Actually, if I’m being honest, I am more of a beach person now than I used to be. Pretentious young traveler me always wanted to be doing things and taking in the sights. Relaxing and holiday never belonged in the same sentence. I need to SEE and DO it ALL.

Having burnt myself out so many times since, your girl loves a lazy holiday now. Show me the resort happy hour!

But back to the ocean. With no idea where this passion came from, I can say now that I am really happy at sea. To visit the Arctic is to fall in love. I adore it. I enjoy the rocking of the boat. The wild weather and waves. The feeling of transiting in a new way. The briny air and the feeling of insignificance. Mother Natch is in charge at sea.

Curious about traveling to the Arctic?
Check out my trips and learn more here

I’ve been traveling to the polar worlds by ship for years and years, making some of my favorite travel memories along the way. In these remote corners of the earth, getting around by boat is pretty much the only feasible way to visit the Arctic. My job onboard was always travel content, photography, writing, and storytelling. I sat somewhere in between the expedition team and passengers. 

But deep down, I knew I wanted to be part of the team. I wanted to get my hands dirty and learn how to work at sea. In 2023, I finally found the courage to pursue working as an expedition guide on the Ocean Endeavour, an expedition ship alternating between the Arctic with Adventure Canada and the Antarctic with Intrepid, summer to summer. 

A new polar chapter begins

I spent three months onboard with Adventure Canada last summer, traveling from Scotland to the Faroes to Iceland to Greenland and finishing in Canada. It was the adventure of a lifetime, and I feel honored to be part of their family. There’s such a close-knit vibe onboard. My main job was as media, taking photos and gathering content for storytelling, but I also doubled as part of the expedition team. After a decade of working independently, being part of a team felt so good. 

And arguably the best part of it all? Three months at sea means you see a ton of cool stuff. It allowed me to build on my experience, revisit places I loved, and see things through fresh eyes. If you visit the Arctic one day, hopefully, you will get to share some of these adventures, too. Here are ten of the coolest things I saw while onboard with Adventure Canada – enjoy!

1. Polar bears eating a beluga whale

I’ve managed to see some pretty amazing things in my life, especially since I became a full-time travel blogger in 2013. But without a doubt, one of the coolest experiences of all happened while visiting the Arctic in the Northwest Passage last September.

There is this incredible place called Coningham Bay, with a wide, shallow bay with a narrow inlet. Beluga whales like to swim into the bay to roll around and scrape off their old skin. But they become trapped inside at low tide because of the shallow entrance. Dinner time for the polar bears. 

Here, we saw over a dozen polar bears, including cubs feasting on dead whales. It was wild. Only in my morbid dreams did I imagine seeing polar bears with bloody, gorey faces. There were beluga in the bay splashing around and even narwhal! It ranks at the top of the coolest wildlife experiences ever. 

2. Sailing from Iceland to Greenland with Margaret Attwood

One of the coolest experiences last summer at sea was that Canadian icon and legend Margaret Attwood was onboard with us as a special guest on the Iceland to Greenland: In the Wake of the Vikings trip. If you visit the Arctic, arriving by ship is a real adventure.

A longtime friend of Adventure Canada, Margaret Attwood, joins in on a trip per year. A passionate conservationist and bird nerd along with her late husband, it was ridiculously cool to be on board with her on such a fun adventure. Very much like everybody else except with a cunning and dark sense of humor, it was inspirational to be around one of the greatest writers of our age. Hanging out with her and hearing her stories, you kind of just shut up and listen because they’re so riveting. 

She even penned a short story called Stone Mattress while onboard years ago. About revenge and murder (of course) on the Northwest Passage traveling by expedition ship, it’s now part of the book of the same name. 

3. Finally seeing the Northern Lights

I am so happy to report that I have finally seen the Northern Lights after all these years. It was a huge experience for me and one that I almost missed out on. 

I’ve been to the Arctic a few times, and Aurora territory, and I have never seen them. I spent a week in Arctic Finland in winter—cloudy the entire time. Other times, I’ve been in the Arctic in summertime when it doesn’t get dark—no lights. I’ve seen their equivalent a lot in New Zealand, but down here, it is nowhere near as bright or dramatic—we’re not far enough south. 

But this time, in September, as we made our way south along the western coast of Greenland, the Northern Lights came out in full force. I was getting over being sick and had gone to bed early when I started to hear knocking on my door. I ignored it for ages, but my resilient boat bestie, Krista, was not leaving til I got up to see them. Thank god for good friends!

Throwing my gear over my pajamas, we made our way to the top deck, and the aurora was popping off! It was insane! I watched it dance for ages, took a few photos, and just jumped around with everyone, celebrating such a cool experience. If you visit the Arctic and want to see the Northern Lights, Greenland is the place to be.

4. Hanging out with the Shetland ponies in Scotland

My very first trip with Adventure Canada was Scotland Slowly, which explores the northern Scottish Isles. Exploring Scotland by sea was incredible, and going by expedition ship meant we could take in many places that are usually hard to get to.

As a huge history nerd, I loved this trip. In fact, most of the books I bought for the whole season were on this trip around Scotland. 

But if I’m being honest here, my favorite part was being around the Shetland ponies. The Shetland Islands are not easy to access, nearly 200 kilometers north of mainland Scotland, close to Norway. We called into the tiny island of Foula for the day, home to a few dozen humans and a hell of a lot more ponies. With beautiful bird cliffs and incredible views, and tiny horses roaming around, it was a real highlight for me for the whole some.  

5. Standing on sea ice in Baffin Bay

By this point, I’ve been to the Arctic and Antarctic many times and spent a fair amount of time moving through sea ice, either by ship or on zodiac cruises. Punching through the ice, the crackles and booms against the ship, looking towards the horizon for polar bears, sea ice exploration is one of my favorite things about polar travel. It makes you feel like you’re exploring if you visit the Arctic.

Baffin Bay sprawls across northern Canada to Greenland. Frozen all year, channels and large parts open up in the summertime. Ice conditions definitely dictate how we travel by ship. Ships are assigned ice class rankings, depending on the strengthening to go through sea ice. The ice can be thick or thin, super-condensed, or spread out. There are heaps of factors that go into understanding sea ice conditions – many I’m still learning myself. 

But one thing I have never done before is land on sea ice, i.e., get out and walk on it. It has to be old, thick, and sturdy. This season, we found the perfect sea ice to land on in Baffin Bay, nudging the zodiacs onto the ice before hopping out and exploring for a bit. It was a really, really cool experience that not many of us have done before. It was so special. 

6. Getting a real education about Inuit life and history

I’ll be completely honest: I did not know heaps about Inuit life and culture before heading to the Arctic. I knew a fair amount about the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls in Canada, along with the horrors of the residential schools, mostly from crime podcasts I listen to. 

But then, there is only so much you can read about until you experience it yourself. And there is only so much you can even begin to comprehend as an outsider. 

Adventure Canada cares a lot about indigenous life, especially since they operate around their lands. Each trip has many local Inuk guides on board as cultural educators. They even have the only Inuk Expedition Leader in the industry. Everything happens in a real, authentic way; nothing is hidden or sugarcoated. We visited abandoned communities where Inuit residents were forced to move, see graves, and learn about the tragic history, particularly in Canada. It was really eye-opening.

7. Getting up close and personal with puffins in the Faroe Islands

Just like the ponies of Scotland, I was enraptured by another adorable creature – the puffin. If you visit the Arctic, hopefully you’ll see them!

I had seen puffins before on my first trip to Iceland a million years ago, but it was before I had a telephoto lens and they weren’t particularly up close. This time around, I saw them heaps, sometimes right next to you, and wow, are they one of the cutest birds of all time ever. I will die on this hill!

Much smaller than they look, they fly with the weirdest gait, legs splayed wide. We saw them a few times around Iceland and then heaps in the Faroe Islands, where they hang out on the cliffs next to some of the most popular walks. 

8. Having my mind blown in the Torngat Mountains 

At the edge of the Arctic Circle in Canada is one of the most incredible wilderness areas I had never heard of: the Torngat Mountains. 

I hadn’t been onboard the Ocean Endeavour long before I heard that one of the most universally beloved trips is their Greenland and Wild Labrador adventure, which spends time in the remote Torngats. Forever enamored by the very far north, land of bears and ice, Labrador hadn’t really occurred to me as a place I would love.

My very last trip of the season went here, and holy crap, guys, it was my favorite place of all. I’ll definitely go into this in detail later, but the Torngats might be my favorite mountain range in the world. A special Inuit homeland, this place is highly protected and only open for a few weeks a year. There are no roads anywhere near here. But because of Adventure Canada’s incredible relationship with Inuit, and by bringing locals onboard this trip as guides, we are able to spend nearly a week in the Torngat Mountains – with it all to ourselves. And the bears. There are tons of bears here. 

9. Crazy sunsets at sea in East Greenland

By mid-July we were fully immersed in the Arctic as we sailed from Iceland over to Greenland. We spent a good amount of time exploring the remote eastern side of Greenland, where very few people reside. With lots of sea ice and good weather, it was beautiful cruising through the most picturesque of Arctic landscapes. 

But what made it even more beautiful than normal with the crazy sunrises and sunsets we were getting. Sadly, this wasn’t for a good reason. 2023 was Canada’s worst wildfire summer ever. Nearly 20 million hectares of land went up in flame, burning for months at a time. 

And the smoke drifted to Greenland. Though it wasn’t super smokey or strong in southeastern Greenland, the haze contributed to long, misty sunsets that were out of this world—a beautiful tragedy.

10. Wandering the magnificent autumn tundra

Autumn comes early if you visit the Arctic. By September 1st, the entire countryside had turned red and gold in the far north. The mountains had their peaks dusted with the first snow, and there was a bite to the air heralding the change of seasons. The midnight sign was gone, and night returned, bringing dancing auroras amongst the stars. 

I love autumn so much, and it was cool to experience it in an entirely new landscape. There are no trees this far north, so the tundra changes colors instead. It’s also when all the berries come out, so it made hikes even better, munching on them. 

Would you like to experience some of these things if you visit the Arctic? Or have you already? Share!

Curious about traveling to the Arctic?
Check out my trips and learn more here

Many thanks to Adventure Canada for hosting me in the Arctic – like always, I’m keeping it real – all opinions are my own, like you could expect less from me!

The post 10 incredible moments from three months at sea in the Arctic appeared first on Young Adventuress.

Iceland was only beginning to boom on the tourism map a decade ago. It was still pretty chill. Instagram was still new, and Iceland had yet to dominate it. I went with girlfriends, including a friend from Iceland, and we did a loop road trip. It was so much fun. It was also one of my first jobs as a full-time travel blogger, so it meant so much to me. 

This time around was completely different. Instead of flying in, we sailed over on their Scotland, The Faroe Islands, & Iceland: North Atlantic Saga trip, arriving by sea. All up, I spent about two weeks there with Adventure Canada on their Iceland Circumnavigation trip and then departing on their Iceland to Greenland: In the Wake of the Vikings trip. 

Iceland was a bit of a hub. And it was so exciting to explore it in a completely different way. 

There’s something special about visiting a place the old-fashioned way, the way it was originally settled. It’s thought that the Vikings settled in Iceland in the 9th century, but it might have been earlier.

Making their way across the North Atlantic, likely searching for arable land, the Norse came in their thousands, settling all over Iceland within a few decades. What’s interesting to learn that a lot of the genetic evidence includes Irish and Scottish ancestry in addition to Scandinavia, particularly, women. Most people believe they came as slaves. 

Following in the wake of the Vikings over a millennia later by ship is a spectacularly cool way to arrive in Iceland. 

Here’s a taste of what we go up to with 25 of my favorite photos from a couple of weeks exploring Iceland by sea – enjoy!

Curious about traveling to the Arctic?
Check out my trips and learn more here

Arnarstapi

One of our first stops in Iceland was to a place I had never been to before – the Snæfellsnes Peninsula in western Iceland. Somewhat off the beaten path, it’s a stunning corner of Iceland worth exploring. Arnarstapi is a cute little fishing village that sits as the gateway to the Snæfellsjökull National Park. 

I recognized where we were almost as soon as we stepped off the zodiacs in the harbor. With a cute white house perched on lava sea cliffs above turquoise water with a perfect volcano and glacier behind it, this was a view I had definitely seen before. It was on the cover of the only book I bought in Iceland (expensive).

Arnarstapi felt otherworldly immediately. It didn’t help that we had some of the wildest lenticular clouds I’ve ever seen, creating a moody ambiance that made it feel all the more magical. I spent my time wandering the sea cliffs, watching the bird colonies before meandering out to the lava fields. It definitely felt like you were on another planet. 

Dynjandifoss

From there, we made our way up along the coast into the Westfjords, an often overlooked place. One of the perks of traveling by ship is that you can often rock up to places that are much harder to reach by car. 

Dynjandi is the largest waterfall in the Westfjords, clocking in at 100 meters tall, with five waterfalls below it dropping down into the sea. While it’s remote, it can still become really busy with tour buses trekking out to visit. We called in early in the morning and had the whole place to ourselves for hours.

My first Iceland waterfall since 2013, I was struck by how much work has gone into creating infrastructure. I don’t remember paths or signs or blockades anywhere when I was here last. If you were dumb enough to sit on the edge of a waterfall, it was on you. And I sat on a lot of waterfall edges. 

Grímsey

The only place you can actually be within the Arctic Circle in Iceland is on the tiny island of Grímsey, off the northern coast. Sitting pretty at 66° N, Grímsey is pretty much ruled by birds. 

If you want to get your (visual) fill of puffins, Grímsey is the place to go. Somewhat hard to get to independently; it was great to be able to arrive by boat instead. Just watch out for nesting Arctic terns – they’re my new bird enemy. 

Arctic Iceland – visiting the island of birds on Grímsey

Siglufjörður

The northernmost town in Iceland is called Siglufjörður, and I had never heard of it. It ended up being one of my favorite spots in Iceland.

Going in with zero expectations, it was the sunniest, most beautiful weather when we arrived. The colorful, charming fishing town surrounded by mountains couldn’t have been more picturesque. Combined with a fascinating story and super friendly locals, Siglufjörður blew me away!

In the 1940s and 1950s, Siglufjörður was the herring capital of the North Atlantic; it was like a gold rush with fish. It’s since declined, but now there is one of the best museums I’ve ever been to, the Herring Era Museum, that shares the whole history. I know, a museum about fishing? But trust me, it’s fucking awesome, and it’s totally worth coming just for that.   

Akureyri

To visit Iceland by sea means we can visit traditional port towns the old-fashioned way, like Akureyri.

A beautiful little city in northern Iceland, Akureyri is a great place to base yourself out of, even for a day. It’s close to so many of the great wonders of the north, and it’s super cute all on its own. A great place for whale watching; one of the perks of traveling around by ship with Adventure Canada is the opportunity to watch for whales while onboard. When we left Akureyri and sailed out of the fiord at sunset, we were accompanied by whales the whole time. 

During the day, we explored outside the city, checking out Goðafoss, a super popular waterfall. I didn’t realize until we returned to the ship that I had been there before. We also spent some time exploring Dimmuborgir, home to some very cool lava fields, caves, and arches.

Seyðisfjörður

As we continued our Iceland circumnavigation, heading east, we landed in Seyðisfjörður, another off-the-beaten-track town. I’m not sure I would ever thought of coming here on my own, but it was just amazing. One of the earliest settled areas in Iceland, Seyðisfjörður is home to the little rainbow road that leads up to the church. 

We had another day of perfect weather and spent the morning way out on the fiord in Skálanes. Skálanes is a nature and heritage reserve. Luckily, the Arctic terns were only nesting by the carpark, so you only had to avoid them for a little bit, haha!

The reserve at Skálanes is an area of great biodiversity and is a center for study and research worldwide. There are nearly 50 bird species here, including a ton of puffins. There are also tons of reindeer, arctic foxes, and more than 80 archaeological sites.

Fjallsárlón and Jökulsárlón

The most popular place we took in on our visit to Iceland by sea was out near the Vatnajökull National Park, home to the iconic Fjallsárlón and Jökulsárlón glacier lagoons. 

We spent the morning on a boat tour around the lesser-known Fjallsárlón, taking in the beautiful icebergs and glaciers in the distance. It was another perfect bluebird day, not a cloud in sight. 

We ended up having enough time that we also called in Jökulsárlón too. En route to the ship, we saw reindeer and arctic foxes, making it a perfect day. 

Heimaey

Wow, another top contender for a new favorite spot in Iceland had to be Heimaey. I had never heard of this little spot in the Westman Islands; I’m not sure I would have thought to come out here on a traditional Iceland road trip. But it was so great we called in by ship as a way to visit Iceland by sea.

The zodiac cruise into the harbor was amazing, and we happened to time it when the prime minister was in town for the 50-year memorial of the ending of the Eldfell volcano eruption here. In the middle of the night in the summer of 1973, the local volcano erupted without warning. Luckily, bad weather had kept the boats in the harbor overnight, so everyone could escape. Eventually, half the town was buried, and locals fought the spreading lava by spraying it with seawater, saving parts of it, including the harbor. 

Today, you can see parts of houses emerging in the lava field, and the views from the top of the volcano are amazing. Definitely worth the climb up. 

Reykjavík

I was so excited to return to Reykjavík. Wow, the city has changed a lot in the decade since my last visit. It was so modern, with so many new spots and a lot of development happening.

I spent a few hours while in port, wandering around and soaking it all in. I went back to my favorite cafe from the last time I was here, the Laundromat, as well as finally going to the infamous penis museum. As a long-time fan of the weird, gross, and morbid, even I was not into it. 

Everywhere else was amazing, especially the waterfront. I definitely need to spend more time here soon. To visit Iceland by sea is an unforgettable way to take in this popular country.

Have you been to Iceland? Would you consider visiting by ship? Spill!

Curious about traveling to the Arctic? Sailing from Iceland to Greenland? Check out my trips and learn more here

Many thanks to Adventure Canada for hosting me in Iceland – like always, I’m keeping it real – all opinions are my own, like you could expect less from me!

The post 25 photos to inspire you to visit Iceland by sea appeared first on Young Adventuress.

I never thought I’d say this, but I found a bird I hate. 

It was a moody, beautiful day when we landed on Grímsey on our Iceland Circumnavigation expedition trip. A little island 40 kilometers north of Iceland, the only part of Iceland that sits within the Arctic Circle at 66° North. The rest of Iceland sits just below the Arctic Circle. 

This is probably the main draw card for those visiting Grímsey, but I’m just here for nature and the birds.

I also love visiting off-the-beaten-path locations, and in a country as popular as Iceland, those can be hard to find. Rest assured, Grímsey is still pretty far off the grid. The great part about exploring Iceland by sea with Adventure Canada is that we can rock up almost anywhere, disembark with zodiacs, and explore on the water anytime. That’s infinitely harder to do if you’re traveling independently. 

Curious about traveling to the Arctic?
Check out my trips and learn more here

And let me say that tourism has changed drastically in the decade since I last visited Iceland. Luckily, with the ship, we could actually plan to be in places when they were quiet or avoid clashing when other large cruise ships were in port. We often had spectacular places all to ourselves. And this was definitely the case with Grímsey.

Grímsey is wild and beautiful. With steep cliffs covered in nesting seabirds and puffins to rolling green hills to the most perfect Wes Anderson orange lighthouse, Grímsey is like something straight out of a travel guidebook but without the tourists.

But I will always remember Grímsey as the place where I got bonked on the head four times by Arctic terns – my new bird enemy. 

Not once, but FOUR TIMES!!! What the hell!

Now listen, guys. I’m enough of a bird nerd to know that most birds become aggressively protective when nesting. That’s normal. And since I adhere to the no interference rule, I don’t generally go anywhere near nesting birds. Adventure Canada is exactly the same – leave no impact on nature. Just observe respectfully.

But Arctic terns take this to a whole new level. It doesn’t help that they nest on the ground, and there are millions of them.

Grímsey is home to one of the largest breeding colonies of Arctic terns in Iceland. And they’re inescapable. Mating for life, they nest wherever they want, alongside the main (and only) road. About 55 people live on Grimsey. And to get anywhere, you can’t escape the terns.

I opted to check out the lighthouse and the beautiful bird cliffs, accessed by the main road. It was an amazing walk, minus one section where you had to run for your life past all of the terns who made it their mission to divebomb everyone. It’s why I don’t have any photos from that particular stretch of road. 

Arctic terns actually hold the world record for the longest migration of any animal in the world. Traveling over 70,000 kilometers on average twice yearly, Arctic terns migrate between their summer breeding grounds in the Arctic to the austral summer in Antarctica. 

The average arctic tern can live to be over 30 years old and will travel the equivalent of over three round trips from Earth to the Moon during its lifetime. Pretty impressive.

And if you can look past the fact they might try to bop you on the head repeatedly, they are beautiful birds. Elegant with long wings and forked tails, their silhouette makes them easily identifiable. 

There are plenty of other beautiful birds to be found on Grimsey, as well as some large breeding colonies of sea birds. Here in the summertime, you’ll find plenty of black-legged kittiwakes, puffins, razorbills, and guillemots.

In fact, seabirds outnumber humans on Grimsey at around 10,000 to one. There are also no foxes on the island, which makes it particularly safe for nesting birds. The best season for birdwatching here is from April to August.

For me, I really enjoyed watching the large colonies of puffins around the island. I could watch them for hours. Tiny and cute, puffins were just about everywhere. Seeing them plopped down amongst the flowers was ridiculously cute. I’m still trying to get the shot of one with a beak full of fish, but man, it’s hard! I think I need a bigger telephoto lens. The talented photographer on board with us, Steve Rose, managed to get the puffin shot, though!

Stepping within the Arctic Circle is pretty high on the bucket list for some travelers, and Grimsey is the only place in Iceland where you can do that. 

The Arctic Circle runs through the little island, though I found it fascinating that it shifts northward year to year. By the middle of the 21st century, it’s expected that the Arctic Circle will no longer pass through Grimsey. So now’s your chance.

For the rest of the group that didn’t feel like getting bird PTSD, they walked in the other direction on Grímsey to see the iconic monument “Orbis et Globus,” a three-meter, eight-ton stone sphere that marks the location of the Arctic Circle on the island. Because it’s a sphere, it gets moved every year in line with the changes in the Arctic Circle. 

When I reflect on all of the amazing places I was able to visit in Iceland, Grímsey sits high among my faves. A silent underdog, the quiet beauty of Grímsey combined with epic birdlife made it unforgettable. 

While the Arctic tern has officially moved down on the list of birds I love, it was still pretty incredible to see them in large colonies – from a distance. 

Have you heard of Grímsey? Is this a place you’d like to visit in Iceland? Share. 

Curious about traveling to the Arctic?
Check out my trips and learn more here

Many thanks to Adventure Canada for hosting me in Iceland – like always, I’m keeping it real – all opinions are my own, like you could expect less from me!

The post Arctic Iceland – visiting the island of birds on Grímsey appeared first on Young Adventuress.

How far would you go to see puffins in the wild? What would you do to see something so unique and unforgettable on your travels? Would you ever risk your life in favor of spotting a few puffins in their natural habitat?

I would risk it all, even if it were unintentional. I suppose Iceland does that to you.

So let me tell you about this one time where I drove over ten continuous hours in one day to get from Goðafoss Waterfall (northeast Iceland) to Látrabjarg (the westernmost point of Iceland). It ended up being wildly longer than the ETA on Google Maps originally suggested; mostly, it was because of how often I’d pull over and take photos of the breathtaking scenery and landmarks.

There is a reason Iceland is Insta-famous, guys. It’s hard to take a bad picture here. Iceland was made for road trips.

For those who haven’t been to Iceland yet, you are in for a treat. I’ll try to describe it here to the best of my ability – though it’s virtually impossible to do it justice.

This country has a sheer natural beauty, inconceivable beyond measure. Just imagine yourself driving in an endless wonderland of towering mountains, vast stretches of green valleys, and majestic waterfalls taller than the Empire State Building.

Iceland is dramatic and home to many filming locations. In many ways, it has to be seen to be believed.

A bird nerd goes to Iceland

But I knew there was more to this country than its unbelievably gorgeous landscapes. As an avid “bird nerd” like our dearest Liz (WHO HAS A FREAKIN’ SUBCATEGORY OF POSTS DEVOTED TO BIRDS), I vowed that I wouldn’t leave Iceland without seeing its iconic bird: the Atlantic Puffin.

Yes, puffins. Those cute, derpy-looking, compact, penguin-like birds.

They’re my absolute favorite animal in the ENTIRE WORLD, and if I could ever own a pet puffin, I would (newsflash: you can’t). My love for puffins is borderline obsessive, rivaling only my fangirl squeals over Lord of the Rings when I was 12. 

I should preface this by saying that I am possibly the queen of misadventures, even after seven years of traveling. How? WHY? Is it just sheer, dumb luck?

No. I just have a horrible tendency to “forget” to research things beforehand and do everything spur of the moment. This ends up biting me in the ass most of the time.

I mean, the previous days of my trip consisted of circling landmarks and stops with a Sharpie on two paper maps (YES, don’t laugh) and then plunked each destination into Google Maps.

So the morning I decided to find my beloved puffins, I pulled out my paper maps and Googled “best spots to find puffins in Iceland” while warming up the engine (told you I’m last minute). Someplace called “Látrabjarg” was listed at the top of the search results.

Látrabjarg is one of the immense bird cliffs in Europe and, obviously, a HUGE hotspot for puffins. The photos online were filled with hundreds of puffins everywhere. IT WAS CALLING TO ME!

My dream was going to come true: I was going to see freakin’ puffins in their natural habitat!

Off to Látrabjarg to find some puffins

Now, the official site for the Westfjords stated that Látrabjarg is “easily accessible by car.” I loftily shrugged off an estimated “7 hours, 47 minutes” drive as a piece of cake.

Newsflash: It was NOT a piece of cake, no matter what type of cake we’re talking about here.

I had no idea what I was getting myself into.

I had no idea that I’d be risking my life in the next few hours, with each event snowballing into something worse. You know those remarkable travel stories about turning a dire situation into something outstanding, and it all ends up working out in the end?

This isn’t going to be one of those. Remember me deeming myself, Queen MISadventuress?

But alas, when you’re puffin-oriented, you stop at NOTHING to see those derpy fellas.

I took my sweet time passing numerous signs (all with names I couldn’t pronounce) and stopping whenever I saw a pullout in the road to take more photos. However, when my eyelids started to droop, I knew I had to speed it up.

My only saving grace was being there at the tail end of summer, meaning that my days were blessed with about 20 hours of bright sunlight.

Always allow for more time on the roads in Iceland

OR SO I THOUGHT. Because on this particular day, maybe because I was driving to the westernmost tip of the country that consisted of towering mountains, the sun decided to disappear a bit earlier.

Quick travel tip here: Don’t underestimate the time it takes to drive in Iceland. Even though the road seems like a straight shot, guess what? The drive between main destinations is longer than you’d expect, especially when you’re pulling over to take photos of other landmarks (and you will). RESEARCH thoroughly beforehand!

I started to get exhausted. I still had over two hours of driving before I reached the little red “destination” point. To make it worse, I knew that pin drop wasn’t the Goddamn end-all place I’d be seeing puffins.

So why the hell did I cram over 10 hours of driving in one day? Well, as any broke backpacker [living off a loaf of bread and a packet of ham for the week] would do, I was maximizing every second of sunlight that the days provided. I put pressure on myself to see as much of Iceland as I could in eight days, and I didn’t care if that meant driving from sunrise to 2 A.M. daily.

And then it turned pitch black at 9 P.M. out of nowhere. Cue instant panic. WHY so early?! Didn’t Mother Nature know that I had a date with puffins tonight?! 

I didn’t have a choice but to keep driving, even though the high beams made it even harder to see. With only had two days left in the country and a deadline to return the rental car, I was in a rush.

Maybe it’s the Virgo in me, but when I commit to something in my travels, I follow through 100%. I’m not a quitter, and I’d rather risk death over not going at all (insert sheepish laugh here).

Out in the middle of western Iceland, it might as well have been a supermassive black hole for me. With no idea how many cliffs were around me or where the cliffs were, it was so scary.

I was doing everything in my power to stay awake, from blasting electronic music, driving with the windows down, slapping myself every few minutes, and taking deep breaths to prevent myself from hyperventilating.

Why didn’t I just pull over and rest for the night wherever I was? Because Stubborn is my middle name. Nothing would deter me. So what if I wasn’t blessed with 20+ hours of sunlight on the ONE day I needed it most?

I was freakin’ committed to these puffins.

The time crept to 10 P.M., and I was still 45 minutes away from the “destination,” whatever that even meant. Was that pin the area of Látrabjarg, the base of Látrabjarg, or the tip-top of Látrabjarg?! I knew it wouldn’t be the last option, but I had to prevail.

And then I heard it—Screzzch screzzch. My car was slowly doing an upwards incline along an extremely gravelly, bumpy road.

I turned off my music instinctively (y’ know, that thing we do to act like it improves our concentration).

A holy shit moment on the edge of a cliff

Are all roads this steep? How wide is this road? Is this dinky car capable of this incline? Why didn’t I rent a better car? Oh my God, IS THIS THE CLIFF? 

Yep, I was driving up a cliff. I had finally reached the home of my derp babies. Now, I truthfully love heights and live for adrenaline-pumping activities like bungee jumping. But driving along cliffs in the absolute darkness?

Holy shit, this was an actual death wish.

To make a terrifying situation even scarier, it was still pitch black- but to the point where my high beams now hindered my vision. I could only see fuzzy dust particles floating around the light near the front of my windshield. I was scrunched up against the steering wheel, gripping it so tightly that my hands went numb. 

To anyone who knows what this feels like- it’s like all feeling loses your body, right?!

My entire body was so clenched with fear; I felt like I was going to snap. The road (if it could even be called that) was extremely narrow. I only knew this based off of how close my left side mirror kept coming to the side of something substantial. I could just barely see the edge of the right side of the road drop off into sheer darkness.

One wrong turn and I’d scratch the car… or worse yet, tumble off the cliff and most likely die. Too dramatic? Well, I didn’t pass any cars on my way up, so that most likely meant that no one was around. That was a chilling realization.

KEEP CALM AND CARRY ON, AM I RIGHT?!

The minutes moved at a glacial pace because I was driving so damn slow. The higher I drove on the cliffs, the denser the fog became. My high beams whittled down to nothing more than a dim blur.

I was fucking terrified out of my mind.

I held my breath each time I accelerated slowly and did my best to inch around the corners carefully. Why was I risking my life just to see PUFFINS?

I had a fleeting (stupid) thought of just killing the engine and staying put. And then what? A car comes barrelling around the corner, tumbling both our cars off the cliff?

Nope. I couldn’t turn back even if I wanted to.

And then, my GPS announced that I was 15 minutes away. I felt a jolt of excitement rush through my body, instantly followed by fear. Uh, where the hell was I? Was I directly above the ocean? Were there trees below me, or was it like that graveyard scene in The Lion King? 

Wait, I just lost reception?! FUCK.

Here’s when I legit panicked. I couldn’t rely on anything else, but my gut and the “road” that I assumed led me to some sort of safety. Without cell service, my phone would only continue its directions as far as that final pin drop.

And then it happened. I felt my car lurch sideways, the right rear wheel clearly no longer on the road. My heart immediately sunk into my stomach, and my face drained of all feeling and color. All hell had broken loose.

I’m GONNA FUCKING DIE.

After whispering a string of profanity simultaneously while praying in my head that I’d survive, I jerked the wheel to the left and slightly accelerated. Did this even help? Would my movement seesaw me over the cliff with the car?

I was shaking profusely and had tingles shooting through my hands.

Nope, the car was still tilted. It was like one of those Looney Tunes cartoons, except this wasn’t even remotely funny – it was my fucking life at stake, and I was all by myself.

I swear I almost passed out at this point. When I blinked, I saw white splotches. Exhausted or paralyzed with fear, I wasn’t sure. I had never been in a situation on my own like this (let alone in a car in a foreign country). It was my first time renting a car abroad, and I get it stuck on a cliff in the dark?! OF COURSE, GO ME!

Any sudden movement meant severe injury or death. Since I could only see dust particles and fog in front of me, I was guessing at how far to accelerate.

I didn’t have a solution, except that I needed to accelerate the car or else I’d join that wheel hanging off the edge. Slow and steady, I did what maniacs and bad drivers do- I pussyfooted the accelerator.

“Shitshitshitshitshiiitttt” were the only things I remember saying while trying to stay alive.

And holy crap, by a miracle, I felt the car fully upright again. The whole scenario was undoubtedly less than a minute long, but I felt like I had just carried The One Ring all the way to Mordor.

I was back on the road, blindly navigating toward wherever the GPS was pointing me. But at this point, I was yelling in the car, “SCREW PUFFINS, GET ME OFF THESE DAMN CLIFFS!”

I thankfully didn’t have any more wheel-off-the-cliff scares, but it took me a while to reach a “safe” patch of land. As expected, that pinpoint was not my intended destination- it was only the entrance sign for the cliff.

It was past midnight by the time I reached a suitable camping site. I parked, got out to shake my jelly-like legs in the fresh air, and fell asleep in the back of my car to the sound of ocean waves crashing in and out.

Daylight comes and time to see puffins

The next morning, I awoke thinking everything had been a bizarre dream. I still had a short but extremely steep drive up the actual cliff (thank God I didn’t try THAT at night).

When there was nowhere left to drive further, I knew I had finally reached the long-awaited Látrabjarg.

It was extremely foggy, but I had the steep cliffs all to myself. The cliffs plunged so far below me, straight into the ocean, that it made my stomach hurt just by looking down. After my near-death incident and remembering how Liz accidentally lost her phone, I took photos like a platypus.

I laid down on the grass, using both my legs and hands to push me closer to the edge. The views were astonishing. They were worth every bit of my prior panic and profanity.

And guess what?

I saw ONE puffin. Only ONE puffin!

It was right when I was about to give up and hike back (isn’t it always like that?) when I caught a glimpse of the fella. My heart fluttered and went *THUD* (like when you see your crush walk by). Visible for mere seconds, I caught a glimpse of that bright orange beak and knew it was a puffin. He was in a little nook on the bird cliff, making himself comfortable by shuffling around and then disappeared. I waited in the frigid air for at least another 20 minutes, fixated on that spot I saw him burrow in. Alas, there were no further sightings.

The puffin moved way too fast for me to snap a photo, but that was a good thing. I definitely would have dropped my phone out of chaotic excitement if I had it out, especially since I was right along the edge when I spotted him. I was also incredibly far away, on the opposite side of the cliff, but my eyes didn’t deceive me- I had, indeed, seen a puffin in Iceland.

This somehow validated my near-death experience from the previous day (which I never even mentioned to my mom and boyfriend, by the way. It was NBD, right?!).

And yes, it turned out that I had gone to Látrabjarg in the wrong season for puffin sightings (to all my fellow puffin lovers out there, Westman Islands is probably a better option).

So folks, always do your research before you decide to drive across nearly an entire country by yourself in less than 24 hours. Because really, you’re not invincible. Or better yet, just stick to renting a 4WD vehicle if you’re keen for some real, rugged adventures.

My ironic souvenir was a puffin keychain that now dangles from my backpack, reminding me of that death-defying experience and all the harrowing memories that came with it.

Have you ever had a near-death experience like this? Are any road trips gone wrong? Better luck finding puffins around the world? Spill!  

The post On the hunt for puffins in Iceland appeared first on Young Adventuress.

Well over a decade later I can safely say I’m still doing things that make my mum shake her head BUT also very proud (I think). Sorry I’m not sorry!

And while my travel has changed, shaped, grown and evolved in many ways, I’m still (and always will be) a diehard solo female traveler, and I will always stand up for and try to inspire other women to do the same, always open to sharing safe destinations solo female travel.

Solo female travel is life-changing, it can really make you as a person, teach you lessons that would have been difficult to find otherwise, and above all, inspire you to confidence and to believe in yourself, as well as to find your inner Beyonce.

I stand by these words.

The Solo Female Traveler’s Manifesto

According to Google, interest in solo female travel has risen by 131%, hitting an peak of 100 million searches in 2018.

Can I get a fuck yes?

Ladies, let’s keep leading the charge shall we? I’m a firm believer in leading by example, the stronger we are and the more supportive community we build around solo female travel, is better for everyone. And shame on you, New York Times, for your vile fearmongering. Women who travel alone AREN’T THE PROBLEM. MEN WHO ATTACK WOMEN ARE THE FUCKING PROBLEM.

Calm down, Liz. Where was I going with this?

So anyways, nestled amongst the heart emoji replies, OMG how can I have your life messages, and general vulgarity that lands in my DM’s and inbox, I often find my favorite question of all. Where should I go as a solo female traveler. Now there I am the expert.

Here are my choices for 10 safe destinations solo female travel. Enjoy!

1. Come hang down with me in New Zealand

My adopted home of New Zealand is an incredible place for women to travel solo and also happens to rank No.2 on the Global Peace Index (GPI). Built for year-round adventure, you can hike through pristine landscapes, ski or snowboard, go whale-watching, or slow things down with a winery tour, and feel safe while you’re doing any of the above.

Crime is minimal here, and it often makes the news if someone steals free range eggs from an honesty box on the side of the road, well, at least it makes the news here in little Wanaka where I live; I suppose South Auckland is a different story.

Violent crimes here are negligent compared to where I grew up outside Washington D.C., where I have never felt to walk outside to my car at night, and as a general rule I’ve found most kiwis to be honest and helpful here, and it’s definitely feels the safest of all the countries I’ve explored, especially for solo female travelers.

If you really need a kick in the butt, come see me at my next Travel Bootcamp in Queenstown in October 2019.

2. Go frolic in Iceland with the elves

Bubbling thermal springs, jaw-dropping rugged scenery and the chance to see the Northern Lights are just a few of the attractions in Iceland, listed the safest country in the world on the 2018 GPI. Don’t be deceived by their general belief in the fairy folk, Icelanders are actually some of the kindest, die-hard drinkers I’ve ever met. 

It was one of the first countries I visited when I quit my day job to travel and took a road trip through some of the most remote parts of Iceland under the midnight summer sun.

In many ways Iceland feels a lot like New Zealand in terms of its wild landscapes, few humans, lots of sheep and small crime rates. There’s something to be said about places with small populations and a be kind to stranger attitude still.

3. Dance until dawn with new friends in Uruguay

If you have a yen to travel to South America, World Packers says Uruguay is one of the safest countries in the region for female travelers. Expect a warm welcome in this small country, tucked in between Brazil and Argentina, where you can relax on the beaches of Punta del Este, go hiking in the Parque Nacional Santa Teresa, or see a tango show in Montevideo.

Boasting one of the lowest crime rates in the Americas, Uruguay is a good safe start for solo female travelers looking to hit up South America.

4. Prepare to be blown away by the wild beauty of Norway

Home to World Heritage-listed fjords and unspoiled national parks, Norway is a magnet for those in search of dramatic natural landscapes. Hi! 

Scandinavia often reigns supreme in many ways from healthcare and a high standard of living, to universal happiness and low crime rates, a perfect combo for women like us.

5. Fall in love with the magic of Switzerland

Spectacular lakes and mountains and picture-postcard villages, as well as its No.12 position on the GPI, make Switzerland an attractive proposition.

Here, you can hike, ski in the Alps, go boating on the many lakes, grab a bike and go exploring, or take advantage of the amazingly efficient trains, all in the knowledge that solo female travelers find this an easy and safe country to navigate, not to mention exceptionally efficient and very very tidy. 

Just don’t go out to a fancy restaurant where you’ll likely be robbed when you go to pay the bill. Switzerland is many things, but cheap isn’t one of them.

6. Go on the hunt for the perfect street food in Hong Kong

Big cities can be some of the safest places to travel for solo females and Hong Kong is no exception, but it’s always good to use commonsense.

Hong Kong is one of my favorite big cities in Asia and I’ve felt safe here both during the day and after dark, on the hunt for dumplings and bao.

Enjoy the amazing shopping and lively culture, but don’t carry too many valuables, advises Lonely Planet. If you’re navigating the city at night, Lonely Planet says the MTR is safe, or if you’re walking, stick to well-lit streets.

7. Get your backpacker on in Portugal

With its spectacular coastline, medieval castles, delicious cuisine and a capital city, Lisbon, that’s hipster central, Portugal also rates highly for safety, occupying fourth place on the GPI.

Former foreign correspondent and diplomat Leyla Giray Alyanak from Women on the Road says Portugal is the safest country she’s travelled in, but advises taking the normal precautions of keeping an eye on your valuables and not putting yourself in risky situations.

8. Canada

One of the friendliest countries in the world, Canada is also one of the safest, coming in at No.6 on the GPI. Being mainly English-speaking gives it an instant advantage for travelers, plus there are safe and efficient transport systems in the cities as well as between destinations.

Major attractions include the spectacular national parks, world-class skiing and vibrant, multicultural cities.

As an American, I’ve come to love my neighbor to the great white north, and I have spent a few winters exploring around Alberta and BC, two magical regions worth visiting. Definitely hope to go back again soon!

9. Japan

Snow sports, onsen, hiking trails and incredible food… what’s not to love about Japan. Plus, CNTraveler names it No.1 in its top 15 spots for solo women travelers. Getting around is fast and efficient with the excellent public transport system, and the Japanese are notoriously helpful to travelers.

Lonely Planet advises that some peak-hour trains have women-only cars to protect female passengers from chikan (men who grope women on packed trains). And, although Japan is relatively safe, they advise the usual precautions and preparedness. 

10. Australia

The land down under also makes CNTraveler’s top 15 travel destinations for women, and also comes in at No.13 on the GPI.

With year-round sunshine, you can hit the beaches in the southern states in the warmer months, and follow the sun by heading north when the mercury drops in March/April. Australia’s brilliantly set up for single travelers, with backpacker hostels in most popular spots and buses or budget airlines to get you around this vast country.

What did I miss? Have a favorite? Where do you think is the best country for solo female travelers? Spill!

The post 10 of the safest destinations for solo female travelers appeared first on Young Adventuress.

If you could have a wish list of natural wonders to visit in your lifetime, you may well find them all located along Iceland’s South Coast.

From waterfalls to glaciers, volcanoes and rugged coastlines, Iceland is on everyone’s bucket list for a reason.

It’s spectacular.

Iceland has become one of the most popular places to visit and thanks to the increase in flights from the US, UK and Europe, it’s super easy to access provided the weather is playing in your favor.

The Do’s and Don’ts of an Iceland Road Trip

The wild conditions of this island nation can be unpredictable and like nothing you’ve ever seen before, but they’re usually followed by gorgeous light and a little magic. It’s a country where one minute can be a total blizzardy whiteout and the next rainbows or sparkling aurora.

Having visited Iceland three times now to compile content for my guide to Iceland’s Best Photography Locations, the first thing I recommend to anyone planning a trip there is this. Hire a car. Having wheels will allow you to see so much more and experience a real adventure as you cruise past epic scenery and stop whenever you like.

So, lets move on to the good stuff! Here are my picks for ten spots you can’t miss along the Iceland South Coast.

1. Seljalandfoss + Gljúfrabúi Waterfalls

As one of the first major natural beauties you’ll come across on the drive from Reykjavik, Seljalansfoss is one of the highlights on a trip to Iceland. At over 60m in height, the waterfall drops over a giant cave which you can walk behind in the right conditions and feel the intensity and power up close.  

As one of a series of waterfalls connected by a little walking path, if you stop here you need to wander to the left and see the others. At the end you may start to see people returning a little drenched and that’s because they’ve found Gljúfrabúi. Gljúfrabúi is hidden in a cylinder-live cave of mist which you can access by walking upstream into it’s watery lair.

Be sure to take a raincoat and waterproof camera because it’s well worth getting completely soaked to experience what it’s like inside the cave.

2. Skogafoss Waterfall

Rumored to be guarding treasure beneath its cascading veil, Skogafoss is my favorite of all the waterfalls in Iceland. There’s something so simple yet stunning about it’s formation, falling perfectly off the cliff which was once the coast of Iceland.

Skogafoss at sunrise, midday, sunset and under star filled skies is worth visiting but to avoid the crowds aim for either earlier or later. As an easy to access location it’s a hot spot for tour coaches on day trips so can fill up very quickly during the day.

One thing you need to do here is capture that classic shot standing beneath Skogafoss (see below) and then climb the 500+ stairs to a platform above. After your legs have recovered from the climb you can look down over the edge and watch as the thundering water tumbles down from the Skógá River.

3. Reynisfjara Beach

Where the rough seas of the northern Atlantic crash onto black volcanic shores. Reynisfjara Beach is one of the most photogenic along the south coast. The major drawcard here are the giant basalt cliffs stacked high on the shores and wrapping around the headland into Hálsanefshellir Cave.

While it may look photo worthy, and by all means it is, you need to be really weary of the sea on this beach. When you arrive, take a few moments just to watch as the monster waves creep up then appear to flip on top of themselves, doubling in size just before they crash against the sand. You’ll no doubt see at least one unsuspecting tourist get a little wetter than intended as it’s very dangerous to get too close to the water.

How not to blow all your money traveling in Iceland

On the other end of the beach you’ll find the Dyrhólaey Lighthouse which is another popular stop for people hoping to capture the immense scale of the beaches below. Accessing the lighthouse is actually by another road entirely though. Take Dyrhólavegur Rd to access the headland looking down over Reynisfjara Beach and also drive up to the lighthouse.

Sunrise overlooking Reynisjara is an incredible sight to witness!

4. Lómagnúpur

On the drive between Vik and Jokulsarlon Glacier Lagoon you’ll pass the mighty Lómagnúpur mountain. Sticking out with it’s steep ascent and rocky cliffs above the ring road, it’s worth stopping here for a picnic lunch to gaze at it’s glory.

If driving from Vik, there’s a small dirt track that leads from the ring road and there’s enough space for 2 or 3 cars to park and enjoy the area. There’s usually a very shallow pond that works perfectly for reflection photos due to it’s volcanic sand base.

The mountain is just under 700m tall and differs in appearance depending on whether you’re driving from east or west. You’ll find giant boulders scattered in the immediate area around the base of Mount Lómagnúpur, a little reminder that one can come crashing down at any moment!

5. Fjallsárlón Glacial Lagoon

While most people will keep driving straight for Jokulsarlon Glacier Lagoon, there’s another beauty hidden barely 10km away.

The Fjallsárlón Glacial Lagoon is an impressive sight to witness. Walking up from the carpark you’ve got no idea what lies over the hill until you suddenly see the icebergs and giant glacier tongue appear. You can get up a little closer to the glacier here than at Jokulsarlon and it appears as though the glacier is rolling down the hill towards you, it’s an awe inspiring natural landscape!

6. Jokulsarlon Glacier Lagoon

There’s so many words that can be used to describe the beauty on display at Jokulsarlon Glacier Lagoon. With the mighty Breiðamerkurjökull outlet glacier looming in the distance, it’s filled with chunky icebergs as they break off and float out to sea.

Arriving to Jokulsarlon is one of those jaw dropping moments where you’ll probably be a little lost for words. Or just be like me and repeat the word ‘wow’ over and over until someone slaps you.

Experiencing the magic of Jokulsarlon is one of the highlights of any trip to Iceland, regardless of the season you visit. In fact, when I visit, I opt to spend at least two to three days in the area just so I can spend as much time around the lagoon as possible.

You’ll find icebergs floating in the lagoon year-round and in summer it’s possible to take a boat ride and get up close to them. In the cooler months it’s a great place to wait in the darkness for aurora to dance above, or to just watch as seals play or get some sun while lying on the ice.

7. Diamond Beach

Just across the bridge from the Jokulsarlon Glacier Lagoon is Diamond Beach. As the spot where all of those floating icebergs end up after being washed back to shore, it’s not hard to see how it got its name. At sunrise Diamond Beach is a photography hotspot with people arriving early to secure an iceberg to capture as the sun rises above the horizon.

It’s possible to arrive and there be no icebergs on the beach, it’s really up to nature and depends on how rough the seas are.

8. Vatnajokull Glacier

As Europe’s third largest glacier, Vatnajokull Glacier is immense in size. From the main ring road of Iceland you won’t see even 5% of it, in fact you’ll simply see the very edge as it crawls down the hill like frozen fingers.

In the winter months from roughly late November to early March, you can explore within the glacier into the ice caves beneath. Have a read of my post ‘Photographing Inside an Ice Cave of Vatnajokull Glacier’ for a series of photos and more details about caving.

Everything you need to know about visiting Iceland in winter

You’ll need to book a tour for this because the caves can collapse at any moment, but a local guide will know where and when to go for the best experience. Standing in a cave beneath ice that’s formed over centuries is a totally surreal experience. A little like what I imagine standing inside a beautiful freezer would look like…minus the ice cream.

9. Svínafellsjökull

Another one of Vatnajokull’s glacier tongues, Svínafellsjökull allows you to get up nice and close to see the cracks, crevices and colours of a glacier without needing hiking gear and crampons.

There’s a dirt road that leads toward the glacier from the ring road just after the turn to Skaftafell. It takes roughly five minutes to drive to the parking area due to some pretty giant pot holes but once you’re there, the glacier is staring right at you.

10. Stokksnes

Landscape photographers and horse riders flock to this beach that lies in a section of quiet coastline after the fishing town of Hofn.

With sharp ridges rising up from the ocean as waves roll in to black sandy shores, the scenery here is like stepping into a movie set. It’s dramatic, rugged and wild, all the good things about Iceland rolled into one location.

On the drive out to Stokksnes you’ll pass Iceland horses in paddocks so be sure to stop the car and meet them. The Icelandic horses are known for their friendliness and also their very stylish manes which look like they’ve all been to the salon for a little do.

To access the beach at Stokksnes you’ll need to pop in at the Viking Café and pay an entry fee which on my last visit was ISK 800. This fee goes towards upkeep of the private road, which in my opinion is well worth paying to access such an incredibly beautiful pocket of Icelandic magic.

If you’ve been to Iceland and have somewhere to add to the list, feel free to do so in the comments below and share your secret spot!

The post 10 spots you can’t miss on Iceland’s South Coast appeared first on Young Adventuress.

So you’ve decided that this is the year that you’re going to travel even if it means you’re going it alone. Your best friend, sister, partner, cousin, and that guy you kind of remember from junior high gym class are all too busy to join you. So what’s a girl to do if she wants an adventure but wants to feel secure in her decision while still adding an element of adventure?

Head to Iceland!

First off, Iceland is stunning. At some point, you will have seen so many waterfalls in one day that you will stop pulling over to take pictures of them. It seems that around every curve and bend in Iceland there’s a new mind blowing view specifically designed by nature’s hand to completely knock your socks off.

It’s also incredibly safe, the infrastructure is great, it’s clean, it’s easy to get around, and most importantly, it’s a little wonderland of adventures!

If you’re traveling solo for the first time, Iceland truly is the perfect choice; here are 6 more reasons why:

It’s a popular place

Heading off the beaten path and being one with nature is a wonderfully freeing experience, though as a solo traveler it can feel like it comes at the cost of being alone a lot. Thankfully in Iceland you can get the best of both worlds. 

With such cheap flights from within Europe and the US available through WOW air, plus the growing popularity of Iceland as a stopover or destination in and of itself, you won’t have to be alone. In the last 5 years, tourism to Iceland has more than doubled.  

That said, you don’t have to head too far if you do want some solitude. Half the time that I was in Iceland I was at popular spots like the Goðafoss waterfall where there were plenty of people around, and half the time I saw almost no other people, like at Ásbyrgi canyon. 

Pro tip: Give yourself enough time to stay in the capital, Reykjavík, for a few days and chances are good you’ll be able to meet others who will join you for part or maybe all of your trip if you want to share the journey.

Kirkjufellsfoss

It’s the safest country in the world

I couldn’t believe it when I pulled into the parking lot of the grocery store outside of Reykjavík and saw someone get out of his car, leave the key in the ignition, and go in to do his grocery shopping. That’s how much people trust each other in Iceland. Even minor crimes make major headlines there because they just don’t happen very often.

According to the Institute for Economics and Peace, Iceland is the safest country in the world with a low violent crime rate, a low theft rate, and a high standard of living with a responsive police force. In other words, you’re statistically safer in Iceland than you are at home.

The Blue Lagoon

The locals are friendly and speak English quite well

If you’re traveling alone for the first time, the idea of being lost without any ability to communicate can be pretty terrifying. Thankfully, English is very widely spoken in Iceland. I came across plenty of locals who could’ve easily passed for a North American with their flawless accents.

I also found that the locals to be friendly, which always makes for a more pleasant solo traveling experience. 

It’s easy to navigate 

Most of the main attractions that visitors to Iceland will want to see are off of a road that goes in a circle, either the golden circle day trip outside of Reykjavik or the ring road, which more or less takes you around the circumference of the island. 

The roads are well-maintained, there are plenty of places to pull off and take photos, and they are well-marked, too. so even if you don’t have someone riding shotgun giving you directions, you’ll be able to find your way. 

Iceland was made for road trips.

Asbyrgi Canyon

It’s simple to stay connected

If you are traveling by yourself for the first time the idea of being stuck in a desolate place without any type of connection or method of reaching people might sound downright terrifying.
I was a little bit worried about connectivity in Iceland and was shocked, shocked!, at how often I had a solid 3G connection with Vodafone there, and for only €15 for 3 gigabytes! 

Seriously, I remember being in the middle of the Highlands on a road only for 4 x 4 vehicles that took hours to reach and was absolutely shocked to find that I still had full 3G. I took solace in the fact that should anything go wrong, I’d be able to call for help. I suggest picking up a SIM card at any Vodafone shop in Reykjavík before heading out of town on your adventure.

It’s the perfect spot to test out your adventurous streak

If you’ve never really thought of yourself as adventurous or outdoorsy, Iceland is the perfect place to test the waters and try something new. You can search for the northern lights, horseback ride on those famous Icelandic ponies, go for a hike in any one of the famous canyons or in the Highlands, SCUBA dive between two tectonic plates, explore ice caves, take a helicopter around the active volcanoes, and the list goes on. 

It’s almost impossible to be bored in Iceland, plus, the healthcare is great, everything is well organized, and the activities are fabulous. They are also a great way to meet others!

The Northern Lights in Iceland

Those are a few of my reasons why Iceland is the perfect spot for first-time solo female travelers, though I could probably talk your ear off for a week about why I love Iceland so much, if you let me.

If you do go, be forewarned that it will be hard to top the amazingness of Iceland for your following trips, but it’s well worth the risk to be able to see the northern lights, magical waterfalls with basalt columns, and bubbling blue water with geysers springing up. It seriously looks like another planet, and that’s part of what makes a trip there feel so life changing.

Have you been to Iceland? Do you travel solo? Any tips to share?

Kristin Addis is a solo female travel expert who inspires women to travel the world in an authentic and adventurous way, she even wrote the book on the topic – Conquering Mountains: How to Solo Travel the World Fearlessly. A former investment banker who sold all of her belongings and left California in 2012, Kristin has solo traveled the world for over four years, covering every continent (except for Antarctica, but it’s on her list). You can find more of her musings at Be My Travel Muse or on Instagram and Facebook.

Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon

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Check out my buddy/fellow blogger/blog helper Jessica of Curiosity Travels latest post about how to travel Iceland and not blow all your money. It’s been over a year since I was in Iceland with Tiny Iceland and I can safely say, I put plenty of these tips into practice when I was there in order to not break the bank!

There’s no way around it, Iceland is an expensive country. While I was planning my trip, I didn’t have the cash to be splurging– I was visiting on the tail-end of savings while making a less than desirable amount freelance writing.  Still, I knew I had to visit before I left Europe.

To make it work, I forced myself to find budget solutions wherever possible.  Luckily, this strategy worked and when I checked my bank account at the end of the trip it wasn’t as devastating as I thought it would be.  In fact, the amount was comparable to any other week long vacation around Europe.

So if you want to visit but are afraid it will be completely out of your price range, fear not! Here are a few foolproof strategies to make your Iceland dreams more attainable.

1. Visit through a stopover

One of the easiest ways to reduce the costs of visiting Iceland is to not buy a flight at all.  In order to do this, visit during a time when you’re already planning on flying between Europe and North America. While this might not be feasible for everyone, it’s a great solution for those of us who travel often.

Icelandair offers great prices for flights in between the two continents, and also allow free stopovers in Iceland for up to seven nights. Woo!

You can also create your own stopover like I did.  I flew from London to Reykjavik for only $80 via Wizz Air, then 7 days later I flew from Reykjavik to Los Angeles with a stopover in Seattle with Icelandair.  In total, the flight cost me around $700, which was about the same price as other routes during the month of December.

An added plus to all of this? Flights from Reykjavik to North America fly over the Arctic, making them strangely short. A flight from Iceland to Seattle has a flight time of only six and a half hours!

2. Visit during the winter

Detailed in this article I’ve written for Liz, visiting Iceland in winter has many benefits. Luckily, one of them is the lower costs.  From tour prices to accommodation, you can save a fair percentage by just visiting in the off-season.

Although you’ll trade the moss covered landscapes for snow and less hours of light, you’ll get epic sunsets, less crowds and (hopefully) the Northern Lights in return.

3. Sacrifice your healthy eating habits

Although this isn’t optimal for most people, if you can let go of healthy foods while in Iceland, you’ll be able to save a lot.  Eating in restaurants and buying fresh food can be very expensive, and you’ll reach and then exceed your budget fast.  In order to eat inexpensively, you’ll have to opt for fast food or supermarket frozen meals, sorry.

For a quick meal, the typical Icelandic gas station hot dog is a popular choice, and it isn’t bad. Trading a sit-down lunch for a hot dog could mean a savings of $20.  Also, if you have a kitchen available, frozen pizzas might be the most cost efficient meal, especially if you split it with one other person or save the leftovers.

Of course, not many of us can survive on frozen pizza and hot dogs for an entire week. I found the Noodle Station in Reykjavik to be both delicious and cost efficient. I also wanted to try some of Iceland’s traditional dishes while in the country so I did so by ordering them in the form of an appetizer. This allowed me to have something unique without surpassing my budget for the day.

Of course, an hour or so later I was hungry again and chowed down on a cheap snack.

4. Fill all the seats in your rental car

There’s no better way to see Iceland than by car. Renting a vehicle and taking on the open road leads to astonishing views that you’d swear weren’t real.  Still, especially if you are driving the entire ring road, the cost of petrol adds up quickly.

In order to cut costs, split the trip with as many people as possible. While this might be difficult for solo travelers, it is a benefit to traveling to the country in a group.  If you do happen to be alone, you might get lucky and meet someone who wants to join like I did.

5. Don’t drink alcohol

Even though Icelanders love a good drink (or 5), the price of alcohol in the country is enormous. Carrying up to a 50% tax, you’ll be hard pressed to find a beer for under $3.50 per bottle from a liquor store. Head to the bars for a big night out and you can easily walk away with a $100 bar tab.

Although Reykjavik is one of the best cities for nightlife in Northern Europe, it’s just something you’ll have to skip if you are short on cash. While I enjoyed a few drinks at a pub and purchased a variety of Icelandic beers from the liquor store one night, that’s as far as my drinking in the country went.  If you cut out drinking completely, you’ll save yourself loads.

6. Bring a reusable water bottle

Iceland has some of the cleanest water in the world. For that reason, why not take advantage and drink from the tap?

While the hot water comes from the hot springs and may have traces of sulphur in it, resulting in an eggy smell, rest assured the cold water is very clean.  If you pack a reuseable water bottle with you on your trip you’ll never need to waste money on the bottled version!

7. Couchsurf

A website designed for travelers to meet locals and stay in their house (usually on their couch) for free, I was always nervous to try it out Couch Surfing in other countries. It was when I noticed the high accommodation prices in Reykjavik that I was finally motivated to try it out.

After a search through the website, I found a couple who was offering up their spare bedroom to couchsurfers.  I messaged them, and since we had a lot of travels in common, they invited me to stay. I was already grateful for a free room, but a few days before I arrived I received a surprising message.  They told me they were going on a last minute trip and wouldn’t be able to show me around.  Regardless, I could still stay at their house and they would leave the door unlocked. (Yes, really!)

For the next six nights, I had their three bedroom house in Reykjavik’s city center all to myself. When I left, I wrote them a note and gave them some saffron from Spain, a small price to pay for a week’s free accommodation!

While my story is a very lucky one, there are still loads of people in Reykjavik who would offer up their couch to help out a budget oriented traveler. You’ll also probably get a free tour guide with the deal, so you can’t beat that!

8. Or…stay in an apartment with friends

While of course this isn’t as cost effective as a free couch, staying in an apartment with friends in Iceland will save you money in a few ways.  For one, being able to cook your own food and split the costs with others will save a lot.

Also, staying at an apartment gives you a nice cozy place to retreat to at the end of the day. Instead of cruising the bars and continuously spending money, hang out with friends in your apartment for free.

9. Skip the Blue Lagoon

Most people who visit Iceland will be stopping by the famous Blue Lagoon at one point. While it is a nice place to spend a few hours, it comes with a 35 euro entrance fee (45 in summer).  This is the most basic fee, without drinks or towel rental.

Like most tourist attractions, they sometimes turn out to be overrated and aren’t for everyone. If you aren’t one to get excited about soaking and relaxing in a hot spring, don’t feel bad if you skip it.  If you do decide to go, make the most of your time there and make sure to stay for at least a few hours.

10. Something to remember

Of course, the last thing you want to do is visit Iceland and miss out on everything because you wanted to save money. Just choosing a few of the above could save you hundreds during your visit.  The key is balancing a few sacrifices with opening up your budget when you deem it necessary.

Still, in my opinion visiting Iceland on a budget is better than never having visited at all– it’s such an incredible place!

About the author: Jessica is Liz’s VA, an over-thinker, a spicy food lover and a serial expat. She has studied and worked in South America, taught English in Korea and Spain, and backpacked through Asia. Follow along as she balances travel and 20-something life all on her blog, CuriosityTravels.org. She also shares her current travel adventures on Instagram, Facebook & Twitter.

The post How not to blow all your money traveling in Iceland appeared first on Young Adventuress.

I’ve made it no secret, Iceland is one of my favorite countries in the world, perhaps maybe because it is so similar to New Zealand, and New Zealand is awesome. 

I can’t believe it’s been a year and half since I stepped foot in the great white north. I visited in summer with my best friend from college for a week road-tripping around the country with Tiny Iceland on an epic 7 day free stopover with Icelandair.  

But I have been dreaming about going back in winter, mostly to see the Northern Lights and live out all my winter fairytale fantasies. Luckily my friend Jessica, the blogger behind Curiosity Travels and who will be helping me out with my workload this year, just finished a winter trip there and piqued my interest even more. 

After some pushing and prodding she agreed to share her thoughts about traveling Iceland in winter – enjoy!

To most people, having an extended stopover in Iceland during the dead of winter would sound like a miserably cold idea.

I was afraid that might be true.

Still, the flight from London to Seattle via Iceland for 6 days was a bargain and I could fit in the trip right before my 90 day Schengen visa expired.  Win! In denial of all the things that could go wrong, (blizzards, Vitamin D deprivation, etc.) I purchased the ticket and hoped for the best.

While I didn’t know it then, this trip ended up being one of the best of my life.  Turns out, Iceland in winter is just dreamy! Sadly though, most people don’t get to experience this, instead skipping the country from late-November to February assuming subzero temperatures and continuously dark days, as I almost did.

From snowy landscapes to Northern light displays, winter on this Arctic island offers so many things which other seasons just can’t provide.  In fact, even if you’ve visited in summer, the country just might warrant another visit just to experience the seasonal contrast.  Still, in order to be prepared for a visit to Iceland in winter there are a handful of things you must know.

The days are short, but the light is beautiful

Although in the Arctic Circle, winter in Iceland doesn’t mean complete days of darkness.  In Reykjavik during the winter solstice in December, the shortest day of the year, the sun rises at 11:20am and sets around 3:30pm.  In the more Northern parts of the country this can be a bit more extreme.

Although strange to most of us, there is one benefit to these short hours of light—the whole day is beautiful. Since the sun never reaches a high position in the sky, the light during these hours creates a warm glow covering the country.  The sunrises and sunsets last for a couple of hours at a time and light is also soft, making it perfect for photography.

While it is definitely difficult to get out of bed at 8am (or even 9 or 10) when it’s still completely dark outside, the city is well lit and most Icelanders have already been up and about for a while.  Normal life goes on as usual before the sun rises, and also after the sun sets. Don’t assume that just because it’s dark there will be nothing to do.

The weather is unpredictable

“If you don’t like the weather, wait 5 minutes,” is a common saying all year round in Iceland.  In winter, this phrase takes on even more drastic implications.

Within the shortest time span a snowstorm can turn to sunshine and vice versa.  At one scenic spot, I didn’t want to get out of the car because of the strong wings and icy snow.  A friend decided to weather it, but I just watched. Luckily, 10 minutes later the sky had broken open revealing the most beautiful afternoon light and the beginning of a typical two hour long sunset. I exited the car dry and warm and stayed that way, happy I waited it out.

Dressing in layers and being prepared for all scenarios is crucial when taking trips around the island.  It’s also important to check the weather before heading out, and always be willing to change plans if things take a turn for the worse.  Still, the weather won’t get in the way of what you’re doing on most days, and you can usually be sure to have at least a few hours of sun.  Icelanders are used to a snow storm anyway, so even if you find yourself in one, life carries on regardless!

It’s not insanely cold

Forget everything you think when you hear the word “Iceland.”  Summer on this Arctic island is actually characterized by expansive views of green landscape, waterfalls and hot springs. While snow may blanket almost every inch of the country during winter, it isn’t any colder than other popular winter destinations around the world.

Due to a position right in line with the Gulf Stream, Iceland stays relatively temperate regardless of its latitude. In fact, New York City gets colder than Iceland during these months. Wear layers and prepare for temperatures hovering around 0 degrees Celsius (32 degrees Fahrenheit) or only a few colder, and you’ll be fine.

The prices are lower

Maybe only surpassed by Norway and Sweden in Europe, Iceland is a very expensive country to visit. To lessen the dent in your wallet, winter is the perfect time for a visit.  While it still won’t be a budget destination, it can become more affordable as you’ll save up to half on accommodation, car rentals and sometimes even tours.

Although the prices are lower overall, you might find yourself spending more money on food and alcoholic beverages in the winter. Not only are the holidays a time to splurge on meals, but the short days make for early drinking.

One of the easiest ways to use up your daily budget in Iceland is by drinking it.  If you are visiting in winter in hopes to save money, make sure you try to keep out of the bars as the tax on alcohol can be up to 50%.

One way to even further save money in winter is by finding an Airbnb apartment where you can cook and have a cozy place to retreat to at the end of the day. Not only will these be easier to find in winter when there are less tourists, but you’ll also get a good deal.

Bring your swim-suit

Just because its winter doesn’t mean you can’t get your swim on.  Iceland is spotted by hundreds of volcanic hot springs which aren’t only used for the local hot water and geothermic energy, but also in many public baths.

The most popular spot to warm up and relax is at the Blue Lagoon near the airport. You’ll only be freezing for about 5 seconds while you take off your towel and dart into the water, but from then on you can simmer in the lagoon for as long as you want.  There’s even a bar serving a variety of frozen drinks and beer.  Or if you don’t feel like paying he hefty entrance fee at the Blue Lagoon (€35) you can always also just take a dip in one of Reykjavik’s public pools.  They have hot and cold pools and cost much less.

For something a little more adventurous and active, choose to snorkel down the Silfra fissure in Þingvellir National Park. (Yes, even in winter!) This rift between the North American and European tectonic plates boasts some of the clearest and purest water in the world.

I joined a tour with Arctic Adventures and they provided the dry suit and all the necessary gear.  While on the tour, my fingers and toes still got a bit cold from the outside temperatures, but I forget all about it while floating through the rift.  The views down below were incredible and it was a surreal experience to dive into freezing water while snow covered the surroundings.

You don’t need 4WD

Most of Iceland’s roads are well maintained and don’t require much more than good snow tires.  If renting a car, make sure to check if you’re equipped with them along with updates on the latest road conditions.

If you manage to avoid storms, drive carefully and maintain caution on roads which are yet to be recently plowed, even the least experienced snow driver shouldn’t have many problems.

It IS possible to see the Northern Lights from Reykjavik

While most tours and articles online will push you to leave Reykjavik to see the lights (and this is good idea) it is very possible to still see them from the city. If you happen to not see anything while on a tour, or don’t have one booked on a night with high activity, don’t fret.  On a clear night, you should just be able to look up in a dimly lit area and watch away.

For a nice view over the city which is nearby, head to the observation deck at The Pearl (Perlan).  Another spot which is even darker and more secluded is the Grotta Lighthouse about a 5-10 minute drive from the center.

For the best chances to see the aurora borealis, book a tour early on in your stay. Sometimes if you don’t see anything, they’ll let you try again another night.  If you still have no luck, or just don’t want to go on a tour at all, make sure to check the aurora forecast website nightly and search on your own. While the forecast won’t give you a completely accurate prediction (just as accurate as the weather forecast sometimes) it still helps.  The key for seeing the lights is going to look on a night which not only has a high forecast but is also very clear, free of fog or cloud cover.

Don’t expect wildlife

If wildlife is what you’re looking for, winter might not be your best bet. Even the puffins, a famously known animal in Iceland, aren’t around for viewing in the winter. These cute little birds fly out to sea during this season.

While it’s possible, whale watching isn’t at its highest during this season either. Besides, hanging out on a boat in winter doesn’t sound too pleasant anyway!

Don’t let the lack of animals deter you. There are so many other winter activities in Iceland, like snowmobiling, skiing, ice skating and Northern Lights hunting to keep you busy.

Iceland covered in snow is a winter wonderland

Reykjavik might just be the cutest, village-like capital you’ve ever visited. The center is festively decorated for the holidays, and the colorful two and three story houses are beautifully dusted with snow.

Siberia? Antartica? Nope, it’s Iceland.  Outside of Reykjavik, this sparsely populated island with spread out villages make for expansive winter views uncluttered by tall and modern buildings.  Icelandic horses cuddle together in the countryside to keep warm.  Snow covered chruches stand isolated in the most picturesque spots.

Maybe it is darker and colder than the rest of the year, but Iceland in winter does not disappoint.  And even if you happen forget all of the above, just remember one thing— bring a huge memory card.

Have you been to Iceland? Would you think about visiting a popular destination in the off-season?

The post Everything you need to know about visiting Iceland in Winter appeared first on Young Adventuress.

The other day I was on a mission of hike near Wanaka when I made friends with a Canadian at the summit.

We ended up climbing down the track together for a couple of hours chatting away about New Zealand, travel, and life, you know, the usual. It’s so easy to meet people in New Zealand, I love it!

One place we had in common was Iceland – he was there recently and I was there last summer with Tiny Iceland. Talking about our favorite spots, he eventually took the words out of my mouth telling me that sometimes New Zealand reminds him of Iceland.

I had been thinking the same exact thing for the past year!

While of course many things are different, like we don’t believe in elves here in New Zealand or have the midnight sun and I’m sure Icelanders think hobbits are weird and wouldn’t know what to make of a moa, in fact, New Zealand and Iceland have a lot of things in common, like a lot.

But in spite of being located on complete opposite sides of the planet, I’ve started to wonder – are New Zealand and Iceland actually the same place?

I had jotted down here and there in my notebooks whenever I would notice something similar but I was savoring my “profound” discovery and waiting until I finished my Iceland Challenge posts before sharing it with you all.

Enjoy!

1. Crazy landscapes

Probably the most obvious of them all, it’s a bit freaky how similar Iceland and New Zealand look. In some ways. In others, they are wildly different.

I think it comes from the fact that they are both so remote, both islands and literally at opposite ends of the world, and have been less effected by people and development but also have become so dramatically shaped due to crazy weather and climates.

Jagged peaks, enormous glaciers, volcanic steam, Iceland and New Zealand have them all.

I think I first starting noticing similarities with all of the geothermal activity in both places. Iceland has volcanoes, New Zealand has volcanoes. They both have freaky colored steamy lakes and geysers and of course a sense of impending doom and devastation if one of the many volcanoes blows its tops.

They are both countries filled with big views and more waterfalls than you could ever want and every landscape is a postcard.

Actually, I think that’s why I love them both so much. Beautiful and volatile.

2. No people

I’m just throwing this out there but I think that both Iceland and New Zealand are so unpopulated because they are literally at the end of the world.

While Iceland is actually quite close to Europe and the US (3 hours to London or 4 hours to Boston) it’s basically at the North Pole with very extreme long winters and just a quick summer. New Zealand has a more balanced climate but it’s literally a bajillion hours of hellish flying to get to unless you live in Australia. Of course I am speaking from an American perspective.

If you come to either, it’s because you really, really want to.

This is great for 2 reasons – both countries are seriously unpopulated and both are pretty much the best-kept secrets in the entire world.

Iceland population – 323,000. New Zealand population – 4 million. (New Zealand is a lot bigger than Iceland though so it evens out a bit).

In both countries you oftentimes feel like you have the place to yourself, touristy sites are usually uncrowded and on road trips you can drive for a long time and not see anyone. It’s awesome!

3. They are universally loved

There are only two countries in the world where I never (or rarely) hear a negative comment about – New Zealand and Iceland.

In fact, both places usually rank extremely high on people’s bucketlists or travel dream destinations of places to visit, especially if you are into visiting countries with wicked landscapes.

But the best part? Iceland and New Zealand are the only two countries where I’ve met travelers who not only love them wholeheartedly, but they also go back to them! I find that the most impressive statistic of them all considering how remote, expensive and challenging to get to that they are. That to me speaks volumes of how awesome New Zealand and Iceland are.

4. Expensive as hell

Of course, perfection and beauty come at a price.

New Zealand and Iceland can be horrendously expensive. I have a running joke here that my bank account balance just drops and drops for no reason – where does it go?

No matter what I buy at the grocery store, it’s $100 (cherry tomatoes were $7.99 today!) and I’ve gotten used to spending $5 for a cup of a coffee and I don’t blink an eye at a $90 for a private room in a hostel. Every little thing costs so much more than it does anywhere else in the world.

Yeah I get that a lot of things are imported or are out of season, but NZ does a great job of jacking up prices of things they have in abundance like lamb, wine and fish.

Same goes for Iceland. On my road trip I think we ate 3 proper meals in restaurants and then lived off of $3 gas station hot dogs for the rest of the trip.

Oh man.

That being said, if you want to come, don’t be deterred, there are plenty of ways to visit NZ or Iceland on the cheap. Hitchhiking is safe and common in both places, there are cheap buses, old car rentals and campervan relocation options, couchsurfing and AirBnB. Camping or cooking your own meals is common and working on farms or HelpX are the norm.

I meet broke backpackers making it work all the time – it goes back to the old adage, if you want it bad enough, work for it. But that’s a story for another day.

5. Northern and Southern Lights

While many people have learned that while winter in Iceland isn’t the most ideal time to visit, if you are intrepid enough to journey over during the dark long months, you might be rewarded with seeing the Northern Lights.

How cool is that?

While New Zealand doesn’t have the same level of long dark winters (thank god) on the bottom of the South Island you can get glimpses of the Southern Lights in winter, and not too infrequently either – it’s actually pretty common! Nobody really talks about it that much because, because let’s face it, nobody goes down there.

The Southern Lights by Trey Ratcliff via Stuck in Customs

The Northern Lights via Tiny Iceland

6. Hardy folk

Sometimes I like to think both New Zealand and Iceland are the last frontiers of the world, both originally empty lands settled by adventurous seafaring people.

Neither place are easy to live in so the people there have become strong, and for lack of a better word, hardy.

I feel so happy I have gotten to live in New Zealand for many reasons, but mostly because I know it’s made me tougher and stronger, even when I didn’t want it to.

Same goes for Iceland. You gotta want it to love it.

If there was ever a zombie apocalypse, I’d want to be in Iceland or New Zealand.

7. Still not super touristy

One of my favorite things about New Zealand and Iceland are that they are still not super touristy places to explore. It is really easy to get off the beaten path, have unique experiences and get lost and explore without running into huge tour buses or massive groups of people.

However, that is changing, and it’s changing fast.

One thing I’ve noticed in both places is that tourism has boomed over the past 5 years, like seriously boomed, thanks in part to Game of Thrones and the Lord of the Rings showing off both locations, but also they’ve just become more popular spots to visit. That inherently means more people coming.

However, I’ve noticed an alarming trend in both New Zealand and Iceland. Despite the fact that more people are coming every year, the tourism infrastructure around it hasn’t really been growing or been developed enough to keep up with it.

In fact, I’ve noticed especially in New Zealand a kind of attitude that they aren’t going to change things because A. it’s what’s worked in the past and B. because they don’t want to make it easier for tourists in certain places.

While I want both spots to remain a secret more than anyone, that is a really stupid way to look at things, and it is going to cause a lot of accidents in the future because right now both places are operating off of the whole “don’t be a dumbass and everything will ok” mentality.

I think there are plenty of ways to make things safer without blowing up the beautiful landscape or bringing in boatloads more tourists.

I wish both countries would improve their roads now that they are being trafficked a lot more, especially by big cumbersome campervans, and I really wish there were more designated pull off areas for photos with clear signs in advance so people just don’t pull over on the side of the highway. And don’t even get me started on the landslides in New Zealand, so terrifying.

Usually it takes an accident for people to start paying attention, like kids crossing behind a warning sign and getting killed by falling ice at Fox Glacier or falling off a waterfall at Milford Sound. I remember visiting popular Dettifoss in Iceland, the scariest waterfall in the world and there wasn’t even a fence or barricade on the edge. That is a major accident waiting to happen.

My point is just that if more people are going to be coming to these places then there needs to be a more solid infrastructure around it IMO.

8. Sheep!

Another obvious tie between New Zealand and Iceland is sheep! Oh how I love sheep!

While they are fenced in on the farms in New Zealand, in Iceland in summer they are left free to roam the lands until they are herded up in the autumn.

So cute and great wool!

9. Drinking culture

I don’t know how to phrase this in a politically correct way (which doesn’t usually stop me) so I’ll say it anyway. Iceland and New Zealand drink a fuckton of alcohol.

I know I am being a bit taboo talking about this, but like with all things, that doesn’t usually stop me so I’ll share anyways. While I grew up thinking the US has a serious drinking culture, let me just put it out there, NZ and Iceland put us to shame.

Like neither place really has the casual beer or two with friends, it’s more like drinking into oblivion, even on a Tuesday. They can and WILL drink you under the table.

So why on earth do kiwis and Icelanders drink like college freshmen?

Beer was banned in Iceland until 1989 – which meant they grew up drinking the strong stuff. Why waste your time with beer when you can have brennivín aka the Black Death? Because beer was banned for so long Iceland didn’t really have a bar or casual pub culture which meant drinking was taken seriously on the weekends. Probably the long dark winters didn’t help much, after all what else is there to do? Who knows.

Same but different here in New Zealand.

Likewise there is a serious drinking culture here in New Zealand but one that is being actively addressed. I remember first noticing it when I moved to Wellington and I was out with friends at a nice bar. One of the girls wanted to order two drinks at once or something, and the bartender said no.

Um, isn’t that the point of a bar? Seriously confused, my friends then explained that New Zealand has a binge drinking problem, so there have been a lot of laws that have come out trying to fix it including monitoring drunk people and closing bars earlier and earlier.

One of which is that bars seriously watch and limit how much alcohol people consume AND have no qualms about throwing drunk people out or letting tipsy people in. I have yet to figure out why exactly people drink heaps here, but trust me, I’ll get to the bottom of it soon. Any ideas?

10. Friendliest people

As if New Zealand and Iceland weren’t such fascinating places already with the most beautiful landscapes in the world, they are both also home to the friendliest, nicest people in the world.

I am not exaggerating.

They are places where everyone says hello and everyone is willing to lend a hand if you’re in help, it certainly makes for a great atmosphere. They are also very safe places to travel with little to no crime, making them perfect spots for solo travelers like me. Small town mentality nationwide. I love it!

So now I guess the question is how do I figure out how to split my time between New Zealand and Iceland?

What do you think? Am I crazy? Have you ever noticed that two very different countries are strikingly similar? Would you like to visit New Zealand or Iceland one day?

The post Hold up, are New Zealand and Iceland actually the same place? appeared first on Young Adventuress.

Did you know more than 50% of Icelanders believe in elves?

As if Iceland wasn’t beautiful, majestic, stunning and mystical enough, it is also a helluva quirky place, which suits me just fine because I LOVE quirky.

And let’s be honest here, who doesn’t want to believe in the existence of elves? Nobody that’s who. Elves are awesome.

The Huldufólk, the Hidden People, are elves in folklore, and they are an inherent piece of the Icelandic psyche. And if you look hard enough in Iceland, you will see traces of them everywhere.

Driving around Iceland, it’s not hard to imagine where these beliefs came from. It certainly is a freaky landscape, to put it mildly.

Gazing at jagged green mountains that disappear into the mists without a single person or animal in sight, it’s pretty easy to believe in elves, at least for me, and probably because I WANT to believe in them. But let’s not talk about that. Though I am glad I’m not the only one who has come to this conclusion.

The reason is of course perfectly clear. When one’s life is conditioned by a landscape dominated by rocks twisted by volcanic action, wind and water into ferocious and alarming shapes… the imagination fastens on these natural phenomena.  By B. S. Benedikz

As you might easily imagine, I basically spent my entire time in Iceland on the lookout for elves with Tiny Iceland. As you do.

On the full 7 days on our Iceland Challenge expedition, I continuously and furiously kept my eyes peeled for the Hidden People. But it wasn’t until we arrived in the mysterious far eastern fiords where it began to feel truly magical.

So come with me on our journey looking for elves in Iceland

1. Getting started in Höfn

We entered the land of the elves, that is to say, entered MORE into the land of the elves after leaving the iconic and mystical glacial lagoons and headed east. This is an area of Iceland often overlooked by travelers and tourists.

Get greeted by a bunch of preteens, we made our way under the midnight fog to Hotel Edda Höfn to get some shut eye, but not before we heard the legend of the troll wives of Skaftafell. Trolls too? I love Iceland!

This is a story about two farmers at Skaftafell, Bjarni and Einar, and the troll-women they were familiar with. A troll-wife lived in a cave above the Skaftafell Woods. One winter she assisted Bjarni in killing a savage who was the only survivor from a stranded ship. Her cave is said to exist today. Einar is said to have known a certain troll-wife and the latter part of this story is about their crossing the Skeidara river and other activity. Einar made a good copper gun, which still exists at Skaftafell.

Photos courtesy of Laura Hundersmarck

2. Marvelling at the oddities of Djúpivogur

An hour or so driving through insane fog on the Ring Road east brought us to the “town” of Djúpivogur – I’m sure you all have heard of it. Quirky doesn’t even begin to cover this tiny little village.

We were greeted by 34 giant stone eggs dotted along the harbor, each of which represent one of the local species of bird, which I am totally cool with since becoming a devoted #BirdNerd.

Further along was an even quirkier cabin that sold fossils, rocks, bones and was in general a bizarre cross between shop and anthropologic museum. Which of course we loved. Just another reason to love Iceland!

3. Finally hitting the sunny eastern fjords

As we journeyed further east, it literally felt like we passed through a curtain into another world.

We went from dense, pea-soup fog to sunny blue skies in 3 seconds flat. It was so bizarre! Weaving in and out of different fjords the further and further east we headed, we would also dip in and out of heavy cloud. Iceland really does have some of the most bizarre weather in the world. I blame the elves.

Yelling for Inga to pull over every five minutes for photos, it took us ages to finally reach the east. But it was worth it!

4. Stepping back in time at Skriðuklaustur

Try saying that five times fast!

Skriðuklaustur is a cultural center and artist residence that was once the home of writer Gunnar Gunnarsson and before that a monastery and before that a medieval viking settlement! Pretty cool!

One of my favorite things about historical sites around the world are ones that are not only in use today, but also ones where you can experience multiple layers of history, like at Skriðuklaustur. Walking around the historic halls, it’s easy to imagine what it must have been like to live in such a remote place hundreds of years ago! No wonder they believe in elves!

They also have an amazing cafe with even more Icelandic cakes, yum yum!

Photo courtesy of Laura Hundersmarck

Photo courtesy of Laura Hundersmarck

5. Getting a taste for reindeer and hunting for sea monsters in Egilsstaðir

Confession – I ate Rudolph. And I didn’t hate it either.

Since eastern Iceland has some of the best weather (why didn’t they put the capital over here?) we tucked into Icelandair Hotel Hérað for two nights of our trip to take it all in and enjoy the 24/7 sunshine. Hello perks of traveling Iceland in summer!

As soon as we walked into the hotel, 2 things sold me on it immediately. There was an awesome wooden statue of a reindeer (all of the Icelandair hotels have an iconic wooden sculpture) AND the lobby was pink. Hot pink. After bumping around in different hotels every night, I am always really happy to be in one place for multiple days. Call it my inner nonna talking.

Photo courtesy of Laura Hundersmarck

And of course there is the local legend of the Lagarfljótsormur, or the Lagarfljót Worm, the Icelandic Loch Ness Monster which lives in the nearby lake and in which sightings have been going on since the 14th century.

While we didn’t catch a glimpse of the lake monster, probably because we were too much on the lookout for some paranormal elvish activity.

6. The terrifying drive into Borgarfjörður Eystri

In the furthermost eastern fjord in Iceland, over a dirt mountain pass road closed through part of the year, there is a town called Borgarfjörður Eystri, population 100 on a good day. It’s about as far east and as remote as you can get in Iceland today.

With our Sixt SUV, we slowly and painfully made our way over the pass with some car problems (damn elves!) stopping for a drink from the glacial streams and rivers, and of course, lots and lots of photos.

Fresh Icelandic Glacial water

And in true Icelandic fashion the road around route 94 near Njarðvík is totally haunted by a half man half demon named Naddi. The scree slope (we all know how much I hate scree) Njarðvíkurskriður which caused many deaths over the centuries, blamed by Naddi who lived in the sea caves below; eventually he was defeated and pushed out to sea by a local farmer. Nowadays there’s a cross marking the spot  since 1306 and is supposed to offer travelers protection, which I guess worked more or less since we didn’t end up in the sea.

Well actually we did later on in town. Chilling out at the Blábjörg Guesthouse and Spa, we completed one of our Iceland challenges and all jumped off the docks into the sea. Here’s a hint, the ocean in Iceland is never warm, anytime of year.

7. Searching for the Elf Queen on the Álfaborg

Did I mention the Elf Queen on Iceland lives in Borgarfjörður Eystri?

If that doesn’t give you reason enough to drive all the way out there, I don’t know what will.

So in Iceland, the elves inhabit rocks, and in Borgarfjörður Eystri there is a massive rocky hill called the Álfaborg (City of Elves) and also where the town gets its name from. The trick with elves in Iceland is relatively easy – you have to respect them and they will respect you.

Don’t mess with the elves.

Photo courtesy of Laura Hundersmarck

8. Visiting a local farm

Before flying over to Iceland, I knew I would love the chance to talk to locals about this fascinating history of the elves and the Hidden People, i.e., do people actually believe this stuff or is it more hype than fact?

Turns out they do!

Iceland is a tiny place, and as it turns out Inga knew the family that runs Desjamýri, a farm near Borgarfjörður Eystri. After we finished up our exploring, we were able to nip in for a quick visit and chat to Sessa, the grandmother of the family about the mysterious elves in Iceland.

Turns out she is a firm believer, telling us stories over Hjónabandssæla (happy marriage cake), kleinur (Icelandic donuts) and coffee.

9. Lunch at an elf cafe

Since Borgarfjörður Eystri is known to be home to the elves, it only makes sense that the most happening restaurant and cafe in town is called the Elf Cafe – Álfakaffi.

This place is seriously cute and kitsch and exactly what we needed to perk up for the afternoon. Bottomless bowls of fresh fish soup warmed us up and we sat in the sun sipping coffees to revive us on our elf mission.

10. And puffins

And as if Borgarfjörður Eystri couldn’t get MORE interesting, there is a puffin colony nearby. That’s right. Fat, cute, waddly puffins. 10,000 strong in summer.

Can I go back now please?

Is Iceland on your bucketlist? Do you believe in elves or mysterious folklore when traveling?

Many thanks to Tiny Iceland and Icelandair for hosting me in Iceland – like always, I’m keeping it real – all opinions are my own, like you could expect anything less from me.

The post Chasing Elves in Iceland appeared first on Young Adventuress.

When I imagined Iceland, my mind was filled with glorious images of thundering waterfalls, green mountains, and blue glaciers. In short, nature.

Not cities. Nothing urban.

To be perfectly honest, when I started planning my adventures around Iceland a year ago, I had zero interest in spending time in Reykjavik, the capital. I was so wrapped up in my visions of the epic scenery, I almost neglected Reykjavik. Almost.

Luckily, on our #IcelandChallenge adventure on a 7 day stopover with Icelandair, Inga from Tiny Iceland convinced me that Reykjavik was worth exploring, even for just a day.

Images via Tiny Iceland

And man, I am so glad I did! While I might not be a city traveler at heart, Reykjavik is both small enough and quirky enough to make me fall in love with it almost as soon as I stepped foot there.

And did I mention it’s colorful? Like a rainbow!

Sold!

Iceland is also rated one of the happiest countries in the world, if you can believe it! There is evidence of this everywhere you turn in Reykjavik.

A city with a strongly independent vibe, Reykjavik doesn’t even feel like a big city, let alone the northernmost capital in the world. Surrounded by snowcapped mountains and the sea, it couldn’t be more picturesque, but what really makes Reykjavik tick and makes it so special are the people.

The locals are as fascinating as the town itself. But what can you expect from a country with the most creative people per capital in the entire world? Guaranteed anyone you might meet is a closet musician, writer or artist, giving Reykjavik another layer of complexity.

So with 24 hours in Reykjavik, I have haphazardly compiled a list of my favorite haunts and locals around town. Be prepared for a color explosion. You’ve been warned.

Image via Tiny Iceland

1. Taking in the cool cafe culture at the Laundromat Cafe

I quite possibly am the biggest coffee addict in the entire world.

And if my love for the bean is matched by one thing, that would be the cafe culture that goes along with it. I love hanging out in cafes, reading, writing, catching up with friends, and most importantly, people watching.

With my fingers wrapped around a steaming latte, I couldn’t be happier. I think because of this I am inherently drawn to destinations with banging coffee and cozy cafes, both of which Reykjavik has in abundance. Thank god.

Packed with cozy, quirky independent coffeehouses and cafes, I was in heaven! This was one way to make me fall in love a city, that’s for damn sure!

And if there was one place I was dying to check out in Reykjavik, it was the Laundromat Cafe. An actual laundromat downstairs, it has an awesome bookish, hipster cafe upstairs where you can hang out while your undies dry below.

What a fab idea – why hasn’t anyone thought of this sooner?

As I was walking by, I noticed a sign outside that read, “go ahead and breastfeed, we like both babies and boobs!” Sold even more! As it turns out, before the cafe owner was an owner, he was a cafe and overheard one of the staff ask a woman to stop breastfeeding in public. He then decided that one day when he owned a cafe, it would be the kind of place where people didn’t say nonsense like that.

Looks like dreams do come true buddy!

2. Get lost while exploring the street art

Being home to one of the most creative and artistic countries in the world, it’s no surprise that Reykjavik has a thriving street art scene.

And none of those ugly complicated gang tags that litter walls back home. Here they are more murals than graffiti, and it feels almost as if every image tells a story. Some of them even tell a story, not that I understand it exactly as it’s in Icelandic.

My last day in Iceland was beautiful weather, with clear blue skies and not a cloud in sight. I was happy to get lost following the street art while walking around downtown Reykjavik. Is there a better way to get to know city than to wander and get lost?

Don’t think so.

3. Try to keep up with the locals at hip bars like Den Danske Kro and the Lebowski Bar 

There is no shortage of awesome hip bars to be found around Iceland. And to be honest, a trip to Iceland would be incomplete without experiencing some of the, how do I put this delicately, EPIC drinking culture.

Icelanders today both CAN and WILL drink you under the table. There is no point even trying to match these tough vikings, but do try to keep up.

It reminds me of a quote in Eric Weiner’s great book The Geography of Bliss when he’s talking about happiness in Iceland.

Faced with a brutal climate and utter isolation, Icelanders could have easily chosen despair and drunkenness. The Russian option. But instead these hardy sons and daughters of vikings peered into the unyielding blackness of the noon sky and chose another option: happiness and drunkenness. It is, I think, the wiser option. Besides, what else is there to do in the dark?

Don’t we all love happy drunks?

Reykjavik has plenty of cool spots to chose from, and in summertime with the midnight sun and with some good weather, it’s a fun and fabulous way to pass the evening hanging outside and catching up with friends.

Our first stop of the evening was Den Danske Kro, a Danish bar right downtown. With plenty of outdoor seating and classic live music, it was the perfect place to catch up with old friends.

Did you know beer was banned in Iceland until the 80’s? Perhaps that’s why there is such a hefty drinking culture. Who knows. Luckily nowadays there are some great and rare beers to be had around Reykjavik.

And of course any trip to Iceland would be incomplete with sampling the famous Brennivin aka the Black Death, dun dun dun.

One sip of this will knock you on your ass. In fact, this is where my memories of that evening start to get fuzzy…ok, not fuzzy, rather disappear. Ouch.

Image via Tiny Iceland

And as if Reykjavik wasn’t cool enough, there is also a Big Lebowski themed bar in town – the Lebowski Bar. With 16 types of White Russians available to chose from and even a bowling alley, this is the place to be in Iceland’s capital.

You don’t even have to be a fan of the iconic Coen Brothers film to enjoy this funky and wild space.

There are so many ways to get to know a city, and in Reykjavik, one of the best ways is to enjoy all the great bars.

Image via Tiny Iceland

4. Resting and recovering at Icelandair Hotel Reykjavik Natura

Can you describe a hotel as having a personality?

As it turns out, every Icelandair Hotel we stayed in on our epic trip around the country had its own charm and personality, something I wasn’t expecting from a hotel chain. And Icelandair Hotel Reykjavik Natura was no exception.

From the artisan wooden sheep greeting you in the lobby, to the great quotes and quirky Icelandic jokes dotting the property, it’s almost a game trying to find all the hidden charm tucked away around the property.

This was exactly the kind of place I needed after a hectic week of travel around Iceland with the girls. A simple and cozy hotel with plenty of space to roam around in, it was exactly what I was looking for subconsciously to relax and enjoy Reykjavik and unwind.

And like all the other Icelandair Hotels, Rykjavik Natura had the best breakfasts EVER!

Though my favorite breakfast discovery in Iceland by far was Skyr – have you heard of it?

It’s like a thick strained yogurt, and my god is it delicious. Here they served it homemade with fruit toppings and it was so good. I had Skyr about twice a day when traveling in Iceland. And I miss it terribly.

Someone send me some PLEASE!

5. Stuff your stomachs at some of the great foodie spots in town like Vegamót and Bæjarins beztu pylsur

At this point should you even be surprised that Iceland has a budding foodie scene?

For our final night in Iceland, we decided to go out with a bang in Reykjavik and have a big friend’s dinner at Vegamót, a super popular dining spot downtown that’s a cafe, restaurant and even a bar.

With a superb menu with stick-to-your-ribs comfort food including fusion Mexican (YUM) it was EXACTLY what I needed after a week of road trip food, i.e. chips, hot dogs, ice-cream and Skyr. Not exactly good for the system. I wanted something filling and hot!

We ordered just about everything on the menu and passed it around and shared amongst friends, laughing and telling stories about our recent adventures.

Though of course I couldn’t leave Reykjavik without sampling “the most famous hot dog in Europe,” right? Priorities people!

I’ve touched on this before, but for some reason Icelanders LOVE hot dogs. No idea why. If anyone can elaborate on this phenomenon, I’d love to hear it!

At Bæjarins beztu pylsur in Reykjavik, there is almost always a long line to get your mitts on one of their famous fully-loaded hot dogs. Forget boring ketchup and mustard, here they have sweet mustard, friend onions and a weird sauce called remoulade. Yum yum. Who knew I’d ever like hot dogs?

In the end I was really happy I decided to spend some time in Reykjavik. It was the introduction I needed to get to know the city a little bit, and see what made it tick. I think I would have regretted not stopping in town on my trip there.

It was also a great experience for me to reaffirm my love for quirky cities. Lately I had been on a kick where I hated urban traveling. I just realized I was going to the wrong cities, if that makes any sense…

I guess my only question now is when can I come back?

Have you been to Iceland? Is it on your bucketlist? Are you a cafe fan? Hot dog aficionado? Are you a city traveler?

Many thanks for Tiny Iceland, Icelandair and Icelandair Hotels for hosting me in Reykjavik. Like always I’m keeping it real – all opinions are my own – like you could expect less from me!

The post A Few of My Favorite Spots around Hip Reykjavik appeared first on Young Adventuress.