Just Pure Being – Nature Retreat | Iceland | Laugavegur Trail | 16 days
“Let yourself be touched by the Miracles that happen when you feel profoundly connected and don’t have to be anybody!’
What we will do and what will happen
- Have you ever experienced what happens when you feel profoundly connected?
- When you get in touch with others on a really deep level?
- Feel safe and at ease?
- And can relax more and more into yourself?
- Which brings out the best in you?
- And connects you to your Truth and inner Wisdom?
The point of the “Just Pure Being” Nature Retreats is to offer an opportunity to grow into a new attitude of communicating and relating. To create a safe transformational space from that new perspective where real and deep connection can happen. Then our nervous system has the possibility to calm down and our own inner truth and wisdom can surface.
In a solution and advice oriented society where we are very eager to find a quick fix on a symptom, behaviour, strategy and action level the real causes for most of our problems stay untouched.
In the “Just Pure Being” Nature Retreats we will spend most of the time walking at beautiful spots out in nature as designated further below. Nevertheless the real focus is on a safe space where we can share our heart honestly and vulnerably. An environment where we get curious and dive deeply into each other’s worlds without wanting to change anything about them. We will discover what it feels like when our peculiarities are welcomed, acknowledged and appreciated.
Transformation happens when we welcome what is.
Being with each other in Humility, Curiosity and Compassion can be a life-changing experience!
All of our behaviours, attitudes, beliefs and strategies were vital at one time and saved our lives in the environment we grew up in. We couldn’t be different because our system found the exact right way to cope. When all this is acknowledged, appreciated and met with compassion a deeper dimension can open up within ourselves since we don’t have to explain, defend and protect ourselves anymore and can therefore relax and “JUST SIMPLY BE”.
And maybe get to the core and real cause why each one is, feels, behaves and acts the way he does. And also why he believes what he believes. And that all that used to make perfect sense to be able to survive.
Realizing all that starts an unstoppable transformation because we cease resisting difficult parts and states in ourselves and begin meeting them with compassion and understanding.
And all what we have kept trapped within us and what has been blocking us can be liberated.
“Only when Compassion is present will we allow ourselves to see the Truth.”
That’s when our true potential starts shining.
And “JUST PURE BEING” effortlessly happens.
And we discover and get to know parts of ourselves that we didn’t even imagine.
The whole journey will be spontaneous and dynamic with guidance and activities in the morning and evening circles and the possibility to pick individual processes with the involvement of the whole group if necessary.
Every retreat will be a unique experience and is therefore complementary to all the other ones and not so much about what we do but how we do it and growing into a new attitude of communicating and relating with each other.
Caution
We need to bring all our food for the first 7 days since there will be no possibility to buy some out in nature. The huts sell packed food but it is sold for the price of gold. We can refill our water on the way. There are kitchen on the huts where we can cook or prepare our expedition food. Our backpacks will therefore weigh from about 23 to 26 kg. Make sure that you are in the necessary physical condition and willing to walk with such a weight.
On a shoestring
If you need to keep track of your finances there is the possibility to spend more nights sleeping in tents at the hostel and the 5 mountain huts. Nevertheless I wouldn’t recommend using that option at Hraftinnusker and Baldvinsskáli since sudden snowfalls are quite common. Unless you are a hardcore adventurer because there were a lot of people sleeping in snow covered tents the last time. If the huts are already booked many of us will have to resort to that option anyway. Prices range from 1279 – 1799 euros depending on what you chose.
Food
For the first 7 days we need to bring all of our food. There won’t be time to buy anything apart from the starting point of the Laugavegur trail. Most probably it will be very expensive there. Best choice is to bring expedition food. I can assist you with that. Iceland is extremely costly. So we will only exceptionally go for lunch or dinner and buy food in the supermarket instead.
Rental cars
After the first 7 days we will rent cars which the drivers need to pick up at the airport the morning after getting back to the hostel in Reykjavik from the Laugavegur and Fimmvörðuháls trail. The cost for rental, fuel and transfer to the airport for the drivers will be divided equally among all participants. Car rental would be 130 euros a day per car.
Preparation
We will meet one or more times personally or online (Zoom) to discuss the details and to exchange our experience. All questions can be asked.
Modification of the itinerary, schedule and plan
If we all agree we can do modifications to the planned places to visit, schedule and plans after the first 7 days if it seems too much, too stressful or maybe even too little for some of us.
Conflict Resolution
Experience has shown that the Laugavegur and Fimmvörðuháls trails and the trips to Iceland in general have a tremendously transformative effect that brings up unresolved issues, suppressed feelings and parts of our personality that activate behaviour patterns and coping mechanisms that tend to lead to tensions and conflict in the group. A fact that carries a tremendous potential for emotional growth if we assume responsibility for our emotions without blaming and accusing others. Through signing up to this event we all commit to be willing to sit down with the whole group and express our feelings and projections self-responsibly in order to settle conflicts without blaming, attacking and accusing others. Most conflicts are based on projections, interpretations and misunderstandings and their resolution can create a lot of connection and cohesion in the group. And if the cause for the conflict is a real injustice that can also be addressed and settled if the unmet needs that lead to the conflict are expressed.
Details
Duration | 16 days |
---|---|
Arrival | Saturday 30.08.2025 at Reykjavik airport |
Departure | Sunday 14.09.2025 |
Meeting point | Reykjavik airport or hostel |
Target group | Adults |
Participants | max. 16 |
Event fee | 1279 – 1799 euros, Please get in touch if you need to keep track of your finances for a discount! |
Accommodation | Mountain huts, hostels and campsites sleeping in tents |
Event facilitation | Oliver |
Places to visit | a lot |
Includes
- ● Event Facilitation and Guidance
- ● Accommodation in huts, hostels and possibly campsites
- ● Transport to Landmannalaugar and back from Skogafoss to Reykjavik
- ● Transfer from the airport to the hostel
- ● Food not included
- ● Flight not included
- ● Rental car, fuel and bus for rental car pickup not included
Program
Saturday, August 30, 2025
We will meet at the airport or at the hostel according to prior agreement. After everybody has arrived we will gather to get to know each other and to share important information.
Sunday, August 31, 2025
Laugavegur trail
- 1. 6:30 We will be picked up on front of the hostel by the bus to Landmannalaugar.
- 2. Nature Experience (Landmannalaugar to Hraftinusker hut)
- 3. Dinner
- 5. Evening circle
Difficulty | |
Distance: | 10 km |
Ascent: | 500 m |
Descent: | 80 m |
Minimum Height: | 620 m |
Maximum Height: | 1060 m |
Monday, September 1, 2025
Laugavegur trail
- 1. 8:00 – 9:00: Breakfast
- 2. 9:00: Morning activities
- 3. Nature Experience (Hraftinnusker to Álftavatn hut)
- 4. Dinner
- 5. Evening circle
Difficulty: | |
Distance: | 14,8 km |
Ascent: | 300 m |
Descent: | 790 m |
Minimum Height: | 540 m |
Maximum Height: | 1120 m |
Tuesday, September 2, 2025
Laugavegur trail
- 1. 8:00 – 9:00: Breakfast
- 2. 9:00: Morning activities
- 3. Nature Experience (Álftavatn to Emstrur hut)
- 4. Dinner
- 5. Evening circle
Difficulty: | |
Distance: | 10 km |
Ascent: | 450 m |
Descent: | 450 m |
Minimum Height: | 10 m |
Maximum Height: | 360 m |
Wednesday, September 3, 2025
Laugavegur trail
- 1. 8:00 – 9:00: Breakfast
- 2. 9:00 Morning activities
- 3. Nature Experience (Emstrur to Þórsmörk)
- 4. Dinner
- 5. Evening circle
Difficulty: | |
Distance: | 10 km |
Ascent: | 450 m |
Descent: | 450 m |
Minimum Height: | 10 m |
Maximum Height: | 360 m |
Thursday, September 4, 2025
Laugavegur trail
Stay in Þórsmörk for one day
- 1. 8:00 – 9:00: Breakfast
- 2. 9:00 Morning activities
- 3. Nature Experience (Váhnakur vantage point)
- 4. Stakkholtsgjá Canyon (optional)
- 5. Dinner
- 6. Evening circle
Difficulty: | |
Distance Váhnakur: | 10 km |
Distance Stakkholtsgjá Canyon: | 7 km |
Ascent: | 350 m |
Descent: | 370 m |
Minimum Height: | 220 m |
Maximum Height: | 410 m |
Friday, September 5, 2025
Fimmvörðuháls trail
- 1. 8:00 – 9:00: Breakfast
- 2. 9:00 Morning activities
- 3. Nature Experience (Eyjafjallajökull glacier, Þórsmörk to Fimmvörðuháls / Baldvinsskáli hut)
- 4. Dinner
- 5. Evening circle
Difficulty: | |
Distance: | 13 km |
Ascent: | 870 m |
Descent: | 210 m |
Minimum Height: | 220 m |
Maximum Height: | 1050 m |
Saturday, September 6, 2025
Fimmvörðuháls trail
- 1. 8:00 Morning activities
- 2. Nature Experience (Fimmvörðuháls / Baldvinsskáli hut to Skogáfoss Waterfall)
- 3. Skogáfoss Waterfall
- 4. Bus back to the hostel in Reykjavik
- 5. Dinner
- 6.Evening circle
Difficulty: | |
Distance: | 13.4 km |
Ascent: | 0 m |
Descent: | 870 m |
Minimum Height: | 20 m |
Maximum Height: | 890 m |
Sunday, September 7, 2025
The Golden Circle
Picking up the rental cars by bus at Reykjavik airport
- 1. Breakfast till the rental cars arrive. We will drive to the different locations by car.
- 2. Þingvellir National Park
- 3. Gulfoss Waterfall
- 4. Strokkur Geyser
- 5. Kerið crater
- 6. Reykjadalur Hot Spring River (please bring your bathing stuff to have a dip)
- 7. Dinner
- 8. Evening circle
Monday, September 8, 2025
The South Circle I
- 1. 8:00: We will pack our stuff and leave the hostel to spend the night in a different place in the south
- 2. Gjáin Oasis
- 3. Haifoss Waterfall
- 4. Seljalandsfoss
- 5. Skogafoss Waterfall
- 6. Black Sand Beach Reynisfjara
- 7. Fjaðrárgljúfur Canyon
- 8. Þjófafoss, Hundafoss, Magnúsarfoss and Svartifoss waterfalls
- 9. Accommodation on Skaltafell camping site
- 10. Dinner
- 11. Evening circle
Tuesday, September 9, 2025
The South Circle II
- 1. 8:00 – 9:00: Breakfast
- 2. 9:00 Morning activities
- 3. We will pack our stuff and leave the hostel
- 4. Diamond beach, Jösusárlón Lagoon
- 5. Hoffell Glacier
- 6. Stocksness Black Sand Beach & Vestrahorn Mountain
- 7. Viking Village in Stocksness
- 8. Accommodation on Ásbrandsstaðir camping site
- 9. Dinner
- 10. Evening circle
We will approximately walk 8 km but there is no fixed tour to accurately calculate the distance. We will walk to where we can get a good glimpse.
Wednesday, September 10, 2025
The North
-
- 1. 8:00 – 9:00: Breakfast
- 2. 9:00 Morning activities
- 3. We will pack our stuff and leave the camping site
- 4. Studlagil Canyon
- 5. Dettifoss Waterfall
- 6. Asbyrgi Canyon
- 7. Hverir Geothermal Area
- 8. Lake Myavatn
- 9. Godafoss Waterfall
- 10. Accommodation on the Hamrar Camping site in Akureyri
- 11. Dinner
- 12. Evening circle
Thursday, September 11, 2025
The North & Snæfellsnes Peninsula
-
- 1. 8:00 – 9:00: Breakfast
- 2. 9:00 Morning activities
- 3. We will pack our stuff and leave the camping site
- 4. Hvitserkur Rock
- 5. Kirkjufell Mountain & Waterfall
- 6. Búðakirkja (Black Church)
- 7. Gatklettur (Rocky Coast)
- 8. Djúpalónssandur (Black Sand Beach and beautiful Rocks)
- 9. Saxhóll Crater
- 10. Accommodation on the Borgarnes Camping, Granatstaðir
- 11. Dinner
- 12. Evening circle
Friday, September 12, 2025
Reykjanes Peninsula
-
- 1. 8:00 – 9:00: Breakfast
- 2. 9:00 Morning activities
- 3. We will pack our stuff and leave the camping site
- 4. Miðlína (The Bridge between continents)
- 5. Valahnúkamöl Cliffs
- 6. Gunnuhver Geothermal area
- 7. Blue Lagoon
- 8. Accommodation back at the hostel in Reykjavik
- 9. Dinner
- 10. Evening circle
Saturday, September 13, 2025
Reykjavik city
-
- 1. 8:00 – 9:00: Breakfast
- 2. 9:00 Morning activities
- 3. Visit to Reykjavik
- 9. Dinner
- 10. Evening circle
Sunday, September 14, 2023
Flight back home.
What to bring