About The Tours
Also, please know that the content of the trip can be altered for school or university groups who are interested in learning advanced concepts.
Trip Dates
July 6 – July 18, 2023
OPEN
AIPG Members given preference
July 25 – August 6, 2023
OPEN
AIPG Members given preference
Cost
Please contact us for the latest pricing information.
Our mostly-inclusive 13 day excursion includes:
- 12-night accommodation w/breakfast
- All in-country transportation
- Five lectures on Iceland Geology by a professional geologist
- Geology interpretation at field-sites
- Signed copy of “Iceland: Tectonics, Volcanics, and Glacial Features”
- Four group dinners
- Daily snack and lunch items provided
- Two social receptions with beverages and hors d’oeuvres
- Paid admission to: Blue Lagoon Geothermal Spa, 3-hour guided hike on Vatnajökull glacier (includes crampon & ice axe rental), Hellisheidi Power Plant, Fjallsarlon glacial lagoon boat tour, Lofthellir Lava cave tour, Stykkisholmur Water Library, and Lava Center Interactive Museum
*per double occupancy; airfare not included
Sample Itinerary
Day 1: Arrive at Keflavik International Airport. You will have free time in Reykjavik until late afternoon when we convene for a group dinner.
Day 2: Start the day with an exciting morning lecture that provides an introduction to the geology of Iceland. An interpretive drive to the popular Blue Lagoon geothermal spa.
Day 3: The day will consist of a series of short hikes (1 mile or less) with stops along the Reykjanes Peninsula to include the Mid Ocean Ridge, Kleifarvatn (Reykjanes Peninsulas largest lake), Graenvatn crater lake, Seltun geothermal area, and Hellisheidi Power Station tour.
Day 4: Visit “The Golden Triangle” which highlights three of Iceland’s most popular destinations:
Day 5: Morning will bring a lecture about “The Queen” volcano, Hekla, which will be the focus of the day.
Day 6: We will begin to learn about Iceland’s glaciers through our morning talk. We will visit Skaftafell National Park before departing on a 3-hour guided glacial walk using crampons and ice axes.
Day 7: Another visit to Skaftafell National Park looking at glacial moraines, etc. In the afternoon we will take a boat tour on Fjallsarlon Glacial Lagoon and visit Jokulsarlon Glacial
Day 8: This morning’s lecture will be on the geology of the Northern Volcanic Zone. We will depart for Detifoss waterfall, Raujolar craters, and other stops.
Day 9: Leisurely morning. Stop at Myvtan craters as we drive around the lake. Short, hikes at Hverfell and Dimmubugir. We will also stop at the impressive Godafoss waterfall on the way to Akureyri.
Day 10: FREE DAY in the charming town of Akureyri. Relax, shop, or book one of the many excursions offered in the city (e.g. whale and puffin watching, kayaking, and more).
Day 11: Early morning departure for the Snaesfellsnes Peninsula with stops at the Stykkisholmur Water Library (included) in Stykkisholmur.
Day 12: Lecture on the geology of the Snaefellsness Peninsula. We will hike along the beautiful coastline in the national park. In the late
Day 13: Morning wrap up session. Afternoon departures.
The Land of
Fire & Ice
No doubt, Iceland is a country rooted in geologic wonder. As an example, this island that is about the size of Virginia currently has 32 active volcanoes, hosts the largest glacier in Europe, and is currently spreading apart at about 2 cm/year. Taking a guided tour of the country with a geologist will not only help you to capture the islands natural beauty, but increasingly enhance it through detailed descriptions linking the relationships between structure, process, and time to the island’s evolution.
The island of Iceland is positioned halfway between Greenland and Europe and sits near the Arctic Circle whereby providing tourists with approximately 22 hours of daylight from mid-May to August. Remarkably, the island is considered geologically young as the oldest basement rocks began to solidify as the separation of tectonic plates allowed for a magma hot spot to form at 60 Mya. Today, the hot spot resides under Iceland’s largest glacier, Vatnajokull, and continues to be the heartbeat of volcanic activity on the island. In areas of the country nearest to the hot spot, the intense geothermal heat is harnessed to provide Icelander’s with a sustainable energy source. Culturally, having year-round access to ample hot water provides the country with the ability to leisurely soak in natural or man-made hot-pots, to enjoy the steam in the form of saunas, or to create community-centers based around swimming pools. This rare country, where fire and ice truly meet, provides pristine and stunning tectonic, volcanic, and glacial landscapes with such great diversity that it is awe-inspiring.
Sights You’ll See
Aukeyri
Blue Lagoon
Iceland’s most visited attraction is the Blue Lagoon in the Reykjanes Peninsula. This geothermal hot spring is a great place to relax, cleanse, and refresh for the rest of your tour. Fun fact, the water is blue due to the high silica content of the surrounding rocks, which forms a mud-like paste guests use to scrub their face!
Dettifoss Waterfall
This stunning waterfall, Dettifoss, is in northern Iceland. By volume, this is the largest waterfall in all of Europe!
Snaesfellsjokull Volcano
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