Meet Einar, your expert in Iceland!
🌍 Lives in: Reykjavík, Iceland
Regions of Expertise: Countrywide throughout all of Iceland, with specialization in the Highland
Languages: English, Íslensku
Experience: 10 years as a guide and landscape photographer
Einar’s specialties:
Get to know Einar!
A note from Einar
"Hello Iceland travelers! Thank you for checking out my page and for your interest in visiting my country. Let me start off this note by telling you a bit about myself:
I have lived in Iceland most of my life, apart from a few years in California and a year in Toronto. For decades, my main interests have been traveling within my country, camping, hiking, and photographing our interesting places and natural wonders. During this time, I've visited hundreds of beautiful places, some well-known, others remote, and many that are mostly completely unknown to tourists!
I think it's fair to say that I have been to every corner of my country and am familiar with all of its region, but the highlands are my greatest specialty, as that's the area that I love more than any other.
For my adventures, I've always had a modified off-road vehicle that made it possible to explore these fascinating areas, especially the rugged Highland, so I've had the good fortune to really get out into our nature and far, far off the beaten path. Of course, I've also spent plenty of time vistiing and touring our more well-known sights and landscapes, and popular or not, they are equally wonderful.
So, if you're looking for someone to help you with a great itinerary that will take you to stunning places, you've found the right guy!
Read more
In recent years, I've worked as a guide, leading both general sightseeing and photography-focused tours, and have taken clients to many spectacular places. I usually work with groups of families or friends traveling together, and we always work one on one to plan out the perfect itinerary for their trip.
I've also written literally hundreds of articles documenting my travels within Iceland and the places I've visited, so I have a pretty comprehensive catalogue on just about anywhere you might want to go.
Iceland is a wonderful place to visit for all kinds of purposes, but especially if you're seeking something new, exciting, and different. Here, we have spectacular geology and landscapes - you can walk on glaciers, see an active volcano, catch the northern lights, float past icebergs, witness the raw power of crashing waterfalls, walk along gorgeous (but freezing!) black sand beaches, dip in hotsprings, and hike through towering mountains.
Buy beyond the nature, we also have a unique Viking history, good restaurants and cafés, and a fun culture to discover.
If you're looking to experience a nice mix of all of that, I would love to talk with you. My goal is always to help travelers maximize their time while still having an authentic experience that captures the essence of Iceland, so whatever it is you're coming here in search of, I'll help you find it!
Q&A with Einar
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I live in Reykjavik, so my answer here will be about spending a day in the city:
Personally, I try to walk at least four or five kilometers every day and I’m always exploring different paths and trails. So for me, a nice way to start the day is with a walk.
My 2 favorite paths are the Sculpture & Shore walk and the walk to the Grótta lighthouse, so those are the ones I’d suggest.
A perfect day in Reykjavik as a visitor would also include a stop at one of our beautiful cafés like Hygge Coffee and Bakery or Kaffihús vesturbæjar.
Follow that up with a visit to the Settlement Exhibition and the National Museum of Iceland, both of which are good places to get an in-depth understanding of Iceland's history.
Other than that, just wander around the city - sure, seek out some of the main sights that you’ve seen in photos, but just let yourself get lost, getting a feel for the city itself and seeing where the locals go. Browse the shops, maybe grab a drink somewhere, and just enjoy yourself.In the evening, a visit to one of our fabulous restaurants is definitely necessary in order to understand what Reykjavík is all about.
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My top recommendation is to visit Hallgrímskirkja church, which has become an international icon for Reykjavík in recent years. The building features unique architecture, an intriguing connection to Iceland's geology, and has a long and complex history of construction. Be sure to take the lift to the top for a breathtaking view of Reykjavík.
The time spent inside the church is quite peaceful and is an integral part of its architectural charm. Hopefully, you might even hear someone playing the organ, allowing you to experience its magnificent sound.
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Rok is my favorite restaurant in Reykjavik. The portions are small, allowing you to taste more than one of their wonderful offerings. The food quality is always consistent, the atmosphere is excellent, and the location is perfect, just by the Hallgrímskirkja church.
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Iceland may have a history of relying on survival-based cuisine, and no one comes here for the food, but our restaurant scene actually offers a nice array of fresh, high-quality ingredients.
As you might expect, the fish is often remarkably fresh and typically sourced locally, so I’d suggest trying a lot of that - fresh or smoked.
Iceland lamb is also highly regarded, so you should definitely give that a try while here.
What else? How about Harðfiskur, a dried and cured fish snack. Skyr, our yogurt is also rather particular, being much thicker than what you’re probably used to. We also eat a lot of hearty rye bread, so that’s a no brainer to have. -
My primary interests have always been photography and travel. This encompasses taking photos, processing them, and showcasing my photographic work.
Another passion of mine is cooking; throughout my adult life, I have consistently cooked at home. I particularly love Italian and Scandinavian cuisine.
Since studying Political Science, I have been following international politics for many years, and this is something else that interests me quite a bit.
Additionally, I have developed a strong interest in Iceland's geology in recent years.
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I like road trips quite a bit, and as you can probably guess by now, nature is often my focus, both when traveling in Iceland and also abroad. I love grabbing the car and just cruising from one natural wonder to another, setting up camp there, and spending a few days hiking and exploring.
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Driving the Ring Road!
I know that’s a suspicious answer coming from an Icelandic tourism professional, but it’s just the honest truth!
Where else can you see such a huge variety of landscapes and stunning natural areas in just 10-14 days? The Ring Road circuit is simply a unique and unbeatable experience.
Iceland Travel Consultations
Plan a better trip with some help from Einar
Sit down with Einar for a one-hour planning session to get his expert advice and the best local tips and recommendations.
Our travel consultations are the perfect solution for do-it-yourself travelers who want to plan on their own, but could use some expert local advice. Each consultation is personalized, and Einar is available to help in whatever way you need.
From working on your itinerary and advising on routes and transportation, to ideas for off the beaten path destinations and truly authentic experiences, he's got you covered.
For the best local advice, go ask a local!
Why plan with Einar
Spend 60 minutes tapping into Einars’s hyperlocal expertise to plan a better trip.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Consultations cost $150 USD.
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Consultations are held over Google Meet. Once you’ve scheduled your call, you’ll receive a confirmation email containing the link for your video call. On the scheduled day and time, just click that link to join.
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Each consultation is different, but here are some common things that our experts typically help with:
Itinerary planning
Transportation, driving routes, and tips for how to get around
Practical travel information; culture, safety, weather, language, money/tipping, etc.
Suggested hotels/accommodations and advice on where to base yourself
Local recommendations for restaurants, activities, and unique experiences
Advice on reputable tour guides, tour operators, and excursions
Pro tips on how to best visit popular sights and attractions
Ways to avoid overcrowded destinations and tourist traps
Insider ideas on off the beaten path places, authentic experiences, and ways to connect with locals
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What you can get done in an hour depends on your goals for the consultation and how organized you are coming into it.
In most cases, an hour is ample time to create a solid itinerary, answer your major travel questions, get practical advice on how to travel in your destination, and discuss lots of great local tips and recommendations.
To ensure that the hour is used efficiently, when you schedule your call, our pre-consultation questionnaire will ask you what your primary goals for the consultation are. Prior to the call, your Local Expert will review your questionnaire and prepare detailed information addressing those goals.
They’ll come into the call ready to share specific advice, recommendations, itinerary ideas/revisions, and useful links and resources for you to review together.
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Yes! Each consultation is guided by a comprehensive pre-consultation questionnaire that you fill out immediately upon booking.
We’ll ask you a series of 30+ detailed questions that really dig into you, your trip, your interests and travel style, and what you want to discuss with your Local Expert.
The questionnaire will cover things like: the dynamics of your group, the things you enjoy while traveling, your budget, how early you want to start your day and how late you want to end it, whether you want to hit the highlights or roam the back streets, and even what types of restaurants you want to eat at.
Your Local Expert will focus only on your interests and travel style.
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Our Local Experts are seasoned travel professionals who have spent decades working in their countries/regions. While their personal interests may be different from yours, they’ve worked with thousands of travelers and have recommendations and advice for every type of individual.
They know their destinations in-depth and can help plan a trip for every traveler and taste.
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No, this is not a part of our service. Your Local Expert will share lots of links, notes, and other written resources via the Chat Box during the call, but they cannot provide post-call notes, documents, or ongoing planning assistance via email.
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No. Our service is geared toward independent, do-it-yourself travelers who intend to make bookings on their own.
Our goal is not to plan your trip for you, but rather to help you plan a better trip independently. To that end, our Local Experts will give you all of the information that you need to confidently put your trip together yourself.
When Local Experts recommend things like restaurants, hotels, excursions/activities, tours, drivers, etc., they’ll provide you with contact details and links so that you can make the final arrangements on your own.
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Almost every Go Ask A Local expert has at least 10 years of professional travel experience as a guide or trip planner in their country/region.
We work with a vetted team of seasoned professionals who know their destinations inside and out.
Unlike other companies, when you book a call, you’ll always be connected directly with your chosen Local Expert. We never pass anyone on to a junior sales associate or some anonymous back office team. With us, what you see is what you get.
Ready to plan with Einar?
Here’s how to schedule your consultation:
