The Wanderlust Made Me Do It: Traveling Solo in Iceland

Iceland. Four days. Solo.

You could say the wanderlust made me do it. Or you could just call me insane, a risk-taker, inspirational (yep, that's what the woman on the flight back from Reykjavik to Detroit said about my trip), or what have you. 

The reality is, I got tired of waiting for others to have the time and money to join me. So, I bucked it up, bought the plane ticket, and chose to conquer my fear of traveling solo.

I won't lie, the 6 hours on my flight on WOW Air from Detroit to Reykjavik were nerve-wrecking (when I wasn't sleeping). My heart was pounding in my chest at a pace of what felt like a million beats per minute and my brain kept asking me if I was really sure about visiting a foreign country where I didn't speak the language solo.

Although, as you may or may not know, once you're in the air there's (legally) very little you can do to stop the airplane from reaching its destination- especially as you cross the ocean. So, despite my nerves, I was committed the second I boarded the plane.

TOUCHDOWN ICELAND

I know they say first impressions are key, but if that were the case, then your first impression of Iceland would be that it's a barren land of igneous rocks (hardened lava for those of you who don't remember your 3rd grade geology lessons) and moss because of where planes land at Keflavik International Airport. Granted, you will see a lot of igneous rocks coated in moss across Iceland, giving it that ethereal, from-another-planet look, but Iceland is so much more than that as I learned over the course of my four days in the country. 

TAKING A DIP IN THE BLUE LAGOON

When I landed in Iceland I didn't have a significant amount of time to explore the airport due to the fact that a thunderstorm in Detroit delayed my flight for an hour, and I had a reservation at the Blue Lagoon at 1 p.m. with a bus scheduled at 12:30 p.m. So, after stretching my legs to leave the secure area of the airport, I picked up a snack and got on the bus for the 20-minute drive to the Blue Lagoon.

First things first, if you weren't aware, the Blue Lagoon is absolutely a tourist trap, so if you're in Iceland outside of the shoulder season (March-May and September-October) you should expect it to be crowded. However, if you can tolerate the slightly cooler weather of Iceland's spring, you'll have the chance to enjoy most tourist attractions with significantly fewer crowds. 

When it comes to the Blue Lagoon, most people either indulge in the geothermal hot spring filled with silica (which is said to have healing powers, but also is what causes the water to be a cloudy blue) either when they first arrive to Iceland (like I did) or before they catch their flight back home. I would highly recommend making it your first stop because it gives you a chance to rinse off after a long flight because before entering the lagoon you're required to take a shower, which is exactly the sort of thing you want to do after sleeping on an overnight flight. 

Then, once you're ready to head into the warm water, you have the opportunity to stay and relax for as long as your heart desires. I soaked up the warmth and relaxed for three hours before leaving to check in to my hostel in Reykjavik. 

GETTING NERDY WITH A GAME OF THRONES TOUR

Some of these Icelandic horses serve as extras in the Game of Thrones. And yes, they are as fluffy as they look.

You didn't think I would take a trip to Iceland without spending some time indulging in my nerdy desires by checking out some of the filming locations for the Game of Thrones. I mean, not only can I now say that I've walked in the footsteps of Vikings, but I've also explored some of the land of Westeros. Does that make me a nerd? Absolutely. Do I care if you judge me? Nope. 

The tour began with a chance to meet some of the extras on the TV series. No, we didn't meet a person, instead we met the Icelandic horses that belong to the characters Arya and the Hound. 

After that, there were a few waterfalls, walking the steps towards the Bloody Gate (or for the non-Game of Thrones fan, the steps the Vikings took towards Parliament to create the laws of the land), a small note about a location used in the movie The Secret Life of Walter Mitty (which features Ben Stiller), and a filming location used for a fight between the Hound and Brienne.

Although, my favorite location was an old Viking home. Because of the limited number of trees around Iceland, the Vikings had to create turf homes, and the result looks an awful lot like a Hobbit hole. (Gee, I wonder where J.R.R. Tolkien got that idea from?) 

For the GOT folks wondering what this location was used for in filming, it was Olly's farm (warning: spoilers from Season 4 ahead) where his family was killed by the Wildlings and he was left to live to tell flee to Castle Black to tell the Knight's Watch what had happened there. Not sure who Olly was? To put it delicately, he killed Jon Snow and Jon's Wildling love, Ingrid. 

I unintentionally reenacted the scene of Olly fleeing from his family's farm after his family was killed. Oh, also, this is an old Viking church. Funny how they used the wood to build the church but not their actual home. 

AN ABUNDANCE OF WATERFALLS AND FREEZING FOR A GLACIER HIKE

On my third day in Iceland (after waking up at 3 a.m. to a phone that wasn't charging- did I forget to mention it took a quick dip in the Blue Lagoon on day one- and the sun far too high in the sky for the time it was and having no clue of the actual time since I don't wear a watch), I indulged in the adventure of the country with a waterfall and glacier hike tour.

Can I just say this? I absolutely LOVE waterfalls. I'm not sure I need to say anything else. Although, you may want to know that there are a few waterfalls that you can walk behind, like Seljandsfoss (I literally have no clue how to pronounce that). 

Other than my blanket love for waterfalls, I would also add that if you want to challenge yourself and feel the rush of adventure: hike a glacier.

If you had asked me a year ago if I had ever considered hiking a glacier, I would have looked at you questioningly because it wasn't even on my radar. Now, though, I'm incredibly grateful for the opportunity. It was freezing cold, windy and rainy, and I may have literally been soaked through, but the smile on my frozen face wasn't there from me faking it. 

After all, how many people can say they've drank from a stream on a glacier like a Viking of the olden days? 

ENDING THE ADVENTURE ON HORSEBACK

I am a firm believer that I should end every adventure on horseback from now on (it probably won't happen, but it's a nice thought). Seriously, four hours on horseback was right up my alley. Yes, Icelandic horses have a completely different gait than a Quarter Horse, but that doesn't make the experience any less incredible. After all, once you have the opportunity to tölt (a 4-beat gait where at least one foot is always in contact with the ground), you'll feel like your flying in an entirely new way.

Also, I had never crossed a river on a trail ride before (let alone three rivers), and there's something to be said about a horse that isn't afraid to take you across water- the horses I grew up riding would jump over a puddle. 

All in all, while Iceland is a relatively pricey country, the experience is more than worth the price tag. After all, when you can get to the country for less than $400 round-trip (thank you WOW Air!), you'll have plenty of extra cash to enjoy the adventure.