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Not to Dick Phillips, it isn't. His niche in Icelandic travel is unique, but certainly not new. . . . When he set up his all-Icelandic travel service, in 1960, he had no intention of joining the mainstream travel industry. As his policy statement -unchanged since 1963 - says, he wanted ". . . to assist walkers, cyclists, mountaineers and kindred travellers . . . to get the most from their visits to Iceland without adding to their expenses. The principles of self-help will come naturally to those who find Iceland most attractive, and it is not his policy to provide services of a type which would tend to change this essential character of the country". His first move was to take up residence on an up-country farm, where he opened Fljótsdalur Youth Hostel - still serving backpackers today. Here he learned Iceland as few Brits have: living there summer and winter, helping on the farm, travelling, working, amassing his Icelandic book collection, finding new and unused routes through the mountains, leading foreign parties over them, while he built up his reputation as a reliable and straight-dealing authority. Over the years, he thus gained his particular qualifications to serve the independent-minded traveller with an interest in Iceland. Today, he retains his original no-half-measures standards. He does not offer "packages" to those hoping to "see as much as possible in four days", or book accommodation which visitors can easily book themselves, though he can supply accommodation lists. He is not the authority on Reykjavík, and particularly not on its night-life. He will not spoil the country by giving his view on which is the "best part", or attempt to send out "all the information available on Iceland". But without the usual emphasis on hotels, packages and glossy brochures, he can give information specific to your needs - where rivers can be crossed, provisioning points, relevant English literature, choice of maps (he has over 230 different sheets in stock), bus services, road conditions . . . Everything, in fact, for your own trip. Plus, of course, his famous Torfajökull backpacking fortnights and comparable tours in various fields, from fly/drives backed by his local knowledge, to tours by IFLM, the Icelandic Mountain Guides. Email for programme requests only: icelandick@nent.enta.net FULL INFORMATION FROM: |
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