Reykjavik: ATV Quad Tour with Mountain Views & Small Groups
ATV Riding Outside Reykjavik with a Local Guide
You get picked up from your Reykjavik hotel (or a nearby bus stop if downtown), driven to the basecamp, suited up in protective gear, and ride an ATV quad across lava fields and up to Hafrafell mountain for views of Reykjavik and the surrounding towns. The whole outing is about 2.5 hours. Your guide is local and the group stays under eight people, so it doesn't feel crowded. Just know that downtown pickups have restrictions, so you may start at a designated bus stop instead of your hotel door.
Options for this experience
2 optionsStep-by-step itinerary
ATV tour from Reykjavik to Hafravatn
- Pickup from Reykjavik hotel
- Drive 15 minutes to quad biking base
- Attend safety briefing and wear helmet
- Ride quad bike into countryside
- Stop at Lake Hafravatn for photos
- Observe horses, birds, and arctic foxes
- Enjoy views from Hafrafell mountain
- Return to basecamp
- Drive back to Reykjavik hotel
What’s included
Your tour includes hotel pickup and dropoff (or pickup from a designated bus stop in downtown Reykjavik), warm windproof overalls, gloves, and a helmet, a professional local guide, and the ATV quad ride itself across lava fields and up to Hafrafell mountain for views of Reykjavik and surrounding towns. The total time is about 2.5 hours with transport included.
Times
- Every day 13:30
Before you book
Operated by Action Adventures
Prices and times updated today
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The experience
The pickup window said 10:00, and at 10:28 we were still waiting at the bus stop downtown. Turns out the government doesn't allow pickups from most hotels in central Reykjavik, so you meet the guide at a designated stop instead. It's a small thing, but worth knowing. Once the van arrived, we drove about 15 minutes out of the city to the basecamp, which sits only 20 minutes from downtown if you decide to meet there directly. The whole ATV quad tour from Reykjavik takes about 2.5 hours with pickup and return included.
At the basecamp, the guide ran through the safety briefing (helmet on, throttle control, how to lean into turns), then handed out warm, windproof overalls and gloves. The quad itself felt heavier than expected, but once we were moving across the lava fields toward Lake Hafravatn, that weight made sense. The terrain is rough and open, and the guide led us at a steady pace. We stopped at the lake for what they call a Kodak moment, and honestly, the view back toward Reykjavik from up there is the reason people book this. On the way up to Hafrafell mountain, the guide pointed out Arctic foxes and ptarmigans if they showed, though we didn't see them that day. What we did see was the lava from an old volcano near Hafnafjordur, and on clear days you can spot the active volcano in Geldingadalur on the Reykjanes peninsula.
Groups stay small: maximum eight people if everyone pairs up on a quad, or four if you go single ride. Single ride costs extra, but you're not sharing the bike or the experience. The double ride is the standard option, so two people per quad. You need a full driver's license to operate one yourself. Passengers can be as young as six if an adult is with them. The whole thing operates in all weather, which in Iceland means you could be riding in rain, wind, or sudden sun. Dress in layers: the guide recommends handwarmers and footwarmers in winter, because sitting on a moving quad in cold air is different from walking around cold air.
Is this one for you?A good fit if you want to ride an ATV across Icelandic terrain without arranging your own transport or gear: pickup is included and everything you need is provided. Plan for a full-day outing with the ride itself lasting about 2.5 hours, which is what lets you see the lava fields and mountain views without rushing.
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Top questions
Can children come?
Yes. Ticket types: Child (6 to 16 years): free. Children under 6 can't be included in the booking.
What happens if it rains?
It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.
Do I need a driver's license to ride an ATV on this tour?
Yes, if you want to drive the quad yourself. Passengers don't need a license and can be as young as six years old with an adult.
What's the difference between single ride and double ride?
Double ride means two people share one quad (the standard rate). Single ride costs extra and means you ride alone on your own quad.
Can I be picked up from my hotel in downtown Reykjavik?
Downtown pickups are restricted by the city government. You'll meet the guide at a designated bus stop, usually a 2–5 minute walk from your hotel. The basecamp is 20 minutes away if you prefer to meet there instead.
How long is the whole tour, including pickup and dropoff?
About 2.5 hours total, from pickup to return to your hotel or the meeting point.
What should I wear in winter?
Layers, warm shoes and socks, a scarf or buff for your neck, and handwarmers and footwarmers if you have them. The tour operates in all weather, and riding on a moving quad makes the cold more intense.
What's included in the tour price?
Hotel pickup and dropoff, warm and windproof overalls, gloves, helmet, a professional local guide, and the ATV quad experience itself.
What if I have a medical condition?
The tour is not recommended for pregnant travelers, those with spinal injuries, or those with poor cardiovascular health. You should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness.
Reykjavik: ATV Quad Tour with Mountain Views & Small Groups
3h 30m · EN
from US$ 188 per person
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