NCE & Westman Island Tour August 18-26, 2021 Tour Director: Samantha Mandel

Contact: Samantha Mandel NCE Travel Director [email protected] (857) 636-0921

Trip Itinerary: Note that this is an outline itinerary. There is built-in flexibility to make modifications based on the group’s desires.

August 18 (Day 1): Reykjavik Explore the city – museums, restaurants, galleries, bars, and nightlife!

Arrive on your own according to your schedule, and check into your hotel in Reykjavik! Reykjavik is the capital city of Iceland and it is chock-full of museums, restaurants, galleries, bars, culture, and nightlife. You can choose to explore the city on your own, or with Samantha as a guide. Samantha will be taking those who are interested on optional excursions such as:

• 2-hour guided walking tour • Visit the Perlan – great 360 degree views of Reykjavik! • Lighthouse • Museums • Sculpture garden • Arbaer Open Air Living History museum

For those who are interested in music or a show, we will work with you to make those bookings.

Spend the night in comfort in Reykjavik.

August 19 (Day 2): Golden Circle History, Geology, Waterfalls, , Rift Valley and Volcanoes!

For our first day outside of Reykjavik, we will travel with our dedicated bus and wonderful guide Eyja to see some of the best-known natural phenomena in Iceland.

• The first stop will be Þingvellir National Park, where you can walk between the rift valley of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge (where two continental tectonic plates meet), and explore an area which plays a huge role in Iceland’s heritage. • Then, our knowledgeable guide will take us to the Althing, the world’s oldest Parliament which was founded in 930 AD. This is also the site where Iceland converted to Christianity and declared its independence from Denmark. • Our next stop will be the geothermal valley of Haukadalur, where we will see powerful geysers among many bubbling hot springs. Strokkur erupts every 10 minutes or so, to heights that exceed 20 m (66 ft). • Then we will visit Iceland's most popular attraction, the mighty waterfall of . A pathway will take us to the water's edge, so we can observe the incredible power of the falling water! • We will continue to the volcanic crater of Kerið, which is well worth the visit. The crater rocks are incredible shades of red and orange, in sharp contrast to the water in the bowl which is a vivid blue! It’s a sight that you won’t soon forget. • We will see waterfall, which you can walk all the way around for some great photos. • Tonight, we take a beautiful ferry ride to the remote and picturesque Westman Islands! We may see some puffins along the way.

If this sounds like a lot of driving, don’t worry! Iceland is a small country and we will be spending more time off the bus than on.

Stay on the picturesque Westman Islands. Go for a walk and see some puffins!

August 20 (Day 3): Westman Islands! Puffins, Pompeii of the North, and More!

• Today we experience the ethereal beauty of the islands by sea! Our gorgeous boat ride around the island will show us puffins (aww!) and maybe also whales! • For those who desire, we’ll visit the Pompeii of the North museum, which contains fascinating exhibits on the excavation of eruptions and geology and volcanic activity. • Want to stretch your legs? Today we can take a walk with our incredibly knowledgeable guide through a lava field to a volcano! Eyja will tell us all about the geography of the region and how these unique islands were formed. • Spend part of the day at your leisure to see the History Museum or Whale Museum (all walking distance from our hotel), or enjoy a longer guided hike with Eyja and Samantha. • Tonight, we take the ferry back to the mainland and stay near beautiful Skógafoss Waterfall.

Stay the night near majestic Skógafoss, one of Iceland’s most beautiful waterfalls.

August 21 (Day 4): South Coast & Glacier! Black Sand Beaches, Rock Formations, Glaciers, and Boat the Glacier Lagoon!

• Today, we will participate in a beautiful glacier hike! This was one of the favorite activities for last year’s group. The hike will include walking and a small amount of elevation, so it requires good mobility and the ability to walk for 2 miles at a pace of 1 mile per hour. It does not require previous glacier hiking experience or athletic levels of physical fitness. • Then we head to the coast of Vik, where we will admire the black volcanic beach and the dramatic Dyrhólaey and Reynisdrangar rock formations. • We’ll drive along the South coast, passing stunning volcanic deserts and an incredible view of the Vatnajökull glacier.

• We will go for an exciting zodiac boat ride that gets us up close and personal with the icebergs of one of Iceland’s most famous and beautiful attractions, the Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon! • We will walk along Diamond Beach, where small ice floes wash up on the shore and sparkle like gems. • We will stay near the lagoon and enjoy our gorgeous natural surroundings and a delicious meal.

Stay the night near the Glacier Lagoon in the heart of Icelandic nature.

August 22 (Day 5): Eastern Fjords & Horse-back Riding! Breathtaking fjords, fascinating history, and a unique breed of horses not found anywhere else!

• Today, we will have some of the most spectacular views of the trip. We will go on a rollercoaster ride around the rolling hills and seemingly countless fjords of the eastern coastline. These fjords are breathtaking! The great Vatnajökull glacier lies to the west, visible as we cross the high mountain ridges to make our way north. We’ll take photo stops! • The many idyllic fishing villages en route make for perfect rest stops. We will have many opportunities to learn more about Icelandic history and culture, for example by visiting the fascinating Icelandic Maritime and Fishing History Museum. • The East Fjords are also home to some of the greatest diversity of wildlife in the county. They have many incredible bird-watching sites and seal colonies, and the east is the only place in the country where you can spot herds of wild reindeer. • This afternoon, we have some choices! We can enjoy the fjords from horseback with the Eldhestar, Iceland’s special sturdy breed of horse, take a guided boat ride through the fjords to see wildlife, or do a beautiful nature walk. If the group’s wishes are divided, we may split the group so that everyone gets to do their activity of choice.

• Tonight, we will enjoy a specially included (and delicious) group meal. Brave souls can try shark, reindeer, and Black Death!

Stay the night in East Iceland, one of Iceland’s most pristine and least populated areas.

August 23 (Day 6): Dip in the Thermal Baths, Canyons, and a Lake!

• Today, we will head to the Lake Mývatn area, an area known for its unique and stunning geothermal landscapes. • First, we will enjoy one of the highlights of the trip, a soak in the geothermal Vök Baths! The hot water here is so pure, it’s certified as drinkable. Think Blue Lagoon, without the crowds. • After our relaxing soak and lunch, we will visit . Set in a canyon in the middle of a lunar-esque landscape, this is the most powerful waterfall in Europe. • Then, we will continue on to a very different kind of geothermal site: the Namaskarð Geothermal Site. The rainbow-colored bubbling earth and powerful natural steam vents are like nothing you’ve seen before! • Tonight we’ll stay by the beautiful Lake Mývatn, one of the prettiest areas in Iceland. You can explore the lake right from our hotel!

Stay the night by beautiful Lake Mývatn.

August 24 (Day 7): Geothermal Sites, Whale Watching & Fishing, or Beer Factory!

• We’ll start the day off with a visit to Goðafoss Waterfall, a liquid stunner that often offers up rainbows! This waterfall played a key role in Iceland’s transition from paganism to Christianity. • We’ll enjoy lunch on our own in the city of Akureyri, known as the “capital of the North” and a hotspot for restaurants, shopping, views, museums, and more. • A la carte afternoon: Travelers will have the choice of going horseback riding on the special Icelandic breed of Eldhestar OR whale-watching and fishing with Icelandic fishermen (brave souls can process shark!) and eat the fish we catch OR travelers can visit a brewery & bathe in beer at an Icelandic beer spa! • We will stay near the beautiful seaside village of Hvammstangi.

Stay near the beautiful seaside village of Hvammstangi.

August 25 (Day 8): History, Waterfalls, & Wool Factory!

• This morning, we will take a tour of an Icelandic wool factory. We’ll have plenty of time for shopping for discounted wool souvenirs! • After our wool factory visit, we’ll have some of the most delicious food of the trip for lunch. • Next, we see our last two waterfalls of the trip, Barnafossar and . Instead of coming from a river, these powerful spring-fed waterfalls come right out of the ground! • We’ll visit Snorrastofa, a medieval research institute where Iceland’s most famous poet, politician, and historian, Snorri Sturluson, wrote the saga Heimskringla and the bible of old Norse mythology Edda in the 13th century. An expert researcher will give us a tour, including a visit to Snorri’s still- extant 13th-century hot tub! • We’ll spend the night in Reykjavik and enjoy the city cultural offerings once more.

Stay the night in comfort in Reykjavik.

August 26 (Day 9): Blue Lagoon and Departure

• This is departure day, but depending on the time of your flight you can choose to see more of the sites in Reykjavik or get in some last-minute souvenir shopping. • For those who are interested, we can also book a Blue Lagoon visit on this last day since it is on the way to the airport. We’ll include the Blue Lagoon booking at no extra cost to you. If you choose this option, make sure you book an evening departure flight!

Virtual Information Sessions August 25, 2020 from 7-8:30pm September 24, 2020 from 7-8:30pm

To sign up for an information session and receive the Zoom link, please register here: http://www2.newtoncommunityed.org/travel2021/

Pricing (see below for discounts!)

• 9-day Trip: $3,599/person • $649 surcharge for single occupancy

Discounts

Early-bird discount: Save $100 if you pay by the early-bird deadline of October 15, 2020.

Pay-in-full discount: Save $50 is you pay for the trip in one installment by the regular registration deadline.

Discounts can be stacked; i.e. you can take advantage of both the early bird and pay-in- full discounts!

Note that if you choose not to take advantage of the pay-in-full discount, your payment can be spread out over multiple installments as outlined below.

The following is included in the price: ! Hotels ! Bus ! Expert local tour guide ! Two group meals ! All logistics handled ! Seminars on Icelandic history, culture, language, and literature (sagas!) ! Community experience & good company ! Cheery Newton Global Education Manager! ! Breakfast every day ! Entrance to all non-optional sites listed on the itinerary, and entrance to Blue Lagoon if desired

To secure your spot:

1) Email Samantha Mandel at [email protected] of your intent to register and let her know if you will be paying in full or paying a deposit. 2) Write out your deposit check for the correct amount. Checks can be made out to Newton Community Education with “Scotland” in the memo line, and mailed to “Newton Community Education, c/o NCE Travel, 457 Walnut Street, Newton MA 02460.” 3) Register for the trip online at http://registration.xenegrade.com/nce/coursedisplay.cfm?schID=15924

The installment payment schedule is as follows:

$1,200 due immediately to secure your spot (add $349 for a single room) spots are filled on a first-come, first-serve basis.

Deduct $100 if we receive your check by the early bird deadline of Oct. 15, and/or deduct $50 if you pay in full!

$1,200 (add $300 for a single room) due December 15, 2020

$1,199 due February 16, 2021

If you withdraw from the trip before May 1, 2021, you will be charged a $250 cancelation fee, after which we will refund all deposits we've made on your behalf that we are able to get back from vendors. No refunds will be possible after May 1, 2021. Should NCE need to cancel a trip for traveler safety (for instance, because of a pandemic), we will return all monies we are able to get back from vendors and there will be no cancellation fee. See the FAQs below for more information about NCE's careful stewardship of fees and efforts to ensure refundability of payments. Travelers are highly encouraged to purchase travel insurance policies that meet your specific needs.

FAQs

Do you think it will be safe to travel COVID-wise in 2021, and how will our trip fees be handled in case it’s not? We have no crystal ball. Our hope is that summer 2021 is far enough out that we will once again be able to travel safely. Here are some precautions we will be taking with your trip fees:

1) Flexible Vendor Refund Policies: We will be waiting as long as possible to put down payments for vendors (e.g. hotels) and negotiating up front to get flexible cancellation policies wherever possible. This ensures that in the event we need to cancel, we can get most of our money back. Because NCE makes arrangements individually with each vendor instead of working with a travel agency, we are able to be much more nimble about securing refunds. Iceland hotels and vendors are particularly amenable. The 2020 Iceland trip was canceled within 2 months of its departure date and we were able to secure 100% refunds for our travelers. 2) Flexible NCE Refund Policy: If NCE cancels a trip due to health & safety reasons, we will get you all the money back we can, with no cancellation fees from our end, regardless of the date. For instance, this year’s trip to Iceland was canceled due to the pandemic and we were able to provide 100% refunds to all travelers. We can also offer advice with airline refunds. For our three canceled trips this year, all travelers have either received or are in the process of receiving 90-100% airline refunds. 3) Recommending Travel Insurance: Now more than ever, we are recommending that travelers purchase travel insurance. In order to be sure of coverage in case of a pandemic, travelers should purchase “Cancel for Any Reason (CFAR)” policies. The best travel insurance deals are usually available within 14 days of making your first deposit for the trip.

How about health and safety precautions for COVID-19? How will this trip accommodate for those? That question is difficult to answer for a trip occurring so far out. Hopefully by summer 2021, we are clear to go! NCE will closely monitor all recommendations and guidelines and will err on the side of caution. If there are precautions to be taken, we will take them. If the trip becomes unsafe, we will cancel.

How much are flights to Iceland? Not much. As of July 2020, roundtrip flights are available near our dates for $268 (flights for August haven’t been released yet).

Can Samantha help me with my flight bookings? Of course, Samantha is always happy to advise if you have questions!

Why doesn’t NCE make group flight bookings? Paradoxically, pricing for groups is often higher than for individual tickets since airlines take the average price of their lower- and higher-priced seats in group bookings. Also, because many travelers choose to come early or stay late, allowing individuals to make their own flight arrangements affords maximum flexibility.

Since this is an NCE program, will there be an educational component? Yes! Samantha will offer a pre-class of Icelandic history, sagas, and basic on an optional basis for those who are interested.

How about the food? Icelandic food is delicious. They have amazing seafood but also lots of other options, and you can try delicacies like puffin, whale, and shark! We have accommodated a variety of dietary restrictions in the past.

I have friends/family who also want to come. Do they have to live in Newton? No! Our only requirement for travelers is that they be 18+ with a valid passport.

I definitely think I'm coming on this trip. What should I get started on besides registering? Make sure you have a valid passport that is good through the end of November 2021.

Will Samantha give us information about what to pack and how to prepare? Yes she will, not to worry! She has taken many groups of students and adults abroad, and will tell you everything you need to know - packing lists, using money in Iceland, health and safety, insurance plans, phone plans, etc. etc.

What is the maximum number of travelers you can take? 25.

What is the minimum number of travelers you need to run the trip? 15.

How many people will there be per hotel room? The base price assumes double occupancy. If you don’t know anyone else on the trip but wish to have a roommate, Samantha can pair you up according to availability and your preferences. If you would prefer your own room, we would be happy to accommodate you. There would be an extra cost of $649 associated with that.

Is the trip geared towards a particular age range/fitness level? NCE travelers usually encompass a range of ages, and we strive to create trips that are not physically demanding. That being said, we cannot change the fact that certain sites will include walking, sometimes on uneven surfaces and sometimes on an incline. In order to fully participate in this trip, travelers should be able to walk 1- 2 miles a day and 1 mile at a stretch. However, participants are always welcome to opt out of program activities. If your abilities do not match the above-listed physical guidelines but would still like to participate in the trip, please discuss with Samantha. You may be able to participate with the exception of a few activities.

Questions? Contact Samantha Mandel, NCE Travel Director, at [email protected].

What do NCE Iceland travelers have to say about their experiences?

"It was the best group trip that I have been a part of. Samantha was our smiling leader, always on top of the details for each participant and the group, making sure things happened smoothly. We were in good hands with Samantha, she is extremely knowledgeable.” -Jane D.

“Wonderful trip. I loved it, loved it, loved it. Amazing sights, great people, good weather, good food, knowledgeable guide. The fact that this trip had so many travelers from Newton and the surrounding area was a bonus. It was nice to have the opportunity to meet the travelers in advance of the trip.” -Lesley M.

"Superb. Would be happy to travel anywhere with Samantha! She was steady, patient, helpful, informative, and inspired confidence and community building. I hope to continue to see her.” -Lorri L.

"I have been on several group trips before and this trip was even better than I expected. The value was excellent and I especially enjoyed making new friends in my community!” -Lisa J.

An amazing, educational, super-fun trip and CONGRATULATIONS on a job exceptionally well done! We are fans. :-) -Jim H.

This might just be the best trip I've ever taken… and I’ve traveled a lot! I look forward to another adventure next year, wherever you end up taking us! -Ron S.

As long as timing works for us, you can pre-book us on any future trips you do! Superb! -Ken B.

I would follow Samantha anywhere! I loved this trip! I’ll be coming on your next one wherever you go! -Carol Ann F.

This is a wonderful addition to the already varied offerings of the Newton Community Schools. Make this a staple of NPS offerings! -Celia M.

The group of people were terrific… going with a local NCE group was very positive. -Laura R.