Iceland, February 2024

 

On the final day before the half term break thirty students and four staff set off on a four-day journey to explore the breathtaking natural wonders of Iceland! With everyone extremely excited for the excursion days ahead, even the -6oC temperature on landing didn’t dampen the spirits.

 

Day one started out with one of the most beautiful coach journeys you could ever wish to experience, as we made our way between snow covered mountains on our golden circle tour. The first stop, Gulfoss waterfall, was definitely one of the coldest places any of us had visited, but it was worth it for the incredible views and photos. We then moved on to the geothermal area to see the Geysir eruption.

A guided hike through the national park followed, learning some of the history of the country as we made our way up to a lookout point with stunning views over the country. There was time to stretch our legs with a snowball fight before returning to the coach to head back after a busy day.

 

Day two saw us head for the south coast of the island. The first stop along the way was Skogafoss, at 25m wide and a 60m drop it’s one of Iceland’s largest waterfalls. In challenging conditions the students were reluctant to miss out on the 527 step climb to the viewing platform at the top which was spectacular. After a quick stop at one of Iceland's volcanic black sand beaches we moved inland to visit a glacier and a live look at the effects of climate change on our planet.

On our return to Reykjavik we were dropped off at the city cathedral for a quick look around before taking a stroll through the busy streets to the Hard Rock Cafe for some much needed food.

 

The final day was not as we planned, the ongoing volcanic activity had closed part of the island meaning our trip to the Blue Lagoon was sadly cancelled. However, a fly over ride 

exploring the more remote parts of Iceland before visiting Perlan museum for its observation deck, northern lights and lava shows was a worthy alternative.

 

The students were fantastic, layered up in warm clothing, they embraced the Icelandic chill and reveled in every moment of the adventure. Alongside the joys of the country there were other equally important milestones reached by our students including; the first time out of the UK, the first time on a plane, longest time away from parents and even the first time some of our students had to put their own bed sheets on.

 

The Iceland experience was a resounding success, leaving lasting memories and valuable scientific insights. We look forward to continuing to provide more enriching experiences that inspire a lifelong love for learning in the future.