Home Private Tours About Us FAQ Contact Us
Mauritania desert lodge
Who we are

We Go Where
Others Won't.

A small team of obsessive travellers who design adventures in the places most people only read about. We have been doing this since 2018 — and we are just getting started.

30+
Destinations
7+
Years of Crazy
Vetted
Local Partners
Safety
First Always
Our Story
From Iceland
to Everywhere

Crazy Puffin was born in Iceland in 2018 as a series of camping tours around the island. Two highly successful seasons later, the pandemic forced a pause — but only briefly.

The team used that time to rethink everything. When the world reopened, Crazy Puffin came back bigger, bolder, and far more ambitious — trading Icelandic landscapes for war-torn cities, desert crossings, and tribal heartlands across Africa, the Middle East, and Central Asia.

Today we run tours to more than 30 destinations across some of the world's most extraordinary and least-visited places.

2018 Iceland
2018 – 2019
Iceland camping tours launch. Two successful seasons and a loyal community of travellers — and a reputation for doing things differently.
Covid
2020 – 2021
The pandemic hits. Operations pause — but planning accelerates. A new vision takes shape: wilder destinations, deeper experiences.
2022 relaunch
2022
Crazy Puffin relaunches with a completely new concept — group adventures to Mauritania, Syria, Pakistan, and beyond.
2023 onwards
2023 – Now
30+ destinations, a growing team, and a Crazy Puffin family that keeps coming back for more — trip after trip.
The Team
The People Behind Every Trip
Björn Pálsson
Founder & Tour Leader
Björn Pálsson

When Björn discovered the travelling lifestyle, there was no turning back. The road became his home, and his passion for adventures in lesser-known territories became his main focus. With a background in nature guiding from South Africa and well over a decade of full-time traveling, he decided to bring others along for the ride.

Crazy Puffin Adventures was born to let people in on the journey. Björn leads many of the trips himself and remains the driving force behind every itinerary.

Nationality
Icelandic
Years full-time travelling
17+
Countries visited
100+
Favourite bird
Puffin
Instagram Email
Niloofar
Booking Manager
Niloofar

Behind every smooth departure is Niloofar. She is the person making sure every detail is locked in, knows every itinerary inside out, and is always just a message away — before the trip, during it, and long after you’re home.

Gabri
Marketing Manager
Gabri

If a photo from a Crazy Puffin trip has ever made you stop and think ‘wait, people actually go there?’ — that’s Gabri’s fault. He’s the reason the Crazy Puffin name reaches the people who need it most.

Anna Harris
Tour Leader & Photographer
Anna Harris

Anna has visited almost every country on the planet — many of the photos you’ve been scrolling through on this website are hers. When she’s not behind the lens she’s in front of the group, leading trips with the kind of quiet confidence that only comes from a lifetime on the road.

Cristian
Tour Leader
Cristian

Cristian has visited six continents and just under 80 countries, and has led some of our most challenging and unforgettable adventures. Cool under pressure and brilliant on the road — he is exactly the kind of person you want leading the way.

What drives us
Our Values
Safety First, Always

We have been running trips to conflict-affected and high-risk areas since 2022. We do not take shortcuts on safety — ever. Every itinerary is vetted with local experts, every departure has a contingency plan.

Local is Everything

We work exclusively with local guides, local drivers, and local businesses. The money you spend with us goes directly into the communities you visit. Tourism done right.

Small Groups, Big Experiences

We cap our groups to keep the experience intimate and authentic. You will not be herded through museums. You will be welcomed into homes.

Ready to Join
the Crazy Puffin Family?

Browse our upcoming departures or book a free call with Björn to find the right adventure for you.

See All Adventures Book a Free Call