Iceland
Stroll amid glaciers, bathe in steaming lagoons, swim the clear water between continents. Earn service credit while working to maintain Iceland's natural environment.
Traverse this legendary landscape and leave forever inspired by the other-worldly beauty of Iceland with our high school summer travel program. This Nordic oasis transforms the mundane into extraordinary. During our student trip to Iceland, you will stroll amid active glaciers, bathe in steaming lagoons, feel the welcoming warmth of the local people, and swim the crystal-clear water between continents. As the development of the outside world accelerates, the cinematic horizons of Iceland remain timeless – you’ll earn 10 hours of community service working to protect and restore the natural environment through reforestation and coastal cleanup projects. All while learning who you, and what the world, can be in the land of fire and ice.
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Appropriate Age
14-18
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Student Group
Typically 10-14 students and 2 staff
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Program Detail
This adventure is run in conjunction with our sister program GoBeyond
| Dates | Days | Availability | Tuition | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Session 2 | 7/7/25 - 7/22/25 | 16 | Closed | $6,670 |
The Adventure
It all starts here
Halló! Departure for Iceland!
Our journey begins! Students have the option of flying to Keflavik (KEF) via New York (JFK) on a preferred group itinerary, or students can fly independently. For students flying via JFK, we arrange for an airport representative to assist with the transfer. In some cases, this representative is one of the group leaders and flies with the students. In other cases, he/she is a local contact responsible for airport assistance but will not be on the flight to Keflavik. Due to time zone differences, our group flight typically lands in Iceland the day after departure.
Itinerary Activities
Orientation & CITY EXPLORATION
After arrival in Iceland, students are met at the airport by our professional staff and transferred to Reykjavik. After lunch, a program introduction, and icebreakers, students will settle into their accommodation. The next day, students get to explore the city with a walking tour to learn about the capital and get an introduction to Iceland’s past. During the walking tour, the group visits the famous church, Hallgrimskirkja, Rainbow Road, and the botanical garden. Students get to explore the local thermal public pool to learn about this important social facet of Icelandic culture and get some relaxation after their long travels.
Community Service Activities
Environmental Restoration Projects
For three days on our student trip to Iceland, students go beyond the typical tourist experience by working with local environmental associations to assist with much needed land restoration and coastal cleanup projects. Partnering with the Soil Conservation Service, we work to plant and sustain birchwood forests in the degraded lands of the North. In collaboration with Blái herinn – or the “Blue Army” named after the modified blue army truck used to remove larger pieces of rubbish from the shoreline – students assist with beach cleanups and recycling projects. Show the locals you care as much as they do by rolling up your sleeves and getting dirty during these inspiring community service days.
Itinerary Activities
Service & Sustainability Study at Sólheimar
Considered by many to be the oldest eco-village in the world, Sólheimar first began in 1930 as a children’s home. Today, the village has evolved to serve the young and old alike. Over 100 residents with and without special needs live and work in harmony with the natural surroundings. As a pioneer in organic farming and sustainable living, students spend some time learning about the center, participate in arts and crafts workshops, and give back to needed infrastructure projects such as greenhouse upkeep, painting, and trail maintenance.
Itinerary Activities
Reykjavík & the Golden Circle
A must-see for every Iceland traveler, the Golden Circle in the southwest packs three equally stunning sites into one memorable day trip. From Thingvellir National Park to the Geysir geothermal area of Haukadalur to the Gullfoss waterfall and more, this summer travel exploration allows students to have an awe-inspiring introduction to some of the natural wonders that make this country so unique.
Reykjavík is the largest city of Iceland with a population of around 125,000. Notable for its eclectic and colorful center, the city boasts the best shopping and food scene in the country. Students spend some time exploring the major attractions of this unique capital, include the Hallgrimskirkja Cathedral, Harpa Concert Hall, the Solfar (Sun Voyager) Sculpture, and the National Museum of Iceland.
Program Focus
Exploring & Restoring the Icelandic Environment
Browse through photos of Iceland’s vast and dramatic vistas of beautifully open land and you might be surprised to learn that over a third of Iceland was once forestland. Today, a mere 2% of those forests remain.
Dating back to the early agrarian settlers, human land use has greatly altered Iceland’s landscape over time. The once extensive birchwood forests have been replaced by agricultural land and grazing habitat – a double-edged sword as livestock feed on baby trees preventing any hope of forestland regeneration. Today, due to land use practices coupled with climate change and an exploding tourism industry, Iceland is seeing unprecedented pressure on its natural resources. It’s estimated that 40% of the land is now severely degraded.
Inspiring Iceland offers students a unique opportunity – not only to explore one of the world’s top nature destinations – but also to lend a hand to critical environmental initiatives for the good of its people. Working with local non-profits and governmental organizations, we seek to educate ourselves while making a difference through conservation and preservation projects.
“This is such an amazing program that lets students discover and explore countries they never thought they would ever go to. Combining service and excursions to become totally immersed in the country is absolutely wonderful.”
Closing Activities
The last days are always so hard! To round off their Icelandic adventure, students have a grand feast in Reykjavik on their final night, and, perhaps, shed a few tears during our slide show and closing program. Without fail, there is a mix of emotions – there is excitement to return home; there is sadness to leave. On the final day of the trip, students are transferred to the Keflavik airport by our professional staff, checked in, then travel on to their respective homes and families. Yet the journey continues on for each individual in undefinable ways. The stories we make on Inspiring Iceland are ones we never forget.
Need More Information?
Affiliates
We are a proud supporter of local, national, and international service organizations around the world.
On the student trip to Iceland, students have the opportunity to work closely with local people on projects where the need is authentic and the results are long-lasting. When our time is up, we provide much needed financial help with a direct donation, which helps fund partner projects in an ongoing way. Consider your impact…join us this summer and make a difference!
Soil Conservation Service
The Soil Conservation Service of Iceland is a governmental agency under the Ministry for the Environment and Natural Resources. The main tasks of the SCSI include combating desertification, sand encroachment and other soil erosion, promotion of sustainable land use and reclamation and restoration of degraded land.
Blái herinn
Blái herinn, or the “Blue Army,” is an informal organization founded by sport diver Tómas J. Knútsson from Sandgerdi, southwest Iceland. He was disgusted by all the rubbish in Iceland’s harbors and elsewhere and didn’t want visitors to see the mess. Knútsson uses an old blue army truck with a boom in front and a platform in the back to remove larger pieces of rubbish from beaches, such as the heavy remains of fishing nets.
Sólheimar
Solheimar is a world renowned sustainable community known for its artistic and ecological atmosphere where about 100 people live and work together. The Solheimar community focuses on the growth and development of man and nature. The social emphasis is that different individuals are offered variable opportunities to work, live, and socialize.
Need To Know
Is this journey right for me?
This high school summer travel program is for the student looking for a travel experience with an incredible amount of variety. Whether you prefer the ocean, mountains, countryside, or city – Iceland offers all of it within just a short distance. Students applying for the student trip to Iceland should be ready for authentic and engaging experiences in both service work and active excursions. If you enjoy exploring natural wonders, participating in adventure sports, and stretching the borders of your comfort zone, then this is the journey for you.
What's the group like?
There’s really no rigid mold that our students are cut from. Since our students come from different backgrounds all over the world, the groups end up being naturally diverse. Everyone arrives with different goals, expectations, hopes, and fears but they quickly find common ground and begin to bond. The environment allows team members to connect quickly and become closer friends than anyone would expect. Many students report leaving feeling as though they had known their fellow students much longer than they actually had.
Our philosophy revolves around small group sizes that are still large enough to foster a sense of community. For the student trip to Iceland, we’ve found that a group size of maximum 12 students works best. This high school summer travel program does not require any previous experience, skills, or language fluency – only a willingness to get involved and appreciate each incredible adventure.
Who are the staff?
We’re proud to attract and recruit the best in our field. Our summer staff consists of avid world travelers, highly qualified professionals, and fun and experienced facilitators and educators. All members of our team are dynamic, multi-talented, and passionate individuals with a devotion and commitment to the safety and experience of our students.
The average age of our summer staff is 26. Staff skills are journey specific, such as holding a maritime license in the BVIs or having a background in childcare for China. All staff are First Aid and CPR certified, and many hold advanced training certificates such as Wilderness First Responder or EMT. Along with local guides and our community service partners, the ratio of staff to students is approximately 1:5. This enables close interaction and individualized attention during the journey.
What do I need to bring?
Students are responsible for carrying their luggage from place to place. As such, we recommend that you keep things simple and avoid over packing. Students are given the opportunity to do laundry throughout the trip, so there’s no need to pack several weeks’ worth of clothing.
Our hope is that families will have minimal purchases prior to the trip, so we’ve compiled our packing lists in a way that you’ll find most of what you need in your closet at home. Around mid to late March, we make available our Pre-Trip Packet to enrolled students, which contains a detailed packing list for this year’s journey. If you’d like to see last year’s packing list as an example, you can download it here.
During the trip, students will need an emergency/travel credit or debit card in addition to personal spending cash. The credit or debit card (minimum balance of $400) is intended to cover travel costs to and from the program and any unanticipated costs that might arise such as clinic or hospital visits. While not required, if you are concerned about loss or theft, students do have the option of storing their credit or debit card with our staff during the journey.
We pay all major program costs while traveling and working, but there will also be opportunities for students to spend money on personal items. The most common expenses include snacks, souvenirs, and phone/internet time (calling cards, internet centers, etc.). Based on our past experience, some students will spend less and some will spend more than our recommendation ($300). Judge this amount by the spending habits of your student. Please set up boundaries for its use, as we cannot be responsible for monitoring student spending. If you are concerned about loss or theft, students can give staff up to $150 of their spending cash to be put into safekeeping/drawn later.
Where do we stay?
This is not a “luxury” adventure; however, we utilize comfortable, clean, and safe accommodations during our trips. In Iceland, our students typically stay at local hotels, hostels, and B&Bs.
What do we eat?
Your tuition covers all meals after arrival in the host country. We strive for healthy, nutritious, and delicious meals, and serve a mixture of local and international fare (including Western). For our Iceland journey, we primarily eat at the hotels/hostels/B&Bs for breakfast and local restaurants for lunch and dinner.
Note, as we’re a health-conscious program, our staff do not provide large quantities of “junk” food (i.e. sodas, chips, candy bars, large desserts, etc.). Students can always supplement our meals and snacks by shopping locally for their own items.
During the application process, families can inform us of any dietary allergies or restrictions. We are usually able to accommodate vegetarians, vegans, pescetarians, etc., as well as various food allergies. However, if your student has a severe allergy to peanuts or other common substances, please call our office to discuss the options.
Nitty Gritty
Are flights included in the tuition?
Since students join us from all over the world, the cost of transportation to and from the destination country is not included in the program tuition.
Who should we contact to book travel?
Helping to coordinate our students’ travel is of vital importance – and a mammoth task! For this reason, we strongly suggest that all families start by contacting our travel coordinator, Leah Hernandez of TRC Travel Center (T: +1.281.528.7727 or 800.329.9000 • E: [email protected]). Even if you are not originating in the U.S., Leah will be able to provide options and guidance.
When should I book flights?
We suggest you wait until March 20th, and here’s why. The quality of the experience is in large part defined by the makeup of the student team, and unfortunately we can’t determine the status of a specific journey or session until we receive the appropriate number of enrollments to guarantee a great experience (which is typically no fewer than six). Therefore, unless you select a ticket fare type or flight insurance policy that allows flexibility for date modifications, refunds, or credits, we suggest that families wait until after March 20th to book their international flights.
What is the preferred itinerary for U.S.-based students?
We work with TRC Travel Center to select a preferred itinerary to/from Keflavik (KEF) via New York (JFK). We strongly encourages U.S.-based families to book on our recommended route, so that as many students as possible can fly together as a team. Please bear in mind, however, that we have no control over the number of participants that choose to fly via JFK. Depending on the desires of other participants, the number of students traveling on the recommended route can vary greatly.
What about an alternate itinerary that suits us better?
Since students come from all over the U.S. and world, it is not required that students book on our preferred itinerary. For non-U.S. based students, those looking to use frequent flier miles, or others who are not booking with TRC Travel Center or on our preferred flight itinerary, please contact our office prior to booking to ensure you are arriving and departing Iceland at appropriate times. Note that the journey start date (as shown above) is the date upon which the group flight departs New York. Due to time zone differences, the group flight may actually land in KEF the day after. The journey end date is the date upon which the group flight departs KEF.
Do we provide support on travel days?
Yes. We understand that travel days can be stressful for both parents and students, so no matter what time of the day or night, our office team actively monitors and supports our participants during travel. We require students to travel with a mobile phone with domestic data capability so we can monitor their progress and communicate directly if necessary. For certain flight connections, we also offer on-site airport assistance, yet our experience has shown that being active and available to everyone electronically is often more effective in quickly troubleshooting snags than being physically present in just one location. For this specific journey…
- Preferred Itinerary (Outbound flight, JFK to KEF) – In some instances, particularly for the first session of the summer, we have a group leader who flies with the students on the preferred itinerary at the start of the trip. When a group leader is not able to travel with the students on this outbound flight, we will typically hire a representative for the JFK airport who is responsible for helping troubleshoot any flight/connection issues that may arise.
- Preferred Itinerary (Inbound flight, KEF to JFK) – On occasion, particularly for the last session of the summer, a group leader will return to the U.S. on the preferred flight with the students. If a staff member is not able to return with the students, we don’t typically hire an in-airport representative for JFK. This is due to the lack of an on-site representative’s ability to attend to customs/immigration issues and ongoing connection coordination when they do not arrive with the students.
For more information on airport assistance, please contact our office. We will be glad to let you know what type of support we typically offer for your journey (specific plans will only be available nearer the travel date).
Can I leave a program a day or two early or arrive a day or two late?
We understand that commitments at home may necessitate a student wanting to arrive or depart from our program on days other than our standard published dates. Each scenario is unique, and while we accommodate these requests when we can, we need to plan appropriately so that we know those additional staff resources are in place to ensure a safe, well-coordinated travel experience. We don’t charge extra tuition for accommodating non-standard travel, yet we do require that parents cover the direct costs associated with any additional staff travel, off-site accommodation, and meals. Please use this form to initiate a formal request for us to consider your non-standard travel wishes and a representative will contact you to discuss possibilities.
Travel Docs & Visas
We cannot apply for passports or visas on a student’s behalf, but we can provide the information you need to do so yourself. At the time of writing, students traveling on U.S. passports do not need a visa but must have 6+ months of validity on their passport after the departure date from Iceland. For the most up-to-date and thorough information, please visit travel.state.gov. Students traveling on non-U.S. passports should verify passport and visa requirements for your nationality by contacting your local Iceland embassy or consulate.
Other Immunizations
We understand that families have varying opinions on vaccinations. Some greatly desire the precaution; others prefer to avoid possible side effects of certain medications such as anti-malarials. Coupled with the fact that each student has unique medical considerations known best by thier doctor, we do not supply medical advice. We recommend that all families refer to the expertise of the CDC (wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel), their health care providers, and/or a travel clinic.
Living in the moment
Though the fundamentals of our journeys do not change, specific journey logistics evolve over time. It is typical for our community service partners to not choose our project areas until late spring/early summer, thus the final touches to our itineraries are not always set until then. The journey overview portions on this page should give all families a basic understanding of the kinds of activities we do on the journey. We also suggest last year’s Trip Updates if you need more descriptions. For the most up-to-date information on our expected itineraries, feel free to Contact our office.
With that in mind, we encourage all participants to “live in the moment” while on the journey. Travel, even on organized trips, requires flexibility and a willingness to accept adversity and change. Your journey country may not be as efficient, orderly, and/or timely as you are used to. We hope you’ll take the bumps in stride, and enjoy the adventure!
Service Hours & Letters
After the completion of summer, all students (U.S. and non-U.S. students alike) receive a service letter and transcript reflecting their participation on the program.* The service letter and transcript describes the type of service work performed, the number of hours awarded, and is printed and signed on our letterhead.
Our service hours are accepted by most high schools/colleges/institutions. Please note, however, that every school is a bit different. Some schools have special community service requirements for graduation, etc., such as students performing a certain number of service hours locally rather than abroad. We recommend that students/families check with their school administration prior to enrolling to ensure that our service hours meet their requirements for community service participation.
* Presence alone does not necessarily earn students the community service hours. We reserve the right to deduct hours due to non-participation and/or early dismissal. Participants who work hard and participate in all program activities can expect to receive the full number of service hours available for their journey.
Our tuition fees cover the following:
- All in-country journey accommodation, meals, and ground transportation
- Full-time service adventure staff, local guides, and tips
- All group activities including service projects and materials, sight-seeing trips, and educational excursions
- Physical and monetary donations to our partner organizations
Tuition does not cover the following:
- Air transportation, including in-country flights, are not included since our students come from all over the world
- Required emergency evacuation insurance & International SOS and MedAire Membership LEARN MORE >
- Medical insurance, and optional trip cancellation insurance
- Fees associated with obtaining passports, visas, vaccinations airport taxes & baggage fees
- Personal spending money
OUR 5-8 WEEK Journeys
Any consecutive programs may be joined to form one extended course. In the interim between programs, students stay with staff. The total cost is determined by combining the cost of each program and subtracting the 5% extended course discount. This discount also applies toward any trips adjoining our sister program, ActionQuest. ActionQuest and/or GoBeyond enrollment for any consecutive programs in the same summer will be considered as a single extended program in the event of withdrawal or dismissal from the trip at any time.
Every year, we award a number of partial tuition scholarships
The financial aid budget is determined by the Directors and is allocated from the organization’s operating budget. Eligibility is based on a number of factors, including financial need, past academic performance, community involvement, and promise of success on the journey.
As students come from all over the world, flight and travel costs are not included at any scholarship level, nor spending money and other additional costs associated with traveling abroad (vaccinations, doctor visits, visas, etc.). If you know that you are unable to fund your experience without financial assistance, then please visit our Financial Aid pages for more information and the application.
