The Snorri Program
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The Snorri Program is a unique summer program in Iceland for Canadians and Americans of Icelandic descent between the ages of 20 and 30. Participants learn, grow, build relationships, and have unforgettable experiences over the course of five weeks, including:
​
2 weeks of cultural and language education in Reykjavík
2 weeks homestay with family and volunteer placement
1 week adventure tour seeing the best Iceland has to offer
Organized by the Snorri Foundation in partnership with the Icelandic National League of Iceland (Þjóðræknisfélag) and the Nordic Association.  Other partners include the Icelandic National League of North America and the Icelandic National League of the United States.
The Snorri Programs require all participants eligible for COVID-19 vaccinations to be fully vaccinated prior to participation in the program and comply with all local COVID-19 requirements.
11 June- 16 July 2023
​Deadline to apply: January 16, 2023
Apply now!
Video created by Snorri Program 2022 Alumni, Jack Plumley  

What is included?

  • Round trip fare from North America to Iceland.​ *Note: domestic flights within North America not included. **due to COVID-19, more information regarding departure locations will be available in the new year.
  • Accommodation and most meals for the whole period.
  • Insurance during your stay in Iceland.
  • Domestic travel costs.
  • Two-week language instruction and culture program.
  • An allowance during the family and volunteer placement.
  • Adventure tour: full board, lodging and travel costs.
  • Weekend and evening program in Reykjavík.
  • Family tree and direct contact with your Icelandic relatives.
  • Information kit upon arrival. 
  • Access to the Icelandic Roots Genealogy Database. (and free training!)​
  • And so much more!

Keep reading below for more details about each segment of the program. 
Click here to see an outline of the 2022 itinerary.
Snorri 2019 Group at Thingvellir National Park
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Snorri participant reading an Icelandic textbook

Culture and Language 

During your first two weeks in Reykjavík you will take part in a cultural education program, which includes an intensive course in modern Icelandic along with lectures on topics like Icelandic history, culture, and nature. Participants are expected to attend all activities, complete assignments, and actively participate in discussions. Snorri participants will also get to meet the Snorri West participants. 

**All Snorri participants are required to finish the free Icelandic Online language course before arrival.

Homestays and Family

During your first week in Reykjavík, you will receive a family tree depicting your past and present relatives in Iceland. You will also be able to see how you are connected to some of Iceland's first settlers, a few famous Icelanders, as well as your fellow Snorris. A lecture will be given by a genealogist who will also be able to answer any questions you may have. 

Genealogy information is provided by Icelandic Roots and Íslendingabók (The Book of Icelanders). When you apply it is important to send in detailed information about your Icelandic ancestors that emigrated. Your family tree enables us to connect with your living Icelandic relatives and find you a host family before your arrival. It will also enable us to help you contact more of your relatives in Iceland if you wish. Accurate information will make the application process faster. 

After the first two weeks in Reykjavík, you will stay with an Icelandic family for two weeks. Efforts will be made to place you with relatives who live in the geographical area where your ancestors once lived. This is not always possible, though over 95% of previous participants have stayed with their relatives for the so-called “family and volunteer period”.  During this time, you will participate in everyday family life and take on a volunteer summer job equivalent to the jobs young Icelanders usually have during the summer months.​
Three Snorri participants with their luggage posing in front of a yellow bus
Two Icelandic horses, left one is white, the right one is brown
Icelandic Horses
Seven women in a row in an outdoor swimming pool facing away from us
Swimming Pool in Hofsós, Iceland (Drangey Island in the distance)

Volunteer Placements

The Snorri Program will take care of finding you a host family and arranging your volunteer placement. If you have specific requests, you are welcome to let us know in advance and we will try our best to accommodate your wishes; however, we cannot make any guarantees.
Previous Volunteer Positions have included:

  • Horse rentals
  • Whale watching tours
  • Farms
  • Greenhouses 
  • Tree planting projects
  • Slaughterhouses
  • Fish freezing plants
  • Construction projects
  • Daycare programs
  • Retirement homes
  • Swimming pools
  • Museums
  • Hotels and guesthouses
  • Banks
  • Shops
We will try our best to accommodate special needs and/or wishes. Please keep in mind that due to language limitations (i.e. insufficient knowledge of Icelandic) and the fact that the time period is not very long, it could be difficult to get a position related to your specific interests and/or education.  
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No changes will be made on the volunteer or family placements after they have been confirmed unless there is a special reason to do so. No matter what kind of volunteer placement you have, you will have the experience of a lifetime!

Adventure Tour

During the last week of the program, you will embark on an epic adventure tour around Iceland. The itinerary varies from year to year, but past trips have included:  
  • Hiking
  • White water rafting
  • Glacier trekking
  • Volcano tours
  • Lava cave tours
  • Horseback riding
  • Soaking in natural hot springs
  • Camping
  • Museum tours
  • And ample ice cream

All groups visit Hofsós, Iceland and tour of the Icelandic Emigration Center (Vesturfarasetrið). Weather permitting, most groups also go on a boat tour to and hike up Drangey Island where Grettir the Strong (from Grettir's Saga) lived as an outlaw.
Group posing on top of Drangey Island
Hiking on Drangey
Four people in a tent
Camping
Snorri group jumping off rocks into the river during white water rafting
White Water Rafting
Six people riding Icelandic horses
Riding Icelandic Horses
Snorri group on the tour bus
On The Bus!
Snorri group sitting in an outdoor hot spring on a sunny day
Outdoor Hot Springs
Have more questions? Find answers to many FAQs here.

What is the cost?

2023 Rates - $6500 USD per person

(Did You Know? - Thanks to the generosity of the Snorri Foundation participants only pay about half the actual cost of the program: $10,000 or $13,00 CAD)

Click here for full information on payment deadlines and to read our Refund and Cancellation Policy.
*Additional grants and scholarships are available.  For more information, click here.
Apply Now!

Your Snorri Adventure Awaits!

See More photos!

The Snorri Programs

​Óðinsgata 7, 101 Reykjavík, Iceland 
(+354) 551-0165      
info@snorri.is
Facebook: The Snorri Programs
Instagram:  The Snorri Programs | Snorri Alumni
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the Icelandic Government Coat of Arms
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  • Home
  • Programs
    • Snorri
    • Snorri Plus
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  • Alumni
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    • Snorri Alumni Association
  • About Us
    • Meet Our Team
    • Program History
    • Emigration Story
    • FAQs >
      • Snorri FAQ
      • Snorri Plus FAQ
      • Snorri West FAQ
  • Snorri Media
    • Snorri Photos
    • Snorri Plus Photos
    • Snorri West Photos