Social norms often make alternative lifestyles seem reckless and irresponsible. A great example is that you’ll need to step back from adventures once you have kids. I’d go so far as to say that society may even make you feel guilty for attempting to retain your past life and that by doing so, you’re somehow negating your responsibility as a parent. This is an unfortunate and short-sighted perception of parenthood, which should only enrich adventure. After all, travel is an opportunity to share the things you love with the people you love, and what more incredible feeling is there than that? Fortunately, there’s no shortage of inspiring families challenging these preconceived ideas, such as Akela World, Venja Travel, Boris Malesset and Co, Hourless Life, Six en Piste, the Roaming Foxes, and so many more. Bikepacking is another pursuit often seen as inaccessible for young children, but Portuguese parents Mario and Ana prove otherwise.

In our interview, Mario and Ana talked me through what to consider if you’re planning a two-wheeled adventure overseas with young children (with particular reference to their most recent ride in Iceland). Our discussion is an excellent source of inspiration and information for parents planning a ride or perhaps on the fence about committing to a similar trip.

Please introduce yourselves.

I’m [Mario], a music teacher and travel photographer, and my partner, Ana, is a physiotherapist. I’ve ridden bikes my entire life, but Ana has not. In fact, she only started riding very recently. Our first child, Miguel, is still very young; last year, he was six, so he controlled the pace of our journey in Iceland. Our youngest is Madalena, who was three at the time [during our trip to Iceland] and was towed by me in a Tout Terrain trailer.

What was the main attraction to Iceland?

I think Iceland is a place everyone dreams of going to one day. However, the country also offered a great option for riding with young children. We only wanted to ride with Miguel and Madalena on tracks and unpaved roads, and in Iceland, there are a lot of remote trails free from traffic. Hydration is also essential. In Portugal, we do a lot of mountaineering, and we find that having enough water is one of the challenges of independent trips. It’s difficult, even with the bikes, especially as we ride slowly with the kids, so easy and frequent access to water was essential. In Iceland, water is easy to find and generally safe to drink. Regular resupply points meant we only needed to carry 2-3 liters on the bikes at any one time.

How much food did you pack?

We knew the food would be heavy. The only places we could properly restock on our route was in Landmannalaugar and Geyser. The first stage of our ride required being self-sufficient for eight days to reach Landmannalaugar and then another 5-6 days to reach Geyser. This meant preparing 15 days’ worth of freeze-dried food in Portugal beforehand. We also packed dried fruits as it’s hard to find fresh produce in Iceland. The bags on my bike were absolutely full.

How did you plan your route, and did you have a contingency plan?

Our preparation was very extensive because of the kids. Everything had to be perfect. We couldn’t risk anything. Subsequently, we spent a long time looking at the map and drew up seven to eight potential routes. We enjoy doing this. Initially, we thought about riding south-to-north via the F26, but when we reached Landmannalaugar, we realized we did not have time. Instead, we rode to Geyser and planned to ride the F35 north, but again decided it wouldn’t work. Therefore, we headed into a little desert called Rótarsandur, a truly incredible experience. With kids, it’s imperative to remain flexible with route planning and open to change. I’d also add that sometimes these impromptu revisions provide some of the best experiences.

How did you navigate?

I packed paper maps in the event that our Garmin Montana GPS failed. We used the Montana combined with my mobile phone. We have previous experience with GPS, so we were very prepared. However, it was the first time with the Garmin, and we weren’t sure how the battery would hold up. Fortunately, it has a low battery function that can expand run-time for up to eight days. In this configuration, it enters into hibernation mode, but the GPS continues to mark the track, satellite messages from our InReach are saved, and when you touch the button, it wakes up. We were delighted with how the Montana performed.

As you left Reykjavík, you joined the F261 and immediately faced the biggest climb of the entire trip. It was a trial by fire. How did you overcome this challenge as a family?

It was an arduous climb and took a whole afternoon. We stopped regularly, played games, and walked many sections to keep the kids motivated. At times Miguel did not want to pedal, so we had to be very patient. It was simply a case of one foot in front of the other. We camped at the top as our reward.

Does the struggle to reach beautiful locations make it all the more rewarding?

Definitely, the ride to the remote Strutslaug hot pool was a great example of this. There wasn’t much of a track to get there, and it was raining, so the ground was very soft. It took us almost two days to traverse just 5 kilometers. At the beginning of that route, there was a very steep climb, and I wasn’t sure whether we should proceed. However, we promised the kids they’d sleep next to a hot pool, so we pushed on. It was a hard ride, but it was worth it, and we pitched our tent just 1 meter from the hot pool. The struggle certainly makes the rewards all the more special.

During your trip, you visited popular tourist spots with the kids. On those occasions, what did you do with your bikes and equipment?

We would pitch our tent at a nearby campsite, put everything inside, and then ride the unladen bikes to the tourist spots. This approach also allowed us to leave the bikes altogether and enjoy some family hikes. It was nice to spend a couple of days relaxing and being tourists before pushing forwards with the next stage of our adventure. These reset days were great for the kids’ morale.

Do you have advice on motivating children when faced with a challenging route?

One of the most difficult routes was Háifoss to Gullfoss. We had searched various bikepacking websites and forums but found limited information on the trail’s condition, so we had no idea what to expect. It didn’t take long to realize it would be extremely tough. In the end, it took three days, and it was during this stretch that Miguel had an [allergic reaction]. We contacted our pediatrician, and they offered some advice, but it was a worry. However, the alternative route was along a busy road, a risk we were unwilling to take. Returning to your question, we realized that whatever happened, we just needed to continue pushing forward. We took our time, stopped regularly, and ensured we were always moving at Miguel’s pace. You just have to beopen to change and make the experience as fun and engaging for the kids as possible.

During this ride, you towed your youngest child, Madalena, in the Tout Terrain trailer. It must’ve been tough carrying heavy supplies and towing a child on technical terrain.

The Tout Terrain trailer was excellent and made all the difference and I’d recommend it to other parents considering a similar adventure. It features excellent suspension and has just one wheel, so it’s very lightweight. Miguel set the pace, and because that’s slow, it meant towing was comfortable for me. It was only when traversing soft sand that the towing was difficult.

What does sharing these experiences with your kids mean to you?

We like them to learn from books and school and the world. In the run-up to the trip, we taught them about Iceland with facts on volcanoes, lava, lakes, mountains, etc. This prior knowledge meant that it was all the more special when they experienced these landscapes firsthand. It means the world to have them join our adventures.

In retrospect, are there any things you’d have done differently?

Next time we’ll take more food and a greater variety. At no point would I say we were super hungry, but when I returned to Portugal, I was 10 kilograms (22 pounds) lighter because I always prioritized the kids. In the future, I’d pack more concentrated high-calorie foods such as nuts, etc. Foods that are calorie dense but do not require water to eat. A second change would be bikes with wider tires; fat bikes would be ideal.

What are your top tips for organising a bikepacking adventure with young children?

First, you have to be very patient and not have expectations. Do not set rigid times for covering distance or arriving at a particular place. Planning carefully before the ride, especially regarding resupply points is important. We ensure we’re prepared to stop anywhere, which means being completely self-sufficient. Kids ride very slowly, so you’ll inevitably go through more food and water than you’d expect over short distances. We allowed them to choose one book each and some very small toys, but we also encouraged them to make toys out of the things they found around them, like rocks. In fact, they started adding their favorites to the trailer, which backfired somewhat [laughing]! During the trip, they didn’t see any digital devices, which was nice.

Did Iceland inspire more travels for the future?

Yes, of course. The dream is to complete a one-year trip. We’d love to ride to the North Cape of Norway. Initially, we planned to complete the journey with a car and rooftop tent, but after Iceland, we completely fell in love with family bikepacking. Traveling by bike allowed us to experience every detail more intensely and fully immerse ourselves in our surroundings. The rain is felt and not just observed; hills are obstacles that once overcome make us stronger. We are not completely focused on where we’re going to arrive that day, but rather enjoying and savoring every moment. This one-year bicycle trip would allow us to share a wonderful journeywith our children in the most intense and memorable way.

Where can we find you?

Check out our blog at 4overlanders.com and photos/videos at filmusimage.com. In addition, you can find us on Instagram at @mamaoverlander.

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