How to find elves in Iceland

Elf Quest According to a 2007 poll, the majority of Icelanders don't deny the existence of elves and 8 percent believe in them outright. The elves live in craggy hillsides and cave near running water, which visitors (like the writer pictured above) can trek through. (Jo Piazza)

Elf Tracking Mountain Guides is one of the many groups offering adventure trekking tours all over the island but three of their trips in particular lead the more open-minded traveler through elf territories with expert guides. The Víknaslóðir, or “Hiking at the End of the World” trek. If you don't have much time, take Mountain Guides’ Essential Iceland Super Jeep Tour through Kaldidalur, Langjökull Glacier and the Lava Caves. (Jo Piazza)

Elfin Love In Iceland, elves (this one pictured here is not real, of course) are believed to be magical small folk who live amongst humans and may, on occasion, lend a helping hand. (Jo Piazza)

Elf Walking Tours For 11 years Sigurbjorg Karlsdottir, known better as Sibby, has been giving story-telling walks around Hafnarfjordur, a port town right outside of Reykjavik and the capital of Iceland’s “hidden” worlds. (Jo Piazza)

Elf School Elf school starts at approximately 3 pm every Friday on the second floor of a strip mall outside of Reykjavik. All students in the school receive a study book in English, German or Swedish and a diploma confirming they completed the course in Elf Studies. (Jo Piazza)

Elf Master The founder and dean of the elf school is historian and spiritual advisor Magnus Skarphedinsson, who will relay all of his personal knowledge of elves, gnomes, dwarves, fairies and spirits that he has obtained through personal interviews with more than 700 eyewitnesses. (Jo Piazza)