July 2: Departure Day, New York to Reykjavik
Group Meeting:
At 5:30 PM, meet your leader and fellow students at the Iceland Air check-in counter (outside of security) at John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK). This is the official start of your Putney program!
Group Flight:
The group will fly on Iceland Air flight #614 departing New York (JFK) at 8:40 PM, arriving in Reykjavik, Iceland (KEF), at 6:15 AM local time on July 3 (5 hours, 30 minutes en route).
July 3 & 4: Reykjavik
Our journey begins in the colorful and quaint capital city of Reykjavik, home to a quarter of the Icelandic population. Stop at the famous geothermal pool, the Blue Lagoon and then dive into an in-depth orientation to get to know your leaders and fellow group members. Meet with a local huldufólk expert, and learn about the contemporary beliefs in elves, gnomes, and trolls throughout Iceland.
July 5: Holmavik
Travel north to the town of Holmavik, located at the entrance to the Westfjords region. Visit a family-run sheep farming museum, then head down the road for an afternoon with the curator of the local Sorcery and Witchcraft Museum. Learn about his own passion for sorcery, and the complex, and at times troubling, history of the Westfjords.
July 6–8: Isafjordur
Kayak through dramatic fjords to geothermal hot springs, watching for whales and seals along the way. Stretch your legs on a hike to the local “Troll Bowl” for views of the city. Visit an Arctic Fox Research Center and a traditional fishing museum, then take a jetty to the Hornstrandir Reserve to hike through fields of wildflowers, staying on the lookout for the elusive Arctic Fox.
July 9_11: Patreksfjordur
Climb the rocky outcrops alongside Dynjandi Waterfall and visit a sea monster museum in the quaint town of Bildudalur, before arriving in Patreksfjordur. Spend a day on a local fishing boat learning traditional fishing practices and about the newer development of fish farming in the region, before doing some angling of your own. Hike the Latrabjarg Cliffs and photograph puffins along the stunning red sand beaches of the south coast. Soak in refreshing hot springs after a busy day.
July 12 & 13: Snaefellsnes Peninsula
Take a ferry from the south coast of the Westfjords to Stykkishólmur, on the northern coast of the Snaefellsnes Peninsula. Hike through an elf-infested lava field, visit a hidden waterfall, ride Icelandic horses at a family-run stable, and cap the program with a hike to the Snaefellsjokull Glacier.
July 14 & 15: Reykjavik
Spend your final day in Reykjavik. Put the finishing touches on your individual project and enjoy a celebratory meal in the heart of the downtown district with new friends.
July 16: Return Day, Reykjavik to New York
Group Flight:
The group will fly on Iceland Air flight #613 from Reykjavik, Iceland (KEF), returning to the International Arrivals Area of John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) at 12:25 PM (6 hours en route).