Iceland Tour Operators, Compared
This is a comparison of Iceland-based tour operators — single-day and multi-day land tours, not polar expedition cruises. Landed here looking for Aurora Expeditions instead? See the Aurora Expeditions vs Arctic Adventures hub to get pointed the right way.
| Operator | Founded | Specialization | Price from | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arctic Adventures | 1983 (merger 2005) | Active day & multi-day tours | $50–$500* | Tripadvisor Travelers' Choice 2022 |
| Guide to Iceland | 2012 | Marketplace + own ice-cave/multi-day tours | Not verified† | Not verified† |
| Reykjavik Excursions | 1968 | Bus tours, Flybus, Highland Bus | Not verified† | Not verified† |
| Tröll Expeditions | 2016 | Small-group Ring Road, glacier hikes, ice caves | Not verified† | Recently declined per guidetoiceland.is (2026), citing social-media complaints |
| Nordic Visitor | 2002 | Self-drive + guided multi-day packages | Not verified† | Not verified† |
| Iceland Tours | 1978 (as Terra Nova; brand since 2010) | Self-drive + guided multi-day packages | Not verified† | Not verified† |
* Approximate day-tour range, not independently verified against current listed pricing. † Price and rating data not independently verified for this operator.
Operator Profiles
Arctic Adventures
Iceland's largest adventure tour operator, formed in 2005 from the merger of Arctic Rafting and Bátafólkið, with roots to 1983. Runs single-day and short activity tours — glacier walks, Silfra snorkeling, ice caves, snowmobiling — from offices in Reykjavik and Vilnius, backed by Vakinn Gold certification (2025).
Guide to Iceland
Founded in 2012 in Reykjavik, Guide to Iceland runs a dual model: a marketplace connecting travelers to 2,000+ local tour, accommodation, and car-rental providers, alongside its own operated tours including ice caves and multi-day trips. Owned by parent company Travelshift; has picked up multiple "Iceland's Leading Travel Agency" awards from World Travel Awards.
Reykjavik Excursions
Iceland's largest bus-tour operator, founded in 1968 as Kynnisferðir. Runs Flybus (Keflavík airport transfers since 1979) and Highland Bus, and handles the bulk of group day-tour volume in the country. Part of the Icelandia group since 2022, alongside Icelandic Mountain Guides, Gray Line Iceland, Dive.is, and Flybus. First Icelandic tour operator with ISO 14001 environmental certification, and also Vakinn-certified.
Tröll Expeditions
A single-day Iceland operator running Ring Road tours, glacier hikes, Katla ice cave visits, and super-jeep tours. Per guidetoiceland.is (2026 data), it has recently declined in ranking following complaints on Facebook and Reddit — a reputational detail worth noting neutrally, without speculating on the cause.
Nordic Visitor
Founded in 2002 in Reykjavik, specializing in self-drive packages and guided multi-day tours. Iceland's largest packaged-tour agency, part of the Travel Connect group, which has expanded into Scandinavia and Northern Europe more broadly.
Iceland Tours
Traces back to Terra Nova, founded in 1978 as an Icelandic partner for overseas travel agencies; the consumer-facing "Iceland Tours" brand launched in 2010. A sister brand to Nordic Visitor within the Travel Connect group, also specializing in self-drive and guided multi-day packages.
Head-to-Head: Arctic Adventures vs Tröll Expeditions
The most active real-world comparison in this silo — already debated on Reddit's r/VisitingIceland and in a Tripadvisor thread weighing a 7-day Arctic Adventures tour (cheaper) against an 8-day Tröll Expeditions tour. Tröll has also seen a recent reputational dip tied to social-media complaints.
Full comparison →FAQs
What should I check before booking an Iceland tour operator?
Confirm the operator holds Vakinn certification (Iceland's official quality/environmental mark for tourism services) and check recent reviews for operational reliability, not just price.
Do Iceland tour operators need a special license?
Operators offering licensed activities in Iceland are expected to hold relevant safety and tourism-board registrations; Vakinn certification is the most visible public marker of this.
Which operator is cheapest?
Not verified — a reliable "price from" figure is only confirmed for Arctic Adventures in our source data, so we can't rank the other five by price yet.
Are these operators independent, or part of the same group?
Not entirely independent — Nordic Visitor and Iceland Tours are sister brands within the Travel Connect group, and Reykjavik Excursions is part of the Icelandia group. Arctic Adventures, Guide to Iceland, and Tröll Expeditions each operate under separate ownership.
Which operator has been around the longest?
Reykjavik Excursions, founded in 1968 as Kynnisferðir — well ahead of the others, though Arctic Adventures' roots also trace back to 1983.