Our guides are the keystones of all our trips. We, at Fjallabak know their importance, as we all started out guiding and all continue to do so when time permits! The guide takes care of all the details necessary for a successful journey: the group spirit, security, supplies and relations with the local population. They carry out the itinerary and modify it according to the group and the conditions. All of our guides are cultivated men and women, enthusiastic about their work and above all, experts in the area where they guide. Group safety is most important to us and our guides are fully trained in wilderness first aid and rescue procedures. Either native or adopted Icelanders, our guides all speak English in addition to various other languages such as French, Italian, German and Japanese.
Most often our guides are accompanied by an assistant and a driver, themselves great characters, mountain experts and fonts of local knowledge, who also play an important role in the success of the journey. And all of our trips also rely on the hard work of a talented group of support staff. Our team here is all dedicated to just one aim: to ensure that each tour is successful, safe and an unforgettable experience for all.
Fjallabak’s staff
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Emma Laigle
Philippe Patay 4 December 2024
Emma (in her 40s) is a Franco-British polyglot who settled in Iceland 15 years ago. After completing her training, she never stopped leading treks in the Highlands. Talented, charming, reassuring and radiant, this independent woman hides an iron hand in…
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Arnaud Guérin
Philippe Patay 3 December 2024
Géologue, titulaire d’un DESS en Environnement, photographe professionnel, auteur de nombreux livres et documentaires pour la télévision (ARTE, France 2), guide de voyages thématiques et conférencier, Arnaud Guérin est passionné par la Terre et la nature. Si la parole et…
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Randi Meitil
Mathildur Patay 14 December 2017
Randi Meitil has worked with us for almost 25 years organizing and guiding hiking tours and other discoveries in the Faroe Islands. She is born and lives in Tórshavn, the beautifull capital of the islands. She is a passionate mediator…
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Þórdís Kristvinsdóttir
Þórdís Kristvinsdóttir AKA Dísa is a charming 44 year old Icelandic woman. Married and has two grown up boys. She has been wondering about outdoors and in the mountains since her childhood. She is a specialist of the East of…
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Laurent Jegu
Laurent Jegu, (48) is originally from Brittany in France. He has a master’s degree in business and communication with a specialization in multimedia and audiovisual. He came to Iceland for three months to work in a film and reporting production…
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Þórir Gunnar Jónsson
Thorir is a charming and strong young man who joined our team last summer and we are so happy to have him! He knows how to create a smooth and good ambiance in the wilderness and make our trekkers feel…
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Pierre Brihat
Pierre “Pierrot” Brihat, also known as Pétur or Pedro, (53 years old) is from Marseille like the Greek navigator Pytheas, who was the first, in 325 BC, to make a description of Iceland. He is the best cook (Pierre, not…
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Yoan Fontana
Yoan Fontana (34) is originated from the French Alps but he is guiding most of the year in northern Europe, sharing his time between Iceland for summer trekking and Scandinavia in winter crossing white deserts with his Siberian huskys. Since…
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Andrés Úlfur Helguson
Andrés Úlfur Helguson (50), glacier guide and big 4×4 fan. He is the one who knows how to do everything. His large size, his even mood, his calm and his disarming smile make him an essential element when the season…
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Þór Tulinius
Þór Tulinius, Thor (60) yes that’s it, like the Nordic god. Thor is a famous theater and film actor in Iceland. But with its 330,000 inhabitants the country can’t offer him more than a decent salary. This explains the great…
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Stephan Stephensen
Stephan Stephensen, aka “Stebbi Stef”, (48), a mountain guide, returns to the highlands every summer to lead treks. In winter he is known in the underground music scene in Reykjavik and spends much of the rest of the year performing…
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Orri Gunnarsson
Orri Gunnarsson (47) joined our team in 2010. He is a civil and environmental engineer with a masters degree in Urban Planning from University of Michigan. Orri’s winters are spent not doing planning and designs for the city of Reykjavík….
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Estrid Thorvaldsdottir
Estrid Thorvaldsdottir, (40), trekking and sightseeing guide. Here is another linguist genius : not only she speaks all scandinavian languages, she also masters french and italian. Throughout the year she teaches yoga both at the city hospitals and in yoga…
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Sveinn Steinar Benediktson
Sveinn Steinar Benediktson, “Svenni”, (33) is an electronic engineer studying at the University of Art in Reykjavik, a musician and artist. When he is not driving jeeps and trucks he is guiding challenging treks in the interior of the country….
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Gabriel Patay Filippusson
Gabriel Patay Filippusson,“Gabbi” (47) mountain guide. As son of Philippe and Sigridur, and brother of Matta he has the highlands in his blood. An experienced leader of many Icelandic expeditions, but also trips to Greenland, Alaska and the Sahara. Fluently…
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Aurélien Bihr
Aurélien Bihr, “Aurel” (or Orwellian, as our American clients call him), 44 years old, father of Adrien, 18 years old, who is his replica, lived several years in Iceland after having lived in Scandinavia. Self-taught, talented polyglot, this frank boy…
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