Iceland Nature and Geothermal Adventure
Dates: 4/6-4/13
Location: International
Price Range: $5800-6500
Theme: Culture & Outdoors
Faculty Contact: Katie Meredith
The North Atlantic is home to the most sparsely populated country in Europe, Iceland. Often called the Land of Ice and Fire, this Nordic island boasts pristine natural beauty shaped over thousands of years by glaciers and volcanoes. A keystone of Icelandic culture is environmental conservation.
Throughout the country, there are geothermal power plants producing energy in harmony with the environment around them. This makes Iceland one of the most wonderous places from which to explore energy studies, climate change, and sustainability. We will be working with our partner organization Insight Education to finalize the itinerary for this trip. We will have a facilitator from Insight Education as well as a local guide to facilitate our learning. This program engages principles from three of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals: affordable and clean energy, sustainable cities and communities, and climate action. Please note, Phone Policy: This will likely be a low tech or no tech trip experience.
- Students and families should be aware that this experience includes:
- Extended outdoor exploration in cold, windy, and potentially wet conditions
- Walking and hiking across uneven or icy terrain near geothermal and volcanic sites
- Travel between multiple locations using various modes of transportation
- A low-tech or no-tech environment designed to promote presence and group connection
- Cultural immersion in a Nordic setting with different foods, customs, and daily rhythms
- Engagement in hands-on learning about sustainability, energy, and environmental stewardship in a rugged natural landscape
Itinerary
Tentative Itinerary:
Day 1 – Saturday, April 4th
Flight from Seattle to Reykjavik (exact flight timing TBD)
Day 2 – Sunday, April 5th
Viking Roots & Reykjavik – In Reykjavík, wander through Harpa Concert Hall, Sun Voyager, Parliament, and Hallgrímskirkja, asking how design reflects resilience and identity in a subarctic city. Pause in Einar Jónsson’s sculpture garden before exploring artifacts at the National Museum that reveal how Icelanders have continually innovated in response to their environment.
Day 3 – Monday, April 6th
Geysir, Gullfoss, and the Golden Circle – Peer into the vivid crater lake at Kerið and reflect on the forces that shaped it. Stand at Gullfoss to feel the raw power of glacial meltwater and consider how climate change is reshaping Iceland’s rivers. In the steaming fields of Geysir, connect geothermal energy in its natural form with how Iceland powers its future. Over lunch at Efstidalur Dairy Farm, engage with farmers about sustainable practices rooted in tradition. At Þingvellir National Park, walk the rift between continents and discuss with a Park Ranger how Iceland’s Alþingi gathered here to govern in a changing environment.
Day 4 – Tuesday, April 7th
Waterfalls, Horses, & Geothermal Living – Trace the unique patterns of lava and glacial water at Hraunfossar and Barnafoss. At Sturlureykir Horse Farm, meet the Icelandic horse and consider how selective breeding supported survival in a challenging climate. Compare the raw geothermal power of Deildartunguhver with its everyday use at Krauma Baths. End the day in Borgarnes, where youth rescue team members share how preparedness and training strengthen community resilience in the face of natural hazards.
Day 5 – Wednesday, April 8th
Glaciers & Black Sands – Walk the volcanic sands and basalt cliffs of Reynisfjara, reflecting on how land and sea continually reshape the coast. Climb alongside Skógafoss, one of Iceland’s iconic waterfalls, to see how water power has influenced settlement and livelihood. Strap on crampons for a glacier hike at Sólheimajökull, where firsthand observation of blue ice, deep crevasses, and retreating edges brings the realities of climate change into sharp focus.
Day 6 – Thursday, April 9th
Geothermal Innovation & Subterranean Iceland – Step into Hellisheiði, one of the world’s largest geothermal power plants, to see how natural heat is converted into clean, renewable energy. Then descend into a 5,200-year-old lava tunnel, reading the island’s volcanic history in its flowing rock walls. End the day by visiting a wool farm by the Þjórsá River, where workers demonstrate how traditional methods and sustainable practices combine to keep an ancient industry alive.
Day 7 – Friday, April 10th
Fire, Lava, & Living with Change – Pass drying fish racks—an ancient preservation method still used today—before heading to Kleifarvatn, Krýsuvík, and Seltún, where colorful mud pools and steam vents reveal Earth’s fiery energy just beneath the surface. Walk through Natthagi Valley and Grindavík to witness how communities adapt to recent volcanic eruptions. Cross the Bridge Between Continents, standing where two tectonic plates diverge. End the journey at the Lava Show, where molten rock flows before your eyes, deepening understanding of volcanic processes and community resilience.
Day 8 – Saturday, April 11th
Flight from Reykjavik to Seattle (exact flight timing TBD)