Off-road & 4×4 adventures
Iceland's F-roads, Balkan mountain tracks and the routes that need a proper 4×4. Fords, gravel and real remoteness — with the safety facts you actually need.
F88 Mývatn to Askja: 200 km 4×4 Desert Drive, Summer Only
The F88 crosses the Ódáðahraun lava desert from Mývatn to Askja, 200 km of glacial river fords in one day, ending with a 2.5 km walk to the Víti crater.
Kjölur (Road 35): Gullfoss to Akureyri, 250 km 4×4 Crossing
Iceland's Kjölur route (road 35) runs 250 km from Gullfoss to Akureyri between two ice caps: a summer-only gravel 4×4 crossing with bridged rivers and no fuel.
F249 Hvolsvöllur to Þórsmörk: Krossá Fords, 120 km
The F249 runs 120 km from Hvolsvöllur into Þórsmörk, a green valley under three glaciers. Summer only: the unbridged Krossá demands a large 4×4.
Reykjavík to Landmannalaugar: 380 km F-Road 4×4 Route
The 380 km F-road drive from Reykjavík to Landmannalaugar takes 2 days, needs a 4×4 for river fords, and is open only from roughly mid-June to September.
Durmitor Ring Road: 85 km Žabljak Loop, Montenegro
The 85 km Durmitor ring road from Žabljak over the Sedlo pass, past Black Lake and the Tara Canyon: a 2-day plan, where to sleep and real costs.
Shkodër to Theth: 75 km Over the Thore Pass, 2 Days
The 75 km drive from Shkodër into the Accursed Mountains to Theth: a steep, mostly paved pass best in an SUV, open late May to October. Two-day guide.