Off road Driving in Iceland
What is off-roading?
Off-road driving can be defined as the act of “traveling off public roads, especially on unpaved roads, trails, beaches or rough terrain.” While the phrase is often associated with thrilling activities such as quad biking or riding MTBs on designated tracks, there’s an overlap with the idea of driving across the countryside.
In a place like Iceland, it’s really important to understand the distinction between the two. One is absolutely fine, so long as you are following guidelines laid out by reputable tour operators. The other could land you in a whole heap of trouble. So, let’s take a look in more depth so you don’t unwittingly break the rules and find out why sticking within the legal framework is so important.
Is it legal to drive off-road in Iceland?
In short, no, it’s not legal to drive off-road in Iceland. Doing so can result in heavy financial penalties or even imprisonment. The authorities take the matter extremely seriously and with good reason, so it’s not worth the risk of spoiling your holiday by falling foul of the law and having the police to answer to.
If you are turning off a tarmac road onto a gravel track out in the Icelandic countryside, make sure it is numbered or signed as such. Where you are unsure, it’s good practice to consult a map or find someone nearby who knows the area well. If in doubt, don’t follow it – even if there are tire marks made by another vehicle. Just because someone else has done something doesn’t necessarily make it the right thing to do yourself.
Consequences for the environment of drivers going off-road
Off-road driving is illegal in Iceland for a very good reason: it causes irreparable damage to fragile environments and ecosystems, which can be catastrophic to nature. The country’s loose sandy soils can easily be dislodged; delicate mosses and lichens that have taken centuries to establish can be eradicated in the space of an afternoon.
One of the reasons that damage takes so long to repair is the location of Iceland just south of the Arctic Circle. The growing season for vegetation is short; there’s simply not enough light in the depths of winter for anything to grow, and even if there is daylight, temperatures are often too low for plants to flourish. You can see the evidence for this really clearly in places where lava flows have scarred the landscape.
In places where vegetation is present, it can take decades for nature to restore itself, even with a helping hand from people. The situation is direr where the ground is bare, such as in the sandy deserts of the coastal plains. Rainfall or jökulhlaups (glacial floods) can quickly erode tire tracks into deeply rutted channels, which can’t be repaired but leave the landscape significantly altered.
Where tire tracks are visible, it can encourage other visiting tourists to assume that access is permitted. They follow the tracks, further eroding the ground, and before you know it, the damage is far more extensive, and the problem is much larger than before. So travelers have a responsibility not only to consider their own actions but also to think about the consequences for the environment if others copy them.
Tours that access wilderness areas
However, it’s possible to get off the beaten track in Iceland so long as you don’t take the phrase literally. In your rental car, you can easily access rural tour providers without having to arrange costly pickups. There are a variety of tours that you can sign up for to get away from the roads and further into the countryside. Let’s take a look at the ways you can do this:
Super Jeep Tours
These take visitors into areas that require a specially modified vehicle. For example, you might head up across a glacial outwash plain or up onto a glacier. With their massive tires and souped-up suspension, these impressive vehicles make light work of uneven terrain and challenging river crossings. Though super jeeps actually stick to marked tracks, you’ll feel like you are going off-road. While such transport is usually packaged up with activities such as ice cave tours and glacier hikes, getting there in this way is all part of the fun.
ATV and buggy tours
If you’re keen to take a more hands-on approach, then consider an ATV or buggy tour. You’ll find providers all over the country, including on the south coast to the Sólheimasandur plane wreck or on Heimaey, the largest island in the volcanic Westman Islands archipelago. As you aren’t totally enclosed, you’ll feel the wind in your face as you follow a guide along marked trails at thrilling speeds. Full training is given, and protective gear is issued, so all you need to do is bring a sense of adventure.
Horse riding tours
Iceland’s horses are a unique and protected breed, used for centuries to traverse highland and coastal areas throughout the country. These sturdy creatures are adept at handling anything the Icelandic landscape – and weather – can throw at them. Riding them, whether for a beginner-friendly introduction to being in the saddle or for multi-day wilderness treks, is a standout experience for those keen to explore out-of-the-way places that see few tourists.
F-road driving as a legal alternative
These means of transport, however fun they are, aren’t substitutes for self-driving, so what’s the closest you can get to driving off-road without breaking the law? The obvious answer, so long as you have the confidence and the driving skills, is to rent a capable 4x4, which will enable you to tackle one or more of the country’s F-roads.
At their most extreme, these challenging highland roads will push you to the limit, so it’s important to have rented the right set of wheels, or else you could find yourself falling foul of the terms and conditions of your insurance policy. River crossings can be particularly problematic, and damage incurred in this way isn’t covered.
However, the good news is that there are easier F-roads that even first-timers will be able to handle. Remember that Iceland’s F-roads, by their very nature, crisscross relatively inaccessible parts of the country. You’ll need to be here during the short summer season when they are open and be prepared to tackle steep gradients, river crossings, and mile upon mile of empty roads where you might not see a soul.
Off-road driving, when carried out within the limits of the law, can be a huge amount of fun, as exhilarating as it is adventurous. So whether you opt to drive yourself to an activity provider or rent a 4x4 to tackle a remote gravel or highland road, why not consider venturing beyond the ring road and the tamest of its detours on your Icelandic road trip?
FAQ
Can you go off roading in Iceland?
No, off-roading is illegal in Iceland to protect the fragile nature. Stick to marked roads and F-roads if you have a 4x4.
Is it hard for Americans to drive in Iceland?
Not really! Roads are well-maintained, and driving is on the right side, just like in the U.S. Note, that you are not allowed to make right-turns if there is a red light. Just be mindful of weather changes and gravel roads.
Do you need a 4x4 to drive in Iceland?
Not everywhere! A regular car is fine for the Ring Road, but if you plan to explore the Highlands or F-roads, a 4x4 is required.
Are AWD cars allowed on Icelandic F-roads?
Only if they are proper 4x4s. Many AWD vehicles lack the clearance needed for rough terrain and river crossings.
Is 2WD OK in Iceland?
Yes, for main roads and the Ring Road. But for anything off the beaten path, especially F-roads, you’ll need a 4x4.
