Between the UNESCO site of Þingvellir, birthplace of Iceland’s parliament and of tectonic-plate drift, and the thermal village of Laugarvatn, this stretch of Iceland’s Golden Circle takes cyclists across open lava fields and treeless volcanic moorland, with nothing around to break the wind.
A paved road between two geological worlds
From Þingvellir, the route first follows road 36 before turning onto road 365, fully paved, for roughly 30 km to Laugarvatn. The rolling but never mountainous terrain carries riders from the basin of the great Þingvallavatn lake, sunk into the Mid-Atlantic rift, to the smaller Laugarvatn basin tucked below mossy hills — a striking contrast packed into a single ride.
Wind, the real obstacle on this family outing
The elevation gain stays modest, but wind, near-constant across this open stretch of southern Iceland, is what actually sets the difficulty of the ride: on the way out or back it can turn an otherwise flat road into a real effort, even for older kids already confident on a bike. Check the wind forecast the day before, budget extra time, and be ready to cut the ride short if gusts pick up.
When to go
Iceland’s cycling season is short: June to early September, with July standing out as statistically the least windy month of the year. The midnight sun gives plenty of flexibility to dodge the worst wind spells, but Icelandic weather turns quickly, so pack waterproof layers even under a clear morning sky.
Good to know
Laugarvatn takes its name from its hot springs, put to use since 1929 for the village’s first public baths and now showcased at the Fontana complex, complete with rye bread baked in the geothermal ground. Nearby Þingvallavatn, Iceland’s largest lake, is worth a short walk in the national park before heading on to Laugarvatn or continuing to Selfoss, the main service hub of Suðurland.
