Listen to the locals please – An interview with Hrútur Ærson The Sheep
With only 350,000 human residents, some people think Iceland lacks a diversity of opinion. But at Iceland Unwrapped, we have what it takes to seek out local expertise where it can be found. For a thoroughly different perspective, we interviewed Hrútur Ærson,...
2020 – Your Travel Year – Is Iceland just a tick in the box? By Helga Stina
“That´s over and done with” is something an old friend of mine sometimes said about both good and bad things and events in his life. But is traveling something you should just get over and done with, to tick a box, to show off on social media? Is it time...
The national book flood – By Helga Stina
In Iceland we have two kinds of floods. We have normal floods when glacier rivers flood because of unease and geothermal activities under glaciers. This is something the Icelanders are used to being aware of and manage reactions very professionally. The other type of...
What happens when the power is out? By Helga Stina
Iceland is a land of extremes. The elements of nature impact everything in life there. Being raised in a place that sometimes makes it difficult to plan ahead, is a privilege. You might ask why that is the case, and it is because it teaches one to respect nature and...
Advent in Iceland – It´s about warmth, traditions and surviving the darkness – By Helga Stina
One of my favorite times of the year has arrived. Advent is something that warms my heart and gets me excited every year, wherever I am. When I was a kid, it always seemed to be snowing during this time of year. Everyone was busy getting ready for Christmas, baking,...
Is it a bad idea to visit Iceland in the winter?
It’s officially winter now on this side of the globe. In Europe we have moved the clock. In Iceland, the clock has stayed out, but the weather is starting to get tricky in some areas of the country. Time to relax and stay inside To survive the winter where you...
An autumn journey into wellness – By Helga Stina
Last week, I returned again to Iceland to visit some of my hospitality partners – and made yet another interesting discovery in the town of Hafnarfjordur, just outside Reykjavik. The town council has decided to use one of the most beautiful buildings in Iceland, a...
Four years of Unwrapping Iceland
It feels quite incredible that four years have passed since I founded what is now called Iceland Unwrapped, my Iceland travel planning business. Iceland Unwrapped offers unique travel experiences based on a personal approach, deep knowledge of the country‘s hidden...
It just might be good business – The opportunity of connecting and getting inspired in Iceland
Iceland is known to be a magical place. The nearness to nature, the warm-hearted people and the sense of isolation on this island far away from it all in the North Atlantic. But why is Iceland a good option for getting inspired? Why would you even consider going to...
Why time is so important in Iceland
I have just returned from my ever changing island after a fabulous work trip. I was exploring new places and meeting fantastic entrepreneurs in the areas that I recommend for my clients. It seems that there is never enough time while in Iceland. Many of my clients get...
Windy Wine tasting – By Brynja Bjarnadóttir
Have you ever dreamed of opening up a bottle of wine by the ocean? A friend of mine inspired me by writing down one hundred things she wanted to do or accomplish in her life. I followed her example and did the same. I started of with the most obvious things (like...
Iceland by the seasons: and why you need a travel planner for each
A season-by-season guide to planning an Iceland trip Iceland may be a small country with only 330,000 residents. But the combination of high tourist numbers and a difficult-to-navigate language makes local knowledge a valuable resource for a visitor who wants to get...
Have you ever dreamed of living through the book? By Helga Stina
Have you ever dreamed of reading Icelandic literature and getting the feeling and atmosphere of the book while in Iceland? Everyone has their way of relaxing and especially when traveling. For me the ideal vacation is a mix of some adventures and outdoor activities...
Berry picking, amazing sunsets and the calmness in the air – Have you ever dreamed of autumn in Iceland ?
I must admit that Autumn is my favorite season in Iceland. I like it because of the beautiful sunsets, the blue berry picking, and the calmness of it. I like it because it makes life calmer when everyone is getting ready to face the winter months ahead and this is the...
When is the boat picking us up? – By Brynja Bjarnadóttir
Have you ever dreamed of visiting a remote place , only reachable by sea in Iceland? Can you think of a remote little town in Iceland? Now think of an even smaller one and way more remote. That is Hesteyri. There are only few houses there, a run down whaling station...
Have you ever dreamed of seeing the Northern Lights dance?
Do you want to see the northern lights while staying in Iceland? For that you will need a bunch of luck and also a good forecast. The northern lights can vary a great deal. Sometimes they are barely noticeable, looking like a faint green veil on the sky. Other times...
Have you ever dreamed of knowing more about the trolls and the elves and the hidden people of Iceland?
The Icelanders were a nation of fishermen and farmers until the Second World War, when people moved to the capital Reykjavik and other towns in Iceland. This was mainly because of work provided by the American military that stayed in Iceland during the war. Here is a...
“We tell the stories of all types of exploration – from inner caves to outer space and many places in between”
“We tell the stories of all types of exploration – from inner caves to outer space and many places in between” By Mike Klein @mklein818 Thirty miles from the Arctic Circle, in Husavik, a town with 2200 souls, a small but ambitious museum invites visitors...
Unwrapping my Iceland – By Edda Jonsdóttir
Unwrapping my Iceland When asked to unwrap my Iceland, I immediately thought about the opportunities I have had to show visitors around the country and provide them with insights into the culture. What a privilege that has been. That is why I admire the services...
The Icelandic people – Entrepreneurship and travel in Iceland
Are you kidding me? That‘s what came to mind when I visited a travel presentation market in Iceland this week. Entrepreneurship in Iceland is extraordinary, in my opinion, for three main reasons: First of all, as there are only 330.000 people living in Iceland,...
The importance of connecting, being and having peace
In my talks with many clients traveling to Iceland with Iceland Unwrapped there has been a red thread. Connection, peace and the possibility of experiencing quietness is at the essence of a journey to Iceland. My suggestions often include traveling around, stopping,...
Red and white Christmas – The feeling of Christmas in Iceland
My family and I are spending Christmas in Iceland this year. What is very common in the discussion in Iceland before Christmas is the weather. Actually the weather is a very common topic in Iceland in general. No wonder, as the location of this rock in the Atlantic...
Winter – Iceland Style
Iceland has four seasons. Even though , they tend to come and go rather randomly. That means you can have snow in June in some places. You can have a “red Christmas“, as we call it, without any snow (almost destroying the holiday spirit, as it is not very...
In Iceland we eat shark – but that´s just part of the story
The funniest thing many of us Icelanders know how to do is to make foreigners taste our food. I have made countless “enemies” through the years while encouraging people to have a bite of shark with me, with a schnapps of course, to survive the experience....
Unforgettable experiences – Spectacular views and adventures
Last September I went to Iceland for a week to work and to enjoy the nearness of my family and friends. Someone once said that the Icelanders are the most homesick people in the world and I believe that is true. The power of the nature plays a big part in me having to...
Gravity won´t pull you to Iceland – But this will
Going to the moon is still impossible for all of us. But a trip to the lunar landscapes of Iceland’s highlands can bring you as close as possible. 50 years ago, Neil and his mates in the Apollo missions had an unprecedented experience when they were exposed only to...
Let’s go for dinner in Iceland
I guess some of you have seen videos and pictures online of visitors to Iceland tasting something terrifying as rotten shark, or fish that smells like ammonia. It might seem that Icelanders walk around in wool sweaters all day, while eating challenging parts of...
Equality is a goal of men and women
When I was growing up in Iceland, I was surrounded by powerful women. My mother came from the “West fjords” in northwest Iceland where life was harsh, nature was brutal and women often had to lead the fight for their families´ survival. My grandmother on...
The hidden pleasures of Reykjavik
I love it when you don´t have to plan your whole vacation from minute to minute. I have traveled around the world and a big part of being somewhere is to bumble around, enjoying, drinking coffee and getting the atmosphere. Some people that travel to Iceland...
Hiking, collecting the sheep, berry picking and the wonderful Kjotsupa.
A few reasons why September is a good month to travel to Iceland. So let´s imagine a day. You are hiking in the mountains with the farmers in a little fjord helping with collecting the sheep. On your path you taste fresh blue berries straight from the bush. You get a...