Educational Tours - Iceland Highlights Tour

We are pleased to present our Educational Tours and Visits to Iceland. We offer a wide range of trips and activities that cover all the requirements of case studies for Geography A Level and GCSE specifications. Iceland provides a superb range of subjects ideal for educational travel. Whether it is culture, history, nature, geology, wildlife or any subject of particular interest, we can arrange an itinerary geared towards school-aged students which is sure to inform as well as entertain.

With our extensive experience in group travel services, an cooperation with our partners in Iceland we are able to offer itineraries that are specifically designed to suit our client’s different needs and special interests.

With its rich cultural heritage, remarkable geological surroundings, and diversified array of flora and fauna, Iceland boasts all the key ingredients for those seeking the ultimate in experience feasts! We offer many different tours customised for educational and school groups including, but not limited to:

~ Bird watching
~ History and Culture
~ Geology and Geothermal energy
~ Health and Spa
~ General Educational tours
~ Viking Sagas

If you have additional themes in mind, we would love to hear them and will do our very best to bring them to life.

Educational Tours & Visits to Iceland - General Information

We are pleased to present a wide range of tours and activities for your group to take part in during your visit to Iceland.

Reykjavik City Siteseeing

Reykjavik is the world's most northerly capital, with more than one third of Iceland's population.City Church Today Reykjavik is a modern city with a variety of restaurants, museums, galleries and theaters. On our tour we cover the city from one end to the other. We will see the old town centre, the Parliament, the Cathedral, the harbour, the National Museum, the Pearl and Hofoi house, the summit site of 1986.

On our journey we drive past the city's salmon river which is an outstanding proof that Reykjavik is a pollution-free capital and the Arbaejarsafn outdoor folk museum, which offers an interesting contrast to the modern buildings of the most recent part of Reykjavik. The tour continues past Reykjavik's largest outdoor swimming pool in Laugardalur which is heated with water from natural hot springs under the city, the Asmundur Sveinsson Sculpture museum and Hallgrimskirkja Church (whose steeple is a Reykjavik landmark). The tour ends at hotel or in the city centre.

Duration: 3 hours.

Reykjanes Peninsula & the Blue Lagoon

We drive to the Alftanes Peninsula and to Bessastaoir, the residence of Iceland's President. Here we'll visit the church, with its beautiful stained glass windows. Then onwards to the town of Hafnarfjorour, situated picturesquely on an ancient lava flow. Continuing towards Lake Kleifarvatn, set in fascinating, stark, lunar-like landscape. Near the lake's southern end lies Krisuvik with powerful jets of steam escaping from deep below the earth's crust and sulphurous steam rising from numerous vents of a geothermal field. Here we can see innumerable small hot springs and mud pots, boiling pools and other types of geothermal activity.

Continuing our journey under low mountains and along the shore to stop by craggy cliffs rising sheer from the sea and dotted with bird's nests. We proceed to the town of Grindavik with its sizeable fishing fleet. After a drive through Grindavik, we approach the Blue Lagoon.

The Lagoon is a unique wonder of nature; a lagoon with pleasantly warm mineral-rich geothermal water in a middle of a black lava field. The high natural levels of silica and minerals give the lagoon its rich blue colour. The facilities include modern changing rooms and showers, an indoor geothermal pool, a winter garden, restaurants and other services. A visit to the Blue Lagoon is both invigorating and exciting whether one bathes there surrounded by snow in the middle of winter or in the long summer daylight.

Duration: 5 hours.

Golden Circle

Morning drive over Hellisheioi plateau to Hverageroi, known as the greenhouse village. We continue to Gullfoss, the Golden Waterfall, one of the most impressive waterfalls in Europe. Here you will see thousand of tons of icy water thunder majestically down in double falls into a deep canyon. Only a few minutes drive from Gullfoss is the famous Great Geyser which has leant its name to hot springs all over the world. You will see one of the most active Geysers in the area, Strokkur, spouting up to 30 metres.

Onwards to Pingvellir, a remarkable geological site and the most historic site on the island. Pingvellir is the site of the world's oldest democtratic parliament founded in 930. Pingvellir, located by Lake Pingvallavatn, the largest lake on the island, is now a national park. The beautiful canyon running through the park is actually the meeting point of two of earth's tectonic plates, and Pingvellier's combination of natural phenomena and historical significance make it inseparable from the fabric of Icelandic national life. From Pingvellir we travel over Mosfellsheioi plateau to Reykjavik.

Duration: 8-9 hours.

Optional: Include a visit to Hellisheioi Geothermal Plant located approximately 30 km from Reykjavik. A professional lecture is available at a supplement of approx £240 per group. Please follow this link for further information on the plant: Hellisheidi Geothermal Plant

Optional: SUMMER

Buffet Lunch at Htl Geyser - £17 per person
Icelandic meat soup, with bread and butter, served at self-service line - £12 per person
Lunch Box, from: £7 per person.
It is also possible to buy a hot dog or sandwich on the spot for approximately £2-3

Snaefellsnes Peninsula

Snaefellsnes is a unique area with variety of geological interests such as lava fields, volcanoes,Snaefellsnes Peninsula glacier, springs, beautiful formed rock, yellow and black sand beaches and caves apart from a very interesting bird life. The main attraction is with no doubt Snaefellsjökull glacier, a beautifully shaped strato volcano at the very end of the peninsula.

The glacier and the unspoiled natural wonders surrounding it, is the scene of Jules Verne’s novel “Journey to the Centre of the Earth” and one of seven most magical sites on Earth. Búðir is a very impressive area, where you can have a great walk in a very special landscape with mixture of sandy hills, black lava and yellow beach and at the same time you feel the closeness and the impression of the glacier. Arnarstapi offers a great opportunity for a walk along the sea cliffs and strange holes in the ground reaching to the sea with spectacular columnar rock formations where seabirds nest. On to Djúpalónssandur, before the tour continues around the peninsula and from there on towards Reykjavik.

Duration: 10 hours.

Optional: SUMMER 2010

2 course lunch from - £14 per person
Lunch Box, from: £7 per person
It is also possible to buy a hot dog or sandwich on the spot for approximately £2-3

Horse Riding

Transfer to the Ishestar riding centre, where the participants put on an overall, riding helmet, boots and gloves (supplied). After a short introduction of the horses and staff, our ride starts into the beautiful nature around the horse center. The horses are well suited both for the beginner and more advanced riders.

When the Vikings first came to Iceland about a thousand years ago they brought their horses with them, and no horse has been imported since. They are small but strong. They are friendly, willing, docile animals and rarely give their riders any kind of trouble. An average horse will carry a heavy rider day after day, not just across easy grassland, but up and down the rockiest of slopes, through rivers and across fields of rough lava.

Duration: Approx 3 hours - 1 hour riding.

Included: Transfer in private coach, guide, 1 hour riding tour, riding helmet, rainwear or a warm outfit during the ride, gloves, boots.

South Shore

We drive from Reykjavik over the mountain pass Hellisheiði offers a magnificent view of the wide plains formed by glacial rivers, now fertile farmland in South-Iceland. A brief stop at Hveragerði South Shorewith its greenhouses before proceeding east through small villages and farmlands to the majestic mountains towering over the coast we will have frequent views of mountains, including snow shrouded Hekla, the country’s most active volcano and the towering, ice capped strato volcano Eyjafjallajökull. We continue through the region where one of the best known of the Icelandic classical sagas, Njál’s Saga is set. A stop at the spectacular waterfalls Seljalandsfoss and Skógarfoss. Those two waterfalls tumble over high rock escarpments.

We go past Dyrhólaey, a magnificent rocky headland with sheer cliffs, with a huge wave cut gap in its ocean facing tip to the beautiful sited village of Vík, where we will stop for lunch. After the break we’ll head for the sea shore before we turn back to Reykjavík. The sea shore is flanked by steep bird cliffs rising above the black, wave pounded sands. In the sea just outside the village of Vík are Reynisdrangar rocks - 66 meters above sea level at their highest. According to legend the Reynisdrangar were formed when two trolls were trying to drag a three-masted ship to land. When daylight broke they turned into a stone.

Duration: 10 hours.

Included: Transportation in private coach, guide.

Optional: SUMMER

2 course lunch from - £14 per person
Lunch Box, from: £7 per person
It is also possible to buy a hot dog or sandwich on the spot for approximately £2-3

Whale Watching from Reykjavik

During this cruise one may see various species of whales, dolphins, seabirds and seals. An expert guide will supply information about the marine mammals. The most commonly sighted whales are minke whales, white-beaked dolphins, harbor porpoises, the popular humpback whales and killer whales (orcas). The majestic fin- and sei whales can also be seen on the tour. Warm coffee served on board.

Duration: 4 hours - 3 hours boat tour.

Included: coach transfer to and from pier, guide, 3 hrs whale watching tour.

Þingvellir National Park

Our journey takes us over the Mosfellsheiði to visit the National Park of Þingvellir which is of great ecological, geological and historical interest. We walk through the spectacular fault Almannagjá (Gorge of the People) to the place where Europe's eldest national legislative assembly, the Icelandic Parliament, was established in the year 930.

We visit Peningagjá, the Icelandic equivalent of a wishing well. We then enjoy a romantic drive along the shores of the Þingvellir Lake, Iceland's largest natural lake. The journey continues through the magnificent volcanic landscape of the Hengill area to Nesjavellir, one of the most advanced geothermal power plants in the world, situated in one of the most extensive hot-temperature geothermal areas in the country. This is a unique opportunity to see how green energy is processed from hot water.

Duration: 4-5 hrs

Included: Coach and private guide, free entrance to the Nesjavellir Power Plant)

Cave Exploring

Walking in a cave and discovering the marvels that volcanic activity has created in the past is a trip Cave Exploringthat everyone can undertake. The Leiðarendi cave is located in only 25 km distance from Reykjavik. It is 750 metres long, very accessible and there is only 150 meters walk from the road on mossy lava. Leidarendi cave is about 2000 years old and the stalagmites have changed relatively little all that time. We ask all our participants not to cause any damage to the cave and to take nothing else than pictures. A great way to learn about tube caves.

The Icelandic lava fields preserve an exiting underground world of lava tubes, where time has come to a stand still. Tunnels, lava rivers and stalactites are frozen in a fossil world of black basalt, mixed with colourful oxides.

The Gjabakkahellir cave is just east of Thingvellir rift zone and is an ideal place to spice up the Golden Circle tour. Participants wear overalls, helmets and headlights. No man made structures are found in the cave. This is a really cool trip for those that are not afraid of the dark and want to experience something totally out of the ordinary!

Duration: approx 4 hrs.

Minimum group size: 10 // Maximum group size: 25

Age limit: 12 years. Bring with you: Warm outdoor clothing, waterproof jacket and pants. Good hiking shoes are vital! We will provide for you: Helmet, harness and gloves.

Included: Coach transfer, professional staff at the cave, equipment for caving, a local guide, The caving is at either Leiðarendi cave or Gjabakka cave.

Optional: Hot chocolate GBP 3.00 pp.

Westman Islands. "The Pearls in the Ocean"

The Westman Islands, "The Pearls in the Ocean", is an archipelago of about 15 islands and 20 cliffs.

The southernmost island, Surtsey, is the latest addition, created during the longest historic eruption of the country in 1963-1967.

The only inhabited island, Heimaey, was struck by an unexpected eruption in 1973 and all the inhabitants had to be evacuated immediately. The Islanders base their livelihood on fishing, fish processing and tourism. Local fish processing accounts for 15% of the export value of fish products of Iceland.