If you’re planning on traveling to Iceland alone, there are plenty of ways to see the sights and experience the culture. But if you’re thinking about going alone, you might be feeling some anxiety. After all, it can be risky—and downright scary—to travel without anyone else along for the ride. However, if done right, traveling solo has its advantages: You have more freedom than with friends or family members who have their own interests in mind; there’s no one to hold back your explorations; and it opens up opportunities for new friendships with locals or other travelers. So don’t let fear keep you from going!
While I’ve traveled solo extensively around Europe over the years, I’m not sure how much that counts as “traveling alone” since most of my trips were group tours organized through my local church group or friends’ groups at work who took turns organizing our annual pilgrimages to various religious sites across Europe every summer during college (we primarily visited Catholic sites like Lourdes in France). That said—and despite being someone who loves traveling with others—I’ve also discovered that there are times when traveling alone gives me more flexibility than traveling with others does: It lets me do whatever I want whenever I want without having to worry about anyone else’s schedule getting messed up by sudden changes on mine.
Embrace the solitude.
If you’re going to travel alone, it’s important to embrace the solitude. Whether it’s a chance to be by yourself and enjoy your own company or a way to get away from the hustle and bustle of the real world, traveling alone can be an amazing experience.
Absolutely love this article by a friend of mine, detailing their own solo travel to iceland. Check it out…when you’re done reading this one 😉
You don’t have anyone around checking up on you, so if something doesn’t feel right in your gut then trust that instinct. It’s not worth risking your life for something as trivial as checking out a new place. Take breaks from walking when you need them, stop for a coffee or lunch if you’re hungry and just take some time out for yourself at some point during the day so that no matter what happens later on in life there will always be those special moments when we were truly happy being ourselves without having someone else’s opinion influencing our actions or decisions
Broaden your horizons.
There are many reasons to travel alone, but the best reason is that it helps you learn about yourself. By spending time in unfamiliar places, you’re forced to deal with your own weaknesses and limitations. You can’t hide behind anyone else; there’s no one else who has your back or will help you out of a situation if things go wrong. Travelling alone forces you to rely on yourself and take responsibility for yourself, which means that every success or failure is ultimately up to you—and only you know how well (or poorly) things went during the journey.
Traveling alone gives you an opportunity to see what kind of person you really are: Are there any qualities about yourself that others have told you about? Or maybe even some qualities than others have told others about? You might discover new sides of yourself as well: Maybe there are certain fears or anxieties that come out when nobody else is around but themselves; perhaps they learn how capable they actually are! In a sense, traveling by themselves allows people not only take stock but also become more aware of their own strengths and limitations while at the same time being able to connect with fellow human beings on equal terms without any preconceived notions due simply because we know each other better than anyone else does (or ever could).
Be spontaneous.
When you’re traveling alone, you’ll have the freedom to do things at your own pace and be spontaneous. You could decide in the morning that you’d rather go snorkeling instead of climbing a glacier, or take a detour through an off-the-beaten path town on your way to dinner. You can also eat at the best restaurants, as opposed to settling for something mediocre because it’s what everyone else recommends. Don’t be afraid to explore hidden gems and experience things beyond what most tourists see—after all, there’s no one around who will make fun of your crazy idea!
Another perk? Traveling solo allows you more flexibility when it comes to exploring at night (if that’s what floats your boat). If there are certain museums or landmarks that close early due to safety concerns or insufficient resources during wintertime hours (when daylight is scarce), then now’s your chance!
Get comfortable with being uncomfortable.
Traveling alone is not for everyone. It can be scary, but sometimes it’s worth it. If you’re going to be scared, uncomfortable and lonely while traveling solo, then prepare yourself for those feelings.
Get comfortable with being uncomfortable.
Traveling alone means you will probably have some down time where you are bored or want to do something other than what you are doing at that moment in time. Be okay with feeling bored and wanting change. You won’t always be able to just hop on a plane or hop into a car and go somewhere new when this happens to you—sometimes there’s no way out of being bored except by accepting it as normal state of affairs for humans everywhere (and ourselves included).
Make yourself available to conversation.
- Make yourself available to conversation. Ask questions and listen to the answers. People love talking about themselves, so be inquisitive and open-minded, even if you’re not interested in hearing all the details of their lives.
- Ask for help when you need it. Icelanders are some of the most helpful people I have ever met—they will go out of their way to make sure you are enjoying your experience here! If there’s something that looks interesting but isn’t on your itinerary or someone recommends an activity that doesn’t fit into your agenda but sounds fun, don’t be afraid to ask how they got there and find out about other options if necessary!
Be prepared to listen, not talk.
In order to fully appreciate Iceland, you need to know that the locals are experts on their own country and the people who live there. They will teach you things about Iceland that no guidebook or website can give you.
It’s also important not just to listen but also actively do so: The best way for a traveler to learn about a new place is by talking with other travelers who have been there before! What’s more, talking with locals can be an excellent way of learning about hidden gems in your destination city—like restaurants without tourists or special sites that aren’t listed in any guidebooks.
Finally, it’s crucial that any solo traveler pay attention to her gut instincts while visiting a new place (or while traveling in general). If something feels off or uninviting during your travels, don’t hesitate to move on! It could save both time and money in the long run if something doesn’t feel right at first glance–even if it might seem like nothing at all on paper (or screen).
Plan ahead for safety and budgeting reasons.
Plan ahead for safety and budgeting reasons.
If you’re planning to travel to Iceland solo, it’s important that you have the right travel insurance in place before you go. Not only will this help protect against the costs of any medical emergencies or natural disasters (or both), but it will also cover things like lost luggage or stolen belongings.
It’s also worth considering what currency exchange rates might be like when visiting Iceland, especially if your bank isn’t charging very low rates on its currency exchange services—for example, some banks offer competitive rates for Euro-based transactions but not for US dollar-based ones. In addition to being able to access cash from ATMs throughout the country, many restaurants and shops accept credit cards too (although some charge a small fee). For more information on how best to budget while traveling through Iceland alone check out our other articles on topics such as: budgeting meals; transportation; activities; accommodation; shopping souvenirs; emergency funds
Figure out how to cope with loneliness before you go.
If you’re going to travel alone, you need to figure out how to deal with loneliness before the trip.
When I was planning my trip to Iceland, I had a lot of worries about whether or not it would be lonely. Then one night I was talking with a friend who had been on her own in Paris for several months, and she assured me that she found herself feeling lonely less often than she expected. That helped me relax a little bit—but it still didn’t mean that I wasn’t afraid at times during my trip.
Face your fears about traveling alone head on.
The first step in facing your fear of traveling alone is to think about what it is exactly that you’re afraid of. Are you afraid of being in an unfamiliar place, or do you worry about not having enough money? Maybe it’s just the thought of being alone for too long. Whatever it may be, write down the details of your fears so that they can be analyzed later on and addressed properly.
Once this is done, the next thing to do is think through various ways to cope with whatever problem has come up in your mind. Will taking a trip help keep me busy and solve some issues? Is there somewhere close by I could go if things get bad (e.g., a friend’s house)? What would happen if something happened while I was there? Would it really be so bad if something did happen? What would others say if they saw me panicking over nothing at all?
The point here isn’t necessarily solving these problems outright but rather figuring out how best to handle them when they arise—whether that means simply accepting them as part of life or finding ways around them entirely (like getting professional advice). It’s important not only because doing so will make any stress easier but also because understanding yourself better will make future journeys much more enjoyable overall!
Enjoy the opportunity to meet new people, not just observe them from afar.
- Meet new people.
- Be open to meeting new people.
I know, it sounds like common sense, right? But here’s the thing: if you’re traveling alone and you want to meet other travelers or locals, being open is key. In my experience, the people who are willing to talk and get to know me are the ones who have been doing this for a long time or have been on the road for an extended period of time. They’ve had their share of bad experiences with strangers but have learned from them and are ready for another opportunity at friendship (or romance). I’ve met some amazing travel buddies through Couchsurfing as well as friends from other parts of my life who were out there as well—and it was all because I was willing to say hello first instead of waiting for someone else to come up and say hi (which rarely happens anyway).
If you’re prepared, venturing off alone can be really exciting and fun!
If you’re prepared, venturing off alone can be really exciting and fun! You can do it! You can learn a lot about yourself. You can meet new people. You can be spontaneous. And most importantly, you can get comfortable with being uncomfortable.
Besides, if you’re like me and don’t like to plan things too far in advance—or are just plain spontaneous—this is the perfect option for an adventure that suits your preferences and style perfectly!
Conclusion
If you’re prepared, venturing off alone can be really exciting and fun! There’s a lot of freedom to be found in traveling alone, but it’s also a great way to get to know yourself better. If you’re nervous about going solo, don’t worry—it’ll be worth your while.
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