My name is Rúnar, your local guide in Akureyri. 
My family moved around when I was young so I can not claim to be a “born and raised” local in any one place, I am simply an Icelander. I have however lived in the fjord of Eyjafjörður (where Akureyri is located) since I was 10 years old, and spent my formative years on the island of Hrísey. I grew up in the island's only village, a fishing village of less than 150 people. I have now lived in Akureyri for nine years and consider it my hometown. Eyjaförður is also where my heritage mostly originates and I can trace my family history back to the very first settlers of this fjord. 

Guiding is my primary job as well as my biggest passion, but like most Icelanders I do a little bit of everything; I am a guide, a local journalist, a bouncer and occasional grappling coach. When it comes to free time I usually don't have much of it, but when I do it tends to get spent on training, falling down research rabbit holes or travelling within Iceland. 

Throughout my 25 years of life, I have worked a myriad of jobs. I have been a fast-food worker, a postman, a landscaper, a journalist, a student and so much more. In the spring of 2023 I went as a trainee on one guided tour, mostly as a courtesy to an old friend. That same afternoon I handed in my notice at my other job, knowing that I had found my passion and my future career. Despite being fairly new to the industry, I would say that I have gained more experience in my short time in this career than most. I have guided all sorts of tours in every region of Iceland and during all seasons.

As a tour guide, my main goal is very simple: I want my guests to see Iceland the same way I do. Iceland is the love of my life and I try my best to pass this love on to my guests. Unfortunately, some visitors leave Iceland with mostly a visual impression. They see the country as a series of beautiful and photogenic places, as a highlight reel. 

I want my guests to leave with an understanding and appreciation of Iceland as a country, with its rich culture, interesting history, fascinating geology and of course, an endless supply of beautiful places.

Here on ToursByLocals, I offer a variety of tours from my hometown of Akureyri, primarily focusing on three regions: The town itself, the surrounding fjord and valleys, plus the Lake Mývatn region to the east. Each of these regions has their own charm and offers a different experience: if you want to see some of North Iceland’s most famous and beautiful nature spots, I'd say a tour around lake Mývatn is for you. If you're interested in finding hidden gems and getting a feeling for the local life, you should consider a tour in the Eyjafjörður area around Akureyri. If you're more interested in art, history and architecture, take a look at my city walk!

Lastly, if none of my tours are exactly what you’re looking for, just get in contact! As these are private tours, they can be tailored exactly to your liking. I am always down to make changes and try new things to make sure that each guest has the North Iceland experience of their dreams.

Look forward to seeing you up north!

My qualifications:
- University of Akureyri: BA, Media studies
- Currently studying Tour Guiding at Símennt, Akureyri
- Licensed Professional Driver
- Licensed Day tour provider by the Icelandic Tourist board
- Bus Driving License
- First Aid Certification, Icelandic Red Cross
- Experience in guiding various types of tours, including:
   - Big bus sightseeing tours
   - Small bus sightseeing tours
   - Private sightseeing tours
   - History walks and city walks
   - Super jeep tours
   - Northern lights hunting
   - Winter hikes, including snowshoe hikes

The Diamond Circle is the "créme de la créme" of sightseeing routes in North Iceland. The route includes all of the most famous sites in the area, but with the help of your local guide, it can include plenty of hidden gems as well.

The tour takes a big loop around a portion of North Iceland, with ever-changing scenery for the entire day. The views on the way include everything from lush valleys like Aðaldalur to the barren desert-like surroundings of Mývatnsöræfi.

Along the way, there are three major stops that define the Diamond circle:
The majestic waterfalls of Goðafoss and Dettifoss and the enchanting canyon of Ásbyrgi. 

In addition to those, we will try to fit in plenty of exciting and surprising stops along the way to take in the beauty of places like Lake Mývatn and Öxarfjörður, depending on conditions. 

Diamond circle from Húsavík

A trip to Goðafoss and Mývatn is one of Akureyri’s most popular shore excursions. This is for good reason, as this day tour encompasses some of the most stunning places in North Iceland. 

Goðafoss is both one of Iceland’s most beautiful waterfalls and one of its most historically significant sites. On our way there, I'll talk about ancient gods, the rise of Christianity in Iceland and the Icelandic parliament of Alþingi, handed down to us from the pagan vikings.

Lake Mývatn is situated in a volcanically active part of Iceland. During the last few thousand years, the water in this lake has interacted with hot lava during many of the area’s frequent eruptions. When water & lava meet, it results in one of nature’s most explosive interactions and leaves behind some of its strangest landscapes. This is what we come to see.

We'll get a perfect mix of nature & culture. Every stop is simultaneously geologically fascinating, steeped in folklore and stunningly beautiful. It’s a day you won’t forget soon.

Lake Mývatn & Goðafoss Waterfall - 5 hour Express version.

This customized tour for Roz B fits your prefrences to a tee: It includes plenty of time in the relaxing Forest lagoon, avoids any long walks, while still giving you an opportunity to enjoy the gorgeous views of the Akureyri region

Tour guide in Akureyri Rúnar Freyr J.

English, Icelandic

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