As if Led Zeppelin would have sung about Iceland in Immigrant Song:
„We come from the land of the ice and snow
From the midnight sun where the hot springs flow”
Iceland, the land of fire, ice and northern lights, can you think of a better way to see it than by a Land Rover Defender along the remote tracks used by Vikings too?
Driving in very remote areas, such as the highlands, where you might encounter rough terrain and unbridged waters, a 4WD vehicle is essential.
In Iceland, renting a Land Rover Defender is a very good choice. There’s no getting stuck with an „or similar.” The alternative is another Defender, lifted on 38-inch snow tires. Completely normal here.
Traction? A Defender on studs keeps sticking, which means you can place it atop a mountain snowbank.
When the Highland tracks open in the summer, Iceland’s interior proves irresistible to adventurous travellers equipped with 4WD vehicles.
A modified Defender has raised suspension and gigantic tyres, allowing it to glide over deep snow, traverse rivers, climb steep slopes and cope with ease on uneven terrain. Here the drivers put the Defenders through their paces and show just how versatile they are.
When you explore the wilder side of Iceland, and drive a Defender in the terrain for which it was designed, you really get to know the country as you drive off the beaten track – along roller-coaster mountain routes and winding roads, down dirt tracks and across rivers, through dramatic scenery with far-reaching views.
Gravel roads cross the lava and ash deserts, penetrating deep into the mountainous heart of the island. Further north, the more remote and uninhabited interior parts of Iceland are waiting to be discovered.
The Icelandic highland roads are closed in the spring when the snow is melting. Although it can vary considerably from year to year, usually the majority majority of the roads open around the 3rd week of June. In the winter most of the highland roads are theoretically „impassable”, but they often stay open until late autumn.
Most mountain roads in the interior of Iceland have a gravel surface. The surface on the gravel roads is often loose, especially along the sides, so one should drive carefully and slow down whenever an oncoming car approaches. The mountain roads are also often very narrow, and are not made for speeding. The same goes for many bridges, which are only wide enough for one car at a time.
Peter Faidt
