February 25, 2026
Year 10 Explore the Natural Wonders of Iceland
Over February half term, 50 of our Year 10 learners enjoyed a once in a lifetime trip to Iceland, where they gazed in awe at powerful waterfalls, volcanic landscapes and geothermal pods and enjoyed embarking on stunning glacier walks.Day One
After a smooth flight from Heathrow to Keflavík, everyone stepped out into the cold Icelandic air and straight into a landscape very different from home. The first stop was the Bridge Between Continents, where students could walk from one tectonic plate to another.
They then visited Gunnuhver, an area full of steam and bubbling mud pools, before heading to Hjarðarból Guesthouse — their base for the week. A warm dinner and an early night finished off a great first day.
Day Two
Day two was full of highlights. The group visited the flood plain below Eyjafjallajökull, learning about the 2010 volcanic eruption. They then saw two famous waterfalls, Seljalandsfoss and Skógafoss, both crashing down from a great height.
The biggest moment of the day was the Sólheimajökull glacier walk. Wearing crampons, students walked across the ice, looked down into crevasses and asked lots of questions about how glaciers form.
The day finished with a visit to Reynisfjara beach, known for its black sand and tall basalt columns, before heading back for dinner.
Day Three
The morning began underground in The Lava Tunnel, where students explored passages formed by lava thousands of years ago. Next, they visited Kerið, a volcanic crater with a frozen lake at the bottom; thankfully, the ice was thick enough for the group to walk across safely!
The afternoon included the classic Golden Circle sights:
- Gullfoss, a powerful waterfall
- Geysir, which erupted regularly
- Þingvellir National Park, where Iceland’s landscape and history come together
The day ended with a meal at The Hamburger Factory after settling into the Reykjavík hotel.
Day Four
Students spent the morning exploring Reykjavík in small groups, visiting places like Hallgrímskirkja, the Sun Voyager sculpture and the local shops.
In the afternoon, they experienced FlyOver Iceland, a ride that gives the feeling of flying over the country’s mountains, glaciers and coastline. Afterwards, the group relaxed in the warm geothermal pools at Laugardalslaug before enjoying pizza together in the evening.
Day Five
The final day was an early start back to Keflavík Airport and the journey home. Everyone returned tired but happy, with new memories, new friendships and a much better understanding of Iceland’s geography and culture.
