Ireland & Iceland: Ecovillage to Glacier

How do flights work?

Everyone meets the group at Dublin Airport (DUB). Students book their own flights and arrive within the published arrival window on Day 2, where Program Leaders meet them in the arrivals hall. From Dublin the group travels together to Cloughjordan, about two hours.

Departures work the same way in reverse: the group travels to Dublin Airport together on the final day and students fly out within the published departure window.

From the United States this is an overnight transatlantic flight, which is why the itinerary shows departure on Day 1 and arrival on Day 2. Students flying from within Europe or elsewhere arrive into the same window. International airfare is not included in program tuition.

What's included in the price?

Included: All lodging in Ireland and Iceland, all meals, all workshops and site visits including the Rediscovery Centre, the Dublin to Reykjavik flight, in-country transport and airport transfers, 24/7 staff support.
Not included: International airfare, travel insurance, personal spending money ($150 to $200 per week).

Do you offer financial aid or scholarships?

Yes. Monthly payment plans are open to every family, and Rustic Pathways offers both need-based financial aid and merit scholarships. Explore scholarships and financial aid.

Is travel insurance required?

Travel insurance is not included in the program fee and is not required, but Rustic Pathways recommends it. Medical insurance with overseas cover is required. Those are two different products and families often buy only the second.

What is the enrollment fee?

A one-time enrollment fee is charged when you enroll, separate from the program tuition. It covers enrollment processing, pre-departure advising and trip planning.

The fee is non-refundable after the first 24 hours.

What if my family has an emergency and we have to cancel?

Some things are outside anyone’s control. If your family faces a serious documented emergency, contact us. We review these individually and will do what we reasonably can.

Separately, the published refund schedule for summer programs is:

Within 24 hours of enrolling — everything you have paid is refunded.
Up to 31 March — the program price is refunded, less the non-refundable enrollment fee and any airfare already booked.
1 to 30 April — the same, less a further 50% of the total program price.
From 1 May — no refund.

31 March is the date that matters most. Up to it you can cancel and lose only the enrollment fee and any airfare. Read the full terms.

Who's supervising my child?

Rustic Pathways Program Leaders complete a four-month vetting process, and programs maintain a median of one staff member per 4.37 students (4.37:1), with no program exceeding 7 students per staff member (7:1). All Program Leaders hold current CPR and First Aid certification, and every program includes at least one leader with 3 or more years of field experience. Program Leaders range in age from 22 to 45.

Program Leaders travel with the group throughout and stay on site with the students in Cloughjordan. Workshops and land work are run by ecovillage residents and staff, who are the people who built and run the systems being taught.

Are rooms gender-separated?

Yes. Students room with same-gender peers and staff stay in adjacent rooms, both at the ecovillage and in Dublin.

What about medical emergencies?

Cloughjordan has a local GP practice, Nenagh hospital is about 30 minutes away and Limerick’s major hospital about an hour, so definitive care is close throughout. The Dublin night is in a capital city. All Program Leaders hold current CPR and First Aid certification, and the nearest clinic and hospital are mapped for every location. Our health and safety team reviews all medical forms before departure.

Can I reach my child?

Yes. Cloughjordan has mobile coverage and the accommodation has Wi-Fi, though it is a rural village rather than a city and speeds reflect that. Dublin is unrestricted. Parents can reach the Rustic Pathways 24/7 emergency line at any time.

How will I know they're okay?

Program Leaders post daily photo updates. Ireland is 5 hours ahead of US eastern time, so the day’s photos usually arrive in your afternoon.

What is the phone/device policy?

Students keep their phones and we do not confiscate them. We ask that they stay away during activities, lessons and shared meals, and students are welcome to take photos. Outside those moments they can contact home as often as they like.

Much of this program is outdoors and hands-on, so a phone in a pocket is more practical than a phone in a hand.

How big is the group and how old are the participants?

This program is capped at 16 students, ages 14 to 18. Rustic Pathways publishes a median of one staff member per 4.37 students (4.37:1) and no program exceeds 7 students per staff member (7:1).

Each of the two departures is capped separately. The cap reflects what the ecovillage can host and work alongside without the community becoming a venue.

Can international (non-U.S.) students join this program?

Yes. Rustic Pathways programs are open to students worldwide, with participants from 53 countries. Students travelling from outside the United States book their own flights to Dublin (DUB), arrive within the published window, and are met there by Program Leaders. Visa requirements vary by passport, so contact a travel advisor for guidance.

Do students come with friends, or on their own?

Most come alone. Cooking, planting and clearing ground together does the work that ice-breakers usually have to. Friends are welcome to enroll together.

What is the accommodation like?

Five nights in an ecovillage in Cloughjordan, County Tipperary, in communal accommodation rather than a hotel, and a final night in Dublin. The housing is simple and that is part of the point: it is built and heated the way the community argues housing should be.

We do not publish the name or address of the accommodation. Enrolled families receive the full details before departure.

Can friends room together?

Yes. Students room with same-gender peers in communal ecovillage accommodation and in Dublin, and roommate requests are taken at enrollment.

Can the program itinerary change?

This itinerary is what we intend to deliver and we work hard to deliver it. Programs run in real conditions, so activities can move for weather, health and safety, transport, site availability or local circumstances.

If plans change, the team adjusts the schedule around student safety and the purpose of the program. We will tell you what changed and why.

Will my child have unsupervised time?

Some. Cloughjordan is a village of a few hundred people and students get free blocks within it with Program Leaders on site. Dublin free time runs in small groups with a meeting point set. Students are never alone with a single adult.

Can you accommodate dietary needs & food allergies?

This is the easiest program in our portfolio for plant-based eating. Much of the food comes off the Cloughjordan community farm, students help prepare it, and vegetarian and vegan are the default rather than the accommodation.

Gluten-free and common allergies are handled with advance notice, collected at enrollment. Because meals are cooked communally rather than ordered, tell us early so the kitchen plans around it.

How much spending money?

$150 to $200 per week is recommended for souvenirs and incidentals. Tipping is included in the program fee. Ireland uses the euro, not the pound, and cards are accepted almost everywhere.

Do we need a visa?

US citizens do not need a visa for a stay of this length in Ireland.

Ireland is not in the Schengen Area, so its rules differ from most of the EU and the EU’s ETIAS authorisation does not apply. Requirements vary by passport, and students travelling on a non-US passport should check well ahead of departure. Contact a Rustic Pathways travel advisor for guidance specific to your nationality.

What if my child gets homesick?

Homesickness usually lands in the first few days. A small rural community with a shared routine tends to settle it faster than a city itinerary does. Program Leaders check in daily. Read how we handle homesickness.

Do you support neurodiverse students?

Rustic Pathways welcomes all students and works with families ahead of departure to plan the support a student needs. Tell us early rather than at the airport, so Program Leaders arrive already knowing. Read about our approach to inclusion.