ATV and buggy tours in Iceland follow set tracks through lava fields and rivers.
What ATV and buggy tours in Iceland involve
Iceland's Traffic Act classes an ATV as an off-road vehicle, a motor vehicle meant mainly for travel off roads. Tours run on set routes because driving motor vehicles off roads is prohibited.
Where ATV tours run
ATV and buggy tours in South Iceland explore rivers, lava fields and volcanic terrain. ATV tours in North Iceland use mountain roads, a beach and the banks of the Jokulsa a Fjollum river. A lava field topped with green-grey moss covers much of the Reykjanes Peninsula.
Why every tour keeps to marked tracks and off-road driving is banned
Under the Nature Conservation Act, driving motor vehicles off roads is prohibited. The off-road ban has an exception for glaciers and snow-covered ground outside towns, when the ground is frozen and nature cannot be damaged. Off-road driving can lead to prosecution, substantial fines or even imprisonment. F-roads and gravel roads are not off-road driving, but leaving them is. Iceland's volcanic soil is loose, and damage to vegetation can take decades to recover.
Who can drive and who can ride
An ATV may not be driven on a public road, except to cross it by the shortest suitable route. Nobody may drive an ATV without a valid driving licence for a car or a motorcycle. Riders and passengers on ATVs must wear an approved helmet, and the driver is responsible for the passenger's helmet.
What to wear
Wool and synthetic layers are best outdoors, and cotton should be avoided. The weather in Iceland changes fast and is very unpredictable. Visit Iceland's clothing advice for the outdoors is layers. Use the Packing List to help plan your trip.
Comparing ATV tours
You can compare Reykjanes tours to see the current options.
