Community Education has partnered with Samantha Mandel of Samantha Trips. She is a local travel guide who arranges incredible international experiences! She books everything from hotel accommodations, transportation, tour guides, and activities! The only thing you need to do is book your plane ticket and she'll take care of the rest!
Iceland: A Northern Lights and Ring Road Tour. October 1-9, 2026
Sign up now to attend a 7:00pm virtual information session on February 18 or request a brochure! This rave-reviewed adventure takes place in October for the best chance of seeing Northern Lights and covers a full circuit of the Icelandic Ring Road.
Tour highlights include:
- Aurora Borealis Northern Lights
- Gleaming volcanic crater lakes
- Jaw-dropping waterfalls
- Majestic glaciers
- Knowledgeable local guide
- Personalized care and attention from a Samantha Trips tour manager
- Traditional Icelandic
delicacies - Pre-classes on Iceland culture and history
- Fellow community members
- And much, much more!
Spirit of Sicily: Sea, Soul and Sun! Late October, 2026
Sign up now to attend a 7:00pm virtual information session on February 10 or request a brochure! This tour will take place in the second half of October 2026 and include an optional extension to the Amalfi Coast and Pompeii. Exact dates for the tour will be published at the end of the month.
Highlights of the tour include:
- Historic hilltop towns and ancient ruins
- Stunning coastal boat tour
- Mount Etna, Europe’s highest active volcano
- Legendary Valley of the Temples & Greek theaters
- Museums, cathedrals, archaeological sites, & more
- Unforgettable natural landscapes
- Bold-flavored traditional Sicilian cooking class
- Mouthwatering wine and olive oil tastings
- Vibrant local markets and artisan workshops
- Charming seaside towns and villages
- Fantastic local guides
- Personalized care and attention from Samantha
- Included daily breakfasts & several cultural experience group meals
- Pre-trip classes on Sicilian history and culture
- And much, much more!
Hidden Gems of Scandinavia: A Norway and Denmark Adventure. Trip Dates: August 10-20, 2026
Experience a land of matchless natural beauty and vibrant Nordic culture. From elegant Copenhagen and Oslo to hidden mountain towns nestled along the fjords of Norway, you will immerse yourself in Viking history, Renaissance splendor, and sophisticated modern culture while marveling at some of Earth's most beautiful settings.
Trip highlights include:
- Jaw-dropping beauty of the famed Norwegian fjords
- Boat and train rides, some of the most famous in Norway!
- Insider visits to the bustling Scandinavian metropolises of Copenhagen and Oslo
- A stay in the idyllic mountain village of Balestrand and gorgeous seaside mountain-ringed town of Bergen
- Fantastic local guides
- Delicious Nordic cuisine (and a cooking class!)
- Castles, sculpture parks, walking tours, gardens, & more!
- Personal attention before, during, and after the tour
- Optional pre-trip seminars about Scandinavia, taught by Samantha
- High-quality accommodations
- Breakfast included every day & several included cultural experience group meals
- And much, much more!
Iceland 2.0: Pufflings and the Western Reaches. Trip Dates: August 25 - September 4, 2026
Already been to Iceland and want to explore some lesser-known gems? Consider Iceland 2.0! This new adventure explores the wild, less-traveled beauty of Western Iceland, from the gorgeous UNESCO Biosphere Reservation of Snaefellsnes Peninsula to the uninhabited Icelandic Highlands and volcanic, puffin-filled Westman Islands. Featuring a fan-favorite local guide and personal care from Samantha, travelers will get up close and personal with pufflings (baby puffins!), enjoy personal experiences with Icelandic farmers, fishermen, and craftspeople, experience dramatic coastlines by land and by sea, and walk, hike, and ride through unforgettable landscapes.
Stunning landscapes in UNESCO Bioreserve Snaefellsnes National Park
Baby puffin & seabird cruise on the Westman Islands
Full day visit to the uninhabited, stunning Icelandic Highlands
Personal experiences with Icelandic horse farmers, sheep farmers, & craftspeople
Relaxing natural hot spring visits with striking views
Award-winning museums & greenhouse visit
Easy hiking options
- Knowledgeable local guide
- Personalized care and attention from tour manager Samantha Mandel
- Delicious cuisine & Icelandic delicacies
- Pre-classes on Iceland culture and history
- Friendly travelers with a local connection to our area
- And much, much more!
The Zoom information sessions for both trips will review detailed information, have plenty of time for Q&A, and of course, be lots of fun! Brochures for each trip will be released after their respective information session.
Want to read reviews? You can check out public reviews for Samantha Trips here!
Interested in a different 2026 trip? Visit samanthatrips.com
Any questions? Reach out to organizer Samantha Mandel at (617) 564-1003 or samantha@samanthatrips.com.
About organizer Samantha Mandel: Samantha is an experienced tour leader based in our area who has planned and guided local groups abroad to destinations on almost every continent. She has a dedicated local fan base due to her meticulous trip planning, knowledgeable guiding, and boundless enthusiasm! She is the founder and owner of Samantha Trips, a boutique tour operator that focuses on bringing community members together through educational travel and giving each traveler a tailored experience. Samantha speaks 5 languages and can't wait to share her enthusiasm for adventuring with you.