Travel makes one modest. You see what a tiny place you occupy in the world.
Traveling is the one thing that humbles you and makes you realize that there are much bigger problems in the world than yours. In essence, it gives you the power to tackle life with a broader perspective.
If you are planning to travel alone, we will definitely recommend you to visit Iceland. And if a tight budget has been stopping you from stepping out of your home, do not worry! We have covered all such aspects of your journey in the following article.
Not only is Iceland a beautiful country with active volcanoes, waterfalls, and Northern Lights, but it is also one of the safest countries to travel in. With a rising tourist industry and kind helpful people, you will have one of the best experience of your life in Iceland.
Why Should You Travel Solo to Iceland?
Like most other people around the world, you probably have been discouraged to travel alone. People around you, be it your parents or your friends, have tried to stop you by giving you multiple reasons as to why it is a reckless decision. However, we are here to give you various positive reasons to help support you to travel alone.
Read the following points to understand how traveling to Iceland solo could be the best decision of your life.
Safety
Safety is the number one priority for anyone traveling alone or in a group to another country. Not only can you explore natural features, but you can do so without feeling alone or unsafe. This is because the people of Iceland are very humble and friendly. Such that this country has been ranked first in the Global Peace Index since 2008 as the most peaceful country.
Although traveling in Iceland is quite safe, one must research and take all the necessary precautions beforehand. Firstly, one of the biggest safety concerns in Iceland is not related to people at all. As beautiful as the landscape is, the weather is always changing. Therefore, you must always be updated with the weather conditions before traveling and pack accordingly.
Secondly, traveling around the city at night can be quite tricky. Avoid going to bars and vacant places alone to prevent any mishaps or just make plans in the morning. Moreover, if you have a very adventurous nature, just make sure to keep a safe distance from the dangerous spots.
We would definitely recommend you to not go glacier hiking without a guide unless you are very experienced. It is better to hire a trained and experienced guide and follow all their instructions to remain safe in a foreign country.
All in all Iceland with a population of just over 300000, is a very safe place to travel in. You simply need to be aware of your surroundings and take the regular safety precautions that you usually take in your hometown. And yeah, you are good to go!
Language
Simply put, you cannot just visit any new place and not communicate with the people. In order to enjoy your holiday, you absolutely need to remain social and take help from the locals. How else are you supposed to ask for directions or even hire a cab?
Fortunately, tourists traveling to Iceland do not have much to worry about. Although the national language of Iceland is Icelandic, almost all the people are fluent in English. The children here are taught English in their school as part of their curriculum. Added to this, the booming tourist industry of Iceland calls for all the locals to partake in communicating with the foreigners.
However, you might expect some difficulty if you are traveling to the countryside. The older generation is not that well-versed in English compared to the youth. If you really want to experience all aspects of traveling, try learning a few phrases of Icelandic. For example, you can learn to say ?Takk? for thank you and ?Bless? for goodbye. The locals are surely going to love your effort!
Adventure
Iceland can easily be called a tourist paradise, especially for people who love to explore nature. This small island in the North is filled with beautiful mountains, waterfalls, huge white glaciers, and hot springs which all-together provide picturesque sceneries.
You will find multiple exciting activities here to enjoy as a solo traveler. One of them is glacier hiking. However, it can be dangerous for beginners and it is recommended to join a local tour group to have an experience of a lifetime.
Apart from this, you also have the option to hike around the mountains and even watch various waterfalls. With over a thousand waterfalls whose names you cannot even pronounce right, you will simply not get tired of hiking from one beautiful view to another.
Moreover, Iceland houses many interesting caves for you to explore. These include glacier caves, lava caves, and even man-made caves. If you travel to this country, you cannot simply complete your holiday without visiting its multiple hot springs in the field or pool. You definitely have to soak in the geothermal waters of Iceland and let go of all your worldly tensions.
Making Friends
Making a new friend can be scary. And traveling to a new place alone and not knowing anyone can be scarier. But do not worry, the people of Iceland are known to be very friendly.
They can appear a little reserved but once you gain their trust, they will keep talking about their beautiful homeland. Apart from this, you get more insight into folk stories and history from the locals rather than from the internet. Also, they can guide you about the less explored and hidden areas of Iceland.
It is much easier to make friends while traveling solo. You tend to be open and socialize more, trying to find the right people to have fun with. If you are wondering where to make such friends, simply start talking to other travelers. You can do so in your hotel, go bar hopping, or go for a swim in Iceland's many thermal pools.
Knowing people can make definitely make your journey more fun. You can also split the ride with a fellow tourist going to the same destinations to save money and then, just part ways afterward. What is more fun than having to travel with like-minded people?
Independence
Everyone knows how difficult it is to make group plans. Be it going to a bar, a friend's place, or even just a restaurant, you get multiple options from everyone. Hence, it can be difficult and time-taking to come to a general consensus.
Similarly, planning a holiday with a bigger group can be just as taxing. The larger the group, the longer it takes to make any decision. This is another reason why people prefer to travel alone. Not only do they get the freedom to make their own plans, but they also have the option to just relax at their own pace.
Solo adventures make you more independent, allow you to make new foreign friends, and even give you the solitude and peace that you can never find living in a busy crowded city. Just imagine how hiking through fields or even soaking in a hot spring alone will be so calming.
How to Travel to Iceland on a Budget
Iceland is one of the more expensive countries to travel to but there are many ways to cut down on your expenses. If you are one of those on a tight budget, do not worry at all. We have shared many tips in the following section of this article to help you enjoy to the fullest without leaving your bank empty.
Hitchhike
Since Iceland is one of the safest countries to travel in, you will find that it is not much difficult to hitchhike with the locals or even other tourists. You can easily find rides in the country and even Southern Iceland. However, it can be a little hard to hitchhike in the scantly populated Northern areas, sometimes taking more than an hour to find a ride.
An easy way to find a ride is to look for people in hostels who are driving through the famous ring road. If you make new friends in this new country, you can simply share rides with them to split the cost.
Visit in winter
Even though you will have to give up the green landscapes and beautiful countryside views for snow, you get to visit locations without much crowd. People tend to travel in summers and if you travel in winter, you will get to journey at very low costs too. This includes lower accommodation cost and tour prices which will save you many dollars.
If you think you will be missing out a lot by traveling in winter, we assure you that this is not the case. You will get to experience amazing sunsets, snow-covered land, frozen waterfalls and lakes, and maybe even Northern Lights.
Reusable water bottle
Another benefit of traveling to Iceland is that you get incredibly clean water hygienic enough to even drink directly. Instead of wasting your money on buying plastic bottles and harming the environment, just carry a reusable metallic one that you can refill from the tap.
Visit via a stopover
You can cut down the cost of an airplane ticket by simply visiting Iceland when you are planning to fly between North America and Europe. This is very suitable for those people who travel often and can take out the time for a holiday between their flights.
This is possible because Icelandair provides cheap tickets for people traveling between the two continents. Furthermore, they offer free stopovers for almost seven nights in Iceland. Apart from this, you can smartly create your stopover if you wanted to.
Couch surf
The accommodation prices in Iceland can be quite high. To counter this, there are many websites that introduce travelers to local people who are eager to open their home for free. You can always try to get in contact with them and not only score a place to live, but sometimes even get a free tour guide.
Drink less alcohol
Alcohol prices in Iceland are extremely high. If you really want to save money, it is better if you give up on drinking at all. Also, it is better to hike and travel without a hangover too. Since the nightlife in Reykjavik is very famous, you might be tempted to let loose. It is fine to do so but make sure not to make it a habit.
If you really want to drink and cannot give it up, what most travelers do is that they buy lots of alcohol from duty-free in airports. You can do the same and save almost 30% off the money it would take to buy the same alcohol in the country.
Food
You will find that eating out will take the most bills out of your pocket. Even getting the cheapest food will cost about $15 or more. At such prices, you will burn through your budget quickly.
An easy solution to this problem is that you buy your own grocery. Try looking for stores that sell the cheapest products and use the kitchen available at the hostels and campsites to cook your own food. Another option is that you purchase pre-made meals, like frozen pizzas, on a deal and eat them for your lunch or dinner.
Free Hot Springs
Instead of spending a lot of money on the famous Blue Lagoon, try looking for free hot springs around Iceland. Use the internet to find the best ones either for free or for lower costs, like the Reykjadalur and Seljavallalaug.
Conclusions
This is a famous quote by Hans Christian Andersen and it accurately describes how traveling gives you the enthusiasm to live. No one wants a monotonous life and just taking a vacation can give you a fresher perspective to life.
Hopefully, this article has given you enough information to make a final decision on Iceland. It is a beautiful country with a vast number of scenic views and exciting activities that will definitely leave you rejuvenated after your trip.