TOUR DESCRIPTION



Ever since Iceland was discovered by Vikings in the 9th Century it has captured the imagination of people all over the world.
Most recently, in its portrayal in the historical Netflix series “Vikings”, this paradisiacal island at the top of the world
has again taken root in our consciousness as a land of supernatural phenomenon and the eternal Home of the Norse Gods and Goddesses.

Locals and visitors alike claim that Iceland is home to quite a few mystical places,
where if you take the time (as we will!) to sit in silence at them, you can connect to other levels of consciousness, as well as your own Inner Self.

Myths and legends abound about elves, trolls, ghosts and magic!
Along with our Featured Speaker and our local guides, we'll explore them during our unique journey.

Come with us and experience firsthand the raw excitement of Iceland and its perpetual magic and mystery.
While there are no ancient megalithic temples, pyramids and such, Iceland is a wonderland of natural powerful places.

Together we'll witness the island’s towering waterfalls, geysers that reach to the sky, geothermal hot pools the size of lakes,
and the ever-present blood red magma emerging from its active volcanoes.

Snaefellsjokull Volcano is a mountain that's known locally to be a symbol of purity and inspiration.
Some locals even say that its glacier is one of the seven most important energy centers of our planet.
We'll explore this contention!

And to make this an even more once-in–a-lifetime adventure, we'll be visiting Iceland during the time of the year
that is famous for seeing the evening sky lit up with dramatic displays of the Northern Lights!

We're confident that after 10 days with us in this fairytale paradise of the North
you'll have to agree that Iceland is indeed the Home of the Gods and Goddesses...and so so much more!


GENERAL INFORMATION ABOUT ICELAND


 
Iceland is defined by its dramatic landscape with volcanoes, geysers, hot springs and lava fields.
Massive glaciers are protected in Vatnajökull and Snæfellsjökull national parks.

The island is a landmass of 39,769 square miles, of which 62.7% is tundra.
It extends 304 miles E – W and 194 miles N – S.
Iceland is the second largest island in Europe, following Great Britain, and the 18th largest island in the world.
Comparatively, it's slightly smaller than the state of Kentucky.
The total length of coastline is about 3,099 miles, which is punctuated by many fjords.
Lakes and glaciers cover 14.3% of its surface; only 23% has vegetation.
Most settlements are situated along or near the coast.
The island's interior, the Highlands, is a cold and uninhabitable combination of sand, mountains, and lava fields.

The climate of Iceland's coast is subarctic. The warm North Atlantic Current ensures
generally higher annual temperatures than in most places of similar latitude in the world.
Despite its proximity to the Arctic, the island's coasts remain ice-free through the winter.

The climate varies between different parts of the island.
Generally, the south coast, where most of our explorations will take place, is warmer, wetter, and windier than the north.

Location: Iceland is at the juncture of the North Atlantic and Arctic Oceans.
The main island is entirely south of the Arctic Circle,
which passes through the small Icelandic island of Grímsey off the main island's northern coast.
The country lies between latitudes 63 and 68°N, and longitudes 25 and 13°W.

Iceland is closer to continental Europe than to mainland North America, although it's generally included in Europe
for geographical, historical, political, cultural, linguistic and practical reasons.

Population: The population of Iceland on January 1, 2021 was 368,792.
Most of the population lives in the capital, Reykjavik, which has a population of 131,136. It's the world's most northern capital city.

ICELAND in SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER:
During our time here in the Fall we an expect a show of a fabulous array of Autumn's bounty of colors!
And then there's the Northern Lights with all their blue, green and purple glory.
We'll be there at the peak season for viewing!

Weatherwise, late September/early October is a transitional time of early Fall.
 Average temperatures during that time range during the day from lows of 42° to highs of 52° Fahrenheit, making snowfall unlikely.  
There can of course be some rain and wind as well, but this is typical no matter when you visit Iceland.
So, the key to packing for our journey is to pack layers!

 Sunshine and Daylight Hours
In September there are about 12-13 hours per day. The sun rises at about 6:41AM and sets at about 8:00PM.
The hours of daylight continue to decrease as October arrives, but shouldn't vary much from September's during our 10-day visit.



WHEN TO REGISTER FOR YOUR Sacred Sites Journey to ICELAND:
 
A deposit of $500.00 is required to secure your place in the group.
The balance of your payment will be due a week before the final payment is due
to our ground operator in Reykjavik (August 14, 2021 - to be confirmed).

 In order to operate this pilgrimage to Iceland, we must meet our group minimum by August 1, 2021.
So please register NOW if you plan to join us!
If we're not able to operate the trip due to lack of sufficient interest, your deposit will be refunded in full.  

TOUR PERSONNEL



FEATURED SPEAKER: Mark Amaru Pinkham

Mark Amaru Pinkham has been the Featured Speaker/Tour Leader on our Sacred Sites Journeys since 1994.

He is the author of the newly-revised classic The Return of the Serpents of Wisdom,
and eight other books about the ancient history of our planet,
attesting to his passion and unending research about this subject.

During this spiritual journey he will share his research with the group
in a formal presentation during our Introductory Group Meeting,
as well as informally as we visit the ancient sites.

Mark will also offer optional morning group alchemical meditation opportunities at some of the hotels.

Mark is a longtime avid researcher, supporter and practitioner of the Goddess Path.
 Conversations With The Goddess: The Secret Doctrine of The Fifth World
was received directly from The Universal Goddess.

He is also a trained Shamanic Practitioner, having studied for many years
with various indigenous teachers in Peru and other countries.
His book The Complete Seven Rays of Healing Systerm is one of the easiest
and most complete diagnostic and natural healing treatment approaches ever taught,
using natural healing techniques from China, India and Peru.

Mark is the Founder/Director of The Order and Mystery School of the Seven Rays,
and its various branches, such as The Path of the Dragon Mystery School.

SPEAKER/MEDITATION FACILITATOR/TOUR DIRECTOR: Andrea Mikana-Pinkham

Andrea Mikana-Pinkham is the Director of Sacred Sites Journeys.
She has been creating, organizing and leading spiritual pilgrimages around the world since 1994.

During this spiritual journey she will offer group meditations as we visit the ancient sites.

She is the Co-Director of & a Teacher in  The Order and Mystery School of the Seven Rays.
Andrea is a trained Shamanic Practitioner, the creator and Reiki Master Teacher of Ichi Sekai (One World) Reiki,
and a spiritual conduit for The Kumaras - Messages for Humanity.

TOUR ITINERARY
September 25 - October 4, 2021
(B = Breakfast, L = Lunch, D = Dinner)

Day 1. Saturday, September 25. Arrive Iceland; Group Meeting; Presentation by Speaker Mark Amaru Pinkham;
Welcome Dinner (D)


Book your own international flights to arrive at Reykjavik today (airport code: KEF). We suggest that you arrive today by noon at the latest in order to have some time to rest before our Group Meeting, Presentation by Mark Amaru Pinkham and our Welcome Dinner. (If you’d like to arrive a day early, please email Andrea Mikana-Pinkham at info@SacredSitesJourneys.com for details/pricing for an extra night at the hotel.)

IMPORTANT: Sacred Sites Journey can arrange for a meet/greet and private transfer to the hotel, as well as the return from the hotel back to the airport at the end of your journey. This will be at an additional cost to the land package pricing. (Please make this request after you’ve been notifed that the tour is a go and you’ve booked your flights. You will need to provide SSJ with airline arrival/departure times, as well as the airline and flight numbers.)

5:00PM - Welcome Meeting facilitated by SSJ’s Director Andrea Mikana-Pinkham

5:30PM - Author Mark Amaru Pinkham Presentation: The Unknown History and Magical Secrets of the Vikings

7:00PM - Welcome Dinner. (NOTE: Drinks besides tap water are at an additional cost. This will be the case at all meals that are provided to you as part of the land package.)

Overnight Reykjavik. Centerhótel Miðgarður

Photo Credit: http://www.wallpapersafari.com

Day 2. Sunday, September 26. The Golden Circle: Thingvellir National Park, Gullfoss Waterfall,
Geyser Hot Spring & Skogafoss Waterfall; Northern Lights! (B/L/D)

      
Photos: Gullfoss Waterfall, Geysir Hot Spring & Skogafoss Waterfall

      
7:00AM – Optional Alchemical Meditation led Mark Amaru Pinkham

After breakfast we depart for the day’s explorations. (Group lunch included.) NOTE: Each day, where possible, Andrea will offer optional group meditations to assist you to connect with the powerful energies of this ancient land.

The Golden Circle: This well-traveled tourist route in southern Iceland covers about 190 miles, as it loops from Reykjavík into the southern uplands and back. The name Golden Circle's name is derived from the name of Gullfoss, which means "golden waterfall" in Icelandic. The three primary stops on the route are the Thingvellir National Park, the Gullfoss Waterfall, and the geothermal area in Haukadalur, which contains the geysers Geysir and Strokkur. Though Geysir has been mostly dormant for many years, Strokkur continues to erupt every 5–10 minutes.

Thingvellir National Park was the site of the Alþing, the annual parliament of Iceland from 930 CE until the last session held there in in 1798.The name Thingvellir is derived from the Old Norse Þingvǫllr, from þing (“thing, assembly”) and vǫllr (“field”), meaning assembly fields. A "thing" was a form of governing assembly found in Germanic societies, and a tradition that endures to this day in one form or another across Northern Europe. This is considered a by Icelanders to be a sacred place; it marks the birth of their nation. It was also here, during the witch-hunts of the early 17th century, where women were accused of witchcraft and were drowned in a lake. Men who were found guilty of the same crime were put to death. Some local historians contend that those who were accused of witchcraft owned property, which made them targets for others who wanted to take it from them.

Thingvellir was founded as a national park in 1930. It lies about 25 miles northeast of Reykjavík. A site of historical, cultural, and geological significance, it's one of the most popular tourist destinations in Iceland. The park lies in a rift valley that marks the crest of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge and the boundary between the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates. In 2004 it was designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Gullfoss Waterfall: Gullfoss ("Golden Falls") is located in the canyon of the Hvítá River, a southward flowing one that turns sharply to the right above the falls and flows down into a wide curved three-step "staircase". It then abruptly plunges in two stages (36 feet and 69 feet) into a crevice 105 ft. deep. The crevice, about 66 ft wide and 1.6 miles long, extends perpendicular to the flow of the river. The average amount of water running down the waterfall is 5,000 cubic ft per second in the summer and 2,800 cubic ft per second in the winter. The highest flood measured was 71,000 cubic ft per second.

During the first half of the 20th century and some years into the late 20th century, there was much speculation about using Gullfoss to generate electricity. During this period, the waterfall was rented indirectly by its owners, Tómas Tómasson and Halldór Halldórsson, to foreign investors. However, the investors' attempts were unsuccessful, partly due to lack of money. The waterfall was later sold to the state of Iceland, and is now protected. Sigríður Tómasdóttir, the daughter of Tómas Tómasson, was determined to preserve the waterfall's condition and even threatened to throw herself down. Although it is widely believed, the very popular story that Sigríður saved the waterfall from exploitation is untrue. However, a stone memorial to Sigriður, located above the falls, depicts her profile.

Geysir Hot Spring, sometimes known as The Great Geysir, was the first geyser described in a printed source and the first known to modern Europeans. The English word geyser (a periodically spouting hot spring) derives from Geysir. The name Geysir itself is derived from the Icelandic verb geysa ("to gush") the verb from Old Norse. Eruptions at Geysir can hurl boiling water up to 230 ft in the air. However, eruptions may be infrequent, and have in the past stopped altogether for years at a time.

Skogafoss, a waterfall on the Skógá River, is one of the biggest waterfalls in the country, with a width of 82 ft and a drop of 200 ft. Due to the amount of spray the waterfall consistently produces, a single or double rainbow is normally visible on sunny days. According to legend, the first Viking settler in the area, Thrasi Thorolfsson, buried a chest of gold coins in a cave behind the waterfall. The legend continues that a local man found the chest years later, but was only able to grasp the ring on the side of the chest before it disappeared again. The ring was allegedly given to the local church. The old church door ring is now in the Skógar museum. On sunny days, some people claim to see gold shining through the falls!

Continue to our hotel and check in. Group Dinner at the hotel.

After dinner we head out for our Northern Lights Hunt Night Tour! (If the weather isn't cooperative tonight, we'll reschedule for another night when conditions are more favorable). The Northern Lights, also known as the Aurora Borealis, are the visible result of solar particles entering the earth's magnetic field and ionizing high in the atmosphere. Their intensity depends on the activity of the sun and the acceleration speed of these particles. They appear as dancing lights high in the sky and vary in color. The lights usually appear green, but occasionally also purple, red, pink, orange, and blue. Their colors depend on the elements being ionized. Due to the nature of the earth's magnetic field, the auroras only appear at the poles. They are usually visible above the 60° latitude mark in the north and below the 60° latitude in the south. Iceland, which sits at a latitude of approximately 64° north, is therefore ideally located to see the Aurora. - We're here to see this awesome natural phenomenon, so let's hold positive thoughts that we'll indeed be able to do so!

Overnight Mýrdal. Hótel Katla.

Photo Credits:
Gulfoss Waterfall - www.wallpaperflare.com
Geysir Hot Spring - Wikipedia
Skogafoss Waterfall - Wikipedia

Day 3. Monday, September 27. Glacier Lagoon, The Diamond Beach and Skaftafell National Park (B/L/D)
 
    
Photos: Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon, Black Sand Beach, Svartivoss Waterfall in Skaftafell National Park
After breakfast we depart for the day’s explorations. (Group lunch included)

Glacier Lagoon or Jökulsárlón, ("glacial river lagoon") is a large glacial lake situated at the head of the Breiðamerkurjökull glacier. It developed into a lake after the glacier started receding from the edge of the Atlantic Ocean. The lake has grown since then at varying rates because of melting of the glaciers. It is now 0.93 miles away from the ocean's edge and covers an area of about 6.9 square miles. In 2009 it was reported to be the deepest lake in Iceland, at over 932 ft, and has continues to grow.

The icebergs that calve from the glacier edge move towards the river mouth and get entrenched at the bottom. The movement of the icebergs fluctuates with the tide currents, as well as being affected by wind. However, they start floating as icebergs when their size is small enough to drift to the sea. These icebergs are seen in two shades: milky white and bright blue, which depends on the air trapped within the ice and is an interplay of light and ice crystals, creating an ever-changing scenery of incredible beauty. The lake is filled with fish that drift in from the sea along with the tides. Seals are seen either swimming in the lagoon or lying on icebergs.

We'll enjoy a Boat Tour on the glacier lake. During the excursion We'll sail among the huge icebergs in the picturesque scenery of Jökulsárlón. As we venture out on this ancient lake, let's take time to sit in silent reflection and gratitude for his auspicious opportunity to commune with Mother Nature.

The Diamond Beach: Afterwards we'll visit the Diamond Beach, a strip of black sand located by Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon. Here, the icebergs which fill the glacier lagoon wash up on shore, creating a stark contrast with the volcanic black sand. According to legend, the black rocks on this beach were once trolls who tried to drag a three-masted ship to shore. When daylight broke, they were petrified by the sunlight. As we explore and connect with this place of raw power, we might connect with troll energy too!

Skaftafell National Park was was once a major farm. The landscape is very similar to some of the Alps, and is full of stark contrasts. The various glacial tongues are flanked by jagged mountains, with the glacier-topped peak of Hvannadalshnjúkur rising highest. Evidence abounds of the erosive forces exerted by glacial ice and rivers. From the time of the first sagas, this ice has variously advanced or retreated, reaching farthest around 1890, since when it has retreated. The Svartifoss Waterfall (Black Fall) flows over a step of about 65 feet. Its name comes from the black basalt columns behind it. In the Middle Ages there were a number of large farms in this area, but they were abandoned after two volcanic eruptions and the ensuing glacier runs. The two surviving farms now mostly make a living from tourism.

We return to our hotel. Group Dinner at the hotel.

Overnight Mýrdal. Hótel Katla.

Photo Credits:
Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon - Wikipedia
Black Sand Beach - Wallpaper.com
Svartivoss Waterfall in Skaftafell National Park - Wikipedia

Day 4. Tuesday, September 28. Black Beach of Reynisfjara, Seljalandsfoss Waterfall and Thjorsárdalur Valley,
with Viking Farm. Continue to Hveragerdi. (B/L/D)

  
Photos: Black Beach of Reynisfjara & Seljalandsfoss Waterfall
After breakfast we depart for the day’s explorations. (Group lunch included)

Black Beach of Reynisfjara: Reynisfjara's black volcanic sand beach is one of the most unique black sand beaches in the world. The beach was created by lava flowing into the ocean, which cooled almost instantly as it touched the water. We'll explore this place of wild beauty, taking in the stunning scenery of the rough waves of the Atlantic Ocean, the sea breezes, amazing rock formations, and caves carved out by the water.

Then we're off to Seljalandsfoss Waterfall, which drops 200 ft and is part of the Seljalands River that has its origin in the volcano glacier Eyjafjallajökull. Visitors can walk behind the falls into a small cave.

Our last visit for the day is to the Thjorsárdalur Valley, with its ancient reconstructed Viking-era farmstead. It's a historically accurate reconstruction of the three buildings, including a longhouse. The farm is believed to have been buried under volcanic ash in first eruption of the volcano Mt. Hekla in historical times in 1104. Because of the eruption, a settlement of about 20 farms was devastated and permanently abandoned. In 1939, Nordic archaeologists excavated the sites of some of these farms, among them the farm Stong, which proved to be exceptionally well preserved under thick layers of white, volcanic ash (pumice). In 1974, on the 1100th anniversary of the the settlement of Iceland in 874, it was decided to reconstruct an Icelandic farm in to show to the best of our knowledge how they looked in the early Middle Ages (i.e. 1000-1200).

We continue to our hotel and check in. Group Dinner at the hotel.

Overnight Hveragerdi. Hótel Ork.

Photo Credits:
Black Sand Beach Reynisfjara - Unsplash.com
Seljalandsfoss Waterfall - Wikipedia
Thjorsárdalur Valley, with Viking Farm - Wikipedia

Day 5. Wednesday, September 29. The Historical Fjord area of Borgarfjodur. (B/L/D)

   

7:00AM – Optional Alchemical Meditation led Mark Amaru Pinkham

After breakfast we depart to the southwest for the day’s explorations to the historical fjord area of Borgarfjodur, by Faxaflói Bay, near the town of Borgarnes (Group Lunch included.) It covers the coastal land between Reykjavík and the Snӕfellsnes Peninsula (which we'll explore tomorrow). The many flat islands lying in the fjord are for the most part uninhabited. The land around the fjord has been inhabited since the time of Icelandic settlement. Events in the Icelandic sagas such as that of Egill Skallagrímsson are situated here. The name of the fjord seems to have come from the farm Borg, which according to the sagas was founded by Egill's father Skallagrímur, who took the land around the fjord and accordingly gave the fjord the name of Borgarfjörður.

Depending on time and the weather, we'll see and/or explore natural attractions and areas in the region, some tourist attractions, and less populated and more remote natural areas.

We continue to our hotel and check in. Group Dinner at the hotel.

Overnight Reykholt. Hotel Fosshótel Reykholt.

Photo Credits:
Waterfalls with Fall Color - Pinterest
Pyramid-Shaped Mountain - Pinterest

Day 6. Thursday, September 30. From Borgarfjordur Area to Snaefellsnes and the Settlement Center.
Return to Reykjavik. (B/L)

   
Photos: Snaefellsnes; Settlement Center Egils Saga Exhibition

After breakfast we depart for the day’s explorations at Snaefellsnes, including the Settlement Center. (Group Lunch included.) The peninsula holds some of the most breath-taking sites Iceland has to offer, misty fjords and a towering volcano under a glacier that dates back to the Ice Age. Sometimes called "Iceland in Miniature", many national sights can be found in this area, including lava fields, caves, waterfalls, volcanic features, mineral springs and fishing villages.

The Snæfellsjökull Volcano, is regarded as one of the symbols of Iceland. With its height of 4,745 ft it's the highest mountain on the peninsula and has a glacier at its peak (jökull means "glacier" in Icelandic). The area surrounding Snæfellsjökull has been designated one of the four National Parks by the government of Iceland. The mountain is a sacred place and many Icelanders and visitors believe there is a protective feminine energy vortex around the mountain.

We'll visit the Settlement Center Museum in Borgarnes, located in two of the city's oldest buildings. Here you can learn about Iceland’s earliest days and the best known heroes of the Icelandic Sagas. The center also houses a cozy restaurant, a café and a souvenir shop. The Center consists of three buildings, the warehouse, the merchant house and the reception hall. There are two exhibitions, one about the Age of Settlement, and the other about the Viking poet Egil Skallagrímsson, of Egils Saga fame.
 
The Settlement Exhibition is about the discovery of Iceland, including information on who was first to arrive, when, how sailors braved the North Atlantic to get here, and why they were rushing to flee Norway and make their home on a far-flung, deserted island. It also shows how the Icelanders formed clans around the island, and discusses the country’s development until the end of the Age of Settlement in 930 CE, with the founding of the parliament in Thingvellir, which marked the beginning of the Commonwealth Age that lasted until the island was absorbed into the Norwegian crown.

The Egils Saga Exhibition is about the legendary Viking poet Egil Skallagrimsson. His life story has been memorialised in the Egils Saga, one of Iceland’s most important cultural treasures. Saga-writing was just the beginning of Iceland’s long and influential history of literary tradition. There are many sagas from that time that give us a great deal of information regarding how people lived in Iceland a millennium or more ago. Egil’s father, Skalla-Grímr, sailed to Iceland early in the Settlement Age and lived in Borgarfjörður, where Egil was born and raised. His life of drama and intrigue, violence and vengeance, makes the saga one of the country’s most renowned and beloved.

We continue back south for our return to Reykjavik. Arrive and check into our hotel.

Dinner is on your own tonight. Eat at the hotel or take a stroll in the area to find a restaurant to your liking.

Overnight Reykjavik. Centerhótel Miðgarður.

Photo Credits:
Snaefellsnes - Wallpaperflare.com
Settlement Center - Settlement Center

Day 7. Friday, October 1. In Reykjavik: City Tour, including the National Museum and the Arbaer Open Air Museum. (B/L)

   
Photo: National Museum 

After breakfast we depart for 5 to 6 hour’s explorations in the capital city during our City Tour. Includes the National Museum, the Arbaer Open Air Museum and other places of interest. (Group lunch included.)

The National Museum displays objects that provide insight into Icelandic cultural history - displays that encourage visitors to dwell on the past, present and future. The museum aims to nurture knowledge and innovation while maintaining a wide perspective and sense of community. The National Museum's permanent exhibition "Making of a Nation - Heritage and History in Iceland" is provides insight into the history of the Icelandic nation from the Settlement to the present day. As well, it casts light on the Icelanders' past by placing the cultural heritage preserved by the National Museum in a historical context, guided by the question: What makes a nation? The exhibition includes about 2,000 objects, dating from the Settlement Age to the present, as well as about 1,000 photographs from the 20th century.

The Arbaer Open Air Museum: Árbær was an established farm well into the 20th century, and the museum opened there in 1957. Árbær is now an open air museum with more than 20 buildings which form a town square, a village and a farm. Most of the buildings have been relocated from central Reykjavik. The museum gives a sense of the architecture, way of life and lifestyles of the past in Reykjavík. 

We return to the hotel in the later afternoon. Dinner is on your own tonight. Eat at the hotel or take a stroll in the area to find a restaurant to your liking.

Overnight Reykjavik. Centerhótel Miðgarður.

Photo Credits:
National Museum - National Museum Website
Arbaer Open Air Museum - Arbaer Open Air Museum Website

Day 8. Saturday, October 2. Visit the Blue Lagoon. Return to Reykjavik. (B/L)


7:00AM – Optional Alchemical Meditation led Mark Amaru Pinkham

After breakfast we depart for an approximately 1-hour drive from Reykjavik to visit the famous Blue Lagoon, an otherworldly wonder in the heart of a volcanic landscape, where the powers of science and the wonders of nature create transformative experiences. Some people came to the water for healing. Others for pleasure. But all who come, leave with a profound sense of wonder. (Group lunch included.)

Our Comfort Entrance ticket includes: Entrance to the Blue Lagoon, a Silica mud mask, use of a towel, one drink of your choice. (Note: Guests are required to shower prior to using the geothermal spa. The communal showers are split up by gender.)

Two thousand meters within the earth, ocean water and freshwater converge in a tectonic realm of searing heat and extreme pressure, creating geothermal seawater. Drawn to the surface through geothermal extraction wells, the water emerges enriched with silica, algae, and minerals—the bioactive elements that endow this unique fluid with its healing, rejuvenating, nourishing abilities.

The water's milky blue shade is due to its high silica content. The silica forms soft white mud on the bottom of the lake which bathers rub on themselves. The water is also rich in salts and algae. The water temperature in the bathing and swimming area of the lagoon averages 99–102 °F. The cleanliness, purity, and ecological balance of geothermal seawater are routinely monitored for strict conformance with internationally recognized standards of water quality. 

Founded in 1992 to unlock the benefits of geothermal seawater, the Blue Lagoon has evolved into a company encompassing transformative spa experiences, research and development, sustainability, culinary enjoyment, a renowned line of skin care, and the convergence of hospitality and wellness. In 2012 the Blue Lagoon was named one of 25 wonders of the world by National Geographic, propelling the majestic, healing waters into the upper echelons of global travel destinations. In 2018, the company completed a remarkable expansion, opening The Retreat. Included in Time Magazine's list of the World's 100 Greatest Places, the complex features a 62-room luxury hotel, a subterranean spa, a mineral-rich lagoon, and two restaurants. All of these are powered by sustainable energy.

Return to Reykjavik and our hotel. 

Dinner is on your own tonight. Eat at the hotel or take a stroll in the area to find a restaurant to your liking.

Ovenight Reykjavik. Centerhótel Miðgarður.

Photo Credit:  Wikipedia


Day 9. Sunday, October 3. In Reykjavik: Free day. (B/D)
Sleep in a bit if you like and have a later breakfast. Pack for your return flight(s) home tomorrow. OR, get out of the hotel and explore more of the capital city on your own. There are plenty of museums, unique buildings, cute cafés, great restaurants and excellent shopping! (Lunch on your own.)

Farewell Group Dinner at the hotel.

Overnight Reykjavik. Centerhótel Miðgarður.



Day 10. Monday, October 4. Depart Iceland. (B)
After breakfast, check out of the hotel and depart to the airport for your international flight.
IMPORTANT: 1) Sacred Sites Journey can arrange for your return transfer from the hotel back to the airport today, or at the end of your journey if you choose to stay on a few days to explore more. This will be at an additional cost to the land package pricing. (Please make this request after you’ve been notifed that the tour is a go and you’ve booked your flights. You will need to provide SSJ with airline arrival/departure times, as well as the airline and flight numbers.) 2) If you’d like to stay on after our group journey, please email Andrea Mikana-Pinkham at info@SacredSitesJourneys.com for details/pricing for an extra night(s) at the hotel.

TOUR INCLUSIONS

Your Sacred Sites Journey to ICELAND Includes:
-  Accommodations in charming 3-star and 4-star Icelandic hotels (5 nights in Reykjavik & 4 nights in the countryside), with daily breakfast; all rooms with private bath or shower (includes taxes & service charges)
- 7 lunches and 6 dinners (drinks not included)
- Private motorcoach
- English-speaking guide(s)
- Entrance fees to the National museum, Settlement Exhibition & Arbaer open air museum, the Commonwealth farm and Settlement center
- Boat tour on Glacier lagoon
- Comfort entrance to Blue Lagoon
- Tips for the motorcoach driver(s) and guide(s)

NOT INCLUDED:
- Roundtrip international air to Iceland (Arrive/Depart Reykjavik KEF Airport)
- Roundtrip transfers airport/hotel/airport
- Meals not included, as indicated in the itinerary
- Cost to obtain valid passport
- Any items of a personal nature such as laundry, drinks, internet and telephone calls. Any item that is not specifically detailed on the SSJ website or final trip itinerary

This tour is LAND ONLY. You are responsible to book your international flights.
ARRIVAL: Please book your international flight to arrive in Reykjavik (KEF)  on Saturday, September 25, 2021 by Noonish in order to give yourself time to check in at the hotel and rest before our later afternoon group meeting and welcome dinner.
DEPARTURE: Please book your international departure on Monday, October 4, 2021.

Price Per Person, double occupancy, land only: $3,099.00 - via check
A deposit of $500.00 is required to secure your place in the group. The balance of your payment will be due a week before the final payment is due to our ground operator in Reykjavik (August 14, 2021 - to be confirmed).

OTHER PAYMENT OPTIONS:
1) If you choose not to pay by check, you can wire funds directly to our bank account from your bank account. Please send all funds in US dollars. If you live within the USA, please add $16.00 to the amount you’re sending to cover the wire fee. If you live outside the USA, please add $25.00.
2) For those living in the USA: You have the option to send the funds from your bank account using Zelle. (Ask for details after you register.)
3) You can send funds from your bank using a credit card via websites such as www.TransferWise or www.xe.com or others (for those from outside the USA). Those in the USA may choose other sites to send your funds. Any fees that are applied for using these websites are your responsibility.

Single Room Supplement: $899.00 - via check
This is the additional amount you will pay if you choose to have your own private room throughout the tour. The number of single rooms for our group is limited, so book early if you want to reserve this rooming option.

ROOMMATES: If you're not traveling with anyone you know, and would like for SSJ to try to match you up with a suitable roommate, we'll be happy to try to do so.  Per our Terms and Conditions, we will hold the registration for the trip open until a week before the final payment is due to our ground operator in Reykjavik (date to be advised) in order to try to match you with someone. If by that date we have not been able to do so, you will be responsible to pay for the single supplement. If you would like to be matched with a roommate, please register early.

TOUR APPLICATION and/or REGISTRATION

IMPORTANT: Iceland is inviting only those individuals who are fully vaccinated against CoVid-19.
For more information: https://www.icelandair.com/blog/iceland-is-open-faq/

If you've not traveled with Sacred Sites Journeys in the past,
in order that we will be better able to support you on this Sacred Sites Journey to ICELAND,
please email Andrea Mikana-Pinkham at info@SacredSitesJourneys.com to request an application form.

If you have traveled with us in the past, please email Andrea at  info@SacredSitesJourneys.com to request a registration form.




IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT!
Sacred Sites Journeys are smoke-free sacred travel experiences.
All forms of tobacco, as well as e-cigarettes are not allowed at any time.
Thanks for your cooperation.



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