• Brahim Boutarhroucht (Selfoss) - I am an official Icelandic tourist guide. I operate as a driver-guide for individuals and small groups. I have very good knowledge about Iceland and its people, and I speak English, French, Arabic and Icelandic. My driver's license allows me to operate as a driver-guide.
• Michael J. Kissane (Hafnarfjordur) - My goal as a successful tour operator is to provide an enjoyable, memorable experience in Iceland at a fair price. To this end, I am passionate about providing personalized service, which combines insights of 26 yrs of living in Iceland and the knowledge from completion of the rigorous Icelandic professional guide curriculum.
Bragi Ragnarsson (Reykjavik) - Iceland? Why is it an interesting destination? This remote, northerly island; an independent democratic republic with a short but colourful history. Tiny but modern society with troubled economy and recently devalued currency, which has made Iceland a cheap tourist destination.
Stefan Helgi Valsson (Reykjavik) - Stefan Helgi Valsson is a certified accredited tourist guide who lives in Reykjavik Iceland. Stefan works as a professional tourist guide, tour guide, tour manager, tour escort, lecturer and driver-guide and lectures at the Iceland Tourist Guide School.
Reykjavik, The Smokey Bay (Reykjavik) - This tour is an introduction to the history and the development of Reykjavik "Smokey Bay", Europe's most northern capital, with a population of about 120,000. This combines both driving around the city and walking in its downtown.
Airport Transfer and Blue Lagoon Spa (Reykjavik) - This service combines both a transfer from Keflavik International Airport to your accommodation in Reykjavik area and a one hour stop at the Blue Lagoon Spa for a relaxing bath in its geothermal water. During the transfer, we provide you with some practical information that can help you during your stay in Reykjavik area.
Golden Circle (Reykjavik) - This tour takes you to some “must see” sights of Iceland. Drive around the fertile lowlands of Southern Iceland and visit one of Iceland’s most magnificent waterfalls, Gullfoss, the erupting hot springs in the Geysir area (not everyone realizes that the word geysir, meaning a hot spring is originally an Icelandic word) and the outstandingly beautiful Þingvellir National Park where the world’s oldest parliament was founded in the year 930.
The Golden watefall and the spouting spring. (Reykjavik) - 8:55 am: Pick up from accommodations in Reykjavik During the tour, we visit: - Thinvellir National Park, the site of Iceland's first parliament, established in 930, and the first site in the country to become a national park. Thingvellir was declared a UNESCO world heritage site in 2004, - Geysir geothermal area, where Strokkur spouts its hot water and steam up to 25-30 meters high, - Gullfoss "Golden Waterfall", Iceland's and Europe's second most powerful waterfall - Skalholt Church, the site of the first Episcopal see in the country, established in 1056.
Reykholt valley and Kaldidalur (the cold valley) (Reykjavik) - We drive towards the west, and through the tunnel under Hvalfjörður (The whale fjords), we reach the rich and fertile valley of Reykholt. We stop at Deildartunguhver, Europe’s most powerful hot spring.
CAPITAL CITY OF Iceland: Reykjavik LANGUAGE OF Iceland: English CURRENCY OF Iceland: Icelandic krona (ISK) COMMENTS ABOUT Iceland: Iceland a country nominally in Northern Europe, is a large mountainous island in the north Atlantic Ocean Cities : Reykjavik (capital), Akureyri, Hafnarfjörður, Hellissandur, Hofn, Olafsvik, Skagafjordur, Húsavík, Ísafjörður, Vestmannaeyjar Best Places : Blue Lagoon, Gullfoss, Kerið, Geysir, Myvatn, Dettifoss, Jokulsarlon Glacial Lagoon, Landmannalaugar, West Fjords, Dettifoss Electricity : 220V/50Hz (European plug) Calling Code : 354 Time Zone : UTC
Settled by Norwegian and Celtic (Scottish and Irish) immigrants during the late 9th and 10th centuries A.D., Iceland boasts the world's oldest functioning legislative assembly, the Althing, established in 930. Independent for over 300 years, Iceland was subsequently ruled by Norway and Denmark. Fallout from the Askja volcano of 1875 devastated the Icelandic economy and caused widespread famine. Over the next quarter century, 20% of the island's population emigrated, mostly to Canada and the US. Limited home rule from Denmark was granted in 1874 and complete independence attained in 1944. Literacy, longevity, income, and social cohesion are first-rate by world standards. CLIMATE OF Iceland: temperate; moderated by North Atlantic Current; mild, windy winters; damp, cool summers RELIGION OF Iceland: Evangelical Lutheran 87.1%, other Protestant 4.1%, Roman Catholic 1.7%, other 7.1% (2002) POPULATION OF Iceland: 293,966 (July 2004 est.)> ECONOMY OVERVIEW OF Iceland: Iceland's Scandinavian-type economy is basically capitalistic, yet with an extensive welfare system (including generous housing subsidies), low unemployment, and remarkably even distribution of income. In the absence of other natural resources (except for abundant geothermal power), the economy depends heavily on the fishing industry, which provides 70% of export earnings and employs 12% of the work force. The economy remains sensitive to declining fish stocks as well as to fluctuations in world prices for its main exports: fish and fish products, aluminum, and ferrosilicon. Government policies include reducing the budget and current account deficits, limiting foreign borrowing, containing inflation, revising agricultural and fishing policies, diversifying the economy, and privatizing state-owned industries. The government remains opposed to EU membership, primarily because of Icelanders' concern about losing control over their fishing resources. Iceland's economy has been diversifying into manufacturing and service industries in the last decade, and new developments in software production, biotechnology, and financial services are taking place. The tourism sector is also expanding, with the recent trends in ecotourism and whale watching. Growth had been remarkably steady in 1996-2001 at 3%-5%, but could not be sustained in 2002 in an environment of global recession. Growth resumed in 2003, and inflation dropped back from 5% to 2%.
The Company is a small Private Limited Liability Company, registered in Reykjavik, Iceland, owned by Mr. Bragi Ragnarsson, Certified Travel Guide, Hiking Guide and Professional Driver. The Company is a licensed travel agency which offers sightseeing and excursion services in Iceland, as well as booking accommodation and various leisure activities.