Profile photo for Elisa Guðlaug Snæland Bjarkardóttir
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Elisa Guðlaug Snæland Bjarkardóttir

I am born and raised here in Iceland. My parents have a special kind of love for the country, so from a young age, I have been traveling all around our extraordinary Ísland (Iceland). Then coming into adulthood I saw that I could use my love and knowledge of my own travels to help other travelers to experience this unique country.

How did you get involved in travel?

"In 2015 I started working as a tour guide, taking people through The Golden Circle. I then went on to hospitality work in the southern region of Iceland. "

Please share a unique travel experience you will never forget.

"It was late summer and we went on a camping trip to a magical place called Þakgil. We woke up early morning put our hiking boots on, our daughter in a hiking carrier and just started to walk. We did not decide beforehand where we would hike and the surprise that we were about to experience was magical. We walked up this canyon that ended with this small but breathtaking waterfall surrounded by humongous cliffs and rocks that have fallen from it. The moment where you just stop and you take all this magnificent nature in and you can feel how small you are in comparison to mother nature.

This feeling is why I love being outside in nature. The adventure where you just experience and enjoy yourself far from your daily life and worries."

Elisa Guðlaug Snæland is part of the following groups: Iceland Travel Agents, Sweden Travel Agents
Top itineraries and travel advice
Road trip itineraries

Recent trip reviews for Elisa Guðlaug Snæland

One of our favorite trips so far! Iceland was incredible!
Iceland | Dec 26 - Jan 3, 2024

Tamara
Tamara M.
Glenview, IL | Reviewed on Jan 10, 2024
We used KimKim to plan an itinerary for us to explore Iceland this winter. The trip was myself, my husband and our 18 year old daughter. We had a fabulous time! Our daughter said it was one of the best trips we have ever taken! We had a car reserved and itinerary/route mapped out for us with hotels booked and appropriate tours/adventures booked for us. The directions on how to pick up our car, links to google maps to all destinations and information on locations were easy to use and... Read more

We used KimKim to plan an itinerary for us to explore Iceland this winter. The trip was myself, my husband and our 18 year old daughter. We had a fabulous time! Our daughter said it was one of the best trips we have ever taken!

We had a car reserved and itinerary/route mapped out for us with hotels booked and appropriate tours/adventures booked for us.

The directions on how to pick up our car, links to google maps to all destinations and information on locations were easy to use and helpful.

All of our adventures that were booked were terrific…food tour, Silfra snorkeling, Golden circle tour, Bubble hotel, ice cave, into the glacier tour, various lagoons and more!

We had a couple small changes during our trip and our travel guide, Migle, was very responsive via What’s App. (Elisa was on maternity leave). The weather deteriorated before our last night in the south and we decided to head back to Reykjavik instead of risk driving in a storm the following day (or being stuck). It worked out fine and we enjoyed an extra night in Reykjavik complete with NYE fireworks!

We were blown away by the beauty of Iceland and can not wait to go back!

Hotel Reviews
Hótel Egilsen
Stykkishólmur

Loved this quaint hotel. Breakfast was delicious!

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Berjaya Reykjavik Marina Hotel
Reykjavík
Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Hotel Ísland – Spa & Wellness Hotel
Reykjavík

It was a bit removed from the city center. The spa was a nice option. The staff wasn’t very helpful

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Activity Reviews
Bubble Hotel with Golden Circle tour
Bubble Hotel with Golden Circle tour
Iceland
Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Reykjavík Food Walk
Reykjavík Food Walk
Iceland
The Secret Lagoon
The Secret Lagoon
Iceland
Into the Glacier
Into the Glacier
Iceland
Crystal Blue Ice Cave
Crystal Blue Ice Cave
Iceland
Silfra Snorkeling – Dive Between Continents in Crystal Clear Waters
Silfra Snorkeling – Dive Between Continents in Crystal Clear Waters
Iceland
Local specialist: Elisa Guðlaug Snæland Bjarkardóttir

We were very happy with the Kim Kim service....
Iceland | Aug 31 - Sep 12, 2023

Debbie
Debbie B.
West Melbourne, FL | Reviewed on Oct 05, 2023
We were very happy with the Kim Kim service.
Elisa was our travel consultant for Iceland and she put together an excellent itinerary. She handled the bookings for our lodging and was quite flexible when we requested some changes. She also booked a number of excursions and we had very few glitches during our travels. She responded very promptly regarding the few small items that came up.
I loved that her trip itinerary included not only the specific places we'd booked but a long list of...
Read more

We were very happy with the Kim Kim service.
Elisa was our travel consultant for Iceland and she put together an excellent itinerary. She handled the bookings for our lodging and was quite flexible when we requested some changes. She also booked a number of excursions and we had very few glitches during our travels. She responded very promptly regarding the few small items that came up.
I loved that her trip itinerary included not only the specific places we'd booked but a long list of suggested places we could visit on our way plus a nice selection of restaurants some of which she had been to and offered her personal opinions.
With her suggestions there were more choices than time to do them all. (Maybe we need to come back again!)
We loved the Trollaskagi tour with Reynir. It was just the two of us and the driver. And he was full of stories about life in Iceland such as when we visited the Herring Era museum and he talked about when he worked on a Herring ship when he was younger. He also had suggestions for when to see some of the other sights on our list (and how to avoid the cruise ship tour bus crowds).
The super jeep tour with Helga was great too. And she too gave us wonderful insight to living life in Iceland. We had one other couple with us. This was so much better than those huge bus tours!
And of course you can't skip the glacier hike and ice caves which also add to what makes Iceland unique!

Hotel Reviews
Hengifoss Guesthouse
Egilsstadir

Nice cozy place in very quiet area. But located 30 minutes from the center of town. The room was just fine with enough space for us and luggage and a lovely view out the window. They even had one EV charger we were able to use. They have a lot of camp sites but since we were there in September there were very few campers. They have a nice breakfast buffet with plenty of choices. They also serve dinner. There were two options on the nights we were there: Baked cod or lasagne . We had the cod and it was very good. And easier than driving the 30 mins back into town.

Authenticity & Character
Location
It's 30 minutes from town.
Staff
Friendly and gave lots of suggestions of things to do in the area
Cleanliness & Comfort
Guesthouse Sunna
Reykjavik

We stayed here twice at the beginning and end of our trip. The location is good, right across the street from Hallgrimskirkja. It's about a 15 minute walk downhill to Harpa which means that just about anything in the city can be reached within 10-15 minutes. Parking is tight and it's not clear whether they actually have enough spaces to accommodate everyone with a car. If you do park in their lot, make sure to get a parking "pass" from the front desk. We stayed in two different room which were completely different. Both were comfortable but snug. Not a whole lot of space but since we weren't in the room except to sleep it didn't matter. There some basic kitchen areas for community use in several areas with fridge and sink and coffee makers. One of our rooms had a mini-fridge. The other did not. Breakfast was just fine with plenty of basic choices such as yogurt, fruit, bread, cheese, meats, hard boiled eggs etc. Our first room had a balcony which faced the church but we had very stormy weather and therefore didn't use it. Overall we were very satisfied with this guesthouse.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Framtid Apartments and Holiday Homes
Djupivogur

We stayed in the Sea View apartment which was right next to the hotel and faced the harbor. It was everything we needed. It had a washer/dryer which we really needed and they supplied the detergent. The kitchen was well outfitted. The coffee machine was different from other locations but the hotel had coffee pods for it. There was lots of room for relaxing and the beds were comfortable. The sliding doors out to the porch appear to be a fairly recent addition. Lovely when the weather is good to open the doors and get the air flow. And of course, you can walk all around the fjord if you wish.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Local specialist: Elisa Guðlaug Snæland Bjarkardóttir

We could not have been happier with our 12-da...
Iceland | Jul 21 - Aug 2, 2023

Tommy
Tommy M.
Jollyville, TX | Reviewed on Aug 07, 2023
We could not have been happier with our 12-day trip to Iceland! Each scheduled activity was memorable, timely, and extremely well run. Our favorite had to be Kayaking in Glacier Lagoon with B, though Helga's knowledge of everything Iceland on our Super Jeep tour was phenomenal. When my wife discovered that our excellent Glacier Cave guide, Ace, was also Sigtryggr on one of her favorite shows, "Last Kingdom", that immediately jumped to her favorite part of Iceland and the trip. Beyond... Read more

We could not have been happier with our 12-day trip to Iceland! Each scheduled activity was memorable, timely, and extremely well run. Our favorite had to be Kayaking in Glacier Lagoon with B, though Helga's knowledge of everything Iceland on our Super Jeep tour was phenomenal. When my wife discovered that our excellent Glacier Cave guide, Ace, was also Sigtryggr on one of her favorite shows, "Last Kingdom", that immediately jumped to her favorite part of Iceland and the trip. Beyond the scheduled activities, the recommended route and stops were well thought out, balanced day to day, perfect for what our group of 6 had indicated we wanted to do, and varied throughout the trip.

We made several changes throughout the planning process and even after arriving and Elisa was always extremely responsive to everything we requested. It was pleasing to know that we had a local contact that could help us should we need it.

Local specialist: Elisa Guðlaug Snæland Bjarkardóttir
Elisa Guðlaug Snæland
Elisa Guðlaug Snæland Bjarkardóttir
Local specialist in Iceland southern region | Replied on Aug 08, 2023

Thank you for this great review and an awesome partnership. I had a blast helping you with this ring road adventure with your wife and friends. I am glad to hear that this trip was a success and everything was to your liking.
Hope to see you again someday,
Elisa

Fantastic journey, thorough and thoughtful guidance.
Iceland | Jul 29 - Aug 3, 2023

Ken
Ken J.
Limerick, PA | Reviewed on Aug 05, 2023
From moment of first contact through the end of our fantastic Iceland journey, Elisa provided thorough and helpful guidance. Most important, she was a thoughtful, kind, and pleasant partner. Highest marks possible to Elisa and kimkim. Read more

From moment of first contact through the end of our fantastic Iceland journey, Elisa provided thorough and helpful guidance. Most important, she was a thoughtful, kind, and pleasant partner. Highest marks possible to Elisa and kimkim.

Hotel Reviews
Fosshotel Reykjavík
Reykjavík
Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Stracta Hotel Hella
Hella
Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Fosshotel Glacier Lagoon
Hnappavellir
Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Hotel Katla by Keahotels
Vík
Authenticity & Character
Location
Beautifully situated. I highly recommend a walk along the river passing through the property.
Staff
Friendly, authentic.
Cleanliness & Comfort
Konvin Hotel by Reykjavik Keflavik Airport
Keflavík
Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Local specialist: Elisa Guðlaug Snæland Bjarkardóttir
Elisa Guðlaug Snæland
Elisa Guðlaug Snæland Bjarkardóttir
Local specialist in Iceland southern region | Replied on Aug 08, 2023

Thank you for a lovely review and a great partnership. I had so much fun helping you plan this family trip and I'm so happy that you enjoyed your Icelandic adventure.
Hope to see you again sometime,
Elisa

Great experience with Elisa and Kimkim for our Iceland trip
Iceland | Jul 3 - Jul 9, 2023

Amit
Amit J.
Long Branch, NJ | Reviewed on Jul 13, 2023
It was our first time to Iceland. It’s quite daunting to figure out what you’d be interesting in seeing and what all activities you’d like to do along with optimal route and hotel selection/booking. Luckily we had Elisa, our guide/booking agent who is also a native of Iceland. She was very helpful in understanding our needs, suggesting an itenary and extra activities. After some back and forth we booked the trip with her.
Trip went mostly flawless. We had an issue with a hotel booking on...
Read more

It was our first time to Iceland. It’s quite daunting to figure out what you’d be interesting in seeing and what all activities you’d like to do along with optimal route and hotel selection/booking. Luckily we had Elisa, our guide/booking agent who is also a native of Iceland. She was very helpful in understanding our needs, suggesting an itenary and extra activities. After some back and forth we booked the trip with her.
Trip went mostly flawless. We had an issue with a hotel booking on one of the days where a new management of the hotel pretended to not find our reservation. I texted Elisa and she went above and beyond her normal duty and booked a new hotel for us within minutes. Imagine if you had to do all this in another country by yourself.

I’d whole heartedly recommend Elisa, if you are looking for a trip to Iceland. She takes care of her clients and takes the stressful planning part out, so that clients can focus on enjoying their vacation.

Hotel Review
Legendary Hotel Hella
Hella

Bad hotel/bad management.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Local specialist: Elisa Guðlaug Snæland Bjarkardóttir
Elisa Guðlaug Snæland
Elisa Guðlaug Snæland Bjarkardóttir
Local specialist in Iceland southern region | Replied on Jul 13, 2023

Thank you for a lovely review Amit. It was my pleasure to help you and your family plan this amazing trip to Iceland. Hope to see you again someday :)

Elisa was extremely helpful in making our hut to hut adventure possible
Iceland | Jun 16 - Jun 23, 2023

Erika
Erika I.
Fort Bragg, CA | Reviewed on Jun 27, 2023
Elisa was extremely helpful in making all of our bookings and arranging to have our food and bags moved for us while we were on an amazing hut to hut hike. Iceland is truly a magical place to visit. We especially enjoyed the east coast where it was less populated. Read more

Elisa was extremely helpful in making all of our bookings and arranging to have our food and bags moved for us while we were on an amazing hut to hut hike. Iceland is truly a magical place to visit. We especially enjoyed the east coast where it was less populated.

Hotel Reviews
Prestshus 2 Evening Sun Guesthouse
Vik

This place has rustic charm. The keeper is kind and welcoming. She keeps the place spotless.

Authenticity & Character
This is on a farm with dogs and sheep.
Location
This is very close to a beautiful black sand beach making it easy to enjoy early in the morning before the other tourist show up.
Staff
So kind and welcoming.
Cleanliness & Comfort
Very clean with a wonderful shower.
Apotek Guesthouse
Höfn í Hornafirði

Clean and stylish room in great location.

Authenticity & Character
Talking with other guests in the open seating area for coffee and breakfast
Location
Walk to restaurants and grocery
Staff
I didn't see much of them but they kept the place spotless
Cleanliness & Comfort
Very clean!
Blabjorg Resort
Borgarfjörður Eystri

This was our absolute favorite spot. We wished we could stay longer.

Authenticity & Character
Stylish with lovely rooms and a hot soaking tub outside
Location
Right on the water in a very cute town
Staff
Everyone was so open and nice
Cleanliness & Comfort
Clean rooms and the best breakfast buffet
Hörgsland guesthouse and cottages
Kirkjubaejarklaustur

Very basic, clean but a bit broken down with a bathroom door that wouldn't close, a broken toilet seat and funky shower.

Authenticity & Character
Not much character
Location
A bit of a distance from anything and they didn't have a shop, restaurant, or even morning coffee. Very basic
Staff
Neutral
Cleanliness & Comfort
In need of attention and a little love
Seydisfjordur Guesthouse
Seydisfjordur

Small but very nice room

Authenticity & Character
Nice coffee maker to help yourself in very clean community kitchen
Location
Walk to everything
Staff
Not much contact...but nice
Cleanliness & Comfort
Very clean
Breiðuvik skáli (viknasloðir hut)

This is a hut so you need to walk to it, but a magical place

Authenticity & Character
Totally authentic experience!
Location
Get ready to walk!
Staff
The best!
Cleanliness & Comfort
Dormitory style sleeping
Loðmundarfjorður skáli (viknasloðir hut)

This a mountain hut so you need to walk to it.

Authenticity & Character
Talking with fellow travelers
Location
This is in a magical inlet
Staff
Helpful and kind
Cleanliness & Comfort
This has a community kitchen and dormatory sleeping arrangements
Local specialist: Elisa Guðlaug Snæland Bjarkardóttir
Elisa Guðlaug Snæland
Elisa Guðlaug Snæland Bjarkardóttir
Local specialist in Iceland southern region | Replied on Jun 28, 2023

I had a really good time helping you and your family with this unique hiking trip in the east fjords. Thanks for a lovely review and I hope you'll return to this magical island someday.

Elisa organised an epic ten day adventure through the West Fjords and South Coast of Iceland
Iceland | Apr 28 - May 8, 2023

Tanya
Tanya D.
Australia | Reviewed on May 28, 2023
Elisa organised an epic ten day adventure for us through the West Fjords and south coast of Iceland. Liaising and payment in lead up to the trip was simple and Elisa was very helpful if we encountered any hiccups during the trip. We appreciated the support over Whatsapp when travelling. Elisa met up with us briefly and gifted us some Icelandic goodies which was a very sweet touch. The highlight of the trip was certainly the west fjords which was the slightly less traveled part of Iceland -... Read more

Elisa organised an epic ten day adventure for us through the West Fjords and south coast of Iceland. Liaising and payment in lead up to the trip was simple and Elisa was very helpful if we encountered any hiccups during the trip. We appreciated the support over Whatsapp when travelling. Elisa met up with us briefly and gifted us some Icelandic goodies which was a very sweet touch. The highlight of the trip was certainly the west fjords which was the slightly less traveled part of Iceland - beautiful sweeping scenery that we could take in over days of driving with 100 photo stops. We couldn't get enough. Recommend ordering fresh Cod when available on the menu - it was always delicious. Iceland was a very expensive country which we were anticipating. Certainly a once in a lifetime trip though! We would book through KimKim again.

Local specialist: Elisa Guðlaug Snæland Bjarkardóttir
Elisa Guðlaug Snæland
Elisa Guðlaug Snæland Bjarkardóttir
Local specialist in Iceland southern region | Replied on May 30, 2023

I had a great time helping you plan this amazing trip and I'm so glad you enjoyed traveling here in Iceland. Thanks for choosing kimkim and I hope we will see you again here in the land of Ice.

Lovely trip to Iceland
Iceland | Mar 15 - Mar 19, 2023

L
Laura H.
Fairfield, CT | Reviewed on Mar 20, 2023

Elisa was very responsive and easy to work with. She had great suggestions for things for us to do and was open to moving around our itinerary to fit our specific interests. We saw a lot of this beautiful country in just a few days with her help. We would love to visit again and work with KimKim again.

Local specialist: Elisa Guðlaug Snæland Bjarkardóttir
Elisa Guðlaug Snæland
Elisa Guðlaug Snæland Bjarkardóttir
Local specialist in Iceland southern region | Replied on Mar 21, 2023

Hi Laura!
I had a great time helping you and your friends plan your trip to Iceland, and I am so glad to hear that your trip was successful. I really hope to see you again in the land of fire and snow and thank you for a lovely review.
Best wishes,
Elisa