I was one of those people who always wanted visiting Iceland alone, but never did. It’s funny how life has a way of changing your plans. A few years ago, I decided I needed a complete change in my life and took off for Europe on a solo trip. While I didn’t know what was going to happen or where life would take me after this trip, it changed everything! Here are five reasons why I loved visiting Iceland alone:
Reason 1: Find yourself when visiting Iceland alone.
My first reason for enjoying my trip to Iceland is that I could find myself. When you’re visiting Iceland alone, it’s important to know who you are and what makes you tick. By being in the middle of nowhere with nothing but yourself, your thoughts and the surrounding landscape, it’s easier to pinpoint who exactly YOU are.
Once I got over that initial self-doubt—and even before then—I noticed a shift in how I treated myself. With no one else around me telling me what I should or shouldn’t do or feel like doing or feeling like having done… well… there was really no way out but up! The first night in Reykjavik after being on a long plane ride from Los Angeles felt so different from any other night before because there wasn’t anyone else around but me; even though I had friends coming soon after their flight landed later that evening (which would’ve provided some distraction).
By finding yourself amidst nature’s beauty (the other reason this was such an amazing trip), not only do you get closer to understanding who YOU are as an individual person but also how special each individual person can be if given an opportunity to explore themselves freely without outside influence.
Reason 2: Meet new people when visiting Iceland.
Iceland is a small country, but it’s not just me that thinks this. I met several other people who told me that they had been to Iceland and loved it so much, but only because they visited during the busy season.
It was a choice for these people whether they wanted to be alone on their trip, but if you’re an introvert like me then finding new friends can be difficult. But in Iceland? No problem! You’ll meet all kinds of people from all walks of life! Some are travelling by themselves; some are with friends; others have brought their family along on the journey, too. It doesn’t matter what type of traveller you are—you’ll meet someone who shares your interests!
Reason 3: Do what you want, when you want.
One of the best things about travelling on your own is that you can do what you want when you want. You don’t have to wait for anyone else, and you don’t have to compromise with anyone else’s plans or wishes.
You can go wherever and whenever the mood strikes—and it will strike! Iceland is a stunning place to visit, so take some time out during your trip to explore new parts of this beautiful country.
If there’s something else that sounds more appealing than what your friends are doing, do that instead! If there’s somewhere else that looks more interesting or beautiful than where they’re going, go there instead!
Reason 4: No compromise on your plans or schedule.
- No compromise on your plans or schedule.
One of the best parts about visiting Iceland alone is that you don’t have to compromise on what you want to do when you want to do it, and with whom (if anyone) you want to do it with. It’s all up to you! That means no waiting for other people’s schedules; no being dragged along despite having seen enough museums already; and no feeling guilty about booking a last-minute hiking excursion at 2:00 PM because that’s just when your heart decided it wanted some outdoor time for itself. You’re in charge here! You can decide on the spot based purely on how much you feel like doing something on any given day—and if someone wants in on those plans, they’ll figure out how they can make it work for themselves or go somewhere else for the day instead.*
Reason 5: You become more independent and learn to take responsibility for yourself.
The fifth reason I enjoyed visiting Iceland alone is that it taught me to be more independent and self-reliant. Being on my own in a country where I knew no one made me learn to take responsibility for myself, which ultimately helped me become more confident and open-minded.
I learned how to travel with less stress (no need for group decisions) and how to enjoy life without worrying about what others might think or say about me. This experience also taught me not to worry about things like finding hotels or restaurants or activities because I could always find something that suited my tastes, even if it meant just sitting around enjoying nature!
It’s easy being in a foreign land when you’re with other people because they can help translate if needed; however, relying on yourself makes life much easier since you don’t have anyone else getting in the way of your plans!
Travelling alone can give you a sense of freedom, self-reliance and confidence that you can carry forward into the rest of your life.
Travelling alone can give you a sense of freedom, self-reliance and confidence that you can carry forward into the rest of your life. When you’re travelling alone, it’s up to you to make new friends, find fun things to do and figure out how to get around. You will learn how to be flexible and adaptable as you navigate through a foreign city or country without anyone else around for support.
Travelling alone also teaches you about yourself. For example, I found out that I’m not very good at being spontaneous when it comes to making plans with other people! When my friend asked me what we should do next on our trip in Iceland, I had no idea what she wanted or expected from me because I hadn’t done any research beforehand (aka: She did all the planning). This taught me that it’s important for me to establish clear expectations with friends so neither party feels disappointed later on down the road!
Conclusion
I want to conclude by saying that travelling alone can be a great experience. You get to meet new people, do what you want when you want and don’t have to compromise on your plans or schedule. I also believe that it makes you more independent and confident in yourself. If this sounds like something that would appeal to you then go ahead!