I’m excited to introduce you to Gudjon Thorsteinn Gudmundsson, the founder of Katlatrack, one of Iceland’s top adventure tour companies.
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Since its inception in 2009, Katlatrack has pioneered year-round natural ice cave exploration in Iceland, offering unique, offbeat adventures beyond typical tourist hot spots. As a participant in Gudjon’s tours, I can personally attest to their quality and the immersive experiences they provide. These tours are more than just sightseeing; they are an intimate connection with Iceland’s raw, unspoiled beauty.
Gudjon, a native of Myrdalur in South Iceland, was born and raised among the unique landscapes that now form the backdrop of Katlatrack’s tours. His deep-rooted passion for mountaineering and extensive knowledge of the local area led him to establish the first licensed company to offer tours around Katla, Iceland’s most powerful volcano.
What started as a single man’s vision has grown into a robust team of passionate locals, all trained Super Jeep drivers, and experienced glacier guides, sharing Gudjon’s passion for the local landscape and its history.
Katlatrack’s tours are an eclectic mix designed to cater to various adventure seekers. They range from fast-paced Ice Cave tours for those with a tight schedule to the comprehensive Katla Ice Cave tour that showcases the best of Southern Iceland’s textures and tones. The Black Beach Buggy tour and the Þakgil Buggy Adventure tour promise an exhilarating, hands-on exploration of the breathtaking Icelandic scenery.
If you’re short on time but want to experience the best of Vik, the ‘Best of Vik – One Hour Express Tour‘ is an excellent pick. I suppose it is especially appealing to the fans of the Netflix series Katla. For the Game of Thrones fans, Katlatrack offers a unique tour of the hidden mountains surrounding Vik, landscapes featured in the beloved series.
So, let’s dive into our conversation with Gudjon, as he shares his passion for Iceland’s landscapes, the inspiration behind Katlatrack, and his vision for the future of adventure travel in Iceland.
Hey Guðjón, thank you for taking the time for this interview. Can you tell me about your time growing up in Mýrdalur Valley?
Growing up in Mýrdalur Valley was fun, with no computers and just the Icelandic State TV, which was not very exciting. So you had to entertain yourself. I was raised at Pétursey farm, where we raised cows and grew potatoes. You started to drive cars and tractors at an young age. At only 13, I started driving a four-wheeler.
Growing up in a place like this is an incredible privilege. Here, everything comes together: black sands, mountains, and glaciers. My interest in mountain trips ignited early. I got my first Jeep at the age of 17, which was a 1979 Jeep Wagoneer model with 38-inch tires.
Driving up to the mountains during the winter was fantastic. I have two brothers who had the same jeep, and we traveled a lot together. Our favorite thing was to go into the back of the mountains and, in winter, spend the night in Hólaskjól and then drive into Eldgjá and from there either to Landmannalaugar or Langasjó. We went swimming in the Botnlanga River, where there is a mountain hut not far from Langasjó. What we could do on our adventures depended greatly on the volume of snow and weather conditions.
My brothers and I have car mania in our blood. Our great-grandfather Brandur Stefánsson was the first person in Vík to buy a car in 1927 (Ford Model T). He was best known by the nickname Vatnabrandur. There were few bridges at the time, and roads were rough gravel tracks, if there were roads at all. Therefore, he had to ford dangerous glacial rivers and drive on rugged terrain when transporting people and goods between Vík and Reykjavík to do his job. Driving was highly challenging in those days in a rough country that lacked roads and bridges. I have often thought of him on my travels.
Can you describe your journey from starting in 2009 with your company to the place where Katlatrack is now?
It has been an enjoyable and educational time. I bought my first car with a group tour permit in May 2009. I wanted to offer tours to Kötlujökull glacier; nobody offered tours there. There was also a demand for tours from Vík. Nobody was fulfilling that demand. At that time, travelers only visited Vík in the summer. The first summer was quiet, and I had another job in Reykjavík. I used my summer vacation and weekends for operating tours.
Eyjafjallajökull erupted in 2010, and the summer season was hit hard. It was a struggle to operate the company until 2014-2015. At this time, hotels in Vík started to be open for the whole year. My wife, Sæunn Elsa, and I decided to take the plunge to operate trips throughout the year. I quit my job in Reykjavík, and we started to operate tours throughout the year. It went amazingly well, but everything new takes time to build. I remember that few Icelanders believed that glacier tours would be popular. However, the glacier’s power, immense beauty, and mystery were and remain beloved by travelers.
I operated two vehicles during those two first challenging years. I drove with guests during the day, maintained the trucks, and did everything running a tour company requires you to do during evenings and nights. My wife stood firmly behind me, and giving up was never an option. Running Katlatrack was just too much fun.
When the pandemic hit
In 2019, the wheels were starting to turn, and we were about to open an excellent facility in Vík. However, COVID-19 came out of nowhere. There was nothing else to do but lock up. It was a terrible time. However, we stubbornly held on to the hope that everything would turn around and we would get back on track. What helped a lot with the pandemic was experiencing the volcanic eruption in Eyjafjallajökull. The eruption taught us that external conditions can knock you down anytime. Prepare for the unexpected! In any case, closing down for two years is challenging. But now everything is back to full speed, and the business has grown. We have increased the number of vehicles to meet the growing tour demand. Moreover, our excellent staff now welcomes our guests at excellent facilities in Vík, located in the best location in town.
Katlatrack has a very high rating on Trip Advisor, with over 800 reviews. How do you achieve this?
Look, we’re selling an experience. We emphasize that our guests receive top service at all stages of the process and leave us smiling with good memories; it certainly pays off. It helps that we have excellent staff who go out of their way every day to provide good service. We will probably reach 1000 reviews soon which is beyond all expectations.
The volcano Katla looms large for us Icelanders. What is it like to live in her shadow?
It is nothing you think about every day. She is just there; if she wakes up, we deal with everything. There is nothing to fear when it comes to volcanoes in Iceland. We have the most incredible scientists, civil defense, rescue teams responding, and local people who have seen it all. Therefore, Katla or other volcanoes in Iceland are not obstacles to people visiting the country.
You have a varied selection of tours. What are the hottest tours that you offer now?
The ice cave tours are always the most popular, but the buggy tour in Þakgil, which we started this summer, has become a hit. That area is so entertaining, and the nature is fantastic. There’s something special about sitting in an open buggy, driving trails over rivers and ravines, and experiencing Iceland that way.
What advice would you give those visiting Iceland for the first time?
First and foremost, be prepared for all sorts of weather. Travel insurance is essential because anything can happen in Iceland. Be ready to accept everything Iceland has to offer because everyone who comes here loves the country.
