Adventurer of the Week: Elizabeth Wydra

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 on tours that allowed them to interact with nature.

Elizabeth, an energetic person from Washington D.C. with a great sense of style, shares her glacier walk experience with us.

What motivated you to visit Iceland?

It's always been on my bucket list, and I was feeling overwhelmed by the heat wave on the east coast in August. When a dear friend said she was headed to Iceland in two weeks, I said, “Sign me up!”

I am normally a person that plans months in advance for a trip but I had been working so much and was in desperate need of a vacation. Also, the thought of going somewhere cool when it is 100 degrees Fahrenheit and humid outside just sounded perfect.

Did you travel solo or with a group? Which tour did you choose?

I traveled with one of my friends and we did a self-driving tour for 8 Days. We did the south and west coast, as well as the Golden Circle. We opted for taking the Sólheimajökull Glacier Walk that your company provides.

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

Seeing a moulin, a hole worn in the ice by water, was great. Our guide Magnús told us a funny story about a man and his sheep that fell down a moulin and showed up 40 days later.

During the tour, we were able to ask why the ice is bluer in one section than another and learned about debris cones. Before the tour we had been driving around saying, “I wonder why the ice looks like that,” but we had no idea. It was nice to be able to ask someone questions. The tour was fun, beautiful and very informative.

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

I am a vegetarian and people said that it would be hard to find good stuff to eat but I thought the food was fantastic, even for a vegetarian.

Also, drinking straight from a glacier spring was a surprise. I call it artisanal water from 700-year-old ice melt. I have to say that it was incredibly delicious and refreshing.

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

Oh my gosh! I thought 8 days would be enough but we barely scratched the surface. I would like to see the rest of Iceland and do some whale watching. One thing I totally want to do is go surfing!! I’ve looked into it and there is a group that does surf trips but it didn’t work out with our schedule. Now it is totally on my list. I surfed when I lived in California and I have started incorporating the activity into my travels.

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

My first tip is to definitely go! It lives up to the hype. Whether you have 4 days, 8 days or can visit for several weeks, you’ll be able to see amazing things. Definitely take advantage of the options that allow you to experience the beauty of Icelandic nature in a different way.

I am happy that we did the glacier walk, went horseback riding and took a boat tour around the glacier lagoon. Activities like those allow you to not only look at the beauty but also allows you to interact with nature. Definitely bathe in hot springs because they are amazing.

What adventure are you off to next?

I am going to the Bahamas with my best friends from high school to celebrate our 40th birthdays. After that, I would like to go to Sri Lanka to see elephants and go surfing.

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 joseph@mountainguides.is.

Outdoor adventures in Iceland are our specialty. See our Day Tours to peruse our selection of tours and kick start your epic journey in the land of Fire and Ice.