Reviews

Our reviews

We are humble, but also delighted with the reviews that we have received lately through Tripadvisor (click to read all). Thank you all!

Two years in a row, we have accomplished the Tripadvisor Certificate of Excellence!

Our goal is to provide a unique experience for our customers. Travelling around Iceland is our passion which we want to share.

Whether it´s botany and geology, politics or elves and trolls, we like a good conversation. Broadens the horizon!

Some of our reviews:

Fantastic guide and magnificent land

June 20, 2018: "Like everyone else, before travelling to Iceland I read all the reviews and hand picked Magnus as our guide for the Landmannalaugar area. So I knew that he was more than good in his knowledge of the area and so on. Just like all the reviews said , Magnus drove us to beautiful parts of the vast area which included clear blue lakes, rhyolite mountains, craters, geothermal activity and so on. The part that I enjoyed the most was hiking the popular trail. I am a 57 years old and not in great physical shape. I enjoy hiking but able to do only the easy to moderate level. So when Magnus mentioned doing this hike I expressed my limitations. It was mid June and the roads to Landmannalaugar had just opened. The entrance to the popular trail was under snow , so an alternate entrance which requires climbing over rocks had to be used. There was no way I could have done that trail without Magnus’s help and guidance. He knew exactly when I needed help, would show me exactly where to step and even pulled me up over a couple of steep rocks. All the time he made he feel I could have done it on my own (I don’t think I could have). Parts of the trail (some going uphill and some downhill) was still covered in snow. The sights on the trail were simply awesome. Picture perfect. Because of Magnus’s encouragement and ability to guide people like me I was able to see this beautiful land. Had I skipped this hike, I would have kicked myself when I saw the pictures which my husband and son had taken. Fantastic guide and magnificent land."

Great experience!

June 10, 2018: "We went out with Magnus for an afternoon in May. He was fantastic from our first contact over e-mail- very one on one service, quick response time, flexibility in planning. On the day of our tour to the Black Beach he even offered up a free cancellation as the weather was horrendous- it was so windy and rainy we physically couldn’t even get out of the car in some places. We declined the generous offer as we had to do something to keep busy and are so glad we did. Magnus took us all around Hella, where he grew up, and we learned far more than we ever could by reading a travel book. He told stories ranging from local gossip and history, geology, climate, agriculture, wildlife- you name it. We even made it to the beach which was wild. It will now be a great memory instead of a washed out day. Thank you Magnus!"

"Northern Lights Super Jeep Tour"

November 15, 2017: "We can't recommend Magnus and Mudshark highly enough.

We contacted Magnus a few weeks before our trip to Iceland and booked a Northern Lights tour. Before we arrived Magnus kept his eye on the weather forecast and recommended changing the date to give us the best chance of seeing the lights. He also emailed us the day before we flew to say that the first winter storm was due to hit on the day we flew and that if we got to Iceland should stay at an airport hotel and cancel our hotel in Hella for the first night. As it happened our flight was cancelled due to the weather in Iceland and we were the only people on the flight who weren't surprised.

Our tour went ahead on our last night in Iceland - Magnus picked us up at the Ranga Hotel and took us into the wilds of Iceland (on 'impassable' roads!). It turned out to be a lot more than a hunt for the Northern Lights, Magnus is a mine of information on Icelandic culture, geology, ecology, folklore, wildlife, food and just about any other subject, including advice on photography. He also has a terrific sense of humour and it was amazing how quickly 4 hours at -10 degrees went.

This was a private tour so it was just the 2 of us and Magnus, which we preferred to being part of a group with people we don't know, and we felt was great value for money.

And yes, we did have a fantastic view of the Northern Lights which was the highlight of our trip."

"Extraordinary day"

August 29, 2017: "Magnus met us in the parking lot in Hella in his suped up Land Rover. We climbed into the seats and man, did we take a ride. We went to Landmannalaugar. The scenery was unbelievable and a loop hike in the park was amazing. Mostly though the best memory was the time we spent in conversations ranging from history, folklore, to his efforts to prevent Icelandic soil erosion. I know, the later sounds a bit nerdy, but it was fascinating and is one of his passions. He has a lot of tours and if I had known how much I enjoyed his knowledge and company I would have booked many more trips! Don't hesitate to book with him!"

"Great Day with Magnús in Landmannalaugar"

July 23, 2017: We booked a tour with Magnús to Landmannalaugar in the Icelandic highlands in July 2017. This trip was one of the highlights of our trip to south Iceland. Magnús was prompt, communicative, extremely knowledgeable, outgoing and fun to be with. We got to see one of the more breathtaking areas of a jaw-dropping beautiful country. What's more, Magnús answered all of our many questions, not just about the tour but about Iceland. We enjoyed his knowledge, friendliness and his yummy chocolate raisins. If you are thinking of visiting this magnificent area, Magnús is definitely the right guide to take you there. We know that when we come back to Iceland (and we will) we will engage Magnús again for another trip in this wonderful country.

"Þórsmörk, Fjallsárlón, and Golden Circle"

June 11, 2017: My family and I just returned from Iceland. We did the three day trips above with Magnus, all were outstanding. He is a native of iceland and has a PhD in botany (Penn State) and works for the government working on plant management, so we came away from the trip well educated about lupin, poplar, and birch. Also, Magnus gave us tutorials on erosion (it is an ongoing problem), volcanos, glaciers, fishing, etc. Great guy, great resource.

Each of the three tours above was excellent and a full day. The first tour is all off road in a land rover with 36 inch tires deflated to 12 pounds of pressure. We lost count of the number of streams that we forded. Spectacular water falls and hiking thoughout the day. The second tour was east of Vik and included a zodiak tour of a glacial lagoon, also great. Finally, the Golden Circle tour is a must just for the iconic sites that you see. This is where you see the big crowds but it is certainly worth doing.

Finally, Magnus gave us guidance for things to do on days that we weren't using him as a guide. He sent me links to a volcano tour as well as a glacier hiking outfit, and gave me ideas for things to do while we were in Vik. He really helped make this memorable trip for the entire family

"Perfect walking tour of Hella (and a picnic)!"

October 2, 2016: "On our final full day of a week's tour of Southern Iceland, Magnus Johannsson lead our small group on a walking tour of the town of Hella, We started from the shopping center, passed the school, walked through the residential neighborhoods, explored the site of the old bridge, had a wonderful picnic along the river and eventually climbed to the highest point in the town to admire the proximity of the volcanos. Along the way, Magnus, a plant-scientist by training and a soil conservation office by trade, told of the history of the area, the lure of the local caves, home building practices, the daily schedule of the local kindergarten students and how to plan the town's annual fete!
This walk was a chance for all of us to connect with someone who talked about his house and town and family and work and neighbors. Magnus made this wonderful country full of magical ponies, sheep, waterfalls, rainbows and whales much more real to us by telling us about grocery shopping and the retired man down the street who grows apples and showing us the school playground that the parents help build.

I would highly recommend spending time with Magnus as part of any trip to Iceland! His narratives are interesting, charming and heartfelt. You will enjoy this experience and you will leave feeling that you've made a new friend!

"Great day tour to Landmannalaugar"

September 26, 2016: "We spent the whole day with Magnus and not only did we see the beauty of the Icelandic Highlands, but we learned SO much! About the topography, biology, geology, history and culture of Iceland - Magnus was an amazing host and guide. He also made sure we had time to do a 2 hour hike that was just for us, so we got to explore on our own. What a great day!"

"Incredible day trip to Landmannalaugar"

August 11, 2016: "I chose MudShark because we were staying in Hella and it seemed that using a local guide would give us more time in Landmannalaugar. Not only was that a good call, but Magnus was an incredible guide who made the trip even better than the already amazing natural surroundings. First of all, he is a fantastic person to spend time with - friendly, kind, and funny. I often would rather travel on my own than cope with unknown people's personalities, but I enjoyed his company. Secondly, he shared his knowledge of the area and of Icelandic culture, from the reforestation efforts of which he is an integral part, to the volcanic history of the area, to stories of trolls and elves. The hike he recommended and guided in Landmannalaugar gave us plenty to see as well - lots of beauty and variety. Thank you Magnus!"

"The best way to experience Landmannalaugar"

August 5, 2016: "We went on a very personal tour with Mudshark tours today. Our guide was a local that was very familiar with the area. He was able to explain the geography to us as we enjoyed the amazing landscapes in a very relaxed manner. In addition to his wealth of knowledge related to the geography of the region, he discussed the the myths and history of the region. We drove through some rough terrain, but the vehicle was more than capable of handling it. There were beautiful landscapes, and a nice hike with amazing views. Our guide made us feel like we were an old friend of his. Take the tour!"

"Unique"

June 22, 2016: "Thorsmork with Mudshark Tours and Magnus was an entertaining and educational day. We did this tour toward the end of our vacation so had a lot of questions about what we had seen in the previous days. Magnus was able to talk about and explain just about anything we asked - food, culture, education, lifestyle, etc. and not just the flora and geology of what we were seeing in the Thormork area. He knows his country well and was also familiar with many things we would reference from the United States from the years he spent there.

He started the tour off with a drive around Hella, explaining it's history. On the way in to Thorsmork we stopped at a sheep corral and he explained the sheep grazing and herding methodology. We stopped at the waterfalls, tasted glacier water, saw Iceland's national flower plus many other wild flowers, had a beautiful hike, and a nice lunch.

Magnus was friendly, calm, easygoing, humorous and knowledgeable. He is a good choice for this trip. Thanks for a memorable experience!

"Adventure and Iceland insight at Þórsmörk"

May 31, 2016: "Our day with Magnús was perfect from start to finish. After picking us up, we drove through farmland areas on our way to Þórsmörk and learned about the history of the area - Magnús could answer any question we came up with. The drive to Þórsmörk through rocky terrain and river crossings was no problem in the super-jeep! We brought our lunches, and Magnús let us sample his horsemeat sandwich and share his peppermint tea, which was fantastic on a windy, cold day. We hiked up Valahnúkur - a great workout with a payoff of beautiful vistas. Magnús told us stories about the history of the area, and the folklore (and maybe truth?!) of elves. We took this tour on our last day in Iceland - great timing, since it gave us time to come up with lots of questions beforehand. Highly recommend a day with Magnús - any destination you choose will be fantastic!"

"Great day with Magnus along south shore"

December 7, 2015: "We abandoned thoughts of self touring after such extreme weather that roads were closing everywhere and trips being cancelled. Magnus picked us up from our Hotel (ranga) and took us for a great day out. Lots of interesting anecdotes, waterfalls , beaches, lovely lunch and tea and biscuits to warm us up in the car at regular intervals. Magnus felt like a friend after ten minutes and if we come back we will definitely do some fishing with him too."

"A trip with the master"

November 2, 2015: "Most of the trips we've been in Iceland, has been going from one place to another...This trip was different. Magnum is a very special person, very bright, kind and someone we felt like we could talk to him for hours about anything. He knows so much about everything....There is so much to learn from him. We felt like friends, although we had meet him only a few minutes before the trip....We learn so much about Iceland, the culture, the people the animals, the soil. It was so interesting ( when I was back at the guesthouse, I wrote everything down , so I would not forget everything he thought us). After the tracking, we were so wet from the rain and he received us with hot tea and cookies (who does that???). For Me, It was one of the most amazing days in Iceland, if you're in the area, don't miss meeting him - it is an adventure !! He is really one of a kind."

"Best tour I´ve been on!"

September 26, 2015: This tour was wonderful. Magnus took us (2 people) on a walking tour of Hella. His essentially complete knowledge of the village gave us a fascinating and unique perspective on how Icelandic villages came to be the way they are. He took us around, showing us different areas from different points in the village's history, adding fun and interesting anecdotes about what we saw. It was fascinating, inspiring, and fun!

"Best day of our trip"

"Fabulous family tour"

August 13, 2015: "First: Magnus is knowledgeable, flexible, and personable, responds quickly to emails, organized and punctual. He's also a lot of fun! You should try it!"

August 7, 2015: "We toured Thorsmork and the Jokulsarlon glacier lagoon with Magnus from MudShark. They were memorable trips that the whole family enjoyed. In addition to seeing scenery that could only be viewed from an off-road vehicle, Magnus educated us about the geology and botany in the area. He is a botanist and soil conservationist, and was so knowledgeable and interesting. He shared his love of his beautiful country and told entertaining stories along the way that gave us insight into the local culture, history, traditions and lifestyle. It was a trip we will not forget!"

"Outstanding Iceland experience"

August 6, 2015: Magnus LOVES his country and it shows. His Ph.D. from Penn State gives him a perspective on nature and the American perspective. I came away with a love of Iceland and a yearning to return.

"One of the Highlights of our 2 week holiday in Iceland"

July 29, 2015: Magnus was just perfect - right from the very start. The communication was great and he was very accommodating to tailor a super jeep trip based on sights we really wanted to visit in the Landmannalaugar. In most places in Iceland, it is guaranteed that you will see amazing sights that will be etched in your memory for a long time and our trip with Magnus was no different. What made the trip really enjoyable was our interaction with Magnus - his friendly demeanor, humor and knowledge cum patience to answer all our questions - about the soil, the flora, Icelandic history and culture and our endless barrage of other questions. We also had a wonderful home-made lunch (there was so much food).The trip was definitely one of the highlights of the trip and we were fortunate to befriend a wonderful Icelander!

"Saved trip"

July 29, 2015: Magnus was an outstanding guide, his knowledge of biology & geology were impressive. He went out of his way to make us comfortable, especially as we were an unplanned addition to his group. He picked us up when our guides vehicle broke down. Although it may have been the PRINCE POLO that came with us. I'd use his service again. Highly recommended from someone who actively avoids guided tours.

"Wonderful Icelandic overview"

July 9, 2015: We spent 12 hours touring the Golden Circle and South Coast with Magnus (Mudshark). We honestly cannot remember the last time that going on a tour (much less one this long) was so effortless. It really was much more like getting a tour of the area from an Icelandic friend - right down to the shared pictures after the trip.

He made sure that we had the perfect vehicle for the trip - and even the most carsick among us felt fine all day. As others have mentioned, he knows the area well and is very passionate about it. We saw all of the sites that we came to see (Pingvellir, waterfalls, glaciers, arches, black sand beaches) and enjoyed the conversation throughout the day. We hope to return soon at the right time of year so that we can have Magnus show us the Northern Lights!