Katla Travel

What Katla Travel does

Katla Travel GmbH is a privately held German tour operator founded in 1999 and headquartered in Munich, specializing exclusively in travel to Iceland and, more recently, Greenland. The company sells custom and packaged trips — self-drive tours with Hertz rental cars, small-group escorted tours, active hiking tours, family vacations, winter northern-lights trips, multi-day horseback riding tours, 4WD camper rentals, destination weddings, and day excursions — to German-speaking individual travelers and families. A Reykjavik-based wholly-owned subsidiary, KATLA DMI ehf, provides local ground support. The business is run by two co-Managing Directors, Júlía Sigursteinsdóttir (Icelandic) and Susan Stefanski, with a team of roughly 11 Iceland advisors and support staff.

Its core technology is a relatively standard travel planning platform: online inquiry forms, itinerary management, and digital travel documents, supported by a website built by partner sixclicks GmbH. There is no public API, mobile app, or marketplace; the underlying differentiator is human-driven consulting rather than software. The go-to-market is sales-led and direct-to-consumer: customers submit inquiries via the website or phone, receive personalized quotes over the phone or video call, and book during German business hours. No third-party resellers or OTAs are used. Revenue is generated through direct package sales (flights bundled via Icelandair, cars via Hertz, accommodations, activities) plus referral commissions from travel insurance products (Allianz Partners / AGA International).

The company has been certified as a 'Top-Reiseveranstalter' by Tourvers and Rinke Treuhand in both 2024 and 2025, holds a 4.9/5 Google rating across 89+ reviews, and bundles sustainability features (atmosfair CO2 compensation, Kranavatn reusable bottles) and digital add-ons (Rother Wanderführer Gold Account app, Elfen & Trolle children's guide) into its packages. Partnerships with Icelandair, Hertz, Allianz Partners, Rother, atmosfair, and Kranavatn form the operational backbone of the product. Ownership is concentrated with the two managing directors; there is no venture capital, private equity, or institutional investment.

Name

Katla Travel

Legal name

Katla Travel GmbH

Website

https://katla-travel.is

Company type

Private

Founded year

1999

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Katla Travel GmbH is a Munich-based specialist tour operator selling personalized Iceland and Greenland packages — flights, rental cars, accommodation, and activities — to German-speaking individual travelers and families via phone and video consultation.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Specialty Tour Operator (Iceland and Greenland)

NAICS

Tour Operators (561520), Travel Agencies (561510), Scenic and Sightseeing Transportation, Land (48711), Recreational Goods Rental (532284)

SIC

Transportation Services (4700)

akta.pro primary industry

Private/Customized Multi-Day Tour Operators (THAKADAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Domestic/In-Country Multi-Day Tour Operators (THAKADAL), Hiking, Trekking & Backpacking Tour Operators (THAAADAA)

Keywords

• Iceland tour packages
• Self-drive travel
• Group tour operator
• Greenland travel
• Destination wedding planning

Headquarters

HQ city

München

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain, Others

Revenue model

1. Package Tours: Complete travel packages including flights (Icelandair), car rental (Hertz), accommodation, and activities for Iceland and Greenland trips
2. Travel Insurance: Referral commissions from AGA International S.A. for travel insurance products including travel cancellation and health insurance

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Katla Travel is a specialist tour operator that designs and sells customized travel packages to Iceland and Greenland. Packages bundle flights (Icelandair), car rental (Hertz with full CDW insurance), accommodation, activities, and on-trip local support, and are sold directly to German-speaking consumers through a personal consultation motion (website inquiry, phone, video, email). The portfolio spans self-drive tours, escorted group tours, family trips, active/hiking tours, winter and Northern Lights trips, multi-day horseback riding tours, 4WD camper rentals, day excursions, destination weddings, and Greenland tours.

Product overview

Katla Travel is a specialist tour operator for Iceland and Greenland travel, operating since over 25 years as a specialist tour operator. The company functions as a travel agency and tour operator offering a portfolio of self-drive packages, escorted group tours, activity-based tours, and destination services. Core products include Mietwagenreisen (self-drive car rental tours) with sub-variants for hotels/guesthouses, holiday cottages, family travel, active hiking tours, and winter travel; Gruppenreisen (group tours); Camper mit 4WD (4WD camper rentals); Reittouren (horseback riding tours); Ausflüge (day excursions); Heiraten in Island (destination weddings); Grönlandreisen (Greenland travel); and Reiseversicherungen (travel insurance via Allianz). Digital add-ons include the Rother Wanderführer Gold Account (1-year digital hiking guide subscription via the Rother app) and the Elfen & Trolle Guide (interactive children's guide). The company also maintains a content blog. Products are distributed directly through its website and consultation-based sales model, with no public API or marketplace mentioned.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Mietwagenreisen (Self-Drive Tours) Personalized self-drive tour packages in Iceland with rental car, accommodations, and curated route suggestions, customizable for individuals, couples, and families; variants include hotel/guesthouse stays, holiday cottages, family trips, active/hiking tours, and winter trips.
• Gruppenreisen (Group Tours) Small-group escorted tours of Iceland with qualified guides, including bus tours and combined free-time and guided tour packages, with hotel roundtrips and hiking-tour variants.
• Städtereisen (City Tours) City travel packages focused on Iceland destinations such as Reykjavik.
• Mehrtägige Reittouren (Multi-Day Horseback Riding Tours) Multi-day horseback riding tours in Iceland for beginners and advanced riders, including full-board packages.
• Ausflüge (Day Excursions) Day excursions and activities in Iceland including whale watching, ice cave tours, riding tours, and glacier hiking, available for online booking.
• Camper mit 4WD (4WD Camper Rental) Four-wheel-drive camper rental for flexible, independent exploration of Iceland including the Highlands and the Ring Road.
• Heiraten in Island (Destination Weddings) Wedding planning and ceremony services in Iceland for couples seeking a unique destination wedding experience.
• Rundreisen mit Fähre-Anreise (Round Trips with Ferry Arrival) Round-trip Iceland tour packages with ferry-based arrival as an alternative to flights.
• Grönlandreisen (Greenland Travel) Greenland travel packages offered alongside the Iceland-focused product portfolio.
• Reiseversicherungen (Travel Insurance) Travel insurance products including trip cancellation and international health insurance, distributed in partnership with Allianz Partners (AWP P&C S.A.) and AGA International S.A.
• Island aktiv für Einsteiger – Der Süden 11-day active self-drive tour exploring West, South, and Southeast Iceland with hiking highlights including the Golden Circle, Vatnajökull Glacier, Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon, and Snæfellsnes Peninsula, inclusive of flights, rental car, 10 nights' accommodation, and a Rother Wanderführer Gold Account.
• Island aktiv – Rund um die Insel 14-night self-drive tour around Iceland covering the classic highlights including the volcanic Mývatn region, Diamond Circle, Eastfjords, Vatnajökull, and South Coast, with hiking activities integrated throughout and car rental with CDW insurance included.
• Islands Hochland für Einsteiger 10-day self-drive tour in North and South Iceland featuring the Kjölur highland route crossing, Landmannalaugar, and South Coast highlights; available only between June 20 and September 15.
• Island aktiv auf einsamen Pfaden 19-day self-drive expedition covering remote regions of Iceland including the Westfjords, Tröllaskagi, Borgarfjörður Eystri, and Heimaey, with extensive hiking opportunities.

Quantifiable outcome

• Customer satisfaction rating of 4.9/5 based on 89+ Google reviews
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• TourverscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 March 2025Insolvency insurer for travel packages, provides Top Reiseveranstalter certification and travel security for Katla customers. Tourvers conducts annual certification reviews of Katla Travel.
• Rinke TreuhandcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAccounting firm that jointly certifies Katla Travel as Top Reiseveranstalter with Tourvers, reviewing economic indicators and business practices.
• HertzcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCar rental partner providing vehicles at Keflavik airport. Includes CDW insurance with deductible reimbursement through Hanse Merkur. Katla customers receive full coverage including theft, vandalism, and natural disaster protection.
• IcelandaircoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAirline partner providing flights to Iceland as part of Katla travel packages. Includes checked baggage and carry-on. Katla offers CO2 compensation for flights.
• AGA International S.A.minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorTravel insurance provider recommended by Katla for travel cancellation and international health insurance. Located in Aschheim near Munich.
• Allianz Partners (AWP P&C S.A.)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorTravel insurance partner providing travel protection and assistance services including travel cancellation insurance and international health coverage.
• Rother WanderführerminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDigital hiking guide app partnership. Katla provides Gold Account access for 1 year with all hiking tours included in activity package bookings.
• atmosfairminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCO2 compensation partner for flight emissions. Katla automatically includes CO2 compensation for all flight-inclusive bookings.
• KranavatnminorOthersReusable water bottle provider. Katla customers receive Kranavatn bottles at Hertz counter to fill with tap water, reducing plastic waste.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Studiosus Reisen: Studiosus is a German market leader in guided group tours across Europe and long-haul destinations, including Iceland. Comparable in targeting German-speaking customers and operating group tours, but with much broader geographic scope.
• DER Touristik (DERTOUR): DER Touristik is one of Germany's largest tour operators, offering Iceland among a wide portfolio of destinations. Comparable to Katla in serving German-speaking travelers, but competes as a broad incumbent rather than a destination specialist.

Direct peers

• Iceland Travel: Iceland Travel is a long-established Icelandic tour operator offering self-drive, escorted group, and Fly & Drive packages to Iceland. Comparable to Katla in product mix, B2C/B2B distribution and destination focus.
• Guide to Iceland: Guide to Iceland is a large Iceland-specialist marketplace and tour operator offering self-drive packages, group tours, and day excursions. Direct competitor in the same destination, with overlapping product categories and a similar target of pre-trip planners booking multi-day packages.
• Arctic Adventures: Arctic Adventures is an Iceland-based tour operator running day excursions, multi-day self-drive packages, and adventure activities. Strongly comparable on active/hiking product overlap and Iceland-only destination focus.
• Iceland ProTravel: Iceland ProTravel is a boutique Iceland tour operator specializing in customized self-drive and privately-guided itineraries. Comparable to Katla in its premium, customization-led positioning and Iceland-only focus.
• Troll Expeditions: Troll Expeditions is a Reykjavik-based tour operator offering self-drive tours, group tours, and active/adventure itineraries in Iceland. Comparable product portfolio with similar multi-day package structure and Iceland concentration.
• Hit Iceland: Hit Iceland is an Iceland-specialist tour operator offering self-drive, group, and customized packages. Comparable in product mix and core Scandinavian/German customer base to Katla.
• Nordic Visitor: Nordic Visitor is a Reykjavik-based tour operator specializing in self-drive and customized tours across Iceland and the Nordics. Highly comparable to Katla in product (multi-day self-drive packages, consultative GTM) and customer base (international travelers seeking curated Nordic experiences).

Others

• Booking.com Iceland inventory: Booking.com and similar OTAs aggregate Iceland self-drive and tour inventory, selling to the same German-speaking customers. Not a direct tour operator peer but an indirect channel/competitive substitute for Katla's direct-to-consumer funnel.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/katlatravel
• Xx.com/katlatravel
• Facebookfacebook.com/katlatravel

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Katla Travel