Iceland
Exploration in the Land of the Midnight Sun
Travel abroad this summer on an adventurous middle school program to Iceland, where tectonic plates burst from the earth and glaciers, waterfalls, and volcanoes abound. Experience the green energy infrastructure and climate leadership of Reykjavík, trek across magnificent glaciers, spot whales off the northern coast, and learn about the effects of climate change on Iceland’s landscapes as you road trip around the country’s Ring Road.
- Highlights
• Don crampons and ice picks to traverse a glacier with guides
• Visit a geothermal power station and head into the field with naturalists
• Go rock climbing, ride horseback, whale watch, and swim in hot springs
Itinerary
This itinerary represents our best projection of the group’s schedule. However, we may implement changes designed to improve the quality of the program.
Meet your fellow middle school student travelers and one or more of your leaders in New York, and fly together to Reykjavík, Iceland. To learn more about how we organize travel, click here.
Arrive in Reykjavík, Iceland’s bustling capital, for your introduction to island life. Get to know your peers and program leaders during an in-depth group orientation. Soak in the famous Blue Lagoon, explore the ruins of a Viking household excavated beneath the city streets at the Settlement Museum, or stop in at the modern cathedral of Hallgrimskirkja, whose unique architecture was inspired by the natural basalt columns found throughout the country.
Set out on the famous Golden Circle and experience some of the country’s most iconic geysers and waterfalls up close. Get a behind-the-scenes perspective of a modern geothermal power station, which generates enormous amounts of clean energy for Reykjavík, then enjoy a traditional Icelandic dinner at a local farmhouse.
Travel along Iceland’s southern coast, and experience the stunning waterfall-studded landscape. Stop for a picnic lunch at the famous Seljalandsfoss waterfall, go for a barefoot stroll on a black-sand beach, and take in the towering basalt columns.
Continue east along the idyllic southern coast and spend your days in the field with expert mountain instructors. Hike in Skaftafell National Park, go trekking on Falljökull glacier, and try your hand at rock climbing at Hnappavellir, one of Iceland’s most famous climbing areas. Take in impressive views of Jökulsárlón Glacial Lagoon and watch glittering ice formations flow through this lunar landscape outside of Höfn. Explore Höfn itself, a historic fishing village perched on a peninsula surveying the outflow of five glaciers, including Vatnajökull glacier, the world’s largest ice cap outside the Arctic and Antarctica. Take a dip in the town’s thermal pool or play a pick-up game of soccer or basketball with local youth at the community center.
Head deep into the volcanic northern landscape to Lake Mývatn and hike on congealed lava flows from a series of massive eruptions that occurred in the late 1970s. Explore the trails along the canyon at Dettifoss, one of Europe’s most powerful waterfalls, then cap the day with a relaxing soak in the Mývatn Nature Baths, known for their blue mineral water and black-sand floors.
Arrive in Dalvík, a charming fishing village nestled on the edge of t