Whether you are an Icelandic veteran or not, Izzy Tours can take you beyond the parameters of many tour groups who focus on the south of the island. We organise individual trips that are tailor-made for your college, school or private group and encourage you to see more of Iceland – dare to be different!
The Land of Fire and Ice
Iceland is uniquely known as the land of fire and ice. This is due to the unique combination of over 130 known volcanoes (of which there are 30 active systems) and ice caps with their outflowing glaciers. As 11% of Iceland’s surface is covered by ice, you’ll easily be able to see some of the glacial features of the landscape. An amazing adrenaline-filled experience is to go on a glacier walk on one of the 269 named glaciers, bringing to life the text-book theories to make Iceland your trip-of-a-lifetime.
One of Iceland’s most notable glaciers is Breiðamerkurjökull, in which flows into the jökulsárlón glacial meltwater lagoon. This 9km long pro-glacial lake provides fantastic views of the Vatnajökull ice cap, which has twice the amount of ice that can be found in the rest of Europe! It’s also the only place in Europe where you can see icebergs and floes. The nearby black beach is covered with ‘ice sculptures’ – washed up ice floes sculpted by the combination of waves and melting.
In complete contrast, on average, Iceland has an eruption every 4 years: 33% of all the lava flows on Earth currently pass through Iceland’s volcanic systems! The lava fields, whether from the Laki eruption in the 18th century or those more recent are a spectacular sight and a must-see for new visitors to the country. It also means that hazard Geography and Geology examples are to be seen throughout the country, especially as every ice cap has active volcanic systems under its ice. Vatnajökull has three major volcanoes and calderas.
What sets Iceland apart from other destinations is its incredible barren and ‘raw’ landscape, formed by this combination of years of active volcanic activity and glacial and fluvio-glacial processes. It is unlike anywhere else – a ‘hidden jewel’ of Europe!
Geothermal Activity
As Iceland is placed right above the Mid-Atlantic ridge; the active tectonic activity has resulted in many geothermal areas around the country. These can take many forms: from naturally occurring hot springs that feed into streams, to geothermal heating of greenhouses, the ‘smelly’ hot showers in hotels, open-air geothermal swimming pools where you can bathe with weather below zero, and the geothermal power stations that not only supply heating for the whole of Reykjavik and its roads but also the hot water for the famous Blue Lagoon. One of the ‘out-of-the-way’ natural geothermal pools provides an experience like no other. Our Icelandic tour guides will try to show and explain to you geothermal examples that aren’t usually shown to tourists. Our tag line is ‘Izzy Tours – Escapes Tourism.’
Tourist Attractions
We encourage you to stay outside of Reykjavik in the wilderness areas wherever possible. For example, the Snæfellsnes peninsula would be an ideal addition to your tour. Located in the West of the country, this peninsula has sometimes been called “Iceland in Miniature” due to the many incredible sights that can be found. There are hardly any tourists there – you probably won’t see another coach! Yet it contains incredible erosional and depositional coastal features, volcanic features and lava fields, a glacier and the beautiful glaciated landscape of its main ridge of mountains. It’s worth spending a couple of days there.
We can’t promise you’ll see the Northern Lights (Aurora Borealis) but our tour guides will try to help you see them wherever you’re staying. They are spectacular and ethereal lights that seem to swirl throughout the night sky: often seen only as green, your camera will be able to catch other colours and swirls not visible to the naked eye.
One of the most famous tourist routes is known as The Golden Circle. This brings you to Þingvellir National Park where the American and Eurasian plates are moving apart, before taking you to the Geysir geothermal area, and then finally to the famous Gullfoss waterfall. By staying near this, we try to get you to some of it before tourists arrive from Reykjavik.
The Reykjanes Peninsula is now a Geopark, with much geothermal activity – whether with mud pots and sinter pools or the world-renowned Blue Lagoon, described as one of the 25 Wonders of the World. The milky-blue geothermal water creates a spa journey where you can soak in minerals good for the skin. Impossible to experience anywhere else. Another special sight within the Reykjanes Peninsula is Viking World. A museum with its special building style, created to contain a replica Viking ship that sailed across the Atlantic and exhibits from the Smithsonian Institute on Viking culture and history.
In addition, if you travel out of winter, you could plan a day to the Heimaey volcano in the Vestmannaeyjar islands. After catching a ferry, you’ll be able to climb the volcano that erupted in the 1970s, almost destroying the town below. The island’s World of Fire exhibition, like the Lava Experience on the mainland, is a great interactive volcanic centre. Other special places include the waterfalls, glacier and coastal features of the South Coast, or you could drive or fly to the North for a couple of nights in the spectacular Mývatn area.
Although it costs more, the adventurous group will spend 6 nights travelling around the whole of Iceland, and so also taking in the awe-inspiring fiords in the East.
It’s hard to count how many amazing views can be had in this country which is almost 4/5th the size of England, and yet has a population of only 364,000. If this is what you want your group to experience when visiting, Izzy Tours can fulfil this dream. Craft your own journey with us, and allow us to make your Icelandic expedition a memorable one.
We Believe you Won’t Find Anyone Cheaper for What we Offer
- We send you off the beaten track with highly qualified guides to see the very best of Iceland.
- As a family-run business you can talk with us and we will work with you from start to finish.
Each trip is individually tailor-made for your group. Whether it is geography, geology or just the ‘wow’ factor, different packages can be built to meet your group’s needs and interests. Check out the map for some of the different locations available.
Build Your Perfect Package Today & Experience the Wonder of Iceland
If you’re following the coasts option (e.g. AQA 3.1.3) then including the Snæfellsnes peninsular is a must. With its high energy southern coastal section with virtually all the features required by the syllabus, and its low energy, depositional coastline along the northern section. Students will foster an informed appreciation of the beauty and diversity of coasts as they walk along specific sections. Comparing the effect of the north and southern types of coasts highlights their impact on human habitats.
If you’re following the glacial option, then you have a choice of areas in which to inform the student’s understanding. For glacial erosion features, the Snæfellsnes peninsular has some of the best and easiest seen. The glacier or ice-cap here is a high level one, but it can be reached by 4x4s followed by a snowcat to take you to the top of the ice cap. If glacier walking is needed then the very popular Solheimajokull in the south is best, which also has an impressive outwash plain and pro-glacial lake – although these days it is very crowded. An alternative is to go snowshoeing on snowfields amongst explosion craters.
If you’re following the tectonic processes and hazards option, then Iceland provides more case study examples than any other accessible country to the UK. From volcanic museums/ centres in the West and South, glacial outbursts from volcanic activity in the South and South East, to being able to spend a day on Heimaey climbing a recent volcano and seeing its effects on the local town. (This isn’t easily accessible during winter months). This is apart from the tectonic rifting seen in the South West, North and on the Golden Circle. If you can afford it, then going to the north provides some fantastic examples of craters, recent lava and the impact on communities.
