Trip Finder
Iceland
Information for Enrolled Students

Packing List

We’ve provided packing recommendations below; however, equivalent items work just fine. We also offer many items for sale via our online store. These items are marked with an “x” in the appropriate column.
Keep in mind that June and July can still be cold and snowy in Iceland! Warm layers are very important, as evening temperatures can dip down in the low 40s.

Duffel Bag

45-60 liters; MUST be small enough to carry on the plane

Qty: 1
Patagonia Black Hole Duffel 55 L

Day Pack

26 – 32 liter sturdy daypack with waist straps to carry your rain jacket, water bottle and snacks

Qty: 1
Patagonia Refugio Day Pack

Waterproof Backpack Cover

Covers your backpack

Qty: 1

Nylon Stuff Sack

One extra (Sleeping bag size) for bag organization

Qty: 1

Please keep all necessary trekking gear in your carry on, including hiking boots, headlamp, warm gloves/hat, hiking socks, rain jacket, water bottles, and layers as airlines have been extremely inconsistent with lost baggage over the past year.

Sleeping bag liner or Hostel sheet

Silk, cotton, or synthetic

Qty: 1
Sea to Summit Expander Travel Liner

You will staying in hostels, so this is for extra comfort

Water Bottle (2)

Minimum 32oz water bottles

Qty: 2
Nalgene 1L Wide Mouth

Sunglasses

With 100% UV protection

Qty: 1

Sunglasses holders

Qty: 1
Croakies or Chums

Required Equipment

Hiking Boots

Light – medium weight waterproof hiking boots with ankle support – break them in before arrival!

Qty: 1

River Shoes

These can be open-toed, but do need to have a back strap - no flip flops!

Qty: 1
Chaco, Teva, Keen

Socks

Non-cotton, lightweight hiking socks

Qty: 6 pair
Smartwool or Darn Tough

Gaiters

High / mid-calf length

Qty: 1 pair

Required Shoes

Long Underwear Top / Base Layer

Minimum 1 wool, medium-weight long sleeve (Wool or Capilene, NO COTTON)

Qty: 2
SmartWool Merino 150 Base Layer

T-Shirts

Minimum of 2 synthetic, non-cotton t-shirts, others may be cotton

Qty: 4
Patagonia Capilene T-Shirt, Marmot Windridge

Lightweight Jacket

Synthetic, non-cotton. This can be a fleece pullover, sweater or a full-zip jacket

Qty: 1
Patagonia R1 fleece

Fleece Top

Heavy-pile fleece pullover or full zip jacket is good

Qty: 1
Patagonia Synchilla or R2 Jacket

Insulating Jacket

Synthetic or down insulation, non-cotton. This can be a synthetic or down “puffy” jacket

Qty: 1
Patagonia Nano Puff or Down Sweater

Rain Jacket w/ hood

Must be 100 % waterproof - not water resistant

Qty: 1
Patagonia Torrentshell or Marmot Precip

Sports bra

For girls

Qty: 2

Required Clothing Items

Long Underwear / Base Layer Bottom

Minimum 1 pair wool, non-cotton medium weight, long underwear bottoms, one pair can be leggings

Qty: 2
SmartWool Merino 150 Base Layer Bottom

Fleece Pants

Synthetic, non-cotton fleece pants or heavyweight long underwear bottoms

Qty: 1
Patagonia Synchilla Fleece Pants or Patagonia R1 Pants

Rain Pants

100% Waterproof pants large enough to fit over regular pants

Qty: 1

Hiking Pants

Two pair synthetic, non-cotton hiking pants

Qty: 2
Exoficio

Underwear

Synthetic, non-cotton are best (but a couple pairs of cotton are okay)

Qty: 6

Shorts

One pair nylon, quick dry shorts

Qty: 1
Patagonia Baggies

Bathing suit

Boys: your quick-dry shorts can double as your bathing suit

Qty: 1

Required Clothing Items

Gloves

One pair of medium-weight wool or fleece gloves (waterproof would be ideal!)

Qty: 1

Warm Hat

Wool or fleece, non-cotton beanie

Qty: 1

Baseball Hat

A baseball hat or wide-brimmed hat for sun protection

Qty: 1

Bug Head Net

Not required, but HIGHLY recommended

Qty: 1

Additional Required Items

Dopp Kit*

Contains: toothbrush, toothpaste, prescription medication, travel shampoo & soap, deodorant

Qty: 1
Patagonia Black Hole Cube 6L – M

First Aid Kit*

Contains: Waterproof sunscreen, Band-aids, Moleskin, Chapstick w/ SPF, Wet Ones/baby wipes, Dramamine (if prone to motion sickness), stool softener medication, personal hand sanitizer

Qty: 1

Prescription glasses + Contacts

If your child wears glasses and/or contacts, please bring at least one spare pair of glasses/ lenses. Contact lens wearers should bring a pair of glasses as backup in addition to contacts.

Qty: 2 pair

*Please keep all toiletries in your checked luggage, with the exception of your toothbrush and any personal/prescription medication

Passport + copies

Passport (valid for 6 months after the last day of your trip) + 2 additional photocopies of your passport

Qty: 1 + 2 copies

COVID-19 Vaccination Card + Copies

Valid COVID-19 vaccination card + 2 additional photocopies of your vaccination card

Qty: 2

International Travel Authorization Form

Original signed and notarized international travel authorization form

Qty: 1

Pack Towel

Absorbent & quick to dry, large or extra-large is ideal

Qty: 1
Sea to Summit Drylite Towel

Wallet

Personal wallet with $150 spending money and valid identification

Qty: 1

Additional Required Items

Hydration System

(i.e. Camel Bak®)

Qty: 1

Tennis Shoes

One old pair of tennis shoes

Qty: 1

Notebook with pen

For journaling

Qty: 1

Digital Camera*

With charger + adapter, and a 32- 64GB memory card

Qty: 1
Cannon Powershot G9 X

Go Pro

With charger and 32-64 GB memory card

Qty: 1

Carabiner

One (1) non-plastic

Qty: 1

Backpacker's Pillow

A luxury to have while in hostels or on travel days

Qty: 1

A Good Book

Paperback books are less bulky

Qty: 1

Personal Protective Equipment: Mask

Two (2) reusable, breathable masks that completely cover nose and mouth and fit snuggly; Moondance will not provide masks. To be used where it is required by trip location or outfitter.

Qty: 2

Not required but highly recommended.
*Since we don’t allow cell phones during the course of our trips, you may not use your phone as a camera. Leaders will take photos that will be shared at the end of the summer.

Packing Tips

In the event that your luggage is delayed or lost in transit, we want you to be prepared. Therefore, wear tennis or hiking shoes on the plane. Plus, pack the following items from this packing list in your daypack / school backpack carry-on:

  • A change of clothes (underwear + t-shirt + shorts or pants)
  • Your rain jacket
  • Prescription medications & toothbrush
  • Passport, ID, money
  • COVID-19 Vaccination Card
  • Personal Protective Equipment: Mask (2)
  • Completed International Travel Authorization form

These items are already included in the packing list – they are not additional items!

Lodging

Sleeping

During your trip you will stay in a variety of accommodations: tents, hostels, and mountain huts (singlegender rooms). Moondance will provide sleeping bags and ground pads for the camping/tent section.


Eating

Eating utensils (plates and cutlery) will be provided throughout the trip.

If you have any special dietary restrictions/ considerations, please contact the Moondance office for further information.

Immunizations

Routine Vaccines

Make sure you are up-to-date on all routine vaccines before every trip. Some of these vaccines include:
Chickenpox (Varicella)
Diphtheria-Tetanus-Pertussis
Flu (influenza)
Measles-Mumps-Rubella (MMR)
Polio
Shingles

Hepatitis A

Recommended for unvaccinated travelers one year old or older going to Fiji.

Infants 6 to 11 months old should also be vaccinated against Hepatitis A. The dose does not count toward the routine 2-dose series.

Travelers allergic to a vaccine component or who are younger than 6 months should receive a single dose of immune globulin, which provides effective protection for up to 2 months depending on dosage given.

Unvaccinated travelers who are over 40 years old, immunocompromised, or have chronic medical conditions planning to depart to a risk area in less than 2 weeks should get the initial dose of vaccine and at the same appointment receive immune globulin.

Hepatitis B

Recommended for unvaccinated travelers younger than 60 years old traveling to Fiji. Unvaccinated travelers 60 years and older may get vaccinated before traveling to Fiji.

Rabies

Iceland is free of dog rabies. However, rabies may still be present in wildlife species, particularly bats. CDC recommends rabies vaccination before travel only for people working directly with wildlife.

Click here to view a map of where Moondance groups will be traveling throughout Iceland. Provide this information to your physician of choice (primary care physician, travel clinic, etc.) in order to get the most accurate suggestions for immunizations and vaccinations.

Click here to see what the CDC recommends for travelers in Iceland.

Flights

Iceland 1, June 15 - June 28, 2023

Arrive
  • John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK)
  • Thursday, June 15, 2023
  • Arrive before 8:15 PM
Depart
  • John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK)
  • Wednesday, June 28, 2023
  • Depart after 4:15 PM

Inbound Flight

DateFlightDeparture CityDeparture TimeArrival CityArrival Time
Thursday, June 15, 2023Delta 246JFK (New York)11:15 PMKEF (Keflavik)9:05 am (6/16)

Outbound Flight

DateFlightDeparture CityDeparture TimeArrival CityArrival Time
Wednesday, June 28, 2023Delta 247KEF (Keflavik)11:15 AMJFK (New York)1:15 pm (6/28)

Iceland 2, July 1 - July 14, 2023

Arrive
  • John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK)
  • Saturday, July 1, 2023
  • Arrive before 8:00 PM
Depart
  • John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK)
  • Friday, July 14, 2023
  • Depart after 4:00 PM

Inbound Flight

DateFlightDeparture CityDeparture TimeArrival CityArrival Time
Saturday, July 1, 2023Delta 246JFK (New York)11:15 PMKEF (Keflavik)9:05 am (7/02)

Outbound Flight

DateFlightDeparture CityDeparture TimeArrival CityArrival Time
Friday, July 14, 2023Delta 247KEF (Keflavik)11:15 AMJFK (New York)1:15 pm (7/14)

Iceland 3, July 17 - July 30, 2023

Arrive
  • John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK)
  • Monday, July 17, 2023
  • Arrive before 8:15 PM
Depart
  • John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK)
  • Sunday, July 30, 2023
  • Depart after 4:15 PM

Inbound Flight

DateFlightDeparture CityDeparture TimeArrival CityArrival Time
Monday, July 17, 2023Delta 246JFK (New York)11:15 PMKEF (Keflavik)9:05 am (7/18)

Important Travel Notes:

We highly recommend that all students fly on the same flight from New York (JFK) to Keflavik (KEF)

We also highly recommend making your flight reservation through our partnered travel agency, Exito. They are familiar with all Moondance flights. Please follow this link to start the booking process.

Remember when booking your child’s flight to allow at least a 3-hour layover in any connecting airport to avoid missed connections or baggage delays.

If your child flies as an unaccompanied minor, please remember to pay the unaccompanied minor fee for both legs of the trip when booking travel

We will contact you in the Spring to give your child’s trip leader’s names and contact information for the unaccompanied minor contact. In the meantime, please give the airline your information.

Moondance highly recommends that your child fly on the direct flight from New York to Iceland. If your child chooses to fly with the group from New York, it is imperative that every student arrives in New York in a timely fashion. If one individual does not arrive in New York on time to make the group flight, it can delay the entire trip.