July 12: Departure Day, New York to Reykjavík
For all travel details, please see the Travel Information document under the Essential Information tab in your digital locker.
July 13 – 15: Reykjavík
Begin your trip in Reykjavík, the world’s northernmost capital, with an in-depth program orientation to get to know your fellow group members and leaders. Soak in the famous Blue Lagoon, explore Reykjavík’s many eclectic cafes, and travel underground to see the ruins of a Viking household excavated beneath the city streets.
Your Smithsonian Expert Stephanie Sykora will join you on July 14 and travel with the group to the Snæfellsnes Peninsula.
July 16 – 18: Snæfellsnes Peninsula
From Reykjavík, travel north by bus to the Snæfellsnes Peninsula, considered a geologic microcosm of the rest of Iceland and home to the Snæfellsjokull Glacier. Along the way, hike to the summit of the second tallest waterfall in Iceland, as you wind through caves and climb switchbacks for a bird’s-eye view of the falls and into the thundering, mossy-green canyon below.
Perched atop an active volcanic crater, Snæfellsjokull mountain is revered in Norse mythology as the home of the god Baldur, and also served as Jules Verne’s gateway to the center of the earth in his famous novel. Explore the black-sand beaches of Djupalon and Dritvik to learn the stories of the ancient lifting stones, ride Icelandic horses along the ocean, speak with volcanologists at the acclaimed Volcano Museum in Stykkishólmur, and climb silently to the top of the legendary Helgafell mountain to make a wish at the monument dedicated to the Norse god Thor. Try your hand at sea-angling as you join local fishermen for an afternoon at sea, and learn about their livelihoods, the challenges they face, and how their trade continues to evolve in the face of climate change.
July 19 & 20: Breiðavík
Take a ferry across an island-filled Icelandic bay and explore the southern peninsulas of the Westfjords from our base in the picturesque village of Breiðavík. Soak in geothermal hot springs overlooking the ocean, hike between cairns that once connected ancient settlements, and photograph puffins nesting along the Látrabjarg Peninsula, the westernmost tip of Europe.
July 21 – 24: Ísafjörður
Continue north through the Westfjords to Ísafjörður, the region’s largest town, situated just 35 miles from the edge of the Arctic Circle. Kayak pristine, blue waters while scouting for playful seals, whales, and seabirds and soak in natural geothermal hot springs. Visit the local fishmonger to see firsthand the incredible variety of species and catch caught in the North Atlantic, and learn how their fish stocks are changing with the warming currents along the coast. Spend an afternoon at the Arctic Fox Center, dedicated to continuing research and educating visitors about the thriving Arctic fox population in Iceland, then travel by boat from Isafjordur to the Hornstrandir Nature Reserve, considered one of the last true wilderness areas of Europe. Known for its thriving Arctic fox population, scout for pups as you hike between centuries-old cairns through fields of wildflowers, along picturesque seaside cliffs, and rocky plateaus dotted with glacial lakes.
July 25: Reykjavík
Return to Reykjavík for the end of your program. Spend the final day sharing independent projects and enjoying a celebratory meal with new friends.
July 26: Return Day, Reykjavík to New York
For all travel details, please see the Travel Information document under the Essential Information tab in your digital locker.
July 26: JFK Airport
One of your leaders will stay overnight with the group. If you have reserved and paid for a hotel room, we will send you an email one week prior to departure with details about the hotel reservation.