Depart from Chicago (or similar) this evening and make your way to Reykjavik, Iceland. The stunning beauty and friendly people alone are worth a visit!

Upon arrival, the group will be met and transferred into town where you will be able to store your bags until check-in later this afternoon.

Alda Hotel, a boutique-style hotel, offers a calm escape in the upper end of Laugarvegur (otherwise known as the quiet part), around a 15-minute walk from the center of the city. It’s near shops, cafés, and restaurants but away from the central nightlife area. Guest rooms have a walk-in shower, bathrobe, hair dryer, coffee/tea making area, and free Wi-Fi.

Lunch will be provided at the Messinn Seafood Restaurant, a local favorite.

Enjoy a two-hour walking tour this afternoon around the city center. Learn about the history of the region and view the architecture of some of the more prominent landmarks, several of which you will have a few minutes to make a brief visit to. This may include Hallgrímskirkja Church, Arnarhóll Hill, the harbor, National Theatre as well as the main shopping street.
 

All participants will gather late this afternoon after hotel check-in to meet with your national guide and receive a short welcome briefing and details on the week’s activities.

Enjoy a welcome dinner at a nearby restaurant (within walking distance).

Overnight:  Alda Hotel (or similar)
Meals: Lunch, Dinner

Professional members of the program will interact with local mental health professionals in Reykjavik including the opportunity to learn about mental health policies; diagnostic systems in use today; training, practice, and the role of psychologists in Iceland. A meeting will be requested with mental health staff at Landspitalinn Hospital to provide an overview of the mental health system in their country as well as integration of mental health services in their overall healthcare. Visit a local inpatient clinic and outpatient treatment center to learn about access to care, diagnosis and support service for families.

Professionals will enjoy lunch at a local restaurant.

​Guest program: This morning accompanying guests will visit the Raufarhólshellir Lava Cave. The cave formed as a lava tube during the Leitahraun eruption, which occurred about 5200 years ago. After your return to the city for a foodie walking tour of central Reykjavik with a local guide. Get to know authentic Icelandic restaurants, bars & establishments where to locals go. As this includes snacking/sampling throughout the afternoon tour, no formal sit-down lunch is included this afternoon for guests.

Dinner is by individual arrangement.
Overnight: Alda Hotel (or similar)
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Professional members of the program will interact with your colleagues this morning including the opportunity to meet with government representatives or a local mental health association. Time permitting, meet with representatives from deCODE Genetics, global leaders in analyzing and understanding the human genome. Learn about recent genetic research relevant to mental illness.

Guest program:This morning accompanying guests will enjoy a whale watching adventure after a short walk to the harbor. September is great for whale watching, as the wildlife in the bay is at its peak! The Minke whales are at their most abundant, along with White-beaked dolphins, harbor porpoises and the occasional humpback whales, giving you the chance to enjoy and understand them in their natural environment.

Enjoy lunch at a local restaurant.

This afternoon the group will enjoy a visit to the Culture House, where you will be joined by a local musician for a private concert and introduction to Icelandic folk music through storytelling and history talk. You will have a chance to tour the museum exhibits and speak to the musician. The Culture House was built in 1906-1908 to house the National Library and National Archives of Iceland and was opened to the public in 1909 as a culture center.

Dinner will be provided this evening. 
Overnight:  Alda Hotel (or similar)
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Check out of your local hotel after breakfast and head west! Today’s explorations will focus on history and heritage. Your first stop is to visit Reykholt, home of Snorri Sturluson from 1206-1241. He was one of the most influential Icelander ever and was a saga writer, politician, historiographer and poet. He was also a chieftain and one of the richest men in Iceland during the Sturlung Age. He is perhaps most famous for writing Prose Edda which tells of the origins of Nordic Mythology

After a chance to grab lunch (on own) continue to take an adventure that will lead you to the untouched beauty and raw nature of Langjokull, Iceland’s second largest glacier. Enjoy the opportunity of a lifetime as you journey up the white slopes and go deep inside the man-made ice tunnels leading to the blue heart of the glacier. Ride in modified glacier vehicles specially made to explore the glacier environment and enjoy the view from the top of the ice cap.

Warm up at the Krauma Spa, which will feel lovely after the chill of the glacier. Krauma offers five relaxing natural geothermal baths, a cold tub to get your blood circulation going, two calming saunas and a relaxation room where you can rest by the fireplace while listening to soothing music.

Head onward to check into the 3* B59 Hotel, a welcoming oasis where quiet luxury meets rugged wilderness on the doorstep of Iceland’s iconic natural wonders. Featuring free Wi-Fi throughout the property, they also have an on-site restaurant. Every room is equipped with a flat-screen TV, minibar & bathroom amenities. Time permitting, you might want to use the spa with its relaxation pool, sauna and hot tub (for a fee).

Dinner will be provided this evening. 
Overnight: B59 Hotel (or similar)
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Depart Reykjavik this morning after breakfast and head to the countryside. Highlights of the day are noted below but will also include a chance to relax at the Fontana spa before heading to your rural hotel. Your first stop this morning is to see the majestic waterfall Gullfoss, widely considered to be one of the most beautiful in the world.

The renowned Geysir geothermal area is not to be missed as you’ll walk the path through boiling ground but be on your guard as the geyser Strokkur will erupt when you least expect it. Your Golden Circle journey will end by treading in the footsteps of the Vikings at Thingvellir National Park. You’ll walk through the gorges that are being torn apart as the tectonic plates rip away from each other and if you listen closely, you just might hear the echoes of the Vikings deliberating at this UNESCO world heritage site of the first parliament in the world.

Landhotel is ideally located to see the local sites and will be opening in May. Guest rooms will have coffee, bathrobes, Wi-Fi, ironing board, desk and a hairdryer. 

Lunch will be provided today with dinner on your own with a variety of options available in Selfoss area.

​Overnight: Landhotel (or similar)
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

This day will also be focused on seeing the natural beauty of Iceland. We’ll be traveling around the area covered in ash from the Eyjafjallajökull volcano which stopped air traffic all over Europe in 2010.

Some of the amazing locations you will visit today include a walk behind Seljalandsfoss, one of Iceland’s iconic waterfalls (conditions permitting). The waterfall drops 60m and is part of the Seljalands River that has its origin in the volcano glacier Eyjafjallajökull.

Another amazing waterfall you will visit is Skógafoss which is situated on the Skógá River along the cliffs of the former coastline. 

Lunch will be provided this afternoon.

Explore Reynisfjara Beach, memorable due its black sand beach and amazing basalt cliff formations.  Reynisdrangar are basalt sea stacks situated under the mountain Reynisfjall near the village Vík.

Enjoy some time to shop in the village of Vik this afternoon. Vik is a remote seafront village sitting in the shadow of Mýrdalsjökull glacier. Have a chance to explore with your guide.

Visit a local museum such as the Lava Center of Volcanology in Hvolsvöllur. The Lava Center is an interactive, high-tech educational exhibition depicting volcanic activity, earthquakes and the creation of Iceland over millions of years.

Say goodbye as you reflect and share memories over a farewell dinner at a local restaurant. 
Overnight: Landhotel (or similar)
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Depart early for your one hour drive back to Reykjavik to the Keflavik International Airport for your flight home this afternoon. Depending on the flight time, lunch is by individual arrangement.

Meals: Breakfast

Professional Participants - As this Nanda Journey program is focused primarily on professional development, costs associated with your participation on the program may be tax deductible as an ordinary and necessary business expense. Consult with a tax professional to determine eligibility.

Please note: All itineraries are subject to change based on availability of hotels, flights and hosting organizations at the time of finalization of booking. 

Comparable meetings and activities will be arranged should an itinerary change be necessary. 30 days before departure, a finalized itinerary will be available and reflect final details.