Destination Spotlight: Iceland

Iceland has become an increasingly popular destination for luxury travelers. It is the perfect trip for seasoned travelers, solo travelers, or adventurous families looking for a unique experience. Iceland is considered to be one of the safest countries on earth, so it is a popular destination for solo female travelers.

Northern Lights from Southern Iceland

An Icelandic vacation can be filled with outdoor adventure or laid back and focused on its vibrant art and restaurant scenes. Regardless of what brings you to Iceland, it’s guaranteed to be a vacation you will never forget.



Most visitors are attracted to Iceland’s unique and varied landscape – this ice-capped, unspoiled, land is almost indescribable. Iceland’s dramatic vistas take center stage in many movies and tv shows. Its spectacular black volcanic fields, rocky beaches, majestic mountains, impressive glaciers, and vast areas of pristine snow have been the setting for productions such as Interstellar, Thor: The Dark World, Journey to the Center of the Earth, and Game of Thrones.

With its location on the rim of the Arctic Circle, it is perfect for outdoor enthusiasts. Some of the exciting activities include…

•        Swimming in the warm aquamarine waters of the Blue Lagoon while surrounded by lava fields covered with snow

•        Exploring the black volcanic rock, dramatic geysers, lava tube caves, and red-hot lava fields

•        Relaxing in one of the many hot springs

•        Freshwater diving between tectonic plates in the Silfra fissure

•        Taking a geothermal bread-baking class

•        A four-wheel drive tour of the rugged glacial valley of Thorsmork

•        Discovering glacial lakes and hike, or even snowmobile, across ancient glaciers

•        Taking in the dramatic view of frozen waterfalls from a helicopter tour

•        Going fishing in the Eastern Fjords and spotting the puffins 

•        Learning about fairies and elves at the Skogar Museum

•        And of course, the awe-inspiring beauty of the Northern Lights

Mt. Kirkjufell during the midnight sun

Choosing the best time to visit Iceland depends on what you hope to see and do on your trip. During winter your adventure will include the frozen waterfalls, glacier hiking, and even scuba diving in the ice fissures. The best time to view the Northern Lights is between December and April.



Winters in Iceland are not as extreme as you might think. The Icelandic winter is relatively mild for its latitude. The lowlands of southern Iceland average around 0 °C (32 °F), while the highlands average around −10 °C (14 °F). The winter weather is often subject to abrupt and dramatic changes, so it is best to plan to be flexible in the event of a shift in the availability of activities due to weather.

Seljalandsfoss waterfall

During the summer from May to July, you can experience the “midnight sun” which peaks on June 21st with the summer solstice where the sun is visible for 24 hours. Spring and summer are best for exploring the mountains, camping, fishing, and whale watching. Keep in mind that June through August are the busiest travel times for Iceland so you will want to plan your trip well in advance.

summer landscape in Iceland

The summer weather is quite mild, and though it is considered “warm” to Icelanders, you are likely to want to have a sweater or light jacket with you each day. The average high during the peak of the summer season is 10°C (50°F), and even on the warmest days it rarely gets above (68°F).







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Solo Travel Tips & Ideas

 "Why don't you find someone to go with you?" Have you ever heard that from a travel supplier if you are looking to take a trip by yourself? Let's be realistic not everyone has a partner or a spouse and it can be for a variety of reasons that you really shouldn't have to explain. Or I have friends that their spouse doesn't want to go. Not all of us have wanderlust and while I think that is weird it's okay. And friends, well maybe they have a variety of reasons why they don't want to go. And nothing will ruin a good friendship faster than traveling with someone who perhaps doesn't have the same routine as you.

Don't worry, the travel industry is slowly coming around to the fact that solo travel is a growing segment and many companies are looking to tap into this growing market. And not everyone is making you pay the full solo supplement.

Cruising- Yes cruising is one of the more solo friendly ways to travel. Norwegian Cruise Line introduced the Studio Cabin on the Norwegian Epic back in 2010 and it has been a fixture on all their new ships. It's a stateroom designed for solo travelers and they also have a studio lounge that is for the studio passengers use. There is where you meet up for dinner, so you don't need to eat by yourself if you don't want too. And it's a great way to meet others, I sailed in one of these cabins on the Epic a few years ago yes I went all by myself. After the first dinner a bunch of us arranged to head out to Maho Beach in St Maarten to watch the airplanes land. Had a great time and you will find a wide age range of people who book the Studio cabins. Cunard added solo staterooms to the legendary Queen Mary2. Smaller ship? Silverseas has low single supplements of 25% along with some of the other luxury lines.

River Cruising- River cruise lines can also be a good choice. The majority waive single supplements on certain cruises and some have solo cabins, like Tauck does on their newer ships. But since they limit the waiver booking early is good idea.

Land- If you are looking at tours, Globus will offer to match you with a roommate, but if no one requests your departure they will waive the single supplement. Now if you are looking at higher end tours, they usually offer a better value in regards to the single supplement than say a cruise. Tauck and Abercrombie & Kent are two companies that value solo travelers. While not a luxury product, G Adventures offers various small group travel styles with trips from the Arctic to Tanzania and also will match solo travelers and has a low supplement if you don't want to share.

So there are really not many excuses to stay at home and not explore the world if you are a solo traveler. Give it a try, you'll see the world and maybe make a friend or two along the way.