Profile photo for Lisbet Grönvaldt
2960 messages
active 7 hours ago

Lisbet Grönvaldt

Born and raised in Akureyri in North Iceland and grew up exploring all that Iceland has to offer. I love road trips because it changes your travels from being about the destination to being about the whole journey. You never know what you might see along the way.

People travel to Iceland for different reasons and helping them create an experience that reflects their desires is important to me, whether it is for waterfalls, hotsprings or the elves!

What places and activities do you specialize in?

"Self-drive trips all over Iceland with a mix of adventure and relaxation, off the beaten track as well as frequently traveled routes, because sometimes places are popular for a good reason. "

How did you get involved in travel?

"Since I was a kid, I have been traveling around Iceland with my family. When I was seventeen, I was fed up with camping every weekend during the summer and decided to move to The Bahamas! After that there was no stopping me, I had found my passion for travel. Since then I have traveled to over 50 countries and lived in another five. Going to a new country and immersing yourself in the culture and customs is life-changing.

During my international travels, my love for my own country grew strong. For me, there is nothing better than to get in a car and drive through this beautiful country to a remote hot spring and just sit there for hours in the peace and quiet. That is what I want travelers to experience in Iceland."

Please share a unique travel experience you will never forget.

"Being able to fly over Holuhraun volcanic eruption in 2015 and then taking a helicopter to Fagradalsfjall volcano in 2021 are experiences I will never forget! "

Lisbet is part of the following groups: Iceland Travel Agents, Iceland Family Travel Agents
Top itineraries and travel advice
Family itineraries
Road trip itineraries

Favorite experiences

Dog Sledding near Akureyri

Northern Iceland is one of the best places to enjoy a thrilling and scenic experience common in the Nordic countries: dogsledding. With a pack of eight or so loyal pups leading the way, you'll sled through the idyllic countryside between Akureyri and Lake Mývatn. This route stretches about 6...

Ásbyrgi Canyon in Northern Iceland

The Ásbyrgi Canyon, a glacial canyon formed after the last Ice Age, is about a 1-hour drive from the Northern Iceland town of Húsavík. This massive landmark sits along Route 85, curving into a U-shape for about 2 miles (3.5 km) from north to south. At the base of the canyon is a forested valley...

Jeep Tour of Askja Northern Highlands

Deep in Iceland's Northern Highlands is the Askja area, where Mount Herðubreið, a majestic table mountain of a truly peculiar shape, acts as the gateway to the wild region. The peak's dark silhouette is unmistakable, even from very far away. Still, the area's most precious gem is Askja itself,...

Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon & Diamond Beach

You'll find the Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon between the towns of Hof and Höfn on the country's famed South Coast. Here you'll have the chance to see one of the unique sights in Iceland: icebergs floating out to sea, resting and shimmering upon a black-sand beach. Once you reach the lagoon, you can...

South Highlands Helicopter Tour

See Iceland from a completely different perspective by flying above the county's serene, diverse, and breathtaking landscape. This half-day journey brings you the ultimate sample of Iceland's natural and cultural highlights. From stunning glaciers, volcanoes, and waterfalls to marvels of human...

Recent trip reviews for Lisbet

Incredible 6 Days in Iceland b/c of KimKim
Iceland | Mar 14 - Mar 19, 2024

B
Beth B.
Ashburn, VA | Reviewed on Mar 27, 2024
I can't explain how happy we were with our trip to Iceland! We got connected with Lisbet, after trying and failing to plan the trip on our own, and had an itinerary including excursions and accommodations within 1-2 days. She was very responsive to our messages and accommodating to move around our week's activities to best fit our expectations. She has a ton of knowledge about the country and knew what to recommend based on the length of our trip, our budget, and how we completed KimKim's... Read more

I can't explain how happy we were with our trip to Iceland! We got connected with Lisbet, after trying and failing to plan the trip on our own, and had an itinerary including excursions and accommodations within 1-2 days. She was very responsive to our messages and accommodating to move around our week's activities to best fit our expectations. She has a ton of knowledge about the country and knew what to recommend based on the length of our trip, our budget, and how we completed KimKim's brief survey.
We were so impressed with Lisbet that we had her connect use to another KimKim agent to help us plan our next trip. I recommend KimKim 10/10 -- thank you!

Hotel Reviews
South Central Apartments
Brautarholt

Very clean, tidy, organized, with fresh towels and dishes. The space was small but more than we needed for showers and two nights' stay.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Right along our route!
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Stracta Apartments
KIRKJUBÆJARKLAUSTUR

Brand new facility! I'm not sure anyone had stayed in our apartment yet. It was very clean and spacious and had all the kitchen stuff you'd need. I highly recommend.

Authenticity & Character
Location
It was "along" our route but was 5 miles off the main road, which was extremely bumpy/unpaved and of rough terrain.
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Local specialist: Lisbet Grönvaldt
Lisbet
Lisbet Grönvaldt
Local specialist in Iceland | Replied on Mar 28, 2024

Thank you so much for your wonderful review, Beth!
It was my pleasure helping you plan this trip.
All my best, Lisbet

Review of our trip to Iceland
Iceland | Aug 21 - Aug 27, 2023

Mary Clare
Mary Clare R.
Swansea, MA | Reviewed on Aug 30, 2023

Everything went well and smoothly. We appreciate Lisbet's timely responses and everything she provided us in preparation for the trip. We got to see a lot with her plans and would not have figured everything out on our own. The only time we deviated from the plans was the last day, when we decided to just explore Rekyavik instead of going to the stops around the airport. Everything was amazing and I would recommend KimKim to anyone trying to see everything they can in a limited amount of time in any of the places you all plan for.

Local specialist: Lisbet Grönvaldt
Lisbet
Lisbet Grönvaldt
Local specialist in Iceland | Replied on Aug 31, 2023

Thank you so much, Mary Clare!

Lisbet did an amazing job planning our trip. ...
Iceland | Aug 21 - Aug 27, 2023

A
Angela R.
Somerville, MA | Reviewed on Aug 29, 2023
Lisbet did an amazing job planning our trip. We took our toddler and parents. She booked activities that had a little something for everyone and we all had a blast! The hotels were great and so were her lunch recommendations. We really loved the amphibian tour seeing the icebergs up close, the waterfalls, hiking, and seal spotting. We could have not asked for a better trip. Read more

Lisbet did an amazing job planning our trip. We took our toddler and parents. She booked activities that had a little something for everyone and we all had a blast! The hotels were great and so were her lunch recommendations. We really loved the amphibian tour seeing the icebergs up close, the waterfalls, hiking, and seal spotting. We could have not asked for a better trip.

Hotel Reviews
Álftröð Guesthouse
Selfoss

This is a “nothing fancy” hotel. You have your room a small TV area and a plus is an outside jacuzzi. The scenery around you is beautiful and there is not much around in regards to restaurants etc. The breakfast served in the am is great and hits the spot. Would not recommend this hotel for a long stay but is clean and reliable when passing through the area.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Fosshotel Nupar
Kálfafell

We really liked this hotel. Each room has an amazing view of the lava fields. There are two restaurants in the hotel and the buffet is surprisingly not bad. It is not too far from a local town with one/two other places to eat. There are even toys and a kids table for younger kids to keep them entertained.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Miðhraun Lava Resort
Stykkishólmur

Great location, park for kids, and amazing food. Staff was super friendly.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Eyja Guldsmeden Hotel
Reykjavik

Super cute hotel, comfy rooms and space, great breakfast. Walking distance to great locations!

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Activity Reviews
Jokulsarlon glacier lagoon amphibian boat tour
Jokulsarlon glacier lagoon amphibian boat tour
Iceland
Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
The Secret Lagoon
The Secret Lagoon
Iceland
Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Local specialist: Lisbet Grönvaldt
Lisbet
Lisbet Grönvaldt
Local specialist in Iceland | Replied on Aug 30, 2023

Thank you so much for a great review, Angela!

Lisbet was phenomenal!!
Iceland | Aug 4 - Aug 11, 2023

C
Christy G.
Milford, CT | Reviewed on Aug 18, 2023

Lisbet was phenomenal!!

Local specialist: Lisbet Grönvaldt
Lisbet
Lisbet Grönvaldt
Local specialist in Iceland | Replied on Aug 24, 2023

Thank you, Christy!

Fabulous and Organized trip
Iceland | Aug 3 - Aug 9, 2023

caroline
caroline G.
Livingston, NJ | Reviewed on Aug 16, 2023
Overall our trip was amazing. The Katla Ice Cave was a highlight and Maria from Troll Expeditions was great. Also, kayaking at the Glacier Lagoon and our whale watching excursion with Laki tours in Olafsvik were both fantastic. Read more

Overall our trip was amazing. The Katla Ice Cave was a highlight and Maria from Troll Expeditions was great. Also, kayaking at the Glacier Lagoon and our whale watching excursion with Laki tours in Olafsvik were both fantastic.

Activity Reviews
Whale Watching Olafsvik
Whale Watching Olafsvik
Iceland

I have wanted to go whale watching for years but am so glad I waited to do it in Iceland. Laki Tours was so well organized and we were fortunate to have perfect weather, calm water and amazing sightings!

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Very knowledgeable and personable
Transport
Jokulsarlon Glacier Kayaking Adventure
Jokulsarlon Glacier Kayaking Adventure
Iceland

Was such a great experience to kayak around the icebergs in the glacier lagoon. Very serene and beautiful.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Katla Ice Cave
Katla Ice Cave
Iceland

Really enjoyed the ice cave, such a unique experience.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Local specialist: Lisbet Grönvaldt
Lisbet
Lisbet Grönvaldt
Local specialist in Iceland | Replied on Aug 17, 2023

Thank you for the review, Caroline! I'm so happy you had an amazing trip!

Wonderful intergenerational trip!
Iceland | Aug 2 - Aug 12, 2023

J
Julie B.
Seattle, WA | Reviewed on Aug 13, 2023

My family of 5 ages 12-77 had an incredible 11-day trip to Iceland facilitated by Lisbet and Kim Kim. We especially enjoyed up close viewing of whales, puffins, and icebergs; every day's beautiful and varied scenery; and great food at almost every stop. Ending the trip at the Sky Lagoon was also a highlight. Thank you Lisbet, for designing a well-paced trip for our crew and for being extremely responsive and helpful all along the way.

Local specialist: Lisbet Grönvaldt
Lisbet
Lisbet Grönvaldt
Local specialist in Iceland | Replied on Aug 14, 2023

Thank you, Julie! I'm so happy you had an incredible trip.

Amazing, amazing trip. Everything was perfec...
Iceland | Jun 17 - Jun 24, 2023

E
Emily G.
Charlton, MA | Reviewed on Jun 28, 2023

Amazing, amazing trip. Everything was perfect - the places we stayed, the car rental, the suggestions on hikes and we loved having the maps going from place to place. Thank you so much!

Local specialist: Lisbet Grönvaldt
Lisbet
Lisbet Grönvaldt
Local specialist in Iceland | Replied on Jun 28, 2023

Thank you, Emily. I'm so glad you had an amazing trip!

Lizbet was great. She understood our prefere...
Iceland | May 25 - May 30, 2023

Marsha
Marsha B.
Post Falls, ID | Reviewed on May 31, 2023
Lizbet was great. She understood our preferences and tried to accommodate them. The first accommodations were perfect. I challenged lizbet on the second accommodations and she said we were booking late and that was all she could get. I would not recommend the Stracta Apartments. There are no restaurants nearby, no host or anyone to talk to, not sure about the safety there, so I did not go out to run by myself, and, very frustrating, it is not on Google maps. Making it difficult to... Read more

Lizbet was great. She understood our preferences and tried to accommodate them.

The first accommodations were perfect. I challenged lizbet on the second accommodations and she said we were booking late and that was all she could get. I would not recommend the Stracta Apartments. There are no restaurants nearby, no host or anyone to talk to, not sure about the safety there, so I did not go out to run by myself, and, very frustrating, it is not on Google maps. Making it difficult to navigate.

Kayaking was cancelled due to wind.

Missed hot pools due to baggage delivery system breaking at the airport causing a 2 plus hour delay.

Ice cave tour was outstanding
Food recommendations were very helpful.
Maps and turn by turn guide got us to all out destinations.
Lizbet, thank you for the descriptions of all the nearby waterfalls and other tourist attractions. Extremely helpful.

Hotel Reviews
Hotel Eldhestar
Ölfus, Hveragerði

Very quiet, clean and it was so much fun to see and hear the horses. Sorry we did not have time for a ride. They recommended a wonderful hike for us. Thank you.

Authenticity & Character
Great to hear and see the horses
Location
No road noise. Did hear the wind though
Staff
Loved yhe hike they recommended
Cleanliness & Comfort
Bath room was quite large
Stracta Apartments
KIRKJUBÆJARKLAUSTUR

No host. Not sure about the safety there. I did not go out to run by myself.

Authenticity & Character
It was clean. Had a full kitchen
Location
Get your road on Google maps. Grade the road more often. 7 km of potholes!
Staff
Never saw any one
Cleanliness & Comfort
There are only 2 kitchen chairs to sit on. There are no chairs with soft cushions.
Aurora Hotel at Reykjavik-Keflavik Airport Terminal KEF
Reykjanesbær

Excellent dinner there. Lots of vegetables with main course.

Authenticity & Character
Had an exercise room. Bikes worked, never got tread mill to work.
Location
Could walk to rental car return and terminal. Wonderful location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Shower was small
Activity Reviews
Katla Ice Cave
Katla Ice Cave
Iceland

Best part of the trip. Hawk, our guide , was so enthusiastic, knowledgeable, fun to be with.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Enthusiasm of guides. Each vehicle group is kept separate so small groups, easier to hear.
Transport
Jokulsarlon Glacier Kayaking Adventure
Jokulsarlon Glacier Kayaking Adventure
Iceland

Very disappointed, cancelled due to wind. When is it not windy the there? Provided full refund

Quality of Experience
Local specialist: Lisbet Grönvaldt
Lisbet
Lisbet Grönvaldt
Local specialist in Iceland | Replied on May 31, 2023

Thank you for a great review, Marsha!

Kim kim did a wonderful job taking our prefer...
Iceland | May 4 - May 9, 2023

Mark
Mark H.
Noblesville, IN | Reviewed on May 11, 2023
Kim kim did a wonderful job taking our preferences and creating a great trip plan complete with rental car, hotels, tickets to key tours and recommendations for eating establishments. Perhaps best of all they were constantly available to assist us with questions and assistance. I would book through them again!!! Mark & Sara Read more

Kim kim did a wonderful job taking our preferences and creating a great trip plan complete with rental car, hotels, tickets to key tours and recommendations for eating establishments. Perhaps best of all they were constantly available to assist us with questions and assistance. I would book through them again!!!

Mark & Sara

Hotel Reviews
Hotel Fludir
Fludir

Amazing staff that went out of their way to accommodate our needs. Very friendly!

Authenticity & Character
Location
Very centrally located to tour the Golden Circle .
Staff
Hotel Laki
Kirkjubæjarklaustur

Incredible food offerings for both dinner and breakfast. Beautiful country setting with mountain and sea views.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Hótel Keflavík by Keflavík Airport
Keflavík

This is an amazing hotel with first class feel and attention to detail. 10 minutes from the airport.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Activity Reviews
Lava Tunnel Tour
Lava Tunnel Tour
Iceland
Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Less cheesy jokes. I felt that I was at a comedy act at times.
Transport
The Secret Lagoon
The Secret Lagoon
Iceland

We loved this activity. Wonderfully relaxing.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Secret Ice Cave
Secret Ice Cave
Iceland

Incredible experience though this tour involves walking planks in caves over rushing ice streams 10-30 ft below. We enjoyed it but noted that several were very uncomfortable with the balance and footing. Great guides!!

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Jokulsarlon glacier lagoon amphibian boat tour
Jokulsarlon glacier lagoon amphibian boat tour
Iceland

You can see the glacial ice in the water from the shore and will not see very different views from the boat. Having said this the guides did share some information and comments that were interesting!

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Local specialist: Lisbet Grönvaldt
Lisbet
Lisbet Grönvaldt
Local specialist in Iceland | Replied on May 12, 2023

Thank you for your wonderful review. I'm so glad you had a great time!

Land of Fire & Ice (and Licorice & Rainbows)
Iceland | Apr 2 - Apr 9, 2023

E
Evan M.
Mamaroneck, NY | Reviewed on Apr 16, 2023
Lisbet was very responsive and helpful. We revised our trip several times to coordinate with friends. Lisbet was there at every turn to help us, always with patience and insight. We were in Iceland in April for a series of concerts by the American band Wilco. We love the band, and a visit to Iceland is something we had on our bucket list, so it was natural. The first four days of our trip were spent traveling the sparsely populated South Coast, then back up through Thingvellier. The next... Read more

Lisbet was very responsive and helpful. We revised our trip several times to coordinate with friends. Lisbet was there at every turn to help us, always with patience and insight.

We were in Iceland in April for a series of concerts by the American band Wilco. We love the band, and a visit to Iceland is something we had on our bucket list, so it was natural. The first four days of our trip were spent traveling the sparsely populated South Coast, then back up through Thingvellier. The next four days were spent in Reykjavik.

Iceland is an amazing country, and we absolutely loved our visit. One might say we were a bit unlucky with the weather--lots of rain in April! But my wife and I felt we got a real taste of the combination of the incredible shifting microclimates and precipitation patterns against the landscape. We saw water in every form. We had blazing sun, near hurricane level wind with rain, dense fog, brilliant rainbows, ice caves, and hail. It was almost psychedelic. I would never have imagined that ice climbing by a volcano in the rain, with an avalanche (that made us turn back), would be so exhilarating. It was. Talk about feeling alive. Wow.

Favorite Hotel
360 Hotel: Anna and her husband run a beautiful and serene place. The food was superb. We'd go back there in a heartbeat

Favorite Destinations
- Black Sand Beach in Vik. The columnar basalt formations, the power of the sea, and the volcanic outcroppings made it a mythical place
- The Gullfoss waterfall
- Reykjavik's Harpa Center was also spectacular.

Favorite Food
- lamb stew
- licorice

Best Moves
- Go directly from the airport to the Blue Lagoon: totally refreshes after the international travel. Can't think of a better way to start any adventure than this
- Having the mobile wifi device that came with our car assured us that we would have excellent connectivity everywhere, so using Waze and accessing the internet was easy and especially appreciated when in remote areas
- Having truly waterproof outwear--total lifesaver (nothing like being prepared!)

Biggest Surprise
- Iceland is effectively a bi-lingual country. Everyone speaks English, and we never even needed to exchange currency

Final Thought
- Iceland is a complex and beautiful place we will surely visit again. Remember, as they say there, "It's not just cold; it's expensive."

Local specialist: Lisbet Grönvaldt
Lisbet
Lisbet Grönvaldt
Local specialist in Iceland | Replied on Apr 16, 2023

Thank you, Evan and Linda, for a great review!
I'm so happy you loved your trip. I'm also very happy you liked the licorice!