Music, Mindfulness & Landscape
Escape the noise of the everyday and step into a “creative container” designed to revitalize your artistic spirit. The Iceland Creativity Retreat (November 6-11, 2026) is a premium, small-group experience curated for musicians, composers, educators, and seekers who believe that landscape and sound are deeply intertwined. Led by Chaz Chambers, founder of Musical Getaways, and Lydia Snyder, a musicologist specializing in sound-based mindfulness, this retreat offers a rare balance of cultural immersion and deep, quiet reflection.+4
Your journey begins in the vibrant heart of Reykjavík. During the first half of the trip, we lean into the electric energy of the Iceland Airwaves festival. This is a time for “external” inspiration—discovering new sounds in intimate venues and absorbing the cutting-edge creativity that defines the Icelandic music scene. However, unlike a standard festival tour, we provide the guidance and orientation necessary to navigate this experience with intention rather than exhaustion
Glacier Lagoon Retreat
As we transition from the city to the remote Glacier Lagoon region, the pace slows significantly. Here, the focus shifts inward. Nestled at the Fosshotel Glacier Lagoon, you will engage in a curriculum of deep listening and musical meditation shaped by the surrounding wilderness. We utilize the dramatic silence of moss fields, the roar of hidden waterfalls, and the crystalline beauty of the Diamond Beach as our “studio.”
This retreat is intentionally designed to be low-impact and accessible, focusing on gentle group sound exploration and nature-based reflection rather than high-pressure performance. Whether you are journaling by the lagoon, monitoring the Northern Lights, or participating in an ambient evening session, every moment is an invitation to reconnect with your creative process. With a maximum of only 12 guests, you are guaranteed a high-touch, boutique experience that values depth over crowds.
Sample Itinerary
After you arrive and settle into our hotel, we meet for a welcome dinner. This evening is about grounding ourselves and discussing the specific creative intentions we have for the week. We also provide a practical overview of how to navigate the local music scene and the festival schedule ahead.
Awaken to a lavish breakfast, fueling up for a day of discovery in Reykjavik’s bustling core. A city tour unveils the tapestry of history and modern flair that defines this northern capital.
Post-lunch, the city is your playground, offering a treasure trove of sights and sounds to explore at your whim. As evening arrives, we’ll gather for a guided musical meditation and sound bath—an immersive experience designed to quiet the mind, inspire reflection, and open channels of creativity. Let the gentle rhythms and harmonic textures carry you into a deeply relaxing and inspiring night.
We leave the city and drive east through the varied geography of the South Coast. The route includes stops at waterfalls, expansive moss fields, and the black sand beaches near Vík to observe the specific acoustics and scale of these spaces. By late afternoon, we reach the Fosshotel Glacier Lagoon to begin the retreat portion of our stay
The morning begins with a structured musical meditation or a listening session led by Lydia Snyder. The afternoon is reserved for your own work, whether that is journaling, walking, or field recording. Optional excursions to ice caves or glacier hikes are available for those who want to see the terrain from a different perspective. In the evening, we gather to monitor the horizon for the northern lights.
This day is dedicated to the relationship between sound and the environment. We visit the Diamond Beach and the Glacier Lagoon to practice deep listening among the moving ice. The retreat concludes with a final group session to reflect on the week’s discoveries and how to maintain this creative pace once you return home.
After breakfast at the hotel, the group departs for the return journey to Reykjavík or Keflavík International Airport.
This retreat is for musicians, composers, writers, artists, educators, and thoughtful travelers who want to reconnect with their creative process through sound, silence, and landscape. Guests do not need to be professional musicians, but should be curious, reflective, and comfortable with a slower, more intentional pace.
This tour is ideal for those who value depth over crowds and are looking for a high-touch, carefully curated experience.
Small Group Tours Up to 12 People
NOV 6TH – NOV 11TH , 2026
Boutique, small-group creativity retreat
Reykjavík and Glacier Lagoon Region
Your Stay
Fosshotel Glacier Lagoon
A modern South Coast hotel set amid glaciers, lava fields, and wide-open landscapes. Fosshotel Glacier Lagoon is perfectly located near Jökulsárlón and Diamond Beach, offering a comfortable and well-designed base after a full day traveling Iceland’s Ring Road. With its clean Nordic style, quiet surroundings, and easy access to some of the country’s most dramatic natural sights, it provides an ideal balance of comfort, location, and immersion in Iceland’s wild beauty.
Your Musician Hosts
Chaz Chambers
Musician Founder and Director, Chaz, will lead you through Iceland’s inspiring environment, encouraging artistic growth amidst the country’s unique cultural and natural wonders.
Lydia Snyder
As a seasoned ethnomusicologist and insightful guide, Lydia Snyder will lead you through musical meditation, sound-based mindfulness, and music therapy practices.
What’s included
Guided retreat sessions and facilitation
Daily breakfast throughout the tour. Welcome dinner in Reykjavík, and full board during the Glacier Lagoon retreat (lunches and dinners)
Private ground transport for all scheduled activities.
Northern lights monitoring
Lodging in Reykjavík and near Glacier Lagoon
Musician and music Expert Tour Leaders, Brazilian Music Specialists, and Local guides
What’s not Included
- Round-trip flights between your hometown and Iceland.
- Iceland Airwaves festival tickets
- Optional excursions (glacier hikes, ice caves, lagoon boats)
- Travel insurance
- Comprehensive travel insurance is highly recommended.
- Any recommended or required vaccinations or travel-related medications are the responsibility of the traveler.
- Lunches and dinners not specifically listed.
- Activities not included in the official itinerary, as well as personal expenses.
- Tips for guides, drivers, hotel staff, and musicians.
- Alcohol is only included where mentioned.
- Extra stays before or after the tour are not included but can be arranged at an additional cost.
Dates And Pricing
Booking in advance ensures a wider selection of options and benefits from lower prices. Plus, flexibility is at your fingertips; feel free to switch to another trip without any fees before your final payment. For personalized assistance, don’t hesitate to get in touch with our travel specialists at info@musicalgetaways.com.
NOV 6TH – NOV 11TH , 2026
Reykjavík and Glacier Lagoon Region
Make Your Music Tour Private
Important Itinerary Notes & Travel Pace
Find answers to the most common questions about our tours. If you can’t find what you’re looking for here, please contact us.
Itinerary Structure & Flexibility
The schedule provided serves as an outline for the retreat flow and included experiences. Specific days and the order of activities may vary depending on the November departure dates, the Iceland Airwaves performance schedule, and local event availability. Iceland is a dynamic environment where weather conditions and festival logistics can shift unexpectedly.
We plan meticulously and remain adaptable with multiple contingency options to ensure the creative and cultural quality of the trip remains intact. While minor adjustments may occur, the core components of the sample itinerary reflect what we intend to deliver for every guest. Final date-specific itineraries are shared as the departure approaches.
Live Music Disclaimer
The music culture in Iceland, especially during a major festival like Iceland Airwaves, is characterized by spontaneity and rapid shifts in performance schedules. Because of the nature of the festival and the local music scene in Reykjavík, changes in set times, specific artist lineups, or designated venues are common. When these shifts occur, we coordinate with our local partners and festival contacts to ensure you have access to equally compelling musical experiences. We remain committed to navigating these changes to maintain the creative integrity of the tour.
Travel Pace & Activity Level
This retreat follows a deliberate, intentional pace that moves from the active city environment of Reykjavík to the more stationary, reflective setting of the Glacier Lagoon. In the first half of the trip, you should be comfortable walking through the city and standing during musical performances at various Iceland Airwaves venues. The latter portion of the journey involves travel along the South Coast and exploration of natural sites like waterfalls and black sand beaches, which requires navigating uneven terrain.
While this is not a high-intensity tour, it does require the mobility needed to get in and out of vehicles and the endurance to spend time outdoors in a late-autumn climate. The retreat is designed for those who value a slower, more reflective pace, but guests should be prepared for light physical activity during our landscape-based sessions and optional excursions like glacier walks.
While this is not a high-intensity or athletic tour, it does require a comfortable level of mobility and endurance typical of immersive city travel.
Accessibility & Private Tours
If you have mobility considerations, accessibility needs, or prefer a slower or more customized pace, we strongly recommend inquiring about a private tour. Private tours allow us to tailor the itinerary, transportation, and activity level to best suit your needs while preserving the spirit of the experience.
Learn more about Iceland Creativity
The Geography of Innovation: Why Iceland Reshapes the Creative Mind
…Iceland exists on a different timeline. It is a landscape defined by raw, unfinished earth, a place where the physical world is still in the process of being made. For an artist, this environment offers a rare psychological alignment. When the world around you is in a state of creation, it becomes significantly easier to create…
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