Enrichment school trips to Iceland

Venture out to the southwestern corner of Iceland in this tour, where your students can uncover the incredible hot springs, lava fields, puffin-filled cliffs and lighthouses of the Reykjanes Peninsula. The region is also home to a complex volcanic system with endless possibilities arising from its geothermal activity – which we know will fascinate your school group.

Home to a rugged coastline and unique vistas, Iceland’s southern shores may be outside the regular tourist track – but that doesn’t make them any less impressive. We know students will jump at the opportunity to walk behind the majestic Seljalandsfoss waterfall, dig their heels into the black sands at Reynisfjara, and explore the grand basalt columns at Vik – and that’s just the beginning.

From mystical hot springs and bubbling geysers to Þingvellir National Park and the thundering Gullfoss waterfall, the Golden Circle Tour is brimming with sights that we've found are really popular with school groups. Students can uncover a wealth of geographical wonders in this tour; they don’t call Iceland the Land of Fire and Ice for nothing.

Powered by geothermal energy, the Blue Lagoon sits amid a lava field in Grindavík, and is one of Iceland’s most famous and popular sights. During a visit to the lagoon, students can enjoy the soothing temperatures of the lagoon, and will learn the reasons why so many people bathe in the geothermal spa and rub the lagoon’s natural silica mud on their skin.

A must-see for geography students, Dyrhólaey is a 120-metre high promontory, not far from the town of Vík. The name, which literally means ‘door-hole’, comes from the massive arch that the sea has eroded from the headland, which large boats can sail through. A unique chance for students to see up close the incredible formations of an underwater volcanic eruption late in the glacial period.

An excellent addition to any Golden Circle tour, a visit to the Fontana Geothermal Baths and Bakery is one we know your students will enjoy – and they certainly won’t find this experience anywhere else! Here, students can experience the wonders of geothermal activity as they watch the bakers dig a pot of fresh bread from the hot black sand, before tasting it for themselves with fresh Icelandic butter.

Experience the wonders of Vatnajökull National Park on this unforgettable excursion, where you’ll breathe in the crisp Icelandic air while wandering through a wonderland of ice sculptures, ridges and the deep crevasses of the glacier. An excellent opportunity for school groups to learn about how glaciers are formed, and how they change day-to-day.

View up close the incredible phenomenon that is the Great Geysir – a gushing hot spring that occasionally ‘pops' under geothermal pressure to spray hot water up to 70 metres in the air. When eruptions at this geysir are infrequent, you can walk 50 metres to the Strokkur geyser – a similar fountain-like phenomenon that ‘pops’ around every six to 10 minutes.

Familiarise yourself with Icelandic culture in the fishing town of Grindavík, which is located on the country’s south peninsula. Here, students can learn about the story of salt fish production and its importance for the Icelandic economy. Nearby, you’ll also find the Blue Lagoon – a geothermal spa that’s rich with silica and healing properties.

This excursion makes for a fantastic setting to engage with students about the process of waterfall formation. Perhaps the most stunning of Iceland’s magnificent falls, Gullfoss boasts a spray that is simply mesmerising; we’ve seen school groups completely entranced by the rainbows that can be seen dancing on the water.

Discover the impressive colours of this geothermal field, which features various mud pools and fumaroles throughout its setting in the southwest part of the Reykjanes Peninsula. Here, students can learn about the tales of Gunnuhver in classic Icelandic folklore, while taking a dip in the highly volcanic region’s hot springs.

Located in Hengill, the Hellisheidi Power Plant is the largest geothermal power station in the world. Here, students can discover the mechanisms which allow Iceland the unique ability to power itself completely sustainably, while learning all about renewable energy. An incredible tour for our next generation of geographers and scientists.

Introduce your students to the mystery of the stunning Kerið Crater at this volcanic site, which features an unique 55-metre deep caldera of red volcanic rock they won’t have seen anywhere else. On their visit, let your group attempt to figure out how this 3,000-year-old crater was formed – even volcanologists couldn’t agree on one explanation for a long time.

A popular walking hotspot, the geothermal area of Krysuvik is a patchwork quilt of yellow, green and red soil, which makes for a unique landscape. Here, students can learn about Icelandic culture and heritage, as they hear the folktales set in the area as they explore it. Don’t miss the Ögmundarhraun lava flows, which were emitted by the nearby volcanic system almost 900 years ago.

A must-visit for any school group seeking to understand more about volcanoes and eruptions, the Lava Centre features interactive displays surrounding nature’s epic forces. During your visit, students will gain a hands-on discovery of the colossal and complex forces that shape the Earth and which created Iceland tens of millions of years ago.

A favourite excursion of the Equity team, the Northern Lights are a sight to behold – and one we can’t wait to show you. Journey out of the spotlight of the city and into the most remote parts of the capital territory, and on a clear night your students will receive the unique experience of seeing the glowing hues of the aurora borealis. They’ll be telling their family and friends about this one for months afterwards!

Take in the magic of Iceland’s natural wonders at Perlan, which brings ice caves, the Northern Lights, puffin colonies and the island’s incredible forces of nature to one place. While here, students can see almost everything Iceland has to offer via its amazing interactive exhibits, which explore bubbling volcanoes, gushing geysers and sky-high glaciers.

An idyllic hub for your trip to Iceland, the country’s capital and largest city is home to several attractions to inspire and amaze your students. Trace Iceland’s Viking history at the National and Saga museums, view the striking Hallgrimskirkja church, and explore Iceland’s secrets at the rotating museum of Perlan – all attractions we know your students will love.

Created in 1891, this geothermal pool is the oldest natural pool in Iceland, with 100% of its water provided by the Vaðmálahver, Básahver and Litli Geysir hot springs. The Secret Lagoon stays at 38-40 celsius year-round, offering student a relaxing experience where they can learn about the country’s incredible geothermal activity.

How many times do your students get the opportunity to walk through a waterfall? At Seljalandsfoss, they can do this several times, taking in every perspective of its 60-metre falls, which originate at the volcano glacier Eyjafjallajökull. Groups can also visit the majestic and much-photographed Skógafoss waterfall, and learn about the process through which it was formed.

At Þingvellir National Park, students have the incredible experience of walking straight across the rift valley formed from the Eurasian and North Atlantic tectonic plates pulling apart. Once Iceland’s legislative and judicial centre where ancient laws were made and upheld, this stunning location is now a national park and UNESCO World Heritage site, where your school group can learn about Iceland’s stark geological processes.

Get out on Iceland's stunning waters on this memorable wildlife tour, where students can observe the country’s birds and marine life in their natural habitats. Humpback and Minke whales are most popularly found in Iceland’s harbours, as well as Harbour Porpoise and White Beaked dolphins. If you’re lucky, you might even catch a glimpse of a Killer Whale or a Blue Whale!

Observe two of the best-known volcanoes in Iceland on this excursion, which gives students a detailed understanding of volcanic activity on the island. Nearby, you can find an exhibition where groups can learn a great deal about the 2010 Eyjafjallajokull eruption that disrupted air travel around the world – located at the Þorvaldseyri visitor center.

With its huge area of 590 square kilometres, the Myrdalsjokull glacier is the fourth largest glacier in Iceland. The ice cap rests atop an active volcano, which last erupted in 1918 and is constantly monitored, which makes Myrdalsjokull an excellent (and safe!) setting for budding geographers and geologists to learn about the contrasting Icelandic landscape.