talk to the experts 01737 214 214 13Iceland HighlightsThe Golden Circle Visit Thingvellir National Park, with stunning views of the Mid Atlantic Ridge and see the divergent North American and Eurasian tectonic plates. In view will be Iceland's largest lake - Thingvallavatn. The fish living here are a testimony to how the evolution of species occurs, an example found nowhere else in the world. At Geysir, witness Strokkur, erupting every 5 minutes or so up to 30 metres. Travel to Gullfoss, a two-tier, glacier fed waterfall flowing into a rift valley, then make a stop at Kerid, a dramatic volcanic crater lake. At Hveragerdi, see the geothermal greenhouses and for biologists, a look at hot spring ecology is a must! Visits to a geothermal power station and a hydroelectric station are also possible.Blue Lagoon Set amongst a landscape of black lava, the water temperature averages between 30-40?C. The milky blue waters are fed from a nearby geothermal power plant. Biology students will have the opportunity to investigate DNA mapping and how 60% of the 200 different micro-organisms found in the water are new species.Westman Islands Visit the puffin colony on Storhofdi (May - August only). Hike to the site of the 1973 eruption that created the Eldfell crater and caused ash and lava to engulf one third of the houses on the island of Heimaey. South Shore Explorer Visit Skogafoss and Seljalandsfoss, two iconic waterfalls, the latter you can walk behind! See the natural rock arch, black sand beaches and basalt columns at Dyrholaey. Continue to the glacier Solheimajokull to look at plant succession, the outwash plain and witness glacial processes in action. Climb the small volcano Stori Dimon that rises to approximately 80 metres. The volcano sits above the flat sandur outwash plain recently affected by jokulhaup (glacial bursts) from the 2010 Eyjafjallajokull eruption. Skaftafell & Jokulsarlon We recommend these visits if staying for longer than 5 days. Witness beautiful Skaftafell National Park which lies below Europe's largest glacier. Jokulsarlon, a breathtaking pro-glacial lagoon, is a spectacle not to be missed - dotted with icebergs of all shapes and sizes, this lagoon is truly memorable. Eyjafjallajokull & Thorsmork Exclusive to Discover the World & highly recommended!Take a ride in a huge 40-seat 8WD Ice Explorer. Its enormous tyres (which cost £64,000 a set!) literally 'float' this 30-ton beast of a vehicle over glaciers, through rivers and all kinds of terrain that no other vehicle can access! Perhaps the most obvious visible effects of the Eyjafjallajokull eruption are those caused by flooding. At the eruption site a large amount of ice melted and escaped as flood water (or jökulhlaup) through Thorsmork valley. Visit the valley glacier Gigjokull where the flood dramatically changed the landscape, filling the pro-glacial lagoon that had for decades been forming as the glacier retreated. Next take a 1½ hour hike to the still warm lava left from the first Eyjafjallajokull eruption in 2010. No other UK school tour operator can offer you this tour. EXCLUSIVE!Outline Itinerary (our most popular)Departures: year roundDay 1 Fly UK to Keflavik / Blue Lagoon / Perlan viewing platformDay 2 Seljalandsfoss/ Stora Dimon / Skogar / Solheimajokull glacier walkDay 3 Vik / Reynishverfi / Loftsalir / Dyrholaey / Landraedsla Soil Conservation site / Hveragerdi / ReykjadalurDay 4 Hellisheidi Geothermal Power Station / Kerid / Gullfoss / Geysir / ThingvellirDay 5 Whale Watching or explore Reykjavik then fly back to the UK" Our 2011 trip to Iceland with Discover the World was the best field trip I have ever had the pleasure of leading. Everyone had the time of their lives (their words) which, as a leader, is the best possible outcome. I would never hesitate in booking another trip through Discover the World as they have proved to be experts in this field."L. Hyslop, Loreto CollegeThingvellirGeysir© Ice Explorer

14 Our trips are bound by our Booking Terms & Conditions - for details visit discover-the-world.co.uk/educationalvisitsIcelandThe adventurous side! To help add real value to your trip here are a few of our most popular optional activities. Amazing Incentive Race The trip starts with a race through the 'greenhouse' town of Hveragerdi. See hot springs, solfataras and naturally heated greenhouses used to grow many exotic plants from coffee to bananas. Participants are split into small groups, which rush across the town solving clues, by interacting with the locals and overcoming trials in a race where only team spirit and co-operation can win the day. After the race everyone has the chance to shoot 100m over the Varma River via zip line. The programme finishes with a swim in the local geothermal pool. Glacier Walk This popular trip takes you on an exploration of the glacier tongue of Solheimajokull on the Myrdalsjokull ice field. Here natural ice sculptures, ridges and deep crevasses await your discovery. The experienced glacier guide will teach you how to use basic ice equipment, crampons and ice axes.River Rafting Start your adventure on the glacier fed Hvita River. Pass through stunning canyons as you negotiate adrenaline pumping waves and rapids. You'll also have the option to jump from the cliffs into the river and who can resist swimming in a glacial river in Iceland?Snorkelling The Silfra lava fissure is a spectacular underwater world to explore. Put on a dry suit and snorkel over the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, where the divergent Eurasian and North American tectonic plates are pulling apart at a rate of around 2.5cm a year. With stunning geographical features the crystal clear water offers visibility of up to 100m, some of the clearest water in the world. Trips are guided by fully qualified instructors.Lava Tube Caving Enter through a narrow cave into a world of fascinating colours where surreal formations were created when surface lava hardened whilst fluid lava continued to flow in tubes underneath. See also stalactites and a variety of other rock formations.Lots more activities are available on our website including whale watching, northern lights tours by superjeep and icecap tours.Nature Baths© Elding © Arctic Adventures