Why We Believe in Private, Slow Travel (and What It Means for You)
- Elí Þór Vídó Gunnarsson
- Jun 30
- 3 min read

In a world full of fast tours and crowded stops, we’ve chosen a different path.
At East Highlanders, we believe that how you travel matters just as much as where you go. That’s why our tours are private, flexible, and guided by a simple philosophy: go slower, and experience more.
This isn’t just a business model—it’s personal. It’s based on what we’ve seen, what we’ve experienced as travelers ourselves, and how we believe East Iceland should be explored.
Why We Chose Private, Small-Scale Travel
Before starting East Highlanders, I worked in the hotel industry and as a bus driver in this region. I watched big groups—sometimes 50 people—being shuffled from one stop to another with barely any interaction. From the outside, it looked like no one was really connecting with their guide or with the place.
I’ll be honest: when I was driving those mixed-group tours, I couldn’t offer the kind of experience I believed in. I couldn’t answer questions in depth. I couldn’t connect. It felt rushed and impersonal.
When I traveled abroad myself and joined group tours, I often came away with the same feeling—great places, but no space to ask, to pause, or to learn. That’s when my family and I began to talk: What if we did it differently?
What if we offered private tours, where we could slow down, build real connections, and help people understand the culture and daily life of this region?
That’s where East Highlanders began.

What Slow Travel Means to Us
For us, slow travel isn’t about moving slowly—it’s about being present.
It’s about walking through a forest without watching the clock. Asking your guide about the folklore behind a hill. Taking time to stand by a river, not just snap a photo and move on.
I remember, as a bus driver, feeling frustrated when guests wanted to know more but we had to leave—no time to stay, no time to go deeper. Now, we build time into the experience. Time to listen. Time to change the plan if that’s what the moment calls for.

Who This Style of Travel Is For
Over the years, we’ve welcomed all kinds of travelers—families, couples, solo explorers, and even cruise guests who bring along new friends they’ve just met. What they all have in common is this: they want to enjoy the day, not just get through it.
They want a real conversation, not just commentary. They want to feel the rhythm of a place, not rush through its highlights.
If that sounds like you, you’ll probably feel right at home with us.
The Beauty of the In-Between
There are many small moments we remember from our tours—not dramatic events, just quiet pauses. The feeling when we stop to share a story. When someone asks a question that leads to a deeper conversation. When a guest opens up about where they’re from, and we find common ground.
That’s the kind of memory that lasts longer than any photograph.
As guides, we also want to give travelers what we look for ourselves when we travel: a connection with the people who live there. Not just a look at the landscape—but a sense of how it feels to live in it.
We’re Not Just Guides. We’re Memory Makers.
Every tour we lead is a chance to create something that will stay with someone long after they’ve gone home. A feeling. A story. A sense of having been somewhere—not just seen it.
That’s what we aim to create. Not a checklist of stops, but a day that becomes part of your story.
Explore our private day tours or get in touch to plan your day—slow, meaningful, and made just for you.
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