid ride with complete peace of mind.
The Weather Rules Everything
Forget checking your weather app. In the Highlands, you’ll get three seasons in a single hour.
With zero trees or vegetation to break the elements, the wind is your constant opponent. Combined with driving horizontal rain, the wind chill drops instantly, even in July. Passing Vatnajökull (Europe's largest glacier), the trail turns into thick mud that swallows tires whole. Pushing a fully loaded rig into freezing head winds tests your mental grit long before it tests your legs.
Glacial Rivers & Technical Survival
There are no bridges out here. For continuous travel, you ford 5°C glacial meltwater that can reach waist deep without warning.
The River Shoe Hack: Swap into Crocs for fast drainage and rock protection so your main riding shoes stay completely dry.
Current Safety: When the water runs fast, riders tie together with safety ropes to guarantee nobody gets swept downstream.
Off Grid Fog: Dense sea fog rolls in within minutes, wiping out the horizon and hiding invisible tracks. Without satellite navigation and local field experience, getting disoriented is dangerously easy.
Gear & Setup: Zero Room for Failure
A mechanical breakdown in the Highlands isn't an inconvenience—it's a serious hazard because rescue can take days.
Bike Setup: Fully rigid mountain bike with 29 x 2.6" tires. This maximizes float over loose sand and eliminates suspension parts that can break under heavy load.
Bags: 100% waterproof dry bags are non negotiable. A wet sleeping bag in 2°C wind means quick hypothermia.
Apparel: A strict 4 layer system including technical base layers, thermal mid layers, and full heavy duty storm shells.
Rations: Tested freeze dried meals pre bought before landing. Never experiment with new foods off the grid.
Safety: Satellite phone and expedition first aid kit. Standard cell service doesn't exist, so reliable satellite SOS comms are mandatory.
The Pure Magic of the Void
Yet, despite the brute harshness, the payoff is breathtaking. Riding under the midnight sun distorts reality you’ll find yourself grinding up a pass at 11:00 PM in total daylight, pleasantly jet lagged by the endless sun.
The silence is uncanny: either the roaring rush of Arctic wind or a silence so deep you can hear your own pulse against the black volcanic sand.
Ride Off the Grid with Chasseurs de Cols
Crossing extreme environments like Iceland takes more than raw fitness; it requires route expertise, deep risk management, and tested field instincts.
Expert Field Guidance: River rope crossings, navigation, and emergency protocols fully managed for you.
Battle Tested Logistics: Comprehensive gear lists, custom meal strategy, full support and satellite tracking included.
Small Expedition Groups: Intimate group sizes to keep the raw wilderness feeling personal.
