Private Tours in Northern Iceland
Welcome to my website and welcome to Iceland!
My name is Kristinn Ingi Pétursson (a.k.a KIP) and I am a Certified Tour Guide, Tour Operator, Driver Guide, father and a grandfather. I was born and raised on a farm near Lake Myvatn in Iceland. I’m privileged to be able to spend my time outside in Icelandic nature with interesting people every year. I speak English and Icelandic and sometimes I also communicate with the elves and trolls of Iceland 🙂
What I have to offer is professional and personal tailor made private day tours in North Iceland. I operate from Laugar and Myvatn and Akureyri in North Iceland both in the winter and summer, guiding families, individuals, photographers, elderly couples and just anyone interested in my country. My tours are LGBTQIA+ friendly and family friendly. I’m a family man myself and my youngest son was born in April 2017.
Please contact me with email for more information and tour booking.
Best regards, Kristinn Ingi Pétursson
Email: kip@kip.is – Phone: +354 6505252
You can tell a lot about a day in North Iceland by the weather at breakfast. Clear skies over Lake Mývatn might mean a perfect crater hike. Low cloud and wind can make a waterfall or geothermal area the better call. That is exactly why private tours northern Iceland appeal to so many travelers. In this part of the country, the best day is rarely the most fixed one.
A private day tour is not just a smaller version of a bus tour. It is a different way to travel. You move at your own pace, spend more time where it matters to you, and get honest local guidance on what is worth the detour and what is not. For some guests, that means a quiet day around Mývatn with short walks and good coffee stops. For others, it means a long road into the highlands, a photo-focused route, or a winter plan built around road conditions and daylight.
North Iceland rewards flexibility. Distances can look manageable on a map, but roads, weather, and your own energy level shape the day more than many visitors expect. A private guide helps turn that reality into an advantage rather than a stress point.
Why choose private tours in Northern Iceland?
The biggest reason is simple – the region is varied, and travelers are varied too. A couple on a short stay in Akureyri usually wants something different from a family based near Laugar, or a photographer hoping for low winter light around volcanic terrain.
With a private tour, the day can be built around your interests instead of the average needs of a large group. If geology is your thing, you can spend more time at lava formations, pseudocraters, and geothermal sites. If you care more about local history and daily life, the conversation can go there. If you want to walk less and see more from the vehicle, that can be arranged too.
Comfort matters as well. North Iceland is beautiful, but some of its best places are spread out. Having a knowledgeable local driver means you can watch the landscape instead of studying road signs, checking wind forecasts, or wondering whether a side road is a good idea. In winter especially, that peace of mind is worth a great deal.
There is also the human side of it. A private guide can adapt in real time. If a spot is crowded, the route can shift. If the light suddenly turns perfect, you can stop. If you are tired, cold, hungry, or simply more interested in one area than expected, the day can follow that instead of a timetable.
The places that work especially well on private tours northern Iceland
Some destinations in the north are fine on a standard group trip. Others become much better when the day is personal.
Lake Mývatn and the surrounding area
This is one of the strongest choices for travelers who want variety without constant driving. In a single day, you can combine geothermal fields, volcanic landscapes, lake views, lava formations, and cultural context. The area looks dramatic, but it is also subtle. The difference between a quick stop and a meaningful visit often comes down to having someone who knows the stories behind the terrain.
Mývatn also suits different travel styles. It works for first-time visitors, older travelers who want a comfortable pace, families who need flexibility, and photographers who want to work with changing light and weather.
The Diamond Circle and Ásbyrgi
This route can be a long, full day, which makes private travel especially useful. The Diamond Circle often includes powerful contrasts – waterfall viewpoints, canyon landscapes, and the horseshoe-shaped Ásbyrgi canyon. On a big-group schedule, these places can feel rushed. In a private setting, the pace can be adjusted so the day feels enjoyable rather than like a checklist.
The route also benefits from local judgment. Road conditions, season, and your preferred balance of scenery versus walking can change what makes sense.
Askja and the highlands
Askja is where private guiding becomes less of a luxury and more of a practical decision. This is not a casual self-drive for most visitors. Access depends on season, road conditions, and suitable vehicle capability. It is remote, striking, and absolutely worth doing for the right traveler, but it needs planning and experience.
For guests interested in Icelandic geology, interior landscapes, and a more serious adventure, Askja can be unforgettable. It just has to be approached with respect.
Flateyjardalur, waterfalls, valleys, and quieter routes
Some of the best days in North Iceland are not always the most famous ones. A private guide can shape a day around less-traveled valleys, waterfalls, coastal stretches, or backroads that fit your interests and the conditions. That matters if you want fewer people, more local texture, or simply a day that feels less scripted.
For repeat visitors, this is often where private touring really shines. You are not just seeing the highlights. You are seeing a version of the north that feels lived-in and personal.
What a good private guide actually adds
A vehicle and an itinerary are the obvious parts. The less obvious part is interpretation.
North Iceland makes more sense when somebody can explain how the land was formed, how farms and villages developed, why one weather system matters more than another, or why a place that looks empty has deep cultural meaning. Good guiding gives shape to what you are seeing.
That local perspective also helps with timing. Knowing when to visit a geothermal area, when to leave a viewpoint, or when a winter road is likely to become unpleasant can make the difference between a smooth day and a tiring one.
The best private tours also feel conversational rather than performative. You should be able to ask practical questions, shift focus, and be honest about what you enjoy. Some guests want detailed geology. Some want regional history. Some mostly want to stand in the wind, take photos, and be left a bit of quiet. A good host reads that well.
Who benefits most from a private tour?
Plenty of travelers do. First-time visitors often appreciate the confidence of having a local guide, especially if they are nervous about winter driving or uncertain how much can realistically fit into a day.
Couples tend to like the privacy and flexibility. Families benefit because plans can adapt around energy levels, meal stops, and attention spans. Older travelers often prefer the comfort of a well-paced day with clear support. Photographers usually value early starts, patient timing, and the freedom to stop when conditions are right.
Private travel also makes sense for guests who want to feel genuinely welcome and at ease. That includes LGBTQIA+ travelers and anyone who prefers direct communication, a respectful atmosphere, and a more personal style of hosting.
Is a private tour worth the higher price?
Usually, yes – but it depends on what you value.
If your main goal is the lowest possible cost per person, a large group tour will nearly always win. Private touring is a premium service. You are paying for dedicated time, customized planning, local expertise, and the ability to shape the day around you.
For many guests, that value becomes clear quickly. You save energy, avoid the stress of self-driving in unfamiliar conditions, and get access to local insight that is hard to replicate on your own. If you are traveling as a couple, family, or small group, the price difference can also feel more reasonable when shared.
It is less about doing travel in a fancy way and more about doing it in a way that fits your priorities.
How to choose the right private tours northern Iceland experience
Start with your base. If you are staying in Akureyri, your best day may be different from someone based in Mývatn or Laugar. Then think honestly about pace. Do you want one big scenic day, several shorter stops, a serious photo outing, or a route with minimal walking?
It also helps to mention your season, any mobility concerns, and what excites you most. The more specific you are, the easier it is to shape a day that feels right. A local operator like Kip can often tell you quickly whether your plan is realistic, too ambitious, or better with a few adjustments.
That kind of direct conversation is part of the benefit. You are not choosing from a fixed shelf. You are building a day with someone who knows the region firsthand.
North Iceland does not ask you to see everything. It asks you to notice where you are, pay attention to the conditions, and leave room for the day to become what it should. Private touring suits that mindset very well. If you want the north to feel less like a schedule and more like a place, that is usually the right place to start.
How to get to Iceland ?
It‘s easier than you might think:
- Book accommodation in Laugar or Akureyri
- Book a flight to Akureyri with easyjet.com or with Icelandair
- I live close to the Akureyri airport, so you’ll contact me about transportation and day tours. It’s as simple as that 🙂
Private tour guide in Iceland – Kristinn Ingi Pétursson. Email: kip@kip.is
