The Tale of Trolls and Things: Summer in Iceland

About the Tale

August 16 - 24, 2025

Bismillah! Welcome to Caravan Tales!

Trolls and folklore is a big part of Icelandic culture and literature as artists and authors draw inspiration from their environment. The theme of this trip is exploring Iceland’s nature, whimsical folklore, and how, like the artists of Iceland, we can draw inspiration from Iceland’s environment in knowing Allah.

Participants will be compiling stories and reflections from their journey in Iceland to create the collective story: “The Tale of Trolls and Things.” There will be limited stops to traditional tourist spots as the goal is immersion and retreat but guidance will be provided to those interested in visiting them on personal time!

Before take-off, we will gather (virtually) to become acquainted with one another, relay travel expectations, logistics and packing information! Companions of Caravan Tales are expected to uphold the highest level of respect and courtesy when traveling. Specific guidance will be provided pre-departure based on Al-Ghazali’s Ihya Ulum Al Din - Chapter on the Conduct in Travel. This trip is open to all soul seekers, but will adhere to Islamic principles (e.g. daily prayers, no alcoholic products).

Trip at a Glance

All participants 18+ are welcome! Some days will be hiking intensive with an average of 20,000 steps/day (some days could exceed this count).

  • Arrival Date + Program Start Date - Saturday, August 16, 2025

    • Book your flight to arrive by 9 AM on this day to Keflavik International Airport (KEF) as we will leave as a group from the airport to our first destination

    • 3 nights in northern Iceland

    • 5 nights in Reykjavik

  • Program End Date - Sunday, August 24, 2025

    • Book your flight to depart ANY TIME on this date from Keflavik International Airport (KEF).

Please note: Below shows the TENTATIVE plan, as plans are subject to change! This is purely to give you an idea of what theme of activities to expect. You will be added to a WhatsApp group a month from the start of the program which will include a detailed daily itinerary. If you need longer to see tourist sites not covered in the itinerary, I suggest you prolong your stay!

Once upon a time, there was a Caravan of companions who embarked on a journey to Iceland. Each day they would start with their spiritual vitamins including recitation of Surah Yasin, Wird-al-Latif, and setting intentions. They would end each night with reflections, games, and recitation of Surah Mulk.

  • Saturday, 8/16/25

    They arrived to Keflavik International Airport, eager to meet the other Companions. They immediately hit the road, exploring hidden waterfalls, turf houses, and a curious bakery on the way to Northern Iceland.

  • Sunday, 8/17/25

    The Companions jumped straight into their exploration of the elements of northern Iceland including geothermal fields, calderas, mighty waterfalls, and lava fields.

  • Monday, 8/18/25

    They spent the full day hiking up a mountain with views of snow capped mountains, streams, and fields of cotton flowers along their trek.

  • Tuesday, 8/19/25

    They packed up from their first accommodation and visited fjords and quiet towns nestled between lush green mountains with valleys of meandering rivers. They ended their travels to stay overnight in Reykjavik.

  • Wednesday, 8/20/25

    Just a few hours drive from Reykjavik is a peninsula containing the signature elements of Iceland: waterfalls, a Danish inspired church with a backdrop of a volcano, and a culture session by a darling coffee shop.

  • Thursday, 8/21/25

    It was the day for a journey to the highlands: central Iceland! Accessible only by special vehicles, the Companions hiked as they saw rainbow mountains, meandering rivers, and geothermal areas!

  • Friday, 8/22/25

    It was the blessed day of Jummah. Before Jummah, they had a session covering Surah Kahf before they prayed Jummah. The Companions had their final trek of the trip to the second tallest waterfall in Iceland.

  • Saturday, 8/23/25

    Phew! It was a busy past few days! They slept in and rested before a full day of Icelandic cultural activities as they were fortunate their visit coincided with Iceland’s Annual Culture Day where they watched theatrical performances, live music, tours and more!

  • Sunday, 8/24/25

    The Companions bid each other farewell with a heart full with newfound friendships, stories and direction for what is to come after the trip, including how they will benefit their communities.

What’s included
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Accommodations
8 nights
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Transportation
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Entry Fees/Tours
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Breakfasts
Breakfasts will be light fare (e.g. bread, yogurt). For all other meals not included, there will be guidance on where to purchase meals
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Airport Transportation
Pickup from the airport will be a common time on Saturday, 8/16 and Sunday, 8/24
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Airfare/VISA Paperwork (if needed)

Registration

Cost: $2,300/person USD

  • The registration is two parts:

    • Complete the registration form by clicking the “Register Here” button

    • You will receive an email with steps on proceeding with payment

      • US-Based Participants - Payment will be via Zelle to admin@caravantales.org

        • If you plan to pay with credit card, there will be an additional 2.5% service charge for payment processing

      • Non US-Based Participants - Payment will be via PayPal (invoice to be provided in the email)

  • Upon successful receipt of your payment, you will be considered officially registered. Once you receive a confirmation from admin@caravantales.org, you should proceed to purchase your flight.

  • If you are registering for multiple Companions, complete a form for each Companion.

  • Each room will be shared. The form will include a field for you to submit your choice for roommate. Due to our adventures to isolated areas of Iceland, accommodations are limited, so solo room requests will be assessed on an as- needed basis. If the solo room is granted, there will be an additional cost. Please coordinate with me at admin@caravantales.org.

  • Please contact admin@caravantales.org for details on options for payment plans, if needed.

  • Please be sure to check flight prices before registering!

  • PLEASE READ THE CANCELLATION POLICY VERY CAREFULLY BEFORE REGISTERING.

Cancellation policy

Caravan Tales is delighted to have you on board and is working hard to create an experience for you that will be as enjoyable and seamless as possible. The business downside is unpredictable world events, natural disasters, and sudden life changes that may affect your ability to attend once registered. The Cancellation Policy serves as a contract between Caravan Tales and the registrant. When you acknowledge the contract during registration, you are committing to your end of the contract and acknowledging the risk/unpredictability associated with travel.

Once your payment is processed, there will be a non-refundable $350 USD amount (included in your registration fee). Anything outside the amount CAN be recuperated until 9 PM EST on July 15, 2025 if you decide to no longer attend the trip. After 9 PM EST on July 15, 2025 , the full registration amount is non-refundable under any circumstances. To allow flexibility, you CAN transfer your slot to a family member or friend at any time of the same gender.

Gender Balance/Group Size - There is no guarantee the trips will fill up/have a gender balance. The trip will have a married couple at a minimum (one male and one female) inshaAllah. The trips will continue even if one other person is registered. You are committing the $350 non-refundable amount with the assumption of risk. If you are un-willing to take the risk, please contact admin@caravantales.org to get information on group demographic BEFORE registering, however understand that people may cancel, causing a gender imbalance. Accommodations will be separated by gender unless you are a married couple.

Visa/Passport Process - It is your responsibility to ensure you meet the passport/visa requirements to enter the country from your origin country. Please note, this includes insuring your passport doesn’t expire a certain number of months after departure. Any untimely delays/rejection based on passport validity is not the responsibility of Caravan Tales. Delayed arrival of visa will not be the responsibility of Caravan Tales.

Flight Costs - It is your responsibility to book your flight in a timely fashion to avoid price spikes that will affect your ability to attend the trip.

COVID - Due to the lifting of mask mandates, participants are not required to wear a face mask on the journey. Participants may choose to if they are comfortable but please understand the risk of illness with travel. Prevention and safe care will be the responsibility of the participant and will not be the responsibility of Caravan Tales.

Please note: if the Tale has to be cancelled for unpredictable world events/natural disasters, the decision on postponing or cancelling will be made as soon as possible. Your safety is the top priority.

On Ground - If you choose to skip activities stated in the itinerary, you will not be refunded the amount from your registration fee. Additionally, if there are unforeseen changes to the itinerary and cancellations from parties outside Caravan Tales, Caravan Tales will pivot to create an alternate and similar activity but will not be grounds for requesting a partial refund.

Questions/Concerns?

Please reach out via email at admin@caravantales.org, including requests to schedule a call or in person meeting!