Make Your Next Trip Extraordinary
Trip Reviews
Iceland, Denmark & Nordic Countries
planned by Mads Tange Christensen
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Our trip was “epic”! Mads, our travel planner, said it would be so! Two weeks in Scandinavia planed in about 3 days! All drivers and private guides were excellent and very informative and conversational! Accommodations and food—excellent!! Loved Scandinavia and Estonia!
Denmark (Copenhagen) was remarkable, easily navigable by foot, which we appreciated as it gave us the ability to explore some quieter areas of the city. The jaunt to the countryside for a couple of days’ stay at Falsled Kro was a welcome rest up for the rest of our travels! We would definitely go back to explore some additional museums and partake in some kayaking and biking!
Norway—absolutely gorgeous! And the tunnel system is pretty miraculous!! We enjoyed Oslo and Bergen but would probably opt to less touristy areas on a return visit. Both cities were heavily populated with cruise passengers—not necessarily our cup of tea, but Mads definitely hit it out of the ball park with a multi-course seafood dinner on an island, a private fjord tour, and a private fishing charter complete with fresh fish stew prepared by our captain with the fish we caught. We took 2 trains through the fjords and countryside, which was an excellent way to see the rugged, beautiful country. We had an overnight in the fjords at a small inn between Oslo and Bergen—we would definitely not recommend this hotel. It was run down, dirty and the staff not accommodating. We did however find a fantastic quaint little bakery around the corner!
Sweden (Stockholm) was spectacular! While there were a good number of cruise passengers, there were many areas of the city within walking distance to escape to a quieter, more “local” feel. A return trip is a must as there are so so many museums we would have loved to explore but just not enough time.
Estonia (Tallinn)—we are so glad and feel so fortunate to have had the opportunity to visit this city. It has a very edgy feel not apparent in the previous 3 countries, but given the proximity to Russia and the very recent re-independence, the “feel” was understandable. Our guide gave us an excellent history lesson and a primer on the current political environment.
All in all, we would definitely head back to Denmark, Norway and Sweden, but would explore areas outside the cities, not because we didn’t enjoy the cities, we DID, but would love to see some more of the countries, especially the more northern areas of Norway and Sweden and maybe try some backroads biking and fjords by kayak! Speed dating countries definitely give you a sense of what other opportunities you’d like to explore!
Estonia, while it was definitely a must do, we are not sure we’d go back, mainly due to the current political climate. But again, we felt very fortunate to have had the opportunity to experience Tallin.
The trip was “epic!!” We would probably recommend punting a couple of weeks to a month later only because we seemed to have hit high tourist season and the final week of summer break for local families, and, it was pretty hot—and most of our accommodations did not have AC! We didn’t have flexibility with our timeline, but something to consider for a return!
Another Wendy Perrin WOW List trip for the books!!
Traveler Ann Miller appreciated an itinerary that was equal parts culture and outdoor adventures.
Our trip to the Faroe Islands was an amazing experience. Thanks to Mads for thoughtful planning and our Faroe guides. Mads and his team listened to our opinions and specific “wants” and was able to incorporate them into an itinerary that made sense for us: equal parts outdoor hiking/boating adventures, photography, some culture and ideas for food. In the end, we even got to see the Yarn Rock—totally worth it!
The local Faroes guides were just terrific; friendly, knowledgeable, enthusiastic about their way of life. Mikjjal was excellent while sharing his insights into local culture, art and history. And he got our sense of humor! A big win. He pivoted nicely when we changed our plans and went the extra mile to offer photography location/suggestions as well as some other off-the-beaten-path ideas for a totally immersive and cultural experience. Did you know that the Faroes have the only roundabout in a tunnel!?
Overall, from Travel Partner #1: “As a confirmed and dyed-in-the-wool city girl and not particularly nature-friendly, I loved every minute of the Faroes experience, from the fascinating landscape to the hiking. OK, even the sheep and puffins! It’s my first time with the WP group and I was impressed; would do another trip, no question.” From Travel Partner #2: More of the adventurer, this trip offered it all. This was my second trip with the WP group and will not be my last.
Travelers Stephen Thomas and Sandra and Brian Quinn display their crampons, prepped for a glacier walk.
August 12-16, 2025
Thanks to Mads and his team, my husband, son and I enjoyed an amazing five days in Iceland before embarking on a National Geographic/Lindblad expedition ship in Reykjavik. Although we had made several stops along the coast of Iceland in 2019 as part of an expedition trip, we had not experienced even a modicum of what Iceland has to offer. I read the reviews from previous clients, studied his Insider’s Guide, and examined itineraries from our friends’ trips. It was a bit overwhelming to determine where to go and what to do, but talking with Mads was very helpful in creating a feasible itinerary that met our interests. Communication with Mads and Tina went smoothly, and we were excited to depart, complete with a thorough itinerary and guidance on clothing and tipping in Iceland.
Our arrival, pick up at the airport, and transfer for our brief stay at Hotel Keflavik went smoothly. We found they had upgraded us to a suite, which was lovely even for our brief one-night stay. Our true adventure began when our guide and driver, Matej, picked us up the next morning. We set off for a morning at the Retreat at the Blue Lagoon. Under a cloudless blue sky, we relaxed in the lagoon, enjoyed the sauna and cold plunge pool, had facials, and feasted on an outstanding fresh and inventive lunch (while still in our robes!) It was a lovely start for our trip, and for others arriving after a long travel day, we would recommend it.
As we drove along the Reykjanes Peninsula, Matej answered our many questions about the terrain and life in Iceland. We stopped at the Krýsuvík Geothermal Area, a fascinating area of mud pots, hot springs and steaming vents, as well as colorful mineral deposits. This area is the result of the Mid-Atlantic Rift as this part of Iceland is on the North American tectonic plate, while the eastern part of the country is on the Eurasian plate. As these plates pull apart, magma is brought close to the surface of the earth, creating these geothermal areas.
The final stop of the day was our Lava Tunnel tour, requiring helmets with miner’s lamps on them, so that we could descend into the earth. Created by a volcanic eruption 5,200 years ago, the main tunnel is an impressive 3,000 ft long, 98 feet wide with headroom up to 33’ high, making it one of the most expansive lava tunnels in Iceland. The colors, textures, and shapes of the lava formations was an extraordinary sight, and we were thrilled to experience this. We would definitely recommend the tunnel experience. At the end of a full day, we arrived at Hotel Ranga, perched on a quiet river with its own swans. Our rooms were very comfortable, and dinner was an outstanding selection of Icelandic and other dishes. Breakfast proved to offer multiple dishes and choices, including cod liver oil, drunk by many in Iceland daily.
We began the next day with a refreshing stop at Seljalandsfoss waterfall, where we were able to go behind the falls for a misty look out at the world, followed by another magnificent waterfall, Skogafoss, where we walked along the river bank. From there, we drove to the Dyrholaey Lighthouse, where we were mesmerized by the beauty of the peninsula, the black sand beaches, and the very active puffin colony on the side of the cliff. From there, we moved to the Reynisfjara black sand beach with its dramatic sands and basalt columns at Halsanefshellir Cave. The variety of geological formations and types of rocks made us wish we had taken a course in geology.
From there, the Reynisdrangar Sea Stacks emerged from the ocean. All of that was before our lunch and setting off on a super jeep ride for our glacier walk and ice cave tour. The jeep ride took us through a dramatic, other-worldly landscape of black sand plains to Kötlujökull Glacier, an outlet of Mýrdalsjökull, an ice cap that covers the Katla Volcano. After a safety talk, putting on our helmet, and adding crampons to our boots, we started up the glacier. Surrounding us were some mountains with green moss and many black and white mountains…part of the glacier covered with black sand and rocks. Offered the chance to use an ice pick to dig for fresh ice to taste, I swung the pick and ultimately was rewarded with a chunk of crystal-clear ice to taste. The cave had a rushing glacial stream flowing through it, and we had to cross a narrow bridge to enter the cave. It had its own beauty with differing textures and colors of ice.
The next morning, we started off for an all-day drive to Landmannalaugar, which is in a nature preserve in the Highlands, accessible only in the summer. Matej ensured that we stopped at the local grocery store and bakery near the hotel to take our lunch and yummy snacks for the day. He expertly drove us along gravel roads and through streams and rivers. One of our first stops was Sigoldugljufur Canyon, which he described as Iceland’s “Valley of Tears” due to its many waterfalls. The waterfalls and moss-covered cliffs were stunningly beautiful. Another stop along the way was Blahylur Lake. Formed from an eruption in 871, it is a maar, a type of volcanic crater that forms when groundwater contacts hot lava, and fills with water to create a shallow crater lake. What makes the lake so captivating is that its deep blue is a dramatic contrast to the surrounding hills of green, brown and gray. We arrived in Landmannalaugar, where despite the chill and damp air, backpackers and campers were everywhere. The surrounding mountains were varied in colors. We headed up the hill to the Laugahraun lava field, deposited in 1477. The varying lava formations and the many Obsidian rocks were endlessly fascinating. While it was a long drive, we felt it was well worth our time, and the fact that the Highlands are accessible in summer also reminded us of what life is Iceland can be like in the winter.
After a lovely stay at Hotel Ranga, we spent our last day with Matej, visiting a geothermal bakery, where we dug the rye bread in its metal container out of the boiling thermal waters where it had been for 24 hours. Fortified with delicious bread and smoked salmon, we headed to the Gullfoss waterfall, another spectacular waterfall in a beautiful setting. From there, we visited Geysir, where we were able to view the geyser’s impressive eruptions multiple times. A true highlight of our trip was our lunch at the Friðheimar tomato farm, where we ate multiple delicious tomato-based dishes while seated among tomato plants that towered over us. Everything on the menu was made with tomatoes, including the ice cream. As true tomato lovers, we were in heaven! Our final stop of the day was Thingvellir National Park (Þingvellir), a UNESCO World Heritage Site where Iceland’s first parliament was established in 930AD. Most thrilling for us was to walk in the Mid-Atlantic ridge between visible edges of the Eurasian and North American tectonic plates.
Throughout our days with Matej, we found him to be interesting and easy to talk to, knowledgeable about everything from the geology to different sites, and sensitive to our interests. Our days were full, and while we spent a lot of time in the car, the changing landscape mesmerized the three of us and our conversations were rich. As we approached Reykjavik, he oriented us to the area around our hotel. We said a grateful goodbye to him at the hotel, and without question, we would happily work with him again. Having Matej as our driver/guide with us the whole time made every day stress-free and enabled us to truly savor our time in Iceland. I truly think we would not change anything and are already thinking about when and where to return.
Traveler Debra Hyman and her family counted glacier snowmobiling among their “incredible experiences.”
Iceland: August 24-31
My family and I just returned from an unforgettable trip to Iceland, and it exceeded every expectation. Mads’ guidance and recommendations were invaluable, and he helped us create a bucket list itinerary that was the perfect balance of adventure and relaxation for myself, my husband, our 17-year-old daughter, and our 14-year-old son.
We began at the Sky Lagoon and ended at the Blue Lagoon, with incredible experiences in between: snowmobiling on a glacier, exploring and climbing through the Katla Ice Cave, ATVing on a black sand beach, and hiking to Þríhnúkagígur to explore the inside of the volcano. All of our tour guides were knowledgeable and engaging.
Over the course of the week, we stayed at three amazing hotels: The EDITION in Reykjavík, Torfhús Retreat (where we had our own private geothermal bath!), and Hotel Búðir on the Snæfellsnes Peninsula. While we spent a lot of time in the car traveling to each destination, Mads provided thoughtful stop recommendations (waterfalls, national parks, etc.) that broke up the drives and let us experience the beautiful country.
It was truly a trip we will never forget.
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