Tour guide in Iceland

Great northern lights in Iceland

2012-01-22T10:27:00.010Z

The northern lights gave a good show last night, according to an Iceland tour guide colleague who searched for the northern lights last night. "They gave a good show for 20 minutes. I'd give it 6.5 on the scale of 10," he said.

For the past few months we've struggled to see good lights in Iceland, mostly due to the cloud cover, but also due to lack of activity. In December 2012 for example we had many snow days. Needless to say, when it snows it is cloudy which means they block the view.

The near future though looks very promising as far as northern light displays are concerned.

Reykjavik Bike Tours offers private northern lights tours in winter.

Rosalind Newlands president of the World Federation of Tourist Guide Associations WFTGA

2011-03-16T07:56:00.004Z

“You get to travel around the country you love, and tell people about it,” she says. “And best of all, you're almost always dealing with people when they're happy — either on holiday or on a break from business. There aren't many jobs that give you that.”

The above describes exactly what it is like to be a tourist guide. It is a part of an article written by Divya Kumar of The Hindu - featuring Rosalind Newlands who is the current president of the World Federation of Tourist Guide Associations (WFTGA).

Rosalind has guided visitors around her native country Scotland as a qualified professional tourist guide since 1983.

Read the rest of the article: Tour de force in The Hindu.com

Best way to see northern lights

2010-12-02T23:42:00.001Z

Northern lights are present above Iceland nine days out of ten. Sound too good to be true? Well, technically it is correct but there are several factors to consider.

1. Darkness – it must be dark. In summer it is 24 hour daylight in Iceland.

2. Cloud cover – it must be clear to be able to see the northern lights since they exist far above the clouds.

3. Solar activity – there must be solar activity for particles to be ejected towards the Earth.

4. Solar cycle – the activity of the Sun performs in 11 year cycles. In 2010 a new cycle has just begun.

5. Magnetic field – the right magnetic conditions must prevail around the poles.

6. City lights – can be a problem if the northern lights are faint. Best is to drive away from the city to a dark secluded spot, wait and watch.

7. Moon – can also be a problem, especially when it is full, because it can be quite bright and it may overpower the light from the northern lights.

8. Timing – as mentioned before, the northern lights are elusive. One day they may occur for a minute, or dance in the sky for hours.

I’ve been giving northern lights tours for decades and always enjoy the last one just as much as the first one.

Tourist guides unhappy about ETOA's rouge ID scheme

2010-08-06T01:45:00.001Z

The Federation of European Tourist Guide Associations (FEG) is outraged over European Tour Operator Association’s (ETOA) decision to produce its own pan-European ID-badge for anyone who guides tourists — seemingly to circumvent the need for area-specific professional qualification - by using the non-existing term "tour guide" for these persons. Source, click here.

Great tour guides equal a great trip - says Jill at northjersey.com

2010-05-23T21:34:00.004Z

Amazing how one person with a microphone and a sign with your group number on it can influence your entire experience of a place. "A portal into a culture," as someone observed.

A good guide brings a place to life. Brings insight and enthusiasm to it, a personal take that will provide dimension and color to what might otherwise seem insignificant or plain.

Read Jill's article.

Industry leader condemns tourist guides

2009-12-06T02:42:00.006Z

An article written by Stefan Helgi Valsson that deals with the European Tour Operator's actions to prevent tourist guides from improving the quality of guiding. The article was published in the November 2009 issue of the web-based magazine of the World Federation of Tourist Guide Associations - Guidelines Internetional, page 3.

Tourist Guides: Ambassadors of Iceland

2009-12-06T02:27:00.003Z

Stefán Helgi Valsson, editor of the Iceland Tourist Guide Association, writes an article in the web based magazine Tourism-Review. He writes about tourist guide education, regulations for foreigners to work in Iceland as guides and more. The article is accessible in a Pdf-format. Tourist Guides: Ambassadors of Iceland.

Iceland International Tourist Guide Day 21 February 2009

2009-02-22T23:25:00.041Z

22.2.2009. Professional tourist guides in Iceland guided for free 85 foreign tourists around the city center of Reykjavik yesterday on International Tourist Guide Day, 21 February 2009. Stefan Helgi Valsson tourist guide organised the event.

The initiative was very well received at visitor centers, hotels and guesthouses where the event was promoted, and of course the guest who enoyed a free guided walk accompanied by a professional tourist guide.

Skúli Möller guided the first group of the day. Behind him is the Leifur Eiriksson statue commemorating an Icelander who was the first European in America.

The purpose of International Tourist Guide Day, first celebrated in 1990 because of World Federation of Tourist Guide Association (WFTGA) initiative, is to promote the profession of tourist guides and their professional education.

Ursula E. Sonnenfeld (far left) og Friðrik Rúnar Guðmundsson (far right), with some of the guests during the International Tourist Guide Day 2009.

Nearly half of the guests who enjoyed the free service of professional guides arrived for the first departure at eleven o'clock in the morning. Departures thereafter took place every half hour until three o'clock.

The guests were guided in English, German, French and Scandinavian languages. The walk started at Hallgrimskirkja Memorial Church in Reykjavik and included the old city center.

The shortes walk of the day lasted 40 minutes and the longest 2 hours as the duration of the trip depended on the demands and wishes of the guests.

Skúli Möller og John C. Spencer during International Tourist Guide Day 2009.

The weather played a role during the day. The Iceland Meteorological Office issued a storm warning for the afternoon which materialised bringing rain. The poor weather probably caused some people to refrain from a guided walk in the city. The tourist guides on the other hand were prepared for rain or shine and did not mind the weather.

Skúli Möller, Friðrik Rúnar Guðmundsson, Elín Sigríður Konráðsdóttir og Stefán Helgi Valsson (organiser) during International Tourist Guide Day 2009.

Tourist guides Elín Sigríður Konráðsdóttir, Friðrik Rúnar Guðmundsson, Hólmfríður Gísladóttir, John C. Spencer, Skúli Möller, Steingrímur Gunnarsson og Ursula E. Sonnenfeld provided guidance during the day. Also two students at the Iceland Tourist Guide School, Guðrún Þorkellsdóttir og Ólafur Tryggvi Magnússon who both performed very well. Guðjón Jensson tourist guide joined the group of tourist guides after lunchtime but by then there were already enough guides available to provide the service. Stefán Helgi Valsson tourist guide organised the event.

Elín Sigríður Konráðsdóttir guided the smallest "group" of the day. With her on the picture (right) is her only German-speaking guest, Annika from Muenchen in Germany.

Ólafur Tryggvi Magnússon student at the Iceland Tourist Guide School gets hands-on-experience in guiding visitors in Reykjavik and did a good job. Ólafur works as a graphic designer but is looking forward to a career change after graduation in May.

Tourist guides Friðrik Rúnar Guðmundsson, Skúli Möller, Guðrún Þorkellsdóttir (student at the Iceland Tourist Guide School), and guests.

Stefán Helgi Valsson, project leader of the International Tourist Guide Day, extends gratitude to all those making the event possible. Without the guide's effort the event would never have taken place. Also thanks to Hrönn Vilhelmsdóttir and Þórólfur Antonsson owners of Cafe Loki where the touristguides and guests were able to rest between trips, and Ursula Spitzbart who assisted in promoting the event.

Anna Karlotta Stefánsdóttir and Ursula Spitzbart assisted promoting the event.

Stefán Helgi Valsson

Testimonial from a guest

2009-02-16T12:06:00.001Z

Stefan was outstanding in so many ways we hardly know where to begin. His knowledge is amazing and attention to the group's interest was truly beyond what we have experienced before. He created a profound sence of awe and delight with his country. His easy manner make him such fun to be around, yet he was always professional and responsible. Our deep thanks to you for putting us in Stefan's hands. He made this trip an experience we will always remember. Bill & Diane Lowe. June 2007. Quoted in Boundless Journey's Catalog for 2008-9, pg. 53.

Why hire a private guide in Iceland

2009-02-16T12:03:00.003Z

Be smart - Get the information you need and experience your destination like an insider.

Be in control - You get to choose the time and place and exactly what you'll see. Stop to rest, shop, eat or explore in further detail at your own pace.

Be engaged - You can get closer to details and enjoy personal conversations geared directly to your interests.

Be inspired - Let me guide you and share my love of my city, love of my country and cultures with you in English.

Be satisfied - You get the experience of a lifetime because your tour is personalized to be like no one else's tour.

Be a guest - You stop being a tourist and become a guest. It's like having a friend in Reykjavík to take you under their wing and show you the city or the entire country in a way only insiders know.

Be value conscious - It's a little more expensive, but you'll have a whole new outlook on travel in just a couple of days.

And don't be fooled - With large tour groups you are stuck to their schedule, right down to the forced gift shop and toilet visits. Sometimes scheduled tours pass up the most interesting details about a sight because it would be impossible for everyone in a large group to see it. And if you can't hear the guide, or you fall behind because the pace is too fast, you're just out of luck. On your own you walk around with your nose in a guidebook. None of this would happen should you decided to hire me to be your guide!