Discover all of what the Land of Fire and Ice has to offer. Traverse a colorful landscape in the country’s highlands on the Laugavegur Trail, swimming in steaming hot springs along the way. Complete the Golden Circle and visit several of Iceland’s most stunning locales. Sea kayak in a glacial lagoon, and polish off your time in Iceland with a soak in the Blue Lagoon—you’ll have to put on the quintessential silica mud mask!
Iceland: Fire and Ice
Enroll NowIceland: Fire and Ice
Destination
Iceland
Current Grades
9th-11th
Airports
Arrive: Reykjavik (KEF)
Depart: Reykjavik (KEF)
Itinerary
DAYS 1-3: WHALE WATCHING, WHITEWATER RAFTING, AND THE GOLDEN CIRCLE
Start your journey out on the sea whale watching in the morning before continuing on a tour of the Golden Circle. Our first stop will be Þingvellir National Park, the first national park in Iceland to be established. This verdant landscape differs from the highlands; bright green moss creeps over the lava fields, and birch and pine forests line the horizon. Ravines are filled with fresh, crystalline water—so clear that this area is popular with avid snorkelers and divers (we’ll get to whitewater raft here!). Fun fact: This stunning landscape is featured in several Game of Thrones episodes.
Next up on our Golden Circle tour is the Geysir Geothermal Area. You’ll see the steam rising from the pools from miles away, and the hilly landscape gets even more colorful due to the earth’s naturally occurring minerals. While the area’s namesake geyser rarely erupts, it is the earliest documented in European history. Its neighbor, however, throws water 20 to 40 meters into the air quite regularly. Our third and final stopover is the Gullfoss Waterfall. On a sunny day, the spray throws up vibrant rainbows, and in the summer, you can take a walkway to the edge of the staircase-shaped falls, close enough to feel the mist on your face. We’ll even have the option for a late-night hot spring river hike to take advantage of the midnight sun!
Accommodation: Camping
DAYS 4-5: SEA KAYAK IN THE JÖKULSÁRLÓN GLACIER LAGOON
Drive along the southern coast to Skaftafell National Park where you’ll visit Seljalandsfoss waterfall, hike along the glaciers, and stop at Reynisfjara to enjoy the black sand beach. The next morning explore Jokulsarlon, an iceberg-filled, 200-meter-deep lagoon offering nonstop photo ops. Melted glacier water comprises the lagoon’s contents, with its mix of fresh and seawater providing a unique blue hue. We’ll make a stop on Diamond Beach, where huge, translucent, naturally-made iceberg sculptures continuously get washed up on the shore. Keep an eye out for skuas, a seabird that makes its nest on the lagoon’s shores. Unlike other folks just visiting the area, we’ll get up close and personal with the otherworldly icebergs.
Accommodation: Camping
Dates and Prices
-
Departure Day
06/30/23
-
Return Day
07/13/23
-
Grade
9–11
-
Price
$5,688
-
Availability
Limited
Departure Day | Return Day | Grade | Price | Availability |
---|---|---|---|---|
06/30/23
|
07/13/23
|
9–11
|
$5,688
|
limited
|
Accommodations
- 11 nights of camping. Bold Earth will provide comfortable tents.
- 2 nights of private hostels.
Activities
Hot springs
Backpacking
Glacier hiking
Sea kayaking
Sightseeing
Whitewater rafting
Reviews
Abigail and our whole family are very happy with our experience with Bold Earth this summer! The trip leaders are warm, responsible, and full of heart!
Bold Earth offers an extremely good combo of adventure and stepping outside one’s comfort zone while staying safe. My son loved the diversity of kids, and I LOVED the no-technology part of the experience. He had very good trip leaders who had a fantastic balance of fun and safety.
My favorite part of the Iceland trip was when the whole group ventured into a small canyon, inside which a waterfall was flowing down from above, and where the walls were covered in moss and foliage.