About

The story of Backyard Iceland Adventures begins in the 1970s, when young Guðmundur (Gummi) explored the mountains around Árbær, Reykjavík, with his father, Önundur. These early journeys ignited his love for Iceland’s untamed nature and the freedom of the outdoors.

Fueled by this passion, Gummi acquired the equipment and vehicles needed to explore further, and in his early twenties, he began guiding hikes, sea kayaking trips, and river rafting adventures — the start of a lifelong devotion to sharing Iceland’s wild beauty.

Years later, Gummi met Íris Ósk Kristjánsdóttir, and together they discovered a shared love for both each other and the Icelandic wilderness. As a family with four children, they spent countless days hiking mountains, traversing valleys, and exploring Iceland’s highlands — instilling a spirit of adventure in every member of the family.

Their roots run deep in Iceland. Gummi’s family hails from Hól in Þorgeirsfjörður, Fjörður, where his grandmother lived on a remote sod farm, relying on livestock and open-rowboat fishing. Íris’s family comes from Ytri-Á on Kleifar, Ólafsfjörður, Tröllaskagi, where her great-grandfather fished for sharks from open rowboats. Between them lies Eyjafjörður, a region that unites their heritage and love for Icelandic land and tradition.

This deep connection to Iceland, its landscapes, and its people is at the heart of Backyard Iceland Adventures, inspiring every journey we create today.