On Saturday 28 March 37 students from Years 10-13, and five members of staff, departed the UK for four nights in Iceland. After arriving in Keflavík late on Saturday evening, we got a good night’s sleep in our first hotel ahead of a busy three days ahead.
Our first activity on Sunday morning was the highlight of the trip for many – a visit to The Blue Lagoon. Here we experienced Iceland’s geothermal energy first‑hand by bathing in naturally heated waters set within an incredible landscape of lava fields. After a very late arrival the night before this was exactly what we all needed to get us ready for a busy few days ahead (although the sudden hailstorm caused a very rapid exit for some!). Once we left the Blue Lagoon fully rejuvenated (apparently the mineral-rich spa waters knock ten-years off your age!) we headed into downtown Reykjavik where we visited key landmarks such as Hallgrímskirkja, the Harpa Concert Hall and the city’s waterfront. Queuing to go in groups of six up to the top of the tower in Hallgrímskirkja was absolutely worth it to see the view of Reykjavik from above, even though it was being viewed through a blizzard by the time of the final group’s ascent! From Reykjavik we travelled to the Lava Show, the only live lava show in the world and a truly unforgettable experience! We witnessed real molten lava flowing into the auditorium and saw how it’s characteristics rapidly changed as it cooled, teaching us first-hand about Iceland’s volcanic processes and how its unique landscape has been created.
Monday’s itinerary started with a visit to Hellisheiði Geothermal Power Station, Europe’s largest of its kind, where we learnt how Iceland harnesses its vast reserves of geothermal energy to provide sustainable power across the country. From there we headed to Þingvellir National Park where we walked in the rift valley forming between the Eurasian and North American tectonic plates! What started out as a sunny walk soon turned into a blizzard and we were glad of the crampons we had been given to put on our shoes, to minimise the risk of slipping. It’s hard to say whether we were more excited about the fact we were walking between tectonic plates, or that it was snowing while we did it – but the snow did add something special (and a few snowballs) to the experience! En route to our next destination we stopped at Efstidalur dairy farm, where they use their own fresh milk daily to make very delicious ice cream! Not only that but the calves are housed in a shed attached to the ice cream parlour, so we got to admire how cute they were while eating our ice creams! The day continued at Gullfoss waterfall – an iconic two-tiered, 32-meter waterfall and one of Iceland’s most powerful natural features. We weren’t able to walk right up to the falls on the lower level, as the ice on the path was still too think from an extremely harsh winter, however that didn’t diminish the awe it inspired in all of us! Finally, the incredible opportunities to experience earth’s natural processes in Iceland culminated on day two with a visit to Geysir – the namesake for all geysers around the world. Although Geysir itself is no longer active, the smaller Strokkur erupts every five-ten minutes, sending a plume of superheated steam up to 40 metres into the atmosphere. Strokkur is surrounded by no less impressive bubbling and steaming pools throughout the Geysir Geothermal Area.
On Tuesday we started the day with a visit to the Lava Centre, a fun and interactive exhibition exploring the art and science of geology and the volcanic systems in Iceland. Stop two of the day was the eagerly anticipated glacier walk at Sólheimajökull. It had been touch-and-go whether we would be able to complete the walk as planned, due to the continuing bad weather, however there was a break in clouds so our walk could go ahead as planned. When we arrived in the car park we were met by our guides and given a safety briefing before getting off the coach. Once off the coach we were kitted out in crampons, a hard-hat and safety harness, and were given an ice axe to carry. This certainly added to both the excitement and trepidation that some of us were feeling! Once we were all ready, we split into smaller groups, with three guides between us, and headed out onto the glacier. The walk to the glacier from the car park takes around twenty minutes around the banks of the glacial outflow lake, which sadly is growing every year. It is believed that the glacier is currently losing 60 meters of length and 10 to 20 metres of thickness each year, which unfortunately makes it a perfect place to clearly see the impact of climate change. During our time on the glacier itself we were immersed in a rugged, ever-evolving landscape of white and blue ice striped with black volcanic ash from past eruptions. We experienced deep, electric-blue crevasses, ice sculptures, and small waterfalls on the ice. From the glacier we travelled along the south coast to Vík, where we explored the black sand beaches of Reynisfjara, keeping a safe distance from the sea and the infamous ‘sneaker waves’ that the beaches there often experience. For our final two stops of the trip we visited two more of Iceland’s waterfalls – Skógafoss and Seljalandsfoss. While we were disappointed that the path that takes you behind the waterfall at Seljalandsfoss was closed due to ice, they were nevertheless a spectacular way to end the trip!
During our final dinner we asked the students to write down their one favourite memory from the trip which, as I’m sure you can imagine, ranged from the inspirational to the ridiculous! What their answers did tell us is that the trip was packed with unforgettable moments, with mix of adventure, humour and shared experiences. The dramatic landscapes and vast scenic views at every turn left a lasting impression, as did the range of different ways that we experienced snow over the three days – leaving us in no doubt as to why there are sixty words for snow in Icelandic! Equally memorable were the lighter moments that brought everyone together: games nights, learning new card games, Icelandic music and karaoke with Inge on the coach, trips to Icelandic supermarkets and the breakfast waffles!
The trip was an unforgettable experience, and I am already excited about planning it again in 2030! If you are currently in Years 7-9, start getting excited now!
