Adventure Travel Podcast - Big World Made Small
Welcome to the Big World Made Small Adventure Travel Podcast, where we go far beyond the beaches, resort hotels, and cruises to explore the really cool places, people, and activities that adventurous travelers crave. If your idea of a great vacation is sitting on a beach at an all-inclusive resort, you’re in the wrong place. However, if you’re like me, and a beach resort vacation sounds like torture, stick around. You’ve found your tribe.
My name is Jason Elkins, and as an adventure travel marketing consultant and tour operator myself, I am on a mission to impact the lives of adventure travelers, the tour operators they hire, and the communities that host them, creating deeply meaningful experiences that make this big world feel just a bit smaller.
Are you ready to discover your next great adventure, whether that looks something like climbing Mt Kilimanjaro in Africa, SCUBA diving in the South Pacific, or hot air ballooning in Turkey? Then you’ll be happy to know that each episode of the Big World Made Small Podcast features a fascinating interview with an adventure travel expert that has agreed to share, with us, their own personal stories, favorite adventure destinations, and even some incredibly helpful tips and tricks they’ve learned while in the field. I trust that by the end of each episode you’ll feel like booking a ticket to enjoy the sights, sounds, smells, and tastes of these amazing places, and getting to know the incredible people that live there.
I’ll be your guide as we explore this amazing planet and its people on the Big World Made Small podcast. I am a former US Army paratrooper, third generation commercial hot air balloon pilot, paramotor pilot, advanced open water SCUBA diver, and ex-Montana fly fishing guide and lodge manager. I have managed boutique adventure tour operation businesses in the Rocky Mountains of Montana, off-shore in Belize, the Adirondacks in New York, and the desert of Arizona. I also spent nearly a decade with Orvis International Travel, leading a talented team of tour operation experts, putting together and hosting amazing fly fishing and adventure travel excursions around the world. I have tapped into my experience and network of travel pros to put together a weekly series of exclusive expert interviews that I am excited to share with you.
For the last couple of years I have lived a fully nomadic lifestyle, feeding my passion for exploration, creating amazing adventures, and meeting some of the most fascinating people along the way. I record every episode while traveling, so in a sense you’ll be joining me on my journey. Let’s discover some great adventures together and make this big world feel just a bit smaller.
And, don’t forget to take a quick trip over to our website at bigworldmadesmall.com and join our adventure travel community, where you’ll benefit from new episode announcements, exclusive adventure travel opportunities, and special access to the experts you’ve met on the show. You can also follow us on social media, using the links in the show notes below. And, if you’re getting value out of the show please help us grow by sharing it with your friends, family, and anyone else you know that wants to get far beyond the beaches, resort hotels, and cruise ships, the next time they travel.
I’ll publish another episode soon. Until then, keep exploring. It’s the best way to make a big world feel just a bit smaller.
https://adventuretravelmarketing.com/podcast
Adventure Travel Podcast - Big World Made Small
Adventure Travel with Einar Torfi Finnsson - Arctic Hiking and Expeditions
Einar Torfi Finnsson
CEO & Lead Guide
Arctic Hiking and Expeditions
https://adventuretravelmarketing.com/guest/einar-torfi-finnsson/
Guest Bio
Einar Torfi Finnsson is the founder and CEO of Arctic Hiking and Expeditions, and a pioneering figure in Iceland’s adventure travel scene. Born in Kópavogur in 1965, Einar grew up immersed in Iceland’s natural beauty, inspired by nature-loving parents. His passion for the outdoors took root early through mountaineering with the Reykjavik Alpine Club and two decades of service with the FBS-R Mountain Rescue Group. By his early twenties, Einar had already trained as a National Park Ranger and begun guiding winter and summer expeditions across Iceland’s rugged terrain.
In 1989, Einar transitioned to guiding full-time, specializing in cross-country ski journeys and remote trekking adventures. His career has included landmark expeditions across the Icelandic Highlands and Greenland Icecap. In 1993, he co-founded Icelandic Mountain Guides, later launching Iceland Rovers with his wife and close friends. After these companies merged in 2008, Einar continued to lead until his departure in 2020. Today, he brings decades of hard-earned experience to Arctic Hiking and Expeditions, leading small-group treks through some of the North’s most awe-inspiring landscapes.
Show Summary
In this episode of the Big World Made Small Adventure Travel Podcast, host Jason Elkins speaks with Einar about a lifetime spent exploring the far reaches of Iceland and Greenland. From his early days hiking volcanic plateaus to leading ambitious crossings of the Greenland Icecap, Einar shares what it takes to guide safely and meaningfully in some of the most remote places on Earth.
The conversation dives into the evolution of Einar’s guiding career, the founding of Arctic Hiking and Expeditions, and the philosophies that drive his approach to adventure travel. Jason and Einar also explore the changing climate’s impact on glacial landscapes, the role of local culture in expedition experiences, and the powerful draw nature has for travelers seeking perspective and connection.
Learn more about Big World Made Small Adventure Travel Marketing and join our private community to get episode updates, special access to our guests, and exclusive adventure travel offers on our website.
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