Day 1   |   Arrivals and Opening Meeting

When you arrive at Reykjavik International Airport, catch a Flybus to our downtown hotel (check in time is 3 p.m.), the Hotel Midgardur by Center Hotels. (Please note that Iceland is only admitting fully vaccinated travelers at this time. You must bring your vaccination card with you as proof of vaccination.) At 5 p.m., meet your retreat leader for the official Retreat Opening Meeting. During this meeting, you’ll get to know what to expect from your retreat leader, meet your fellow retreat participants and set your intention for the week. From there, we’ll walk to a nearby restaurant for dinner in downtown Reykjavik.
Time on trail: no run today

Day 2   |   Reynisfjara: Black Sand Beach

After breakfast, we’ll start our morning run that will take us past some of Reykjavik’s most iconic landmarks, including the Hallgrimskirkja cathedral, on our way the Perlan (“The Pearl), a museum perched on a small hill surrounded by woodlands. We’ll have our first Mindful Running Form clinic on the lawn outside the Perlan, then continue our run through the forest, along an ocean inlet, then loop our way back to our hotel. After freshening up and check out of our room, we’ll enjoy a light lunch before embarking on a three-hour drive to the southern coastal village of Vík í Mýrdal. Along the way, we’ll stop at Reynisfjara, known as the world’s most beautiful black-sand beach, where we’ll see the iconic Reynisdrangar and columnar basalt rock formations. From there it’s a short drive to the über-modern Icelandair Hotel in Vík, where we’ll have a relaxing dinner.
Time on trail: 2 – 2.5 hours (including breaks) on mostly city streets and dirt pathways

Day 3   |  Vík í Mýrdal

After breakfast at the hotel, we’ll meet our guides for today’s spectacular trail run along the bluff overlooking Vik’s black-sand beach. At today’s mindful running form clinic, your retreat leader will offer some valuable tips on pacing that will help make the most of today’s run. Today’s run begins in Vik and then head up to the top of a plateau overlooking Reynisfjara. If the weather is clear, we’ll get spectacular views of Dyrhólaey peninsula to the west and glacier-covered volcanoes to the north. Our looping route (with a short and longer option), eventually takes us all the way back to our hotel in Vik, where we’ll have a casual lunch followed by some free time. This evening is dinner at Sudurvik, a cozy, traditional restaurant situated in an old house serving their own family recipes. 
Time on trail: 2.5 – 3.5 hours (including breaks) depending on the options you choose. 

Day 4  |   Skogafoss Waterfall Run

After breakfast, we check out of our rooms and drive about 30 minutes to Skogafoss, where we’ll run the stunning Waterfall Trail. This out-and-back route will take us 6 – 8 miles round trip to the top of the Skogafoss waterfall and and beyond, all the while offering up spectacular views of surrounding mountains and the active glacier-capped volcanoes of Godaland in the distance. After the run, we’ll grab a casual lunch in the village of Skogar, then continue our travels to Selfoss, where we will stay at the Torfhus Retreat for the next two nights. After checking into our rooms, enjoy some free time to soak in the basalt rock pools before a traditional dinner on site.  

Time on Trail: 2 – 3 hours

Day 5  |  Geysers Galore

After breakfast at Torfhus, we’ll drive a short distance to Strokkur for a shorter (rest day) run today on roads and paths that will lead us to one of Iceland’s most famous and active geysers. The eruptions of Strokkur can happen between five and twelve minutes, and can even reach up to 40 meters high. Today’s run is about recovery, so we’ll keep the pace relaxed and our minds curious to the fascinating sights we’ll see along the way. 
Then we’ll drive to the nearby Friðheimar Tomato Farm for an amazing lunch inside the greenhouse, surrounded by lush tomato plants. After lunch, we’ll return to Torfhus for a free afternoon to soak in the pools, relax, or go for a walk. This evening your retreat leader will lead you through the a sharing circle before another gourmet chef-prepared dinner on site. 

Time on trail: 1  – 1.5 hours including stops

Day 6   |   Run the Reykjadalur Valley + Soak at the Sky Lagoon

fter breakfast, we’ll pack up and depart from the Torfhus Retreat and make the drive south towards Reykjavik. We’ll stop along the way for our final run together in a very special place, known as “Steam Valley,” which is a highly scenic valley featuring extensive geothermal activity. It’s proper name is Reykjadalur, where our loop run on the popular hiking trails will take us past everything from small gurgling melting pots to vibrant super heated pools of water. After our run, we’ll have a casual lunch, then continue the drive back to Reykjavik, where we’ll go straight to the Sky Lagoon geothermal hot springs for a relaxing afternoon soak. This evening we return to downtown’s Centerhotel Midgardur. After a little free time to relax and freshen up, we’ll gather for our final dinner together at one of the city’s top restaurants.

Time on trail: 1.5 – 2 hours including stops 

Day 7   |   Waterfront Run + Departures

This morning you can join your retreat leader for an optional morning run along the city’s waterfront, finishing at the hotel in time for a leisurely breakfast buffet. After checking out of your room (you may store your luggage at the hotel for the day if you’re remaining in Reykjavik). Before your pre-booked ride to the airport, you’ll gather as a group one last time for a final sharing circle and retreat closing remarks from your retreat leader. 
Then it’s time for farewells and by around midday, when you have the option to either be dropped off at the Keflavik International Airport (by around 1 p.m.) or the Covid testing site near the airport*. We recommend allowing at least 3 hours for check in before your flight home after receiving your rapid Covid-19 Antigen test results.
(*Note: Check with current international travel requirements to see if rules have changed, such as requiring PCR tests instead of Antigen tests.)

Time on trail: 30 minutes on city streets and paved waterfront path