Iceland

Flight to Reykjavik

Start your journey with a guided coach tour of the island’s main city, Reykjavik, home to more than two-thirds of Icelanders. Reykjavik is a green city, vibrant with culture and bustling with a young and dynamic population. During your visit you will see the old city center with its colorful houses, Parliament, cathedral, harbor and other places of interest such as Hallgrímskirkja Church, whose bell tower is an emblem of Reykjavík. Also see Reykjavik’s largest outdoor swimming pool, heated with water from the natural hot springs below the city. After lunch, take a tour of the Arbaer Farm Museum, an open-air museum that showcases Icelandic life in the 19th and 20th centuries through its reconstructed houses. Then, move to your accommodation and enjoy the rest of the day. Take the opportunity to enjoy the thermal baths of Laugardalslaug, a must-see when staying in Reykjavik. Meals included: lunch and dinner.

After breakfast, head to the Reykjanes Peninsula, where volcanic activity leaves a backdrop of stones, ash, and steaming lava fields. The route will take you to the “Bridge between the Continents”, a bridge connecting the two sides of the rift, located between the Eurasian and North American tectonic plates. Stop at Reykjanes Lighthouse to admire the peninsula’s cliffs plunging into the sea. Continue by coach to the Blue Lagoon, a lake with hot, mineral-rich geothermal water amid a black lava field. Enjoy a sauna, steam baths and a massage waterfall to relax. Then, drive back to Lake Kleifarvatn and Krísuvík, a fascinating region where solfatars escape from the depths and provide a lunar landscape. There are also countless small hot springs, mud flats, boiling ponds and other geothermal phenomena. Then travel along the coast of Iceland by coach to Hvolsvollur, where you will settle in for the night. Meals included: breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Board your coach and set off for Þingvellir National Park. This park is the historic site of the oldest democratic parliament in the world. Founded in 930 AD, it is symbolically the heart of Icelandic heritage. Visit this remarkable geological site located at the meeting point of the Eurasian and North American tectonic plates. Continue on to Gullfoss Falls (“the golden fall”), a succession of two of the most impressive waterfalls in Europe. Just a short drive from Gullfoss you will find the famous geothermal area of geysers with its bubbling hot springs and mud pools. Visit Iceland’s most active geyser, the Strokkur, rising 20 to 40 meters high every 5 to 10 minutes. It is located next to Geysir, the famous geyser which gave its name to the geothermal phenomenon. Return to Hvolsvollur at the end of the day. Meals included: breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Departure by coach for a guided tour of the southern landscapes. This region is a good example of how volcanic activity formed the lands of Iceland. You will go through the Hellisheiði mountain pass for a magnificent view of the vast southern plains, formed by glacial rivers. You will have captivating views of the mountains, including the snow-capped Hekla volcano and the Eyjafjallajökull volcano, covered with an ice cap on its summit. In the afternoon, enjoy the spectacle of Seljalandsfoss, Gljufrafoss and Skógarfoss waterfalls. Then, stop at Dyrhólaey, a magnificent, steep, keyhole-shaped cliff venturing out into the sea. Take a ride to Reynisfjarra on the black sand-fringed seafront topped by cliffs where several birds nest. See the Gardahellir cave where basalt pillars resemble the pipes of a huge organ. Finally transfer to Vik for the night. Meals included: breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Take the road to Skaftafell National Park, known for its glaciers. Admire the Skaftafell Glacier upon arrival and take the path to reach the majestic Svartifoss Waterfall; a simply breathtaking place! Then, in the afternoon, continue to the glacial lake located at the front of the Breiðamerkurjökull glacier. It is a fascinating area where you can see icebergs forming as they break away from the glacier, then melting under the effect of the salt water entering the lagoon from the mouth of the ocean. You can also see fish and seals there. Then settle in Kirkjubærklaustur for the night. Meals included: breakfast, lunch and dinner.

In the morning, go to Hvolsvöllur and visit the LAVA interactive center; a high-tech educational exhibit depicting volcanic activity, earthquakes and the creation of Iceland millions of years ago. Continue to Katla de Hvolsvöllur Geopark, a geological wonderland of active volcanoes, glaciers, waterfalls, black beaches and lava fields. Take part in a demonstration of Hveragerði, a geothermal energy cooking method, with egg and bread tasting included. After lunch, drive back to Reykjavik. On the way back, stop at Hellisheiði power station for a tour and learn how Reykjavik uses green energy to heat the entire capital. Installation at your accommodation at the end of the day. Meals included: breakfast, lunch and dinner.

For the last day of your student trip to Iceland, head to Snaefellsnes, another earthly paradise! Visit Snaefellsjökull National Park, Iceland’s oldest national park. There you will see the Snæfellsjökull Glacier, a stratovolcano topped with an ice cap, located at the end of the peninsula. This glacier-volcano quickly became known around the world following the score of Jules Verne’s science-fiction novel in 1864, “Journey to the Center of the Earth”. In the afternoon, stroll along the sea cliffs, offering spectacular rock formations, where sea bird nest. Discover Djúpalónssandur, a lava pebble beach with jagged cliffs. You will also learn more about the legends and history of the Vikings in this beautiful corner of Iceland. Meals included: breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Flight back home. Meals included: breakfast (to be confirmed according to your flight schedule).