iceland experience

ICELAND EXPERIENCE
”Land of Fire & Ice”
30 July – 11 August 2015 / 13 – 25 August 2015
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”CONQUERING HEKLA WAS JUST ONE OF THE MANY
ADVENTURES OF THE ICELAND EXPERIENCE 2014.
BRILLIANT RIDING, STUNNING VIEWS AND EVERYTHING
NEATLY ORGANIZED BY CHRIS AND ANNA, I CAN’T THINK
OF A BETTER WAY TO SPEND MY SUMMER HOLIDAYS!”
ELLEN / THE NETHERLANDS
PARTICIPANT ICELAND EXPERIENCE 2014
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4
Introduction
6-7
Travel Information
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General Route
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Itinerary
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Riding skills / Off-road
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Accommodation & food
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Which type of motorcycle?
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Transport to Iceland
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Iceland
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Tour package
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Contact
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Join us on this extraordinary journey. An experience of a lifetime!
Would you like to have a unique and exiting off-road experience
on two wheels? Iceland is one of the best countries in the world
for riding your adventure-bike. Driving is challenging and offers
a lot of variety through breath taking nature! Leave the tarmac
behind and explore not only the more known highlights but also
the desolate highlands of inner Iceland.
Driving a motorbike through Iceland is like an expedition through
different landscapes, which are truly unique in Europe. It’s an
exciting motorbike trip where you will experience different
aspects of great nature. On your own bike you’ll be driving on
gravel roads as much as possible, crossing the inhospitable and
deserted highlands of Iceland. An overwhelming environment that
is dominated by glaciers, waterfalls, volcanoes, black lava dessert,
wild rivers, hot springs and rainbow coloured mountains.
Will you continue even though the tarmac ends? Do you have a
positive attitude and are looking forward to an adventurous trip
through one of the most extraordinary countries in Europe? Do
you like to share your experience with others and help each other
out when the going gets tough? You are aware that Icelandic
weather conditions can quickly change which is part of our
adventure.
This trip demands an open mind, flexibility, endurance and
team spirit because we help each other when it’s needed. It’s
mandatory to have some experience driving on gravel roads or
you have been to an off-road course like the BMW enduro course
in Hechlingen, Off-Road Skills (ORS) in Wales, or Touratech offroad school in Sweden, etc. You don’t need to be an off-road/
enduro expert to participate on this tour!
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“THE LANDSCAPE IS DESOLATE, BARREN AND
STUNNING! ICELAND GAVE ME CHALLENGES,
ADVENTURE AND DRIVING PLEASURE WHICH I
NEVER EXPERIENCED ON A MOTORCYCLE BEFORE!”
JENS MÅRTENSSON / SWEDEN
PARTICIPANT ICELAND EXPERIENCE
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TRAVEL INFORMATION
Date:
30 July – 11 August 2015
13 – 25 August 2015
Duration:
13 days
Participants:
Min. 5 and max. 10 motorbikes
(max. 2 persons in the support vehicle).
Pillion:
On this tour it’s not possible to bring a pillion (drive two-up).
We have limited place in our support vehicle (2) for those
who want to bring their partner.
Motorcycle:
Rental bike: BMW GS (650 GS, 800 GS, 1200 GS/LC or 1200
GS/LC adventure
Own: Dual-sport bike/all-road motorbikes like Tiger 800XC,
BMW GS, Yamaha Ténéré, KTM 990, Honda Transalp, Africa
Twin, etc.
Transport own MC:
Your bike will be shipped by sea in a sealed container from
Sweden, The Netherlands, Norway, Denmark or Germany to
Iceland and back.
Support-vehicle:
A 4WD car: Toyota Landcruiser 90 Arctic Truck with 35” wheels (incl.
experienced chauffeur, transport of food, luggage and extra gasoline)
and with trailer in case a bike brakes down.
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Insurance:
Transport- (own bike) and medical / travel insurance is mandatory, - and cancellation insurance is
highly recommended.
Accommodation:
At guesthouses and hostels, twin-rooms (if available), or rooms of two or four persons. Cabins/
mountain huts: rooms of four up to 12. Only during our stay in Reykjavik is a single room available (at
extra costs).
Food:
When staying hostels and cabins we create a common “food-pot” for food and drinks and we will
prepare dinner & breakfast ourselves (when needed). Breakfast is included when staying in guesthouses/
hostels when available.
Clothing:
A full motorcycle suit (with knee and back protection, and gloves) and helmet are mandatory.
We strongly recommend to bring a camel-bag to carry water supply with you on your back.
Equipment:
After you’ve booked the Iceland Experience, you’ll receive a detailed list with what to bring.
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GENERAL ROUTE
We will cross Iceland two times through its interior and its
desolate lava-desserts and snow capped glaciers to experience
all sides that Iceland has to offer. This is only possible by a
4WD car or an adventure motorbike. From the green rolling
hills in the North, the fairy-tale coloured Rhyolite mountains of
Landmannalaugar to the many impressive waterfalls, like Dettifoss,
Gullfoss and Godafoss. We stay often in simple mountain cabins,
and many of them are on really special places, so there will be no
camping. Regardless the choice of routes we will of course see
some of the highlights which Iceland is known for like Vatnajökull,
Dettifoss, Reykavik, Geysir, Gullfoss, lake Myvatn and whalewatching in Husavik.
The roads we will drive offer a great variety, they can be
challenging but lead us to some extraordinary scenery! The
majority will be on good well-prepared gravel roads but the road
surface can be from tarmac to stones and lava sand. The rivers
that runs through Iceland’s interior are mostly not bridged which
means we’ll have to drive trough them. Depending on the water
level it will be a small or a big challenge, but always a special
experience!
We’ll have a support vehicle where we can take your luggage,
food, extra gasoline, 1st aid equipment and tools along in it.
Meaning more fun while riding! To increase our security we’ll
have a trailer too, where if needed, we can take a motorcycle in
case it brakes down.
You can drive your own tempo, take an alternative route (when
available) or drive together with the tour guide, that’s up to you.
We’ll adjust our tempo to you and during the day we will have
enough time to take pictures and coffee brakes while we enjoy
the magnificent views.
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ITINERARY
DAY
FROM - TO:
ACCOMMODATION:
1
Home - Reykjavik
Guesthouse/hostel
2
Reykjavik – Sellfoss
3
KM.
OFFROAD
RIVERS*
-
-
-
Hostel/Cabin
220
30%
0
Selfoss - Vik
Cabin
190
40%
0
4
Vik - Laki
Cabin
185
70%
4
5
Laki - Landmannalaugar
Cabin
170
85%
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6
Landmannalaugar - Nýidalur
Cabin
185
95%
3
7
Nýidalur - Myvatn
Guesthouse
140
95%
2
8
Myvatn (resting day)
Guesthouse
(100)
(0%)
0
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Myvatn - Laugafell
Cabin
165
75%
2
10
Laugafell - Kjölur
Cabin
190
95%
3
11
Kjölur - Geyser
Cabin
180
75%
(2)
12
Geyser—Reykjavik
Guesthouse/hostel
150
50%
0
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Keflavik airport - home
-
-
-
-
Adventure
Level of driving
Comfort
Culture shock
Days
Price
*amount of river crossings/day.
Places, routes and distances are preliminary and can be adjusted according to weather conditions, customer’s
wishes/capabilities and requirements.
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REQUIREMENTS
Intermediate level
Off-road / gravel riding experience required.
Previous participation in an off-road training is recommended.
Conditions
Please bring your complete motorcycling gear (helmet,
motorcycling boots, gloves, goggles, motorcycling suit with
protectors, back protector).
Sorry, no rental of motorcycling gear possible.
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RIDING SKILLS / OFF-ROAD
On all our trips are fun and safety our main goals. With the
classification 1 track up to 3 tracks, we would like to give you
an indication to evaluate your off-road riding skills, for the tour
required.
Self-evaluation is not easy – but the final decision is made by
you only. Don`t hesitate to contact us if you have any further
questions or you need suggestions for an off-road course. We are
also at your disposal for further questions about the trip or special
information about the routes.
= Off-road beginners
Driving on asphalt, even on passes with narrow switchbacks are
no problem for you. The off-road part is mostly under 30 % of the
total distance. The tour is easily manageable also for beginners.
Recommendation:
If you have no off-road and /or gravel riding experience at all,
we recommend a 1- or 2 day training course. After that training
course it is much easier for you to evaluate your skills and to
figure out whether you have fun riding off-road tracks.
= Intermediate off-road riders
Driving on asphalt as well as on gravel, passes with narrow
switchbacks (paved and gravel) are no problem for you. Off-road
(gravel) riding experience is mandatory. The off-road part is mostly
over 30 % of the total distance. Challenging sections with bigger
stones, steep climbs/descents and/or sand are possible.
Recommendation:
This tour is not applicable for participants without any off-road/
gravel riding experiences. You are experienced with off-road/
gravel riding, and/or have had a 1- or 2-day training course.
= Advanced off-road riders
This tour is suitable for drivers with advanced off-road experience
and good fitness. The daily routes can be pretty long. The tour
consist mostly of off-road parts including demanding and difficult
routes with single-tracks, sand, big stones, mud and water
crossings
Recommendation:
This tour is not recommended for participants without any offroad experiences. You must have an extensive experience with
off-road / gravel riding and/or have had an advanced off-road
course.
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ACCOMMODATION & FOOD
During the Iceland Experience we’ll stay at different types of
accommodation, which will include hostels, guesthouses, cabins
and mountain-huts. Because there are no hotels, gasoline stations
or restaurants in Iceland’s interior we’ll bring our own sleeping
bags, and food to cook ourselves. The mountain cabins are well
equipped and some of them have a “hot-spring” (natural warm
water well) where you can relax and enjoy after a long day in
the saddle. When staying in a hotel or guesthouse, breakfast is
included.
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WHICH TYPE OF MOTORCYCLE?
We ride the Iceland Experience on our own motorcycle or on
a rental bike (BMW GS’s). Adventure / all-road bikes like Tiger
800XC, BMW GS (all types), Yamaha Ténéré, KTM 1190/990, Honda
Transalp, Africa Twin, etc. are very suitable for this trip. If you’re
unsure whether your bike is suitable, just ask us!
Own bike The age of your motorcycle is not that important. It
should be in a good technical state, with appropriate tires (TKC 80,
Karoo 3, Heidenau K60 Scout). The following bikes aren’t suitable
for the Iceland Experience due to the terrain, roads and planned
routes such as: motor-cross and enduro-bikes (125-250 cc),
choppers, custom-, tour- and sport-motorbikes.
Rental We make use of BMW GS motorcycles. This great allrounder is perfect on tarmac and can handle the tougher sections
in the Highlands without a problem. Please ask us for pricing
(depending on type of motorcycle).
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TRANSPORT TO ICELAND
You can fly directly from many international airports in Europe
and the USA to Keflavik International airport, which is lying 50 km.
from Reykjavik, Iceland’s capital. You are responsible for booking
your flight ticket yourself. Make sure that you arrive latest on day
1 (arrival day). There are several airlines flying directly and daily to
Reykjavik (Icelandic air, SAS, Wowair, Norwegian). There are good
means of transport between the airport and Reykjavik (airport
coach).
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ICELAND
Iceland is volcanic and the landscape varies enormously and
has astonishing views! It is not a coincidence that so many films
like Prometheus, Tomb Raider, Die Another Day, and Batman
Begins have been shot in this magical place. With a surface of
103,000 km2 and only 319,000 inhabitants, of whom 200,000
live in Reykjavik and its surroundings, there is plenty of room to
explore this enchanting country. Europe’s largest glacier is on
Iceland: Vatnajökull, which measures 8100 km2, and also Europe’s
largest waterfall, Dettifoss (in volume). We will combine fantastic
motorcycle riding with these magnificent nature experiences!
Iceland has only a short motorbike season, which starts in July
and ends in early September. Not only in terms of temperature,
but also with regard to the likelihood of gravel roads in the
highlands are open and passable. Summer in Iceland means
long days and short nights. Rain, strong winds and even snow
could be part of our adventure when we drive in the mountains
in the interior of Iceland. With active volcanoes, massive glaciers,
vast lava deserts, countless waterfalls, exquisite scenery and
fantastic off-road paths, Iceland has everything the adventurous
motorcyclist wishes for!
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9
Gasoline
There are enough gas stations along the coast (ring-road no. 1),
but not in the interior of Iceland. Because of this, we’ll bring extra
gasoline in our support vehicle. Gasoline costs an average of €
1,50 per litre (Sep 2014).
Mobile phone / Internet
You have coverage virtually all over Iceland (depending on the
operator). Some of the hostels, guesthouses have Wi-Fi (not in the
interior of Iceland). It’s possible to buy a pre-paid card with 3G
connection.
Payments in Iceland/ATMs
You can pay with credit card almost everywhere (VISA,
MasterCard) and nearly every village has an ATM. Currency: 1000
ISK is approximately € 6,50 / $ 8.45 (September 2014).
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TOUR PACKAGE
WHEN /
NOT INCLUDED:
30 JULY – 11 AUGUST 2015
13 – 25 AUGUST 2015
×
Flight tickets
×
Food (besides mentioned above). We’ll create a “kitty” (a common pot
for food & drinks) and cook our own food and we’ll bring lunch and
snacks.
×
Gasoline
×
Additional excursions/entry fees like whale watching, visiting “the blue
lagoon”, etc.
×
Travel-insurance (mandatory), transport- and cancellation insurance
(recommended)
×
Transport to/from the harbor in country of origin (when riding your
own bike)
PRICE /
Price rider: € 3.250 / SEK 29.900 (own bike)*. It’s not possible to drive
“two-up” with the Iceland all-road Experience. A limited amount of
people can join this tour the support-vehicle, a rented 4-WD (€ 2.275
/ SEK 20.900). Ask for prices for the rental bikes (depending on which
type).
INCLUDED:
✓
13 days holiday
IT IS YOUR RESPONSIBILITY TO:
✓
11 days adventure riding
•
✓
Transport of your motorbike by sea-container
Arrange your personal travel-insurance, (European) health-insurance,
etc.
✓
Accommodation
•
✓
Experienced MC-guide on Iceland
Check if your motorbike insurance covers Iceland (including recoverycosts)
✓
Support-vehicle, 4-WD with trailer
•
✓
Emergency equipment: repair-kit for punctures, tools, 1st Aid kit.
Make sure you have got a valid motorcycle driver’s license and a valid
passport
✓
SPOT-(GPS)emergency system; min. one per group
•
✓
Jerry cans for extra fuel
Make sure you are in a good physical state and do not overestimate
your own (riding) capacities
✓
Meals as described above
•
✓
GPS-waypoints/routes and (waterproof) Iceland map
Follow the (local) traffic rules, laws and regulations as well the tour
leader’s instructions.
✓
Guided tour on a glacier
•
✓
Transport from Keflavik Airport – Reykjavik by airport coach
Maintain your own equipment and motorcycle. Explore360° will
whenever possible help, but cannot be held responsible for any costs
for recovery and such.
All prices are per person and are subject to change depending on accommodations, shipping
and applicable taxes, currency changes or VAT.
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TASTE OF ICELAND
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“ICELAND IS NOT JUST A COUNTRY. FOR MANY REASONS
I HAVE LEFT SOME OF MYSELF UP THERE, AND WHEN
IT ALL HAPPENS IN A GROUP OF WONDERFUL PEOPLE
WITH THE SAME ATTITUDE, THEN YOU RETURN HOME
FEELING RICHER INSIDE”.
JES BUUS / DENMARK
ICELAND EXPERIENCE 2014
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© EXPLORE360° 2014 (PICTURES BY / KYLE JOHNSON, STEFAN JONSSON, JES BUUS & CHRIS WILTHUIS)
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EXPLORE360°
Adventure motorcycle experiences
CHRIS WILTHUIS
M: + 46 (0) 72 015 05 70
E: info@explore360.nu
W: www.explore360.nu
F: facebook.com/explore360degrees
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