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The Source: 8-day Guided Spiritual Journey in Iceland with STIKA
Iceland
8 days
Difficulty:Moderate
Trip Type:Comfort
Group size:8
5Overview
The Source: Highland Edition is a 8-day spiritual journey on Iceland's Laugavegur Trail, designed and led by Rakel Steinberg, founder of STIKA. A hike through four distinct landscapes that strips away what is accumulated and returns you to what is essential.
There are no lectures, no stages, no performances. The terrain is the teacher. The hiking is the practice. What surfaces in that environment is the work - who you are beneath your roles, your habits, your constructed identity.
Each journey moves through the STIKA arc - Exposure, Alignment, Direction. Not as a framework. As a lived experience.
Many people arrive having tried meditation, are still trying, or have given up. Rakel was there too - she tried many approaches over the years and found that a mix of what resonated from each one became her own. This journey includes that guidance - no forcing, no perfect stillness required. Before the journey, participants are introduced to a simple breathing technique to support the trail and deepen the meditation practice on arrival. Each journey includes a cacao ceremony before one of the guided meditations, and each morning begins with a practice chosen for what the day ahead asks. The terrain and the method do the rest.
The Laugavegur trail runs from Landmannalaugar in the highlands to Thorsmork at the edge of a glacial valley, moving through terrain that feels like several worlds in one. Rhyolite mountains streaked in ochre and burgundy give way to vast obsidian lava fields, glacial rivers crossed without bridges, and eventually a hidden birch valley enclosed by glaciers.
The trail is physically demanding, with weather that shifts without warning and little to no phone signal along much of the route. These conditions are not incidental - they are part of the method itself.
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Itinerary
The Source: 8-day Guided Spiritual Journey in Iceland with STIKA
DAY 1
The Call: Arrival in Iceland
DAY 2
The Threshold: Reykjavík to Landmannalaugar
DAY 3
The Dissolution: Landmannalaugar to Álftavatn
All Meals
All meals are included throughout the program - breakfasts, packed lunches on the trail, hut dinners, the welcome dinner on Day 1, the farewell lunch on Day 7, and snacks on the trail.
Transfers
Highland bus transfers from Reykjavík to Landmannalaugar and from Thorsmork back to Reykjavík.
Accommodation
Mountain hut accommodation throughout (Nights 2-6) and hotel accommodation in Reykjavík (Night 1 and Night 7).
Admission Fees
Entry fees for museums, parks, historical sites, and other attractions included in the trip.
Luggage Transfers
Cost for transferring your luggage between huts.
Local Guide
The program is led by Rakel Steinberg Solvadottir, founder of STIKA, and member of Search and Rescue.
Extras
- Pre-journey introduction to breathing technique - Cacao ceremony before one of the guided meditations - Morning practice each day - breathwork, movement, or stillness - Guided meditation at three points along the journey
What's not included
Alcoholic Beverages
Costs for any alcoholic drinks consumed during the trip.
International Flights
Flights to and from the start and end point at your destination.
Gratuities
Tips and gratuities for guides, drivers, and service staff.
Visas
Required visa fees for your travel.
Travel Insurance
Travel insurance from a trusted provider for your adventure.
Personal Gear
All the personal gear required for your adventure.
Airport Transfers
Transportation to and from the airport.
Domestic Flights
Flights within the country that are necessary to reach different destinations on the itinerary.
Day 1
1 night in a 4-star Hotel in Reykjavík, situated at the heart of the city centre, on double occupancy basis.
A single occupancy upgrade is available for $350 per person.
Day 2
Rustic mountain hut in Landmannalaugar with shared, heated, dormitory-style bunk beds, communal kitchens with gas stoves, running water, shared toilet facilities, and showers.
Day 3
Rustic mountain hut in Álftavatn with shared, heated, dormitory-style bunk beds, communal kitchens with gas stoves, running water, shared toilet facilities, and showers.
Day 4
Rural mountain hut in Emstrur with shared, heated, dormitory-style bunk beds, communal kitchens with gas stoves, running water, shared toilet facilities, and showers.
Day 5 & 6
Rustic mountain lodge in Thorsmork - with shared, heated, dormitory-style bunk beds, communal kitchens with gas stoves, running water, shared toilet facilities, and showers.
Day 7
1 night in a 4-star Hotel in Reykjavík, situated at the heart of the city centre, on double occupancy basis.
A single occupancy upgrade is available for $350 per person.
Departure Dates
from $4950 /person
Private groups
FAQs
Why Book With Us?
All-Inclusive Packages
Enjoy hassle-free travel with end-to-end, pre-planned trip packages that cover accommodations, meals, guides, permits, and more.
Trip Preparation
We provide essential resources like gear lists and training plans to ensure you're fully prepared for your adventure. Our goal is to equip you with everything you need to embark on your trip with confidence.
Local Guides
Our experts carefully handpick local guiding companies, who undergo a rigorous vetting process. Local guides enrich your journey with unique insights and expertise.
Sustainable Travel
We are committed to preserving our planet by encouraging our guiding partners and travelers to adopt eco-friendly practices. All tours are designed to benefit local communities.
What people say
You are a Bad Ass Bitch Like No Other!!
Linda Lantos
Thank you for such an awesome adventure!
Trish
Phenomenal local guide
Angelique Fish
Highly recommend this experience to anyone going through a transition
Payal Tiwana
Meet your host
Rakel Solvadottir
Rakel Steinberg Solvadottir, the founder of STIKA, is a nature-led executive coach, award-winning tech entrepreneur, and active Search & Rescue leader in Iceland. Rakel has designed 'The Terrain' as the flagship leadership program of STIKA. Fluent across both technical systems and human ones, Rakel has spent her career as a translator between engineering complexity and executive decision-making, a rare combination that shapes every aspect of how The Terrain is designed and facilitated.
Her work sits at the intersection of leadership, pressure, and presence. How people make decisions when stakes are real. How they hold themselves when comfort disappears. How they lead without burning out or losing integrity. The Terrain is the fullest expression of that work - eight days in Iceland's volcanic interior, built to surface what a boardroom cannot.
Rakel holds a BSc in Computer Engineering, a Master's in Human Resource Management and Occupational Psychology, and is an ICF-certified Executive Coach - a combination that informs how she works with decision-making, performance, identity, and nervous system capacity in high-stakes environments. She is a Techstars alumna, has been recognized by Forbes for her work as a founder, and was named Nerd of the Year in Iceland in 2012. She serves on the Gardabaer City Council, including its welfare committee. She has spent decades in tech and startups, leading through complexity, ambiguity, and pressure, and understands the conditions that senior leaders actually operate under, not the theoretical version.
Rakel is an active member of Icelandic Search & Rescue, leading Super Jeep operations across glaciers, river crossings, and terrain where mistakes carry real consequences. That environment rewards one thing: competence. Calm judgment. Precise execution. Teamwork that holds under pressure. Nothing else survives out there.
Adventure together
Invite your friends and family on your adventure:
$4950
/ person