We went on a buggy tour on the outskirts of Reykjavík the other day with Buggy Iceland. Buggy Iceland offers day tours, multi-day tours and private tours starting from Reykjavík or other locations. Their headquarters are located a 20 minute drive from downtown Reykjavík, close to another buggy and ATV operator, Safari Quads. This is right next to mountains, described by Buggy Iceland as “an ideal playground for buggy driving”.
In addition to the popular 1- and 2-hour tours, they offer custom experiences tailored to your schedule and interests, including 4-hour excursions and full-day adventures at your chosen location. They operate the newest and most powerful buggies in Iceland, 4-seat Polaris RZR with 110 in horsepower and built to conquer the steepest hills. With 45.7 cm of suspension and 34.3 cm of ground clearance, they handle rough terrain with ease—ensuring a smooth, safe, and exhilarating ride for passengers.
Below, we cover our buggy tour in Reykjavík as well as other available buggy tours in Iceland.
Our Buggy Tour in Reykjavík
We started with a short introduction of the company upstairs at the headquarters from our guide, Jens. Then we headed out to the buggy cars which look modern and more fancy than those I have seen before. We went two and two in the buggies but were an odd number so I was offered to have one buggy for myself and accepted. The buggies can easily fit four people though if preferred.
We headed into the valley Úlfarsárdalur, driving past one of the newest neighborhoods in Reykjavík, which also has the newest swimming pool in town, Dalslaug. I noticed quickly that the buggy was more powerful than the ones I have tried before and also more stable on the ground. We drove mostly on rough gravel roads but also small parts on the paved main roads, past the small and beautiful lake Hafravatn on the way back, for example.
We drove upwards towards the mountain peak where we stopped for around 15 minutes for a break to enjoy the view. Then we drove back, passing the aforementioned lake on the way back on a paved road with the longest straight part of the route, where there was a chance to drive a bit faster and I went up to 82 km/hour for a short moment there.
As noted earlier, the Polaris buggy cars are stable and sit well on the road but it doesn’t mean that they can withstand reckless driving. One recent customer had managed to flip the car over when turning too fast on a paved road. By all means, put safety first and drive carefully, then you will be in for a more enjoyable experience. Below you can see a video summary of our tour:
Variety of Buggy Tours in Iceland
As mentioned in the beginning, Buggy Iceland offers buggy tours in various terrains, locations and durations. Below, we describe three examples from their offering.
Buggy and Natural Baths in Reykjadalur
A three hour buggy tour that covers waterfalls and gravel road driving. The tour starts from the Buggy Iceland headquarters on the outskirts of Reykjavík and the highlight is reaching the Reykjadalur natural baths on foot to dip in. The walk from the buggies’ parking spot takes 25 minutes. Reykjadalur natural baths are a unique spot where you can take a bath in the hor river, balanced in geothermal heat.
Landmannalaugar Full Day Tour
The adventure begins at Hrauneyjar Highland Center before touring east towards Hrauneyjarlón and passing through Bjallavað, Hnausapollur, and Frostastaðavatn before reaching the first major stop, Landmannalaugar, a geothermal wonderland known for its steaming hot springs and vibrant rhyolite mountains.
From Landmannalaugar, the tour’s next stop is Eldgjá, the world’s largest volcanic canyon and on the way there, you will pass by Kýlingarvatn, Kirkjufell and Réttarhnjúkur. Continuing south, the tour takes you towards the northeastern side of Mýrdalsjökull, crossing the river Syðri Ófæra before reaching Álftavötn. Next, you will traverse the river Hólmsá, Mælifellssandur and reach Mælifell, a moss-covered stratovolcano. Lunch break is taken in the wilderness with a view of rugged lava fields such as Nýjahraun, west of Krakatindur.
The tour is action-packed with river crossings, sandy trails and highland roads. The variety of landscapes is rich, including glaciers, volcanoes, hot springs and black sand deserts.
Buggy Golden Circle
An alternative version of Iceland’s most popular tourist route, The Golden Circle. The heart of the experience are the incredible landscapes of the Hengill area. You will be surrounded by dramatic scenery as you rev up your buggy and hit the trail. Lush green valleys, volcanic landscapes, and geothermal activity will unfold as you cruise through the circle.
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Other available buggy tours in Iceland include a 2-day Buggy Highland Adventure, Þórsmörk Buggy Adventure and 2-Hour Buggy Experience on Mýrdalsjökull Glacier.
