A new guide book for tourists on how to behave in Iceland

"What, where and how," is a new and complete guidebook in English written for tourists by guide Árni Tryggvason who bases the book on his extensive experience in guiding people around the country.

"The book is intended as a comprehensive information guide for tourists travelling around Iceland on their own. It's concise, to the point, an easy and accessible read. It's a book that will sort out any kind of misunderstanding and help you once in Iceland."  The book is only available in English righ now but will also be published at a later date in French and in Chinese. 

Over 300 photos, taken by Tryggvason himself are in the book, as well as lots of maps.  There's information on the country, its culture and people, driving in Iceand,  protection of nature, Icelandic food,  rules on camping, what to wear when hiking, interesting hiking trails, swimming pools, how to survive in Icelandic nature and communicating with Icelanders. 

"It's always good to learn a couple of Icelandic phrases, to charm the locals. I always say to tourists to pay compliments to Icelanders. Icelanders love being complimented although they're not good at giving compliments to others. It's also important that tourists respect the customs of locals, such as not walking all over graves in cemetaries."

In the book you'll also find lots on information on what NOT to do in Iceland.  This includes complaining about the weather, disturbing the natural habitat such as building a cairn, not ot buy drinking water and not to leave rubbish out in nature -  and finally not to "shit out in the middle of nowhere," as he bluntly puts it. 

"I think that there's great need for this material, I get so many questions like this in my work. It's supposed to be like a bible for anyone coming to Iceland for a week or two."

He adds that what he finds most important is that tourists don't get ahead of themselves and are more careful in Icelandic nature. "Tourists shouldn't go to the edge of a waterfall or run into the surf on a beach, be reckless on glaciers or put their hand in a geyser to check he temperature. There's plenty of tourists like that.  Last weekend I was guiding on Snæfellsjökull glacier with a group and we encountered plenty of people who were hiking up the glacier simply wearing sneakers. "

The book is available at the Eymundsson bookstore branches in Iceland. More details HERE.