Joffrey Maluski is a French traveler and photographer based in South East of France. His work is mainly focuses on the outdoors adventures and landscape. He wants to inspire people to escape and feel more free outdoor. Often in the mountains, bivouacking and enjoying the best  lights of the days. He is passionate about outdoors activities (Hiking, Climbing, Highline, Rope jump…) and finds his inspiration in Nature’s open spaces. The past few years he travelled in different countries like Iceland, Norway, Italy, Switzerland… that made him want to start living full time on the road from Canada to Guatemala for 3 years (2017-2020). Back in France since January 2020, he is now planning different bikepacking trips in France and at the international while creating content and documenting his experiences through his photos and videos.

Joffrey Maluski 

It was a three months bike packing trip to the most remote place of the Icelandic highlands dominated by huge glaciers, ashen deserts and mighty lava structures. A demanding route due to the the extreme weather conditions and many rivers to cross. After two bike packing trips in France, one in the French Pyrenees doing climbing, highline, mountaineering and a second one in the French Alps by bike and ski touring, I was looking for a new destination that will challenge ourself. As I’ve been in Iceland in 2016, I knew it would be a great trip with epic landscapes and I always wanted to come back to explore more of the interiors, experience it in a deeper way. Two of my friends joined me on this journey, Léo-Paul Darse and Katia Bach. I know Leo-Paul since many years, we did lots of mountains and highline projects together, as well as the bikepacking trip in the French Pyrenees. So it was a pleasure to share this new adventure with them. 

We  had two main challenges, the rivers crossing and the weather, specially the wind. We had a few really hard day, like we can not stand up on the bike.About the rivers, the most difficult were the ones north of Hofsjokull glacier. They are dangerous, can be hight, powerful and can also had some quicksand. It’s a wild part of Iceland that even super jeep don’t often go. We actually haven’t seen anyone there. We started the days at 4/5am to get to the river early as possible, so that it was still cold and the water levels were low. Sometime we also had to go up the rivers to find a better way where the river is larger, so the water is lower and less powerful. Finally the river crossing became our favorite days, it was like a game, we had to find the best way to crossed them. Cycling against the wind learn you a lot, it’s a huge work on yourself, your motivation and mindset. It’s really exhausting but you have to forgot it and keep going. A friend texted me this when we where in Iceland : Wind is like life, sometime you fight, sometime you fly. It’s definitely true in Iceland! 

Joffrey Maluski 

The old f-910 from Askja to Niydalur is truly amazing, you are in the middle of Iceland, cycling on black sand along and pretty close to the huge Vatnajokull glacier. Everything is far away, you fill so lonely, experience something unique and vibrant.The old f-910 from Askja to Niydalur is truly amazing, you are in the middle of Iceland, cycling on black sand along and pretty close to the huge Vatnajokull glacier. Everything is far away, you fill so lonely, experience something unique and vibrant.The old f-910 from Askja to Niydalur is truly amazing, you are in the middle of Iceland, cycling on black sand along and pretty close to the huge Vatnajokull glacier. Everything is far away, you fill so lonely, experience something unique and vibrant.

Bicycle touring and bikepacking are not reserved for over-trained cyclists, everyone can ride at their own pace and our body quickly adapts to the difficulties and the efforts that are required. I also think that with a good motivation and mindset we can go very far! Just get started and you will see, it rolls almost by itself!

About the equipment, it’s important to not hoard yourself with unnecessary things, often due to a fear of lack of comfort. If your budget allows it, try to favor quality and light equipment but keep in mind that you will find the equipment that suits you the best as you go on an adventure and gain experience!

Joffrey Maluski 

I have a ton of bikepacking trip ideas in mind, the next big one will probably be in Finnish lapland this winter. I would love to cycle in the middle of the winter landscape and aurora borealis. I’ve been on this trip with the Canon R6 and 2 lens (Sigma 24 1.4 Art and Canon 70-200 F4). Also bring a Dji Air 2s, an Insta360 one x2 and a GoPro 9. All the stuff was in a f-stop Tilopa 50L and Medium Slope ICU.

You can check Joffrey's work on his Instagram and Website.