
Iceland Encounter | Owner, Erling Aspelund
Today we’re chatting about one of my favorite countries for active travelers, Iceland! While luxury in other countries may mean five star hotels and spas, true luxury in this corner of the world looks more like private guides inviting you into their homes, having parts of the other-worldly landscape all to yourself, horseback riding to a private picnic near a waterfall, or helicoptering up to hike on a glacier.
Our guest today is Erling Aspelund, Owner of Iceland Encounter. After many years working in the corporate world in the US, Erling and his family traveled home to pursue their passion for travel and design a better Icelandic travel experience. Today Iceland Encounter is probably the top luxury travel company in Iceland. Erling and I discuss secret hikes, the fabulous landscapes and wow moments he’s created for travelers. We also touch on how the Icelandic culture lends itself to working together, and how that will help the country recover quickly post-Covid.
Listen to hear:
- 02:06 – About Erling’s favorite spot in Iceland
- 03:48 – Why after 24 years in the USA, Erling and his wife moved back to Iceland
- 06:55 – How a guide can help you find the secret places of Iceland
- 11:42 – Why luxury travel is on demand
- 13:17 – Where the home of the Arctic Fox is
- 14:39 – About the wide range of specific experiences a visitor can have
- 18:35 – Why Iceland is perfect for birders and geologists
- 19:16 – Where can you see boundaries of North American and Eurasian tectonic plates
- 20:36 – About the challenges the Icelandic weather brings to its inhabitants
- 21:32 – What Erling’s favorite hot spring in the country and favorite place to hike is
- 22:18 – What’s special about Icelandic cuisine
- 23:06 – What Erling’s favorite adventure in Iceland is
- 24:51 – Why Iceland can be the best destination to visit in a post-Covid world
- 26:09 – What you will learn about the world after visiting Iceland
Listener Exclusive Amenities
Virtuoso Amenities at all Virtuoso Properties
Welcome Amenity Kit including water bottle, headscarf, box of candy, map, small book or game
A free 2-hour guided walking tour of Reykjavik