Matthías Ólafsson

What places and activities do you specialize in?

"Anywhere in Iceland, self-driving tours, excursion-based tours, specific locations, trekking, culture & history."

How did you get involved in travel?

"The Icelandic travel business is booming due to the unique landscape and peaceful ambience of the country, an exciting work environment for an enthusiastic young guy ready to make a name for himself. With my experience traveling the country and spending time in nature I started looking around for job opportunities in the field and got offered the possibility of working for Planet Iceland, sharing my local experiences with people from all over the world.

"

Please share a unique travel experience you will never forget.

"I traveled to the my mother-in-law´s place in the Westman islands, just off the south coast of Iceland in 2010. We hiked the volcanoes as we always do when over there (one has to try to stay fit!) and spent our days enjoying nature and visiting friends and family. One day, we saw thunders and massive black clouds coming from the glacier a few kilometers away. It was official - Eyjafjallajökull had started an explosive eruption, spewing an endless stream of black ash into the air. The town of Westman islands became completely covered in ash and the following weekend was spent rinsing the rooftops in the neighborhood and shovel the ash away from the roads so that regular vehicles could drive around and daily life could continue as usual for the islanders.

This short trip to the Westman islands was perhaps not the most entertaining one I´ve been on, but certainly the most unique - and will forever linger in my memory."