Adventurer of the Week: Elizabeth Takes on a Dare!

Welcome to our “Adventurer of the Week” series! Each week we will feature individuals that were inspired to make every moment an experience in Iceland by going out on epic tours with us that allowed them to interact with nature.

This week's instalment of our "Adventurer of the Week" series tells the story of two couples, Elizabeth and Wayne Hardy, and Sally and Gene Hatcher, who cam to Iceland on a dare; the dare in question being to go somewhere cold and adventurous! Clearly, they accepted the challenge, and now they are already back home!

What motivated you to visit Iceland?

We came to Iceland ( 2 couples in our 40s) on almost a dare. We had been on a cruise, we had been fishing in Florida and we had been to a resort in Mexico. Did we dare to really get outside of our comfort zone and go somewhere truly adventurous and possibly freezing cold? Somewhere with a truly unknown language and culture that was halfway around the world? The answer was yes, and the more we looked into in the more beautiful pictures we would see and the more we would realize it's not much colder than home and it's no further away than California! And most everyone speaks English and takes US money ;) So at that point , it was on! We continuously were texting each other to say "Are we really doing this? It seems so unreal!"

How long was your stay? Did you travel solo or with a group?

We stayed 4 nights, and it was the four of us travelling.

Which tour did you take and why did you choose it?

We chose the ice caves and glacier tour which was an overnight trip including a lovely, new Fosshotel in the countryside. We did not see any northern lights due to the thick cloud cover, but I do think the nice cloud cover made it a lot warmer so that was a nice trade off. We chose this tour because we felt it included a lot of scenery that we wanted to see, including waterfalls, the black beach and the glacier lagoon, some adventure (hiking the glacier and going into an ice cave), and we would be able to still be only spending one night away from our Reykjavik apartment. Our guide, Pascale, was a truly amazing guide, not only making us feel perfectly safe on the glacier but also educating us all on the geology, history and culture of the country.

What is one thing you will always remember about your tour?

There are so many things I will remember about this trip, but the beauty of the glacier lagoon at sunrise; the stillness of the cold air, the sound of the icebergs brushing past one another, the sun lighting the blue ice and then the emergence of a perfect full rainbow. It was the highlight of the trip for me. In addition, I would add the feeling of accomplishment and wonder of actually hiking on a glacier and dipping into an ice cave , both of which were thousands of years old!

What is something that you learned about Iceland that surprised you?

I learned so many things about the Icelandic people; their history and their culture and their landscape on our short vacation there. Just 4 nights , but we packed in a lot of fun in a short amount of time!! One of the pleasant surprises of Iceland to me was the pride that the Icelanders have for their country and their desire to protect their lands / the lava fields, the receding glaciers, and to preserve their history. They are a very close knit community of friendly people, most being able to trace their ancestors back 1000 years.

If you had more time in Iceland, what else would you like to see and do?

I would love to travel to the west fjords, find some hot springs to relax in and top the day off with a northern lights show!

What tips do you have for people who want to visit Iceland?

I would advise anyone coming to Iceland to not confine themselves to the city of Reykjavik, but to get out and see the countryside and all of the wonders that Iceland has to offer! Spectacular waterfalls at every turn, ancient history at the tectonic plates, amazing hot springs, and magnificent glaciers and ice caves. With the right guide, you will get to see sites, such as hidden waterfalls, that the tour buses will not stop for. The natural beauty of this country is astounding, and in solitude, it is breathtaking!

What adventure are you off to next? What is your next dream adventure?

My next dream adventures are categorized into cold weather, warm weather, and cities . Alaska, Belize, and Paris respectively are tops of my list of places to see!

Elizabeth’s adventure is only one of the many features that make for an unforgettable experience. Book your tour and join us for an excursion that is guaranteed to make memories that last a lifetime.

Have you been on a tour with us in Iceland and would like to be featured as an “Adventurer of the Week”? Feel free to email us at nfo@mountainguides.is.