This incredible trip comes in two extraordinary chapters over a 23-day timeframe.

We start with 7-day in Iceland; the land of volcanoes, waterfalls, and hot springs. Iceland is a unique, "other-worldly" landscape forged by volcanoes where we will set the groundwork for our time together and start in exploring the best of what the amazing country, and its people, have to offer. We will get to touch each of these aspects of this unique and gorgeous country. We will spend time on the “Golden Circle” (an exploration of majestic waterfalls and geysers) soak in hot springs, explore the capital of Reyjavik, and backpack one of the most incredible trails in the country. We will hike the extraordinary 35-mile Laugavegur trail. On this trail we will cross a wide diversity of landscapes, from rugged, volcanic peaks to vast black sand deserts to dayglow green hillsides. This 7-day stay combines the best of the incredible adventures this island has to offer.

The second chapter starts as we depart Iceland for France, where we begin the Tour Du Mont Blanc. Together, we fly from Iceland to Geneva, Switzerland and get a shuttle to nearby Chamonix. Chamonix is the birthplace of mountaineering in Europe as well as paragliding. Situated at the foot of Mont Blanc (the highest mountain in western Europe) Chamonix is an outdoor adventurer’s paradise. We settle-into this magic land and walk through the pedestrian-only village, taking-in the towering mountains which surround the town. We spend the next two weeks hiking the Tour Du Mont Blanc (also known as the “TMB”), a 105-mile trail that circumnavigates Mont Blanc. The TMB is one of the most renown and beautiful trails on the planet. We set out on this trek from the Chamonix valley and follow it through northern Italy, Western Switzerland, and back to Chamonix where we began. We walk through small hamlets, hear the cacophony of cowbells serenading our footsteps, and take-in every view of the mountain we encircle. The landscape literally takes your breath away around nearly every bend. Massive hanging glaciers, towering mountains, fields of green grasses and wildflowers where you feel like you are in the sound of music, quaint villages and wooden chalets with flower boxes bursting with color. This trip is magic.

This is a “hut-to-hut” trek.. we hike with a daypack arriving each night to a “Refugio” (or high mountain hostel) where they serve us dinner, give us a place to sleep, feed us breakfast and send us off in the morning with a pack-lunch. We have a rest/layover day in the Italian town of Courmayeur, situated on the south edge of the Mt Blanc massif. As we complete the trek, we will top it off by going up the Aiguille Du Midi cable car, which ascends high up from Chamonix and gives one of the most incredible mountain views available.

Adventures of this magnitude have a way of changing you. All of the external beauty opens the spirit, mind, and self to new ways of seeing the world, bringing a deeper understanding of self, and a more palpable connection to the web to which we are each connected to, intrinsic to this incredible life we get to live. Staff use this tapestry of wonder to hold and weave the depth of the group development along with the growth the its individuals. There is plenty of time in these 23-days for ongoing 1:1 mentoring sessions, circles that keep going deeper into supportive territory by encouraging growth through shared vulnerability, and spaciousness to gain unique perspective on life, the world, and one’s own place in it.

This adventure is truly a once-in a lifetime experience. Are you feeling the call?

From the Teens Perspective:

“…it's my last term in high school before I graduate now and I want to thank you so much for everything you taught me. Right before I went into high school I went on the trip to the North Cascades… You provided me an experience that taught me so much about being grateful and in touch with myself. I didn't know it, but I had been in denial for so long about how I felt about myself and everything around me until you made an effort to reach in and help me see how I felt. The trip to Iceland and Mont Blanc was incredible. I will never forget the day when we had to write in our journals about the prompt 'if someone really knew me....' that journal entry was like an out of body experience where I really delved into who I am and how I feel. When I feel lost, I always re-read what I wrote in that entry. I really want you to know that I am a better person because of the safe and fun environment you created on these trips.” - Sonia J, (Participant)