Geography & Sustainability project

You will head to one of the most contrasted and stunningly beautiful places on earth, Iceland. This project gives you an immersive/ hands-on insight into the power of renewable energy and sustainability. With plenty of time for volcano watching, waterfall spotting, fjord walking and ice hiking. This expedition is the perfect balance of education, adventure, fire and ice.

An epic 5 day adventure to explore one of the most diversified and impressive landscapes in the northern hemisphere. This expedition is about opportunities, working on your personal development as you challenge yourself to tackle a unique environment. Unlock your inner explorer as you discover stunning landscapes and adaptive communities that utilise the world around them. It’s a jam-packed few days that won’t be forgotten! Plus, you’ll further your knowledge of the Sustainable Development Goals that align with this project, as well as gain a deeper understanding of your own social and environmental impact.

Iceland Winter

Golden Circle

Explore some of the most magnificent sites Iceland has to offer: Gullfoss, Geysir and Þingvellir National Park. Prepare yourself for waterfalls, hot springs, ice, volcanoes and beautiful scenery

Friðheimar

Learn about how you can farm all year round, even in some of the harshest conditions, by harnessing the power of the land, and try some of the delicious products grown here.

Lava exhibition

Enrich your geographical knowledge and discover the importance of fire and ice in the creation of Iceland’s dramatic landscape in this awesome interactive exhibition.

Ice hiking

The true nature immersion experience. Ice hiking pushes the boundaries giving you a sense of freedom and awe at the same time. Lets see who can do the ‘viking push up‘?

“You asked us to do it, so we did it. We ‘Floogled Iceland’. Our first ‘cold’ project has become a firm favourite with our schools...with the combination of adventure, volcanology, geography and sustainability what more do you need? Fire, ice, whales and lagoons? yep we do that too...”

— ★★★★★ Floogle Founders

Immerse yourself in the land of ice and fire on this 5-day adventure, learning about geography, volcanology and sustainability.

Exploring the geographical features of Iceland will introduce you to some of the most beautiful landscapes in the world. Glaciers, volcanoes, black sand beaches, waterfalls, geysers…Iceland has it all. You will leave Iceland having experienced an expedition brimming with adventure and awe-inspiring sights - five days you will never forget!

ITINERARY OVERVIEW:

Day 1: Arrive: Reykjanes Peninsula and Geothermal Power Plant
Day 2: Golden Circle and Secret Lagoon
Day 3: South Shore and Vík
Day 4: Ice Hike and Lava Centre
Day 5: Whale watching and Depart

Full itinerary ⟶

Have a question? See our FAQ ⟶

About your adventure

You will work your way around the south coast of Iceland, starting with the lava fields and hot springs of Grindavík and Gunnuhver before discovering the Golden Circle of Gullfoss, Geysir geothermal area and Þingvellir National Park. You’ll dive into learning how volcanic activity and geothermal landscapes have influenced communities in Iceland - including tomato cultivation and renewable energy utilisation. From ice tunnels to lava exhibitions, you will gain a wealth of knowledge on geographical features and sustainability in action whilst creating memories which will last a lifetime.
As the land of ice and fire, there is a close association between volcanoes and ice. Learn how tectonic hazards can impact local communities so appropriate mitigation and adaptation strategies can be implemented. Floods, landslides, avalanches and earthquakes all impact Iceland so it is a fantastic place to see hazard preparation and management in action!

This project covers four key geographical/sustainability sites:
**Golden Circle:** Get up close and see why Gullfoss, Geysir and Þingvellir are Iceland’s key attractions
**Friðheimar greenhouse:** Learn about how farmers use geothermal energy to grow food all year despite the freezing winters
**Lava exhibition:** Explore the centre and learn about the creation of Iceland, one of the most contrasting and dramatic landscapes in the world
**Ice hiking:** Hike on the Sólheimajökull Glacier (The Home of the Sun Glacier) and experience its breathtaking beauty first-hand

Our trips are designed to help you develop a wide range of life skills and a deeper understanding of how you can help us work towards achieving the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals to achieve a better and more sustainable future for all. Learn more ⟶

Geography and Sustainability Itinerary

Day 1

Arrival: Reykjanes Peninsula and Geothermal Power Plant

After arriving in Keflavik airport, you will start your first day of Icelandic adventure by seeing tectonic activity in action at the Land Bridge. Here, diverging plates form the groundbreaking Mid-Atlantic ridge - a boundary between two major tectonic plates! Then, start exploring the breathtaking Reykjanes UNESCO Global Geopark. The spectacular landscape of Grindavík offers stunning views of rolling lava fields, rugged coastline and even the Fagradaslfjall volcano.
From here, you will learn about the history and formation of Brimketill, a beautiful, natural coastal pool said to be the bathing spot of a giantess! Continuing your jam-packed day, you will hear the deep rumbling and feel the power of the geothermal mud pools and vents of Gunnuhver. Finish with a visit to Hellisheiðavirkja geothermal power station to learn about energy production in Iceland.
At Lake Kleifarvatn, you will learn about the importance of eDNA as you undertake your first eDNA water sample collection. This is a crater lake from a previous volcanic eruption, showcasing how Iceland’s tectonic movement continues to shape its landscape.
**Meals:** D
**Accommodation:** Hotel

Day 2

Golden Circle and Secret Lagoon

Start your exploration of the Golden Circle with a bang as you visit Geysir, the original Icelandic geyser. Watch as boiling water bursts approximately 40 metres above ground in this hot spring paradise before travelling to the awe-inspiring Gullfoss waterfall, where water plummets into the gorge of the river Hvita. The third wonder of the Golden Circle, Þingvellir National Park, offers breathtaking views of a rift valley.
Taking a break from geological sites, a visit to the Friðheimar Greenhouse showcases how Icelandic farmers can cultivate tomatoes all year round, using geothermal power and resident bumblebees! From here, a visit to the Secret Lagoon provides the chance to relax in a man-made pool, fed from a naturally occurring hot spring, surrounded by mossy lava fields and small geysers.
**Meals:** B, L, D
**Accommodation:** Hotel

Day 3

South Shore and Vík

The day starts with Diamond Beach, where ice fragments contrast with black sand to resemble diamonds glistening in the sun!
You can't come to Iceland without seeing Skógafoss, the beautiful waterfall with a 60-metre drop. We spend the rest of the day exploring sites such as the black sand beach at Reynisjara, where sea stacks are said to be trolls frozen in the light of the morning sun, Vík í Mýrdal, the southernmost Icelandic village, the birdwatching cliffs at Dryrhólaey, the Eldhrauh lava field created during the Skaftáreldar eruption of 1783, and Skaftafell's cascading waterfalls and basalt columns. A well-earned rest in Hvolsvollur will finish the penultimate day.
**Meals:** B, L, D
**Accommodation:** Hotel

Day 4

Ice Hike and Lava Centre

Today takes you ice hiking on Sólheimajökull Glacier (The Home of the Sun Glacier). The southernmost glacier of Iceland and an outlet glacier from the main ice cap Myrdalsjökull. Glaciers can be a major threat to Icelandic infrastructure. Most eruptions under Iceland’s ice sheets cause water to pool before release, resulting in vast quantities of water rushing from the glacier. This can lead to bridges collapsing, road damage and flooding of agricultural fields and some urban areas. Jökulhlaups (glacial lake outbursts) can be particularly damaging, as seen during the 2010 Ejaffjallajökull eruption where a peak flow of 15,000 m3/s was recorded.
After this thrilling experience, head to the Lava Centre to learn all about Icelandic volcanoes and earthquakes, building on the knowledge you have gained while visiting some awesome sites around Iceland.
**Meals:** B, L, D
**Accommodation:** Hotel

Day 5

Whale Watching and Depart

Start your final day off with an incredible whale-watching experience. Keep your eyes peeled for humpback whales (*Megaptera novaeangliae*), sperm whales (*Physeter macrocephalus*) and orcas (*Orcinus orca*)!
Then wander around Reykjavik, buy some souvenirs and take in the last of Iceland’s incredible landscape and environment before heading to the airport for the journey home after a jam-packed few days of geographical and ecological exploration.
**Meals:** B
**Accommodation:** Hotel

What’s included

NOTE:
The itinerary may change from day to day due to numbers and weather but we’ll do our best to ensure that everyone gets to take part in all the activities that they want to. Personal expenditure and any other services not listed above are not included.

Important notes

Once you’ve secured your deposit (£150), make sure to check out the kit list and field notes below to make sure you have everything you need for your trip. You will also receive further information about the adventure itself and the daily activities as well as further detail around what you can expect to learn. This includes your pre-departure conservation and sustainability workshops, as well as your impact surveys and reports. If you have any questions about the trip please get in touch. If you have any questions about Flooglebinder’s educational adventures please take a look at our FAQs page.

VACCINATIONS

For this particular trip, please see details below.

Please check with your local GP to find out which vaccinations you require for any adventure that you decide to book. These are a guide; a full consultation is necessary to establish individual risk and suitability of vaccines. There may be instances where more than one appointment is required to assess whether a vaccine can be offered.

Recommended vaccinations:
• None but please check with your GP

Vaccinations to be considered:
• Tetanus and Hepatitis B

INSURANCE

Please check if your school provides insurance and if not we will require your policy number and details 8 weeks before departure.

Flooglebinder has public liability cover of £5million but participants must arrange their own travel insurance for all other levels of cover (e.g. cancellation, curtailment, loss of personal belongings etc.). Please feel free to contact us for any advice or recommendations.

Your safety is our number one priority on all of our educational adventures. All of your finances are protected through Financial Failure Insurance and each programme adheres to British Standards (BS8848). If you have any questions about our safety and security measures, please do get in touch.