Where you will sleep
Our accommodation features a small hotel set-up in Blondous and then at the end of the journey near Skogafoss. We utilise a network of some basic and some more comfortable huts while on the route.
Where we use hotels, all accommodation is always offered on a double or twin room basis. If you are taking part on your own, you will be paired with another participant of the same sex in a twin room. If you have preferences for who you share with, you are able to specify that prior to departure. When utilising huts, this will be communal dorm-based accommodation where you will be allocated a bed in a mixed dorm or communal room. When we camp you will be allocated a space in a same-sex tent.
All of our accommodation is of a good standard, sometimes basic but always practical for the journey-at-hand. It has all been tried and tested by us.
What you'll eat
Breakfasts vary depending on the day’s adventure, from quick grab-and-go options for early starts (pastries, fruit, porridge, yoghurt and similar) to hearty sit-down breakfasts, including cooked options where available.
Dinner is provided throughout, whether that’s hotel meals, restaurant set menus or crew-cooked food on hut nights. Tea, coffee and water are typically included, while soft drinks and alcohol are at your own expense.
Throughout the challenge, you’ll also enjoy Rat Race’s famously well-stocked Pit Stops, with regular support on bike stages, shore-based stops during rafting, and strategic trail support during trekking stages.
How we will support you
We will use a mixture of safety staff, pit stops and support vehicles to support you at intervals by our mobile ‘pit stop’ team – on the bikes this will predominantly be vehicle-based and on the trek, we will deploy our foot-based safety staff. On the raft, we will have on-water guiding and safety staff embarked with you. And you will interact with our pit stops crews at key points where the river can be accessed by vehicles. We will have multiple vehicles at our disposal throughout the journey, plus multiple staff members, snacks and drinks to distribute. So, if it does get too much, if you overheat, get too cold, need sustenance, motivational support or otherwise, we should be able to assist. You are in good hands.
If you can't make it
Entries may be transferred up to 12 weeks prior to departure in accordance with the Rat Race transfer policy. We strongly recommend taking out comprehensive travel insurance as soon as you book to protect yourself against any unforeseen circumstances. Participants also have the option to add Refund Protect to their booking, facilitated by a trusted third-party provider, which may allow you to claim a refund should you be unable to attend for a range of qualifying reasons.
Adventure mementos
All participants will receive a selection of exclusive event memorabilia to mark their Iceland coast-to-coast adventure, including a commemorative event T-shirt, Rat Rag and a massive finisher’s medal when you cross this unforgettable finish line. These special keepsakes celebrate your achievement and serve as lasting reminders of an extraordinary north-to-south crossing through some of Iceland’s most dramatic and awe-inspiring landscapes.
Event Medics
Our events are supported by Trail Med, who provide oversight, planning and participant screening across all of our international adventures, ensuring every expedition is backed by robust medical expertise. On the ground, you’ll be supported by a highly qualified UK medical team of paramedics and/or doctors, carefully selected for their experience in remote and challenging environments.
Rat Race also operates in line with the rigorous BS8848 standard for expedition management, independently audited to ensure the highest standards of safety, risk management and participant care. In short, every aspect of our medical and safety planning is designed with your wellbeing firmly at its heart.
Hire a bike from us
If you wish to use your own machine, your bike (or your hire bike) will be transported by our vehicles when not in use on the trip. So you do not need to worry about how the bike gets from A to B when you are on foot or in the kayak. It is likely that we will use rear-mounted bike carriers for all road movements of the bikes, plus purposed bike trailers and/ or vans, meaning we will not require you to dismantle it each time we transport it.
Hire bikes are limited with no ability to resource any further bikes due to limited supply, please book your hire bike early via your Rat Race account if you wish to use this service.
