The weather was wetter and colder than it'd been the day before. No worries though, Villi's cheer and expert knowledge of so many aspects of the Island and its folk compensated. Villi's comfortable and capable vehicle made sure we were ready for all the best of the Golden Circle descerned between fog and mist. Sensitive and responsive to our interests and priorities, we thank Villi and his Puffin Travel Team for a really great tour - even without not so great touring weather. Cheers, Mark and Marcy

My wife and I visited Iceland in October, 2024 and were guided by Gulla and Villi from airport arrival to airport departure. The care, concern and guidance they provided throughout five days of touring was unmatched in our lengthy history of private tours. The tours were personalized and infused with local flavor as our guides are familiar with every nook and cranny of this beautiful country. The tour vehicle was extremely comfortable and was able to access off road areas. Our tours often went off the typical tourist routes, providing an intimate look at high tourist areas. Both Villi and Gulla are warm, humorous and knowledgeable of their country and culture. I can't recommend this tour company enough for couples, individuals and families from pickup to drop off and all of the wonderful exploring of this remarkable country in between.

Iceland has become a very popular destination for tourists, which makes it essential to find someone to guide you and get the most out of your time there. There is nothing better than a private tour, customized for what you want. But it can be overwhelming to find the right company when you start your research. I can save you some time: contact Puffin Travel before they get booked. Puffin Travel is a small company run by Villi and Gullah. Villi is a former fisherman who got into the tourism business and Gullah is a schoolteacher. We spent a day with Villi that was just the best. Nothing beats a local guide with years of knowledge, experience and a warm personality determined to make sure you get what you want out of your visit. Villi knew how to avoid the crowds and made sure we were always comfortable. We saw some incredible sights, but the most incredible moment was when a once-a-year Icelandic sheep roundup blocked our passage on the road. Hundreds and hundreds of sheep. An amazing, unforgettable moment. Thanks, Villi.

Extraordinary private tour because Villi is gracious, enthusiastic and generous in sharing his love for and the beauty of his country. He answered our questions with personal insights/experiences and Icelandic childhood stories that he grew up with. It’s like touring with a lovable Icelandic family friend! My family of four (2 girls of college & high school ages) adored Villi and we enjoyed lots of laughs with him during a beautiful sunny day of touring the south coast. Villi expertly planned the route so we could successfully see two different waterfalls with rainbows (when the sunlight hits them at a certain part of the day) and we still had a good amount of time at Vik black sand beach. He also had well-timed breaks for restroom and good food. The biggest bonus was Villi taking us to see the puffins in their natural habitat…not to be missed and Villi knows how to find them if in season! We watched lots of puffins coming and going to their nests on the cliff and we were incredibly close to one nest that was only about a foot away from us…magical!

My husband and I had a 24 hour layover in Iceland, and given that we had never been before and were arriving in the early morning after little sleep, my main desire for our day was to make it frictionless and just enjoy letting it happen to us. Villi picked us up at the airport in his clean, new vehicle and spent the day touring us around Iceland. Our first stop was a coffee shop for coffee and a pastry and to finalize what we wanted to do. He came with suggestions and was happy to adjust per how we were feeling at the moment. We hit all the highlights we wanted to see, and Villi took us safely to our hotel at the end of the day. We wouldn't hesitate to book with Villi again next time we visit his beautiful country. Thank you, Villi!

Villi is the premier Icelandic tour guide. His insider knowledge of the island is perfect for avoiding tourist traps, and he is also incredibly kind and eager to share the awesome culture of Iceland. We spent the day exploring the Southwestern coast in an incredibly comfortable LR Discovery, seeing a variety of beautiful sights and we even did some off-roading! Choose Villi’s tour guide service if you want an authentic Iceland experience. - Clayton

We booked Puffin Travel for three day trips -- Golden Circle, South Coast and Snaefellsnes Peninsula. Villi was our incredible guide for all three of these unforgettable trips. He picked us up and dropped us off at our hotel in Reykjavik (always on time) in his Land Rover Discovery (very comfortable for the 4 of us). We hit all of the high points on each day along with several unique offshoots. Villi is extremely engaging and lovable. We can't imagine a better experience that was well worth the money. We have gone on private tours in other locations (e.g., Portugal, Amalfi Coast, etc.) and this was the best experience we have ever had. I can't recommend Puffin/Villi enough.

Villi was an amazing guide. Fabulous vehicle and he picked us up right at the house. Incredibly knowledgeable about Iceland and every stop on our tour was informative and interesting. Villi is kind, thoughtful, and flexible. He tailors the tour to your interests rather than having a rigid agenda. Truly a magical day and we would book a tour with Villi again in a heartbeat. Thanks, Villi! Jeanine, Kate and Andy

Puffy was our guide for the whole week. Had a great experience. We did so much, every day was busy and planned with events. We saw a lot of the country in a single week and he handled it all. He’s also very friendly, incredibly knowledgeable and intelligent as well.

My wife, 7 year old daughter and I recently spent a few days in Iceland on our way home from a trip to Sweden. As we only had a few days to experience this magical country, we decided to book two full day tours with Puffin Travel. Best decision ever! Our guide Villi picked us up in his brand new Defender and made us feel immediately at home as we marveled at the beauty of the landscape. He was so kind and welcoming and was extremely knowledgeable about the amazing sights he introduced us to. On the first day, we did the Golden Circle tour and the weather was a little dicey. The first snow of the season and some high winds had caused the main highway to be closed, but thankfully Villi knew another way around the mountains so our tour continued uninterrupted! On our second day we visited the beautiful south coast, where we saw black sand beaches, volcanoes, glaciers and many other sights. Any tour can take you to the main attractions, but what made our tours special were the stops in between. From petting the local horses to seeing how locals baked bread by burying it in the geothermally heated ground, we experienced a side of Iceland that can only come from local knowledge and an intimate setting. I cannot recommend Puffin Travel highly enough, it was truly a magical experience and we will cherish our memories of these tours forever. Thank you Villi!

This was a fantastic tour with Gulla. Prompt pick-up from our hotel, a quick outline of the plans for the day, a comfortable vehicle with lots of room, and timely stops for stretching our legs. She is incredibly knowledgeable about the South Coast, and planned our day to avoid the large crowds. We were able to enjoy and experience the rugged beauty of the area. Her English is excellent, and she shared her love and insight of her country. Highly recommended.

This was our first of three days of touring with Puffin Travel. Villi and Gulla were responsive to our enquiries, offered advice and suggestions, and were easy to communicate with. Villi provided us with a most interesing tour, taking lesser known and scenic routes to the attractions of the Golden Circle. He was punctual, informative, friendly, and definitely aiming to make the most out of our day. A wonderful first introduction to Iceland.

This is an amazing private tour with Villi, who is a wonderful man and a Vestmannaeyjar local, who knows everything on the islands. We visited spots, where regular tourists don't go. Villi's 7 seat Land Rover will accommodate a large family with children easily. The itinerary is very well-planned and all ferry tickets are booked in advance. We saw puffins very closely and took a walk around the lighthouse and over the cliffs overseeing the ocean. Villi knows all about Iceland and Vestmannaeyjar islands. We had a lunch at the local restaurant, five-star food, Villi booked us a table in advance. I wholeheartedly recommend this tour booked through Puffin Travel.

We were two families traveling together (4 adults and 5 teenagers ages 12-19). We divided up in to two groups. The teens travelled with Gilla and adults with Villi. Before starting the tour, we met at their home and looked over the itinerary on a map. Villi wanted to make sure we maximized the day and that we were okay with the plan. There was a lot of flexibility offered to cater to our interests. The vehicles were very comfortable. We rode in the new Land Rover Defender with Villi and Gilla took the teens in a new Land Rover Discovery. Both guides are super personable. Gilla being a school teacher was perfect for the teens and they thoroughly enjoyed their time with her. Villi, having worked with Gray Line bus tours, was funny and engaging. They are both a wealth of information on Iceland and it’s history. They took us to amazing spots and some were off the beaten track with hardly any other tourists around. Everyone had a great time and I enjoyed not having to drive and being able to actually look out the car and really take in the scenery. At the end of the tour, they plotted out a course for us on Google maps to take on the way home. This took us on less travelled roads with amazing views and stops. It was so rewarding to have spent the day with this lovely couple.

Our family (my husband, me and our 3 children ages 8, 6, and 3) took a tour of Westman Islands (Vestmannaeyjar) with Villi and had the most wonderful time! He picked us up in a very comfortable and nice car at our air bib at 9:30 and we took the car on the ferry over to the island. The ferry ride boasted incredible scenery. As Villi spent many years living on the island he is a wealth of knowledge! We really wanted to see puffins and on the very first stop we were able to see a colony, along the way we fed and pet a flock of sheep grazing on the mountainside. Villi took us to the site where the volcano erupted on the island 50 years ago and gave us great history, background and insight on the island. We stopped at a local spot for lunch and later pet island ponies as we drove across the island. The day was nothing short of magical, it would not have been anywhere close to the same experience had we visited the island on our own. He definitely catered the tour and our experiences for our family which when traveling with young children is very much appreciated! Villi has a warm and inviting personality and lots of Icelandic charm! We would highly recommend booking a tour with Puffin travel - we spent a week in Iceland and it was absolutely a highlight of our time in the beautiful country.