Overview
Two weeks across four Nordic countries, starting with the most outdoor part. In Iceland the group spends four days on the Golden Circle and the south coast: rafting on the Hvítá river, whale watching, chasing waterfalls, walking on a glacier with crampons and finishing in the warm water of the Blue Lagoon.
A short flight takes the group to Oslo for a ropes course, a floating sauna in the harbour and a speedboat ride around the fjord, then an overnight ferry sails to Copenhagen — canals, a bike tour, the Tivoli Gardens and a day on the chalk cliffs of Møns Klint. The last stop is Stockholm, with its old town and the Avicii Experience.
Groups are small — up to 26 teens in grades 9–11 — and travel by private coach, with some public transport, the overnight ferry and one internal flight. This trip is the first part of the 25-day version, which continues to the Greek islands, so some of the group carry on when your child flies home from Stockholm.
What's included
The itinerary
- Day 1 Flight to Reykjavík — The official start: the group flies overnight from New York. Teens joining from Europe meet the group in Reykjavík the next day.
- Days 2–5 Reykjavík, the Golden Circle & the south coast, Iceland — Reykjavík's Rainbow Road and the FlyOver Iceland ride; the Golden Circle with its waterfalls and the Geysir hot springs; whitewater rafting on the Hvítá river; a whale-watching boat trip; the waterfalls of Seljalandsfoss and Skógafoss and the black-sand beach at Reynisfjara; a glacier walk on Sólheimajökull with crampons and an ice axe; and a soak in the Blue Lagoon.
- Days 6–8 Oslo, Norway — A short flight to Oslo: the City Hall, the Opera House and the waterfront, the Vigeland sculpture park, a treetop ropes course, a private floating sauna in the harbour (with a cold plunge for the brave) and a high-speed RIB boat ride around the fjord.
- Day 9 Overnight ferry to Copenhagen — An evening sailing from Oslo along the coast, with entertainment on board and a night at sea.
- Days 10–12 Copenhagen, Denmark — A canal cruise past Nyhavn, a guided bike tour of the city, an evening at the Tivoli Gardens amusement park, a day trip to hike the chalk cliffs of Møns Klint and hunt for fossils, and the Reffen street-food market on the water.
- Days 13–14 Stockholm, Sweden — The cobbled lanes of Gamla Stan, the old town, and the Avicii Experience, the museum about the Swedish DJ's music and career.
- Day 15 Stockholm, Sweden — Goodbyes and flights home from Stockholm.
Where teens stay
Hotels the whole way, with rooms shared with other teens in the group, plus one night on the overnight ferry from Oslo to Copenhagen: a centrally located hotel in Reykjavík; a hotel in the centre of Oslo beside the Royal Palace gardens, with fjord views and an indoor pool; a teen-friendly hotel in central Copenhagen; and a modern hotel in the heart of Stockholm, close to the sights, shops and restaurants. The exact hotel at each stop is confirmed before departure.
Meals
Breakfast at the hotel and dinner at local restaurants are included every day. Lunch is not included: teens choose their own in small groups wherever the group is that day, so plan for it in their spending money. Vegetarian, kosher-style and lactose-free diets and most allergies can be catered for if you tell us in advance.
More photos
Frequently asked questions
Which departure is right for my child?
Groups are put together by US school grade, so each departure has teens of a similar age. Grades 9–11 (roughly ages 14–17): Jun 28–Jul 12, Jul 1–15, Jul 6–20. The grade is the one your child is in during the 2026–27 school year — we'll help you match it to your school system. Dates are the operator's official start and end dates.
How do flights work if we live in Europe?
The official dates count from the group's overnight flight out of New York, so the trip itself begins in Reykjavík on day 2. Families in Europe usually book their own flight to Reykjavík and the staff meet their child at the airport and handle the transfer — as long as the flight lands within the operator's arrival window, so please check with us before booking anything non-refundable. At the end, teens fly home from Stockholm; the leaders help with check-in and stay at the airport until flights in the set window have left. One internal flight — Iceland to Norway, US$485 — is booked by the operator and charged on top of the tuition. Most of the staff continue to Greece with the 25-day group, so on this shorter version there's no chaperoned flight back to New York.
What exactly is included in the price?
Accommodation, breakfast and dinner every day, all the activities in the itinerary, airport transfers for flights within the set time windows, tips and local taxes. Not included: flights to and from the trip, the internal flight, lunches and snacks, spending money, laundry (once a week at a local wash-and-fold service), the operator's application fee, and travel insurance — optional, but we strongly recommend it.
Is there a discount for enrolling early?
Yes — at the moment the operator takes US$300 off the tuition for early enrolment, so the 15-day trip costs US$7,599 instead of US$7,899 (the internal flight is charged on top either way). It's a limited-time offer and the operator can end it at any point, so ask us whether it still applies before you decide. The price shown on this page is the full tuition.
Is there a longer version?
Yes — the 25-day trip follows exactly the same route for the first two weeks, adds a day in Stockholm, and then flies to Greece for Athens, Paros and Santorini. Most of the group is usually on the longer trip; teens on this one leave after day 15.
Is the glacier walk suitable for beginners?
Yes — no experience is needed. Teens are given crampons and an ice axe and walk the glacier with a guide. Good waterproof walking shoes and warm layers are useful in Iceland even in July; the operator sends a full packing list before departure.
Who else will be in the group?
Mostly American teens — on most programs around 85% of participants come from the US, and the operator tries to limit how many teens from any one other country join each group. For an international teen that means a genuinely English-speaking group, which is a big part of the appeal.
How good does my child's English need to be?
At least a confident beginner level — the operator recommends A2 or above, since everything on the trip happens in English. Your child can ask for an English-speaking roommate, and one-to-one English conversation time with a staff member can be arranged daily or a few times a week.
Can my child come on their own?
Yes, and many do. The first days are built around icebreakers and getting-to-know-you activities, roommates are assigned and rotated, and the staff actively help everyone settle into the group.
Are phones allowed?
Yes. Teens can bring their phone, so you can call or message them directly. The operator also runs a communication centre that's staffed every day of the summer, with someone on call around the clock for emergencies.