Your adventure era starts here...

Hey friends,

You know that feeling when the season finally shifts? Light lasts longer. Trails dry out. The group chat goes from “what are you watching” to “where are you going.”

That’s where we are. And if you’ve been telling yourself this is the year — the year you actually go, actually book the trip (like my Grouptrip to Iceland, for example!), actually stop putting it off — the next two weeks matter.

Here’s why: the REI Anniversary Sale, their biggest of the year, is on right now through May 25th. This is the window to get the gear that turns “someday” into a packing list.

Here’s what I’d actually be grabbing:

→ Osprey Kyte 38 Pack. This pack WORKS! I’ve had her for 3.5 years, and she’s been everywhere with me — hut-to-hut traverses, a 3-day trip to Joshua Tree, two weeks through Vietnam, hiking in Albania, weekend after weekend in the Dolomites. Still going strong. The 38L sweet spot means she works as a long-weekend pack AND a carry-on for two-week trips. If you’re going to invest in one bag, make it this one.

→ REI Co-op Rainier Long Line Rain Jacket The long-line cut is the move; it covers your butt (literally) when you’re sitting on wet rocks or getting hit with sideways rain. Packs into its own pocket and has a real hood with a brim. Layer it over everything.

→ For summer: REI Co-op Sahara Convertible Pants. Yes, zip-offs. I know. But hear me out: one pair of pants that becomes shorts when the sun comes out is the cheat code for variable weather. Lightweight, quick-dry, pockets that actually hold things. The unsexy MVP of the summer packing list.

→ For winter: REI Co-op Powderbound Insulated Snow Pants Insulated, waterproof, and built for actually cold weather — not the “my fingers are a little chilly” kind, the “there’s wind coming off a glacier” kind. (You know these would be PERFECT for Iceland 😉 — more on that in a sec.)

Shop the entire sale → REI ANNIVERSARY SALE​

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BUT YOU'LL NEED SOMEWHERE TO WEAR THE GEAR!

I know just the perfect place for your new gear...if you’ve got your eyes set on my WOMEN ONLY group trip to Iceland, this sale is the perfect opportunity to stock up for it.

Here are the details:

📍 Where: Reykjavik → Golden Circle → Skaftafell → Snæfellsnes Peninsula

📅 When: January 26 – February 1, 2027 (7 days, 6 nights)

👥 Group size: 8–15 travelers — small on purpose
💰 Price: $3,928 USD (early bird — save $100 off the regular $4,028)

⚡ Activity level: Exploration

What we’re doing:

• Trekking glaciers in Vatnajökull National Park — the largest in Europe
• Chasing the Northern Lights from 3 different basecamps (weather permitting 🤞)
• Walking behind Seljalandsfoss and standing under Skogafoss
• Black sand beaches at Reynisfjara — it looks like another planet
• Soaking in the Blue Lagoon AND the Krauma geothermal baths
• The Golden Circle: Thingvellir, Geysir, Gullfoss
• Jokulsarlon Glacier Lagoon — icebergs that are 1,000+ years old
• Snæfellsnes Peninsula coastal walks

This is actually A LOT-- For a fairly decent price point, too!

What’s included: Hotels (double occupancy in 3-star hotels and guesthouses), a local guide for all 7 days, all city transfers, 6 breakfasts, and 5 dinners.

What’s NOT included: Flights, lunches, travel insurance, airport transfers, tips. (Pay over time is available through Affirm if you need it.) Right now, you'd only pay your deposit!

This trip is winter Iceland — Northern Lights season, glacier season, hot-springs-in-the-snow season. It’s the version of Iceland most people don’t get to see.

Full itinerary + booking → ICELAND WITH KIMBERLY KEPHART TRAVELS​

Questions? Hit reply — I read every email, and I’m happy to walk you through it.

Stay Curious, I'll be back next week with more stories from the road

Kimberly

P.S. — May 25. Don’t sleep on the sale. And those early bird Iceland spots are limited — once they’re gone, it’s $4,028.

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