In September 2019, we will lead a Wild Ground pilgrimage; a soul and body journey into a magical land of waterfalls, bubbling earth, dancing lights and bright bright stars.
This is a spiritual pilgrimage, including reflections on our experience of darkness, wilderness, and travel. There will be guided group reflection and opportunities for group practice. Our program will include reflections on writings by Rainer Maria Rilke, Mary Oliver, Barbara Brown Taylor, and more, as well as opportunities for rituals of releasing, growing, grieving, and transformation.
We believe the landscape of this place--the expansive sky, the misty waterfalls, the clearness of the cold water and the dark sky--resonates with spiritual growth and exploration.
What will we do in Iceland? We'll begin and end in the city of Reykjavik; we'll stay three nights in Hvolsvöllur (near the Southern Coast) and two nights in Selfoss (on the Golden Circle).
- Krysuvik Geothermal Area - Geysir - Gulfoss Waterfall - Þingvellir National Park - Kerið crater lake - Fludir Secret Lagoon (additional fee) - Gljúfrabúi, Seljalandsfoss, & Skógafoss Waterfalls - Solheimar Ecovillage - Reynisfjara Black Sand Beach - Myrdalsjokull Glacier - Blue Lagoon (additional fee)
We will be traveling in two cars, and will have day trip options to choose on different days.
Will we see the Northern Lights? We can't guarantee that you will see the Northern Lights, but September is a good time to see them! We will make every effort to watch predictions and stay in dark places so that we have our best chance to see the Northern Lights.
Is this a Christian pilgrimage? This is not intended to be a Christian pilgrimage. The program of this trip will be influenced by Christian practice and spirituality because both trip leaders have Christian backgrounds. There will be space for non-religious spiritual reflection as well as reflection rooted in all kinds of religious experience.
You will not be required to participate in any part of the program, but we think you'll get more out of this if you do.
How many people will be on the trip? We will be 10 people in total, including two trip guides (Lindsey and Lydia).
What does the trip cost? The cost of this trip is $1349.
A nonrefundable $500 deposit is due by June 1st; this secures your place in the trip. The remaining $849 must be paid in full by August 15.
The cost covers your accommodation, transportation within Iceland (including airport pick up and drop off), guided tour, and pilgrimage offerings.
You are responsible for your flight to Reykjavik*, meals**, incidentals, travel insurance, and anything else you need for the trip.
*Arriving on September 14 and departing on September 20. You are welcome to extend your trip in either direction, but we can only guarantee transportation to the airport on these days.
**All of our accommodations include a kitchen; we will stop at grocery stores to purchase food. While there will be some opportunities to eat out in Reykjavik, many of our stops will be rural; so packing a lunch is a good option for the day; we hope to have some potluck style meals in the evenings. We recommend a budget of $300 for food. Accomodation will sometimes include shared rooms.
Who are Lydia and Lindsey? Lindsey Mullen and Lydia Atkins are the trip leaders. You can read their biographies here. Both Lindsey and Lydia have traveled extensively and love to travel internationally; between the two they have visited over 20 different countries.
This will be Lindsey's third time organizing a trip to Iceland.
How do I sign up? Complete the form below to sign up or learn more.