Traveler Ratings of Private Tours Given By Tour Guide Stefan
Guide #41

Jennifer Carlson, United States Apr 30/12 Stefan was amazing! He worked with our family to make our day enjoyable for the adults and our 6 year-old. His knowledge is unsurpassed and his stellar reputation has been well earned. His flexibility allowed us to explore more thoroughly the things that interested us (including some things off the beaten path) while continuing to move at a pace that left us feeling we had Iceland virtually to ourselves. Thanks for making such wonderful memories. Tour #132, Iceland private tour: Golden Circle Route, Reykjavik, Iceland    view tour TOUR GUIDE RESPONSE: Thank you even more for being such great guests :-)

Jeff Dauber, United States Apr 4/12 We found Stefan to be very professional, extremely knowledgeable, and very pleasant. He made our trip to Iceland a truly memorable experience. Thank you Stefan....Jeff Tour #133, 2012-04-04 to 7 April. Jeff Dauber x 4, Reykjavik, Iceland    view tour TOUR GUIDE RESPONSE: Thank you Jeff, it was a true pleasure!

John Lynch, United Kingdom Mar 5/12 Our tour was the best possible introduction to Iceland that one could expect. Stefan's company was friendly, patient and welcoming, the conversation was enjoyable, amusing and enlightening, and he gave us just the right amount of personal space to be together as a family from time to time. We appreciated it all, and were so impressed with his knowledge of the landscape (which was spectacular to look at) and the history of Iceland. A terrific day. Tour #132, Iceland private tour: Golden Circle Route, Reykjavik, Iceland    view tour TOUR GUIDE RESPONSE: Thank you John, it was a great pleasure to spend time with you and your family. Tell Toby and Eva hello. Stefan

Tracey Lilburn, Leeds, United Kingdom Feb 18/12 Our trips with Stefan - Reykjavik Bike Tour, Blue Lagoon, Golden Circle Tour and South Coast Tour were all superb. Itineraries were moved and changed to suit the weather conditions and we saw all of the sites at their best. The pace was relaxed and we were never pressured or rushed. If you are visiting Iceland then this is the way you should do it. When not on bikes Stefan was also a relaxed and careful driver which put us all at ease. Wonderful tours, the best choice we made. Tracey - Golden Circle, Bike Tour, Blue Lagoon and South Coast (4 persons), Reykjavik, Iceland TOUR GUIDE RESPONSE: Thank you Tracey, it was a great pleasure to spend a few days with you and your family.

Kenny Breslin, United Kingdom Feb 17/12 Stefan provided a most complete and enjoyable tour. His astute tailoring of venues to suit our specific interests made this trip the absolute highlight of our visit to Iceland. Highly recommended. Tour #1166, Golden Circle Photo Tour, Reykjavik, Iceland    view tour TOUR GUIDE RESPONSE: Thank you Kenny, it was a great pleasure to meet you and your family.

Yevgeny Litvak, United States Dec 30/11 Simply the best guide we've ever had! I can't say enough about how nice, professional and knowledgeable Stefan was on our tour. When we come back to Iceland and we will-we know who to call. Thanks Stefan for the greatest time in Iceland. Gene and Ranka Tour #133, Gene Litvak - 2 - Apt. pick up - South Coast, Reykjavik, Iceland    view tour TOUR GUIDE RESPONSE: Thank you Gene and Ranka for this most flattering review:-). It was a great pleasure to travel with you and I hope to see you again in Iceland sometime.

Matthew Phillips, United Kingdom Oct 22/11 Excellent guide, superb knowledge of the entire island and went out of his way to accommodate any questions or things we wanted to do. Highly recommended. Tour #132, Iceland private tour: Golden Circle Route, Reykjavik, Iceland    view tour TOUR GUIDE RESPONSE: Thank you Matt for taking the time to write this complimenting review. All the best to you and Sadie. I enjoyed your company too.

Bryan Held, Canada Oct 15/11 Stefan was a wonderful guide and tour leader. He was reliable, knowledgeable, conscientious and went out of his way to fulfill our wishes. His experience made this trip a fabulous experience for all of us and we very much appreciated his attention to details. Tour #133, Airport pick up - Reykjavik - South Shore Jennifer Rossiter 8, Reykjavik, Iceland    view tour TOUR GUIDE RESPONSE: Thank you Bryan for the wonderful review. It was an absolute pleasure to show you and your lovely family a part of my country.

Madeline Kovarik, United States Sep 9/11 Stefan was an excellent guide! His knowledge and love of Iceland was evident throughout the tours. He knew where to go and when to go in order to miss crowds. He also knew the answer to the multitude of questions asked during the tour. I highly recommend him! Madeline Iceland 9 and 10 September 2011, Reykjavik, Iceland TOUR GUIDE RESPONSE: Madeline, thank you for this wonderful review. It was a great pleasure and privilege to get the opportunity to show you a part of my country. Very special thanks to offer to bring me something from the States. There are certainly many things available in the States which are not available in Iceland. Until next time, all the best. Stefan

Katherine Hough, Canada Sep 1/11 Stefan was responsive to our requests and really knows the history and countryside! Unfortunately we should have made arrangements earlier to ensure that we had more time in Reykjavik itself but we were newbies! Despite the rainy weather Stefan gave us a tour we'll remember and a great photo as well Catherine Hough 3 - Parliament plains and Reykjavik 4.5 hrs., Reykjavik, Iceland

Ann Nicholas, United States Aug 28/11 Stefan designed a great trip through the Golden Circle and the South of Iceland for a family of six with interests in sightseeing and nature. He regaled us with information about the history, culture, and geology of that fascinating country. It was a great pleasure to take a tour with him -- while we had high expectations for the days outing, he far exceeded them!! Ann Nicholas Golden circle and South coast combination (x6), Reykjavik, Iceland TOUR GUIDE RESPONSE: Thank you Ann, you have a great family and it was a great pleasure to show you some of the highlights in the South of Iceland. Travel safely.

Frank Haydu, United States Aug 20/11 Our guide, Stefan, was wonderful. His knowledge of the country --present and history--was so informative. He was very sensitive to what we would like to know and see. He provided us with a view of his country that was both personal and historical. We simply could not have had a better experience. I am not comfortable with heights --Stefan was so non-judgemental and determined to give us the best experience he could with my reservations in mind. It was an amazing experience. Nancy and Frank Haydu Tour #132, Iceland private tour: Golden Circle Route, Reykjavik, Iceland    view tour TOUR GUIDE RESPONSE: Thank you Frank and Nancy - it was a great pleasure to show you a part of my country. Travel safely.

Frank Haydu, United States Aug 19/11 Our comments are the same as in the previous evaluation we have sent. Stefan was terrific. Tour #133, South Shore Iceland Private Tour, Reykjavik, Iceland    view tour

Kenneth Gee, United States Aug 1/11 The highlight of our two days in Reykjavik was the Golden Circle Tour provided by Stefan. Stefan was the consummate tour guide providing professionalism, passion, and tremendous knowledge of Iceland and its rich history. His love of his craft shines through as he recounted Iceland's past and present. We always felt comfortable and secure in his hands. We give Stefan our highest rating and recommendation as a tour guide and Icelander. We look forward to returning and using his services again! Tour #1166, Kenneth's Golden Circle, Reykjavik, Iceland    view tour TOUR GUIDE RESPONSE: Thank you Kenneth for the kind words. It was a great pleasure to show you and your family some of my native country. All the best and I certainly hope I'll see you again. Stefan

Anthony Fowkes, United States Jul 13/11 Stephan was at the dock waiting for us with a sign with our names. We could not have had a better guide. He showed us everything we wanted to see and more. He has unlimited knowledge of Iceland, past and present. All four of us enjoyed that day with Stephan more than any other on the cruise. I would highly recommend Stephan. Tour #132, Iceland private tour: Golden Circle Route, Reykjavik, Iceland    view tour TOUR GUIDE RESPONSE: Thank you so much Anthony for taking the time to write a review, and for the kind words! It was a true pleasure and great priviledge to show you a part of my native country Iceland. I wish you all happy travels in near and distant future.

Alexandra Lennox, Canada Jun 19/11 Stefan was very pleasant and we enjoyed meeting him. We were disappointed in how little we saw and felt that though he was knowledgeable, we should have learned much more. The tour was very expensive for 2 people and not good value. Tour #1709, Private tour: Reykjavik City Sightseeing on Foot, Reykjavik, Iceland    view tour TOUR GUIDE RESPONSE: I'm sorry see you did not feel you learned enough from me on this 2 hour walking tour and that you felt it was expensive. Every tour is different but as I recall we covered the basic history of Reykjavik from the time of the settlement in the late 9th century to the present time. I only wish that I would have known about your reservation about the tour at the time in order to address it immediately. I appreciate the feedback and will take it under consideration for future tours. Kind regards, Stefan TOURSBYLOCALS RESPONSE: We are sorry that you were disappointed with this tour. We've asked Stefan to address expectations ahead of time when long drives are involved.

Jay Caple, United States Jun 10/11 My family is ending a special trip for my daughter's graduation. We have had tours in Scotland, Shetland Islands, Iceland & Ireland. I can say, without hesitation, that our day with Stefan around Reykjavik was our VERY BEST! We had good directions, information, exact timing and Stefan even went so far as to take pictures with his camera and will e-mail them to me. Couldn't have asked for more. We had a chance to meet his family & he treated us like family and friends. It was a day we will never forget! Tour #132, Iceland private tour: Golden Circle Route, Reykjavik, Iceland    view tour TOUR GUIDE RESPONSE: Hello Jay, Thank you for the excellent review. People like you make my job most enjoyable which, I guess, is why I've been in the business for 23 years already - and still love my job! All the best to you and all in your lovely family ;-)

Christine Stephens, United Kingdom Apr 28/11 Stefan was a most professional guide and careful driver for the whole of our geography field trip. He was punctual and helpful at all times. His knowledge about the history, culture and geography of Iceland was impressive. The students were delighted with his many stories and interesting facts about the country. He went out of his way to book tables for us in restaurants and organize other activities for us during our stay. We would highly recommend Stefan as this was our best ever geography trip. Christine Stephens x 13, Reykjavik, Iceland TOUR GUIDE RESPONSE: Thank you Christine for the glowing review! I really enjoyed working with you, your colleagues and of course your students who I thought were exemplary. I’d be most happy to be of service if you ever come back to Iceland. Regards to all. Stefan

M Faiz Azmi, Kuala Lumpur, WP, Malaysia Dec 22/10 We were really very happy to have Stefan as a guide. He was very knowledgeable, experienced and had a wonderful line of stories which kept the kids attention. Great cow impersonations! He was very patient with us and manage to encourage cold avoiding people like us to try seeing some of the amazing sights Iceland has to offer. Highly recommended. Faiz family private tour: Golden Circle and South Coast, Reykjavik, Iceland TOUR GUIDE RESPONSE: Thank you Faiz, it was a great pleasure!

Lisa Mayhew, United Kingdom Dec 4/10 Stefan was a fantastic guide - We were in Iceland for 4 days and 3 nights and had initially booked for 4/12/10 but Stefan advised no lights, said he would take us out next night if possible, but again no joy so Monday Stefan picked us up and drove us out of town and using his knowledge and expertise, noticed there would be some action from the Northern Lights, we parked up and watched them and Stefan took photos. On return to UK he had already emailed photo's over. Would recommend to all. Thanks Stefan. Tour #180, Iceland Northern Lights Surprise, Reykjavik, Iceland    view tour TOUR GUIDE RESPONSE: Hello Lisa. It is wonderful that you got to see the lights which of course can be elusive. Thank you for joining my tour, it was a great pleasure to meet you.

Diane Wilson, United States Nov 24/10 Would highly recommend taking this tour. Stefan is very knowledgable and enjoys sharing his knowledge. My husband and I started our Icelandic vacation with this tour and it really helped orientate us to the city and culture. Thank you for sharing your hometown with us Stefan, we'll be back! Diane & Norman, Columbus Ohio USA Tour #136, Private Reykjavik City Sightseeing Tour, Reykjavik, Iceland    view tour TOUR GUIDE RESPONSE: Hello Diane & Norman. It was all my pleasure! I look forward to meeting you again in Iceland ;-)

Tina Gray, United Kingdom Nov 6/10 Stefan was an amazing guide & made the trip fun & interesting despite the weather preventing us from seeing the Northern Lights. He clearly loves his job, is intelligent & was an all-round personable guy. In bad weather, we met us and were told honestly we probably wouldn’t see anything. We were offered alternative options & were under no pressure to do anything. We went regardless but the weather turned torrential so Stefan finished with a city tour anyway. I would definitely do this tour again. Tour #180, Iceland Northern Lights Surprise, Reykjavik, Iceland    view tour TOUR GUIDE RESPONSE: Thank you for the kind words Tina – it was a great pleasure to show you and your friends around Reykjavik at night. It was a pity with the weather which prevented us from seeing the northern lights this time. Let’s hope for better luck next time. Smile, Stefan

Ben Whur, United Kingdom Oct 28/10 Stefan was great. He called during the day and was very honest about the chances of seeing the Northern Lights (the tour we had booked). He turned up at our hotel at the agreed time and we discussed the options. We decided to go even though chances were limited. Stefan is extremely knowledgeable with enviable credentials. He gave us great insights into Iceland's history, geology, and covered every question we could ask. Would highly recommend him and will be booking him on our return. Tour #180, Iceland Northern Lights Surprise, Reykjavik, Iceland    view tour TOUR GUIDE RESPONSE: Hello Ben, thank you very much for the great review! It was a great pleasure to show you around. Till next time, all the best.

Ronald Wellikoff, United States Sep 27/10 This was an outstanding experience. Stephan met us on time, and in a vehicle in which we were quite comfortable. Our tour covered everything that we had discussed prior to our arriving, and then some. He is quite knowledgeable and informative. Each of us came away with the feeling that our tour was one of the best experiences of our trip. I would, without hesitation recommend him to anyone visiting Reykjavik. I don't believe that anyone could have done a better job. Ron's Golden circle 6.5 hrs for 6-8 people, Reykjavik, Iceland TOUR GUIDE RESPONSE: Hello Ron, thank you very much for the outstanding review! I really enjoyed showing you some of Iceland's highlights; Golden waterfall, Geysir geothermal area and Parliament plains. Happy travel!

Patricia McGowan, United States Sep 3/10 Stefan was entertaining and informative. All of us enjoyed his tour very much and would highly recommend it as a great introduction to Reykjavik. Tour #1709, Private tour: Reykjavik City Sightseeing on Foot, Reykjavik, Iceland    view tour TOUR GUIDE RESPONSE: Hello Patricia, Thank you very much for taking time to write a review about me. It is excellent, I appreciate it very much. All the best! Stefan

Elaine Klein, United States Sep 1/10 Stefan planned a great trip for us, stopping at good places to eat along the way,and took many photographs for us. He gave us a CD of the photos he had taken which we did not expect at all. Along our road trip, he told us Icelandic sagas. He has trained many other tour guides and this was very evident to us because he had great knowledge of the area and was very professional. We would definitely employ his services again if we were to come to Iceland. Also, having lived in the US, he speaks English well Reykjavik - Jokulsarlon glacier lagoon - Reykjavik, Reykjavik, Iceland TOUR GUIDE RESPONSE: Thank you Elaine. I am glad to have been of service and you are most welcome to the photographs.

Elaine Klein, United States Aug 31/10 We had an excellent trip with Stefan. He customized the tour so we would have time to shop in the afternoon, so he was very flexible. He speaks English very well and is extremely knowledgeable. We learned quite a bit about Iceland, its politics, geography, energy sources and the culture. He recommended excellent restaurants. We would definitely have Stefan guide us again on our next trip to Iceland. Tour #132, Iceland private tour: Golden Circle Route, Reykjavik, Iceland    view tour TOUR GUIDE RESPONSE: Thank you Elaine, it was a great pleasure to show you around my part of the world !

Elaine Klein, United States Aug 30/10 Stefan was very knowledgeable. The bikes were easy to ride and all equipment was included. Reykjavik is easy to navigate. We had a great time. If we were to travel to Iceland again, we would definitely have Stefan as our one and only tour guide. Elaine's private bicycle tour of Reykjavik, Reykjavik, Iceland TOUR GUIDE RESPONSE: Thank you Elaine, I had a great time with you !

Carrie Jungwirth, United States May 30/10 This review is really late (over a year ago), but I just scrapbooked our pictures and remembered I didn't leave feedback. The tour was FANTASTIC! We had our 11 & 13 kids with us, and we had taken the overnight flight from Seattle and were exhausted. We all perked right up as we started the bike tour and forgot we were tired! Stefan was very patient and answered all our (& our kids') questions. If you come to Reykavik, this bike tour is A MUST! Many thanks Stefan! Dan, Carrie, Thomas & Kendall Carrie's Reykjavik by Bike custom made tour, Reykjavik, Iceland

Phil Butcher, United Kingdom Feb 12/10 No - we didn't get to see the northern lights - but it was not the fault of our guide. The weather was against us (wet and cloudy). Stefan was very friendly and completely flexible with arrangements. He took us on an alternaitve tour and we saw Reykyavik - so that the visit was not wasted. Thanks to Stefan for advice on what to do while in Iceland - We would definitely use Toursbylocals again. Tour #180, Northern Lights Surprise, Reykjavik, Iceland    view tour

Kyoko Lin, United States Oct 11/09 My husband and I took two tours with Stefan, this Golden Circle Route and the Northern Lights Surprise, and we cannot say enough wonderful things about Stefan -- incredibly knowledgeable and informative about Iceland, Icelanders and what we were seeing, helpfully accommodating given our tight schedule, and always willing to go the extra mile to make our experience special. This is our first time with "Tours by Locals", and Stefan has set a very high bar. We would join Stefan on any tour in a heartbeat. Tour #132, Golden Circle Route, Reykjavik, Iceland    view tour TOUR GUIDE RESPONSE: Thank you very much Kyoko! Glad to have met you. Stefan

Kyoko Lin, United States Oct 10/09 My husband and I took two tours with Stefan, this Northern Lights Surprise tour and the Golden Circle Route, and we cannot say enough wonderful things -- incredibly informative about Iceland and Icelanders and helpfully accommodating given our tight schedule. The Northern Lights were somewhat far and difficult to see, and we met other visitors who had used other tours the same night and had seen nothing, but Stefan was able to spot them and showed us how best to photograph them. Key: dSLR and tripod! Tour #180, Northern Lights Surprise, Reykjavik, Iceland    view tour TOUR GUIDE RESPONSE: Thank you very much for the kind words Kyoko. It was a great pleasure to be of assistance. Stefan

Renee Duffey, United States Jun 14/09 The tour was everything we had hoped for. Stefan adapted the tour to match the things we most wanted to see. We arrived by cruise ship and found that the offered excursions that were somewhat limiting. Stefan was able to provide a tour that covered everything in a shorter time than the "bus tours" arranged by the cruise company - for about the same cost. Stefan was waiting for us at the pier and was extremely professional, informative and friendly. Tour #136, Reykjavik City Sightseeing & the Blue Lagoon, Reykjavik, Iceland    view tour TOUR GUIDE RESPONSE: Thank you Renee for the wonderful words! Stefan

Dawn Darrock, United Kingdom Mar 29/09 "stefan" What can I say we had a wonderful time on our trip with the added bonus of seeing the northern lights. I would recomend this to any one visiting Iceland Leave the coach trips and take a private tour Tour #180, Northern Lights Surprise, Reykjavik, Iceland    view tour