A Textile Journey Through Iceland
May 2 – 10, 2025
Note: This tour is full. If you would like to join our wait list, please contact Karl at kreichert@textilecentermn.org.
Following two exciting tours to Iceland in September 2023 and May 2024, Textile Center is pleased to announce a return trip to the beautiful Nordic nation May 2 – 10, 2025. Hosted by Textile Center’s Executive Director Karl Reichert and our Icelandic guide Hjálmár Óskarsson of Travel Beyond, this textile adventure includes opportunities to meet fiber artists, participate in hands-on workshops, and learn about the Icelandic culture and experience the island’s natural beauty.
The trip includes a day at the Icelandic Textile Center along the north coast, and a half-day workshop at HESPA along the south coast with natural dye expert Guðrún Bjarnadóttir. We will visit a working farm (during lambing season) and, we hope, meet some newborn lambs! The trip includes visits at two Istex factories where 90% of all Icelandic wool is scoured and processed. (Scroll down for daily itinerary.)
The tour price is $5,388, based on double occupancy and includes roundtrip airfare (scheduled as direct flights between Minneapolis and Reykjavik on Iceland Air) as well as a $600 tax-deductible donation to Textile Center to support our fiber art programming. There is a single supplement price of $1,078 if you desire a single room.
We also can offer Land Only package for $4,637 (which includes the $600 donation to Textile Center) … if you would like to arrange your own airfare.
We are accommodating a group of 17 on this tour. If you want to join the tour, please contact Karl at kreichert@textilecentermn.org, and he will forward link to registration portal. There is an initial $300 non-refundable deposit.
Want to know more about Iceland, check out this feature in The New York Times: Looking for a New Way to See Iceland? Bring Your Knitting Needles. It includes mention of some of the artists listed in the itinerary below.
Tour Itinerary
Day 1 – Friday, May 2, 2025 – Travel to Iceland
We will meet at Minneapolis International Airport (MSP) for travel together to Reykjavik (KEF) on Iceland Air. Our flight is FI 656 departing at 7:25 PM. Karl will be at the airport to meet you and help you check in for our flight.
Day 2 – Saturday, May 3, 2025 – Touchdown Iceland
After landing in Reykjavik at 6:35 am, we will be picked up by our private motor coach. We will start by exploring Seltún geothermal area before arriving at Sky Lagoon. In no time, we will pamper ourselves at one of Iceland’s more famous hot springs, we will be able to soak, relax, and have lunch in the cafe. Next we will travel via private motor coach to the south to Þingborg Wool Store. This store is a charming destination for lovers of authentic Icelandic wool and handicrafts. The store is housed in an old schoolhouse, giving it a rustic and inviting atmosphere. We then head to our hotel, where we will enjoy a welcome dinner and stay in the beautiful Grimsborgir Hotel (Lunch is not included at the Sky Lagoon, the Welcome Dinner is included).
Day 3 – Sunday, May 4, 2025 – Lambs, Wool, and Golden Circle Highlights
After an included breakfast at our hotel, we visit Uppspuni Mini Mill and Yarn Shop. Uppspuni is owned and run by husband and wife Tyrfingur Sveinsson and Hulda Brynjólfsdóttir. In 2011 they took over the farm at Lækjartún where they keep sheep and cows alongside their yarn business. When arriving at Uppspuni, you will meet with Hulda, the owner and founder of the very first mini mill in Iceland. She will tell you about the Icelandic sheep, wool and the story of how the sheep kept Iceland inhabited from its original settlement to today. She will tell you what she is doing with the wool and show you the machines in action making extraordinary yarn from her own sheep and other farmers who want to have yarn from their own wool. Last year our Textile Center travelers witnessed the birth of twin lambs in her barn!
We will have lunch at Frioheimar Greenhouse, a family run tomato farm where we will enjoy their delicious homemade tomato soup. Friðheimar Greenhouse, located in the heart of Iceland’s countryside, is a unique agricultural experience where visitors can explore how fresh vegetables and herbs are grown in geothermal-powered greenhouses.
We will then dive into nature at Gullfoss waterfall – one of the many famous waterfalls in Iceland. Gullfoss, or the “Golden Falls,” is one of Iceland’s most iconic waterfalls, located in the Hvitá river canyon in the southwest of the country. Our last stop of the day will be at Pingvellir National Park. This is where the Vikings established the parliament in the year 930 and where a rift valley is being created by the drift of two tectonic plates, the North American and the Eurasian plates. For those who would like to walk, there is a paved path for easy enjoyment with gorgeous vistas. For those who would like to conserve energy – you may choose to ride our bus to the meeting place.
We will also enjoy dinner at a local favorite restaurant, Tryggvaskáli in Selfoss offers an enchanting dining experience that blends Icelandic tradition with modern culinary flair. Whether savoring a gourmet meal or enjoying the peaceful riverside setting, Tryggvaskáli offers an unforgettable taste of Icelandic hospitality.
This evening we return to the Grimsborgir Hotel for our second night. Meals included: breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
Day 4 – Monday, May 5, 2025 – HESPA Wool Dyeing and the South Coast
We will have a relaxing morning at the hotel before checking out. Today we will take a class with Guðrún Biadadottir at her studio to learn about her traditional HESPA technique for wool dyeing. Guðrún offers this 5 hour workshop where ancient Icelandic wool-dyeing traditions meet modern innovation. Set in a cozy, rural setting, this hands-on experience immerses you in the art of using native Icelandic plants to color wool, just as it’s been done for centuries. Under Guðrún’s expert guidance, you’ll learn how to extract vibrant, earthy hues from plants like birch, rhubarb, and lupine, discovering the deep connection between Iceland’s landscape and its textile heritage. What makes this workshop unique is the blend of tradition with cutting-edge technology. Modern tools and techniques streamline the process while preserving the integrity of the centuries-old craft. As you work with the wool, you’ll use eco- friendly methods to achieve stunning, natural colors, leaving with a deeper understanding of Icelandic wool traditions and some beautifully dyed yarn of your own. Guðrún’s passion for this heritage shines through, making the workshop both educational and inspiring. Lunch will be provided at the workshop.
After the workshop, we will travel to Reykjavik, check into our hotel, the Hotel Reykjavik Saga. This evening we will enjoy an included dinner at Monkeys, a Japanese and Peruvian fusion restaurant.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner
Day 5 – Tuesday, May 6, 2025 – Free day in Reykjavik
Today we will explore the city of Reykjavik on our own and we will have plenty of shopping time. You may want to visit the Hallgrimskirkja Church for a view of Reykjavik from the tower. Breakfast is provided at the hotel, however, both lunch and dinner are on our own today, giving us maximum flexibility to be explorers in the city!
Day 6 – Wednesday, May 7, 2025 – Free morning in Reykjavik and Felting in the AfternoonThis morning we will have more free time in Reykjavik to visit any last minute sites or museums, or finish some shopping. This afternoon, we will attend a felting workship with a local designer and artist, Anna Gunnarsdóttir, at her art studio and gallery in Seltjarnarnes, a charming suburb of Reykjavik. Anna is an Icelandic textile artist specializing in sculptural felt-making. Meals included: Breakast
Day 7- Thursday, May 8, 2025 – Wool Processing at the Istex Factories and Blönduós
This morning we will board a private motor coach to head north. We will visit the Istex spinning factory in Mosfellsbaer (est. 1896). Istex processes 99% of all Icelandic wool. We will also have our share of more beautiful nature today as we travel to the North Coast. Our lunch stop at Hraunsnef Country Hotel offers a relaxing and delightful experience in the heart of Iceland’s stunning countryside. Tonight we will stay in the tiny town of Blönduós at the Hotel Blönduós hotel. (Breakfast included at hotel. Lunch is on your own. Dinner is included.)
Day 8 – Friday, May 9, 2025 – Icelandic Textile Center Workshop
After breakfast, we will have a chance to get creative at a hands-on workshop at the Icelandic Textile Center with teaching artists from the Center. Our workshop will focus on embroidery and knitting. After our workshop, we will have lunch at Brimslóð Guesthouse in Blönduós, which offers a warm and welcoming experience, where traditional Icelandic flavors meet a cozy, homely atmosphere. Nestled near the rugged coastline, the guesthouse features a menu that highlights locally sourced ingredients, with dishes such as fresh seafood, tender lamb, and hearty vegetable stews.
After lunch, we will visit The Textile Museum in Blönduós. This museum offers a captivating journey into Iceland?s textile history, showcasing the country’s rich heritage of wool crafting and weaving. The museum is dedicated to preserving and celebrating the traditions of Icelandic textiles, particularly the iconic Icelandic wool. The exhibits feature a wide range of historical and contemporary pieces, from traditional handwoven garments to intricate knitting patterns, highlighting the evolution of textile techniques over the centuries.
This evening we will return to the Hotel Blönduós for an included dinner and one more evening at this lovely hotel. Meals included: Breakfast and Dinner.
Day 9 – Saturday, May 10, 2025 – Departure from Iceland
Today the group will travel southwest, enjoying the sites as we make our way back to the airport for our flight home. Lunch will be en route (not included). Iceland Air Flight 657 departs at 4:45 pm for Minneapolis and is scheduled to arrive at 6:10 pm. We may be leaving Iceland, but we are returning home with memories that will last forever (and a lot of beautiful wool and yarn!)