This year, we got the opportunity to go to the land of fire and ice, and it was better than anyone could have imagined. It was an incredible experience that cannot be described through words unless you have seen it yourself. After minor disagreements over room arrangements we finally made it and soon became extremely excited to explore the place we’ve heard so much about.
Friday
After a VERY early morning and some superstitions about flying on Friday the 13th… we set off on a long coach journey up to Glasgow airport and caught our flight to Keflavik. When we arrived at the hotel in Hveragerdi (get used to some interesting names) we enjoyed our first meal of chicken pasta and mannavaht (berry mouse). Then we had our first experience of geothermally powered water in the hotel’s outdoor pool where there was a sauna and a hot tub.
Soon after, lights were out, or at least we thought they were, until the Northern Lights appeared. We were extremely lucky to see them on the first night and we all thought the same as some of us ran out in the freezing temperatures with not very many layers, only pjs.. but it was worth it to see one of the most breathtaking natural phenomena visible in Iceland.
Saturday
The first full day started with an early breakfast and the first stop at an extremely large lake called Kleifarvatn, frozen over with the sun rising leaving a beautiful scene across the solid ice. This stop made us all aware of how cold and windy it really was and we realised for the next stop the warm layers were really needed. We then got back onto the coach to make our way to our next stop. After a short walk we arrived at a lava lake where you could still see magma steaming from the eruption from 2021 which carried on erupting up until 2023.
After a short time looking at the views and some of us collecting some of the lava rock to take home, we headed to Krysuvik hot springs. This was one of the old test sites looking for the location of a new geothermal power station in which the project was abandoned in this area and later the old hole collapsed leaving muddy pits that smell of eggs, I mean sulphur and boiling streams of water.
After this we travelled to the Reykjanes Peninsula where the film Eurovision was filmed, and was still the piano there they used in the set. We also drove through Grindavík which is an abandoned ‘ghost town’ due to the horrendous consequences of recent earthquakes and volcanoes devastating people’s houses and the infrastructure. After this we went to the Perlan Centre Iceland Exhibition where there was an indoor glacier and an Aurora Planetarium which made us all very tired due to the comfy seats and dark room. Then we headed back to the hotel and saw the Northern Lights yet again!
Sunday
The second day was an extremely exciting one as this was the day we were climbing the glacier! First we went to the lava centre with great views from the top, then headed to Solheimajokull glacier where we got fitted with crampons, harnesses and helmets!
Looking at the glacier for the first time was amazing and helped put into our perspective the magnitude of glaciers compared to pictures we see and learn about in lessons. Following the guides in single file we began to climb up the glacier, each step creating a more impressive view of the ice covered lake made by the retreating glacier below. Along the way we saw large crevasses, were told about the origins of the eight-hundred year old ice we were walking on and about the bubbles and rainbow pockets of gas in the ice itself. We were so lucky with the weather for the whole trip and for today, with the blazing sun reflecting off the ice and the clear blue sky above us.
Thanking the guide we left once again and the coach took us to the black sand beach caused by the erosion of basalt over millions of years where ellie and ollie got buried in the sand.. Then our final two stops were at skogafoss waterfall and seljalandsfoss waterfall. At skogafoss a rainbow was perfectly domed in front of the waterfall covered in massive icicles, and it was flowing from the glacier we had climbed earlier that day! We then returned to the hotel for our last night at this accommodation and went to bed for an early start the next day.
Monday
Our third and final full day in Iceland began with a very early start with our first stop being at the Hellisheidi geothermal power station – Iceland’s largest – where we learnt a lot about the processes of power production, global plate margins and Iceland’s hot spots and tectonic plates – the mid Atlantic ridge – which goes straight through Iceland and is a major contributor to all of it’s geological activity. We found out what the power station provides to Icelandic homes and how 70% of Iceland’s energy is Hydroelectric and 30% geothermal power. Then we all had the opportunity to look around the exhibition parts of the station, where most people decided to spend their time in the relaxation room for a quick nap.
After this we got the opportunity to go into one of Iceland’s many lagoons, the secret lagoon, which is a geothermal hot spring creating a natural pool. Here lots of us ventured into the cold plunge seeing who could last the longest, and then relaxing in the hot tubs powered by natural geothermal activity. After a while in the lagoon, we were back onto the coach on our way to Gullfoss falls which is an amazing two storey waterfall mostly frozen over where we made sure to take lots of photos. There were streams of water carrying icebergs downstream eroding the deep valley where it resides.
We then made the journey to the Geysir which is a huge water vent which spews boiling water up to 20 metres high and is one of the only three thermal vents in the world which erupts regularly! Our final stop of the day was Thingvellir national park on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge which separates the north American and Eurasian plate which are both currently moving apart around 2cm each year! Here we got the magnificent views of the rift valley between the plates topped at either end by mountain tops and volcanoes.
After the long day we headed to our new accommodation in Reykjavík to get checked in for our last night in Iceland and relax after a long day.. Not for long though as after enjoying a lovely dinner we all headed back down to the dining room for our final night in Iceland with Mr Yates’ famous quiz. And not long after we all headed to bed after the memorable full last day in Iceland.
Tuesday
It was time for us to leave, but that didn’t stop us from packing in everything we could for the last few hours we had left! Some of us starting with an extra early morning went on a 5K run around Reykjavík at 6:30am, then a quick turn around with breakfast and bringing suitcases down to be on our way as soon as possible. We started the day at an Icelandic swimming bath where we experienced another soothing outdoor geothermally heated pool. When we came out some people’s hair froze as the air in contrast to the pool was so cold!
Then we were on our way to the Lava Show where they melted volcanic sand in front of you to make real lava which heated up the whole room as soon as it entered, and we were shown the rare and cool features of lava, and how it looks like glass when it begins to cool! All whilst learning about how Iceland has formed over the 250 million years it has been around.
Finally, we went to the centre of Reykjavík for lunch where we walked along the famous rainbow road and saw the Hallgrimskirkja cathedral church. Then it was unfortunately time to leave, the journey home was a long but smooth one and by that time we were all exhausted and ready to get home but to never forget what an amazing experience it was and how lucky we are to have seen all the amazing natural phenomena’s that we did.
Thank you to all the teachers and especially Mr Corbridge who all helped plan and assist with the trip along the way to make it as memorable as possible and one that I can vouch for all of us we will never ever forget.