ATV & Buggy: Ultimate Guide to Off-Road Adventures Iceland

In this adventure guide, we’ll take a look at what you can expect, comparing the type if vehicles, duration, intensity and scenic highlights of some of the four-wheeled adventure tours on offer. We will also dip into safety protocols, gear recommendations, environmental considerations and tips for first-timers to ensure an exciting yet safe adventure.

Off-roading typically means driving a vehicle on unpaved, natural terrain—through sand, lava fields, grasslands, and other untouched landscapes. While it’s a thrilling concept in many parts of the world, in Iceland, off-roading is strictly illegal and comes with severe consequences.

Icelandic authorities take off-roading violations incredibly seriously, and for good reason. The heaviest fines ever issued to tourists in Iceland have been for illegal off-roading, reaching thousands of euros per incident. Locals and rangers actively monitor for illegal off-road driving, and anyone caught straying off designated tracks—whether they’re a visitor or a resident—faces steep penalties.

Why is Off-Roading So Harmful in Iceland?

Unlike many other countries where landscapes recover relatively quickly, Iceland’s delicate terrain takes decades, even centuries, to heal from tire tracks. The combination of volcanic soil, moss-covered lava fields, and fragile tundra vegetation makes it especially vulnerable. Moss, in particular, grows at an agonizingly slow pace—sometimes just a few millimeters per year—meaning a single set of tire tracks can leave scars on the landscape for generations.

Iceland’s vast, open spaces may seem empty, but they are home to countless bird species, delicate plant life, and unique geological formations. Off-road driving can destroy nesting grounds, disrupt wildlife, and cause irreversible damage to natural formations that have taken thousands of years to develop.

Unlike illegal and reckless off-roading, guided ATV and buggy tours operate with strict environmental responsibility. Every route follows officially approved trails, including dirt roads, beaches, and rugged tracks where vehicle use is permitted. Tour providers obtain and regularly renew their special permissions to access these areas, ensuring that no permanent damage is left behind.

By choosing a responsible ATV or buggy tour, you get to experience Iceland’s incredible landscapes without harming them. This is the only legal and responsible way to experience off-roading in Iceland.

Though they are both motorized tours which take place on tracks and beaches, ATV rides and buggy experiences are not the same thing. They’re both fun, but there are a few differences that you should probably be aware of before you plump for one or the other so that you can ensure you have opted for the tour that best fits your wants and needs.

The most fundamental difference is in the vehicle itself. On an ATV – a category which includes quad bikes – you sit astride it rather like you might on a motorbike, except the vehicle you ride has four wheels instead of two. In contrast, book a buggy tour and you’ll be sitting on a seat more like those you’d find in a car, but with a frame over your head rather than a solid roof.

Icelandic Mountain Guides by Icelandia offers a range of ATV tours either as a standalone activity or packaged up with another. Sign up for our exhilarating two-hour ride and you’ll enjoy some of South Iceland’s most stellar views: of Dyrhólaey, a wild promontory that is the southernmost tip of the country, and the vast expanse of ice that forms Mýrdalsjökull glacier.

Kitted out in the right gear, you’ll follow your guide along a route that features sensational river crossings and the chance to get acquainted with Iceland’s black sands as you traverse this breathtaking landscape at speed. A chance to drive to the weather-beaten shell of a US Navy cargo plane that has remained at Sólheimasandur for over five decades rounds off this incredible adventure.

An express version of the ATV tour will suit travellers that are really pushed for time. If you want to be able to tell your friends that you’ve ridden one of these fun vehicles but already have a packed itinerary, this is most likely to be achievable. As you hop off at the end, grin plastered across your face, you’ll be glad you made the timings work.

If you have a bit more flexibility, there are a number of add-ons that you might consider if you plan to book this ATV & kayak combo tour. Paddling a kayak on the tranquil Sólheimajökull glacier lagoon couldn’t be more different, a reminder of just how versatile Iceland’s southern region is and how much it has to offer tourists with a passion for the great outdoors.

Perhaps instead you’re keen to get onto the surface of the glacier. After your ATV ride, pull on crampons and switch up your helmet as you make your way over the crevassed and ridged ice. It’s not only a wondrous place to explore, but also a place to learn about the changes facing our planet as you find out about glacial retreat from your guide. No technical skills are required; children from 10 years old are permitted on the tour.

Between October and March, we can also arrange a four-day trip in this part of Iceland that incorporates not only an ATV ride but also gives you the opportunity to hunt for the Northern Lights. Our base is a family-run sheep farm close to Mýrdalsjökull glacier, and there’ll be plenty of time to help out with agricultural tasks in between hikes and other activities.

Buggy tours cater for adrenaline junkies but are also suitable for families. One of the routes we take heads up close to one of Iceland’s impressive glaciers, Mýrdalsjökull, and you’re sure to be wowed by the contrast between the black volcanic sand and the white ice. The adventure continues as we ford streams watching the water kick up on either side of the vehicle.

After traversing a black sand beach, we’ll arrive at the famous crashed DC-3 at Sólheimasandur. This cargo plane came down in bad weather more than 50 years ago and the shell of the plane has been left to the elements ever since. Fortunately there was no loss of life in the accident but the plane never took off again.

With a mix of mountainous and coastal scenery, this really is a chance to appreciate the diversity and beauty of the South Iceland landscape. The two hour duration is enough to get to grips with the controls and get into your stride as you gain confidence. It also enables you to discover what it’s like to travel across a range of different environments – great for the changes of scenery as well as the overall driving experience.

A four-seater buggy option in the Mýrdalsjökull area is ideal for families or groups of friends who wish to share the same vehicle. Sometimes it’s better to have a shared experience at closer proximity and in the case of families with younger children, parents can not only introduce their kids to a new and fun activity but also keep a close eye on them in the process.

Driving licence requirements

Whether you need a driving licence or not depends on one thing: if you intend to be the driver or the passenger. Some of our tours are open to youngsters from the age of six, which gives you an idea of how easy it is to be a passenger if someone else is in charge of the vehicle. But if you’re in the driving seat, then we need to ensure that you have the right skills to be able to take responsibility for the vehicle, so we will check you have a valid document before the group sets out. Unfortunately, provisional licences and motorcycle licences are not acceptable.

Safety and specialist gear

Safety is a top priority on our ATV and buggy tours so it’s essential that everyone is equipped properly before setting out on this thrilling adventure ride. That means wearing a helmet is obligatory. We’ll also give you thick, weatherproof overalls, gloves and a balaclava to cover your face. Depending on what your own footwear is like, we can lend you suitable boots as well. Full instruction is given, so you’ll receive a detailed safety briefing before you set out which will give you the confidence to get behind the wheel even if this is your first ATV or buggy ride.

What should you wear?

You will be provided with a warm and waterproof outer shell, including an overall, as well as a buff, balaclava, and gloves. However, what you wear underneath is up to you. It’s best to dress in warm (but not overly thick) insulating layers and woolen undergarments. Sturdy, waterproof boots are essential for comfort and safety. While the overall is waterproof, we recommend bringing a set of dry socks and shoes to change into in case you get wet. Waterproof boots can usually be rented on-site, but it's best to check in advance to ensure your size is available.

ATV and buggy tours run all through the year in Iceland, and the best time to go depends on what kind of landscape you want to experience. In summer, temperatures are milder, and the scenery is more varied, with lush greens and vibrant colors. Autumn and spring bring a more rugged, earthy palette with golden-brown hues, while winter transforms the terrain into a frozen wonderland of snow and ice, making for an extra thrilling ride.

Weather isn’t really a concern—river crossings, rough trails, and splashing through streams are all part of the adventure! You’ll be provided with waterproof protective gear, but what you wear underneath is important, especially in winter. Since the gear is just the outer shell, proper insulation is key to staying warm. It’s also a good idea to bring an extra pair of dry socks and boots in case yours get soaked during the ride.

An ATV or buggy tour lets you experience the country’s stunning landscapes in a whole new way—up close, fast-paced, and unforgettable. Whether you’re splashing through rivers, cruising across black sand beaches, or tackling rugged mountain trails, these adventure tours offer a perfect mix of thrill and scenery.

Take a look at our tours and find the adventure that’s right for you!