Iceland | Expedition with Texas Association of Biology Teachers

Depart US

Upon arrival, after clearing customs and immigration, you will be met by your guide and driver. Head to a local restaurant for breakfast and a program orientation, and then continue to the Blue Lagoon. Situated amid the dramatic lava fields of the Reykjanes Peninsula, the Blue Lagoon offers a relaxing wellness experience in mineral-rich waters. Enjoy a drink and a mud mask at the in-water bar. Afterward, take a city sightseeing tour of Reykjavík before arriving at your hotel for check-in. You’ll have time to freshen up before meeting in the hotel conference room for a lecture by a local conservation expert. Enjoy dinner at a local Icelandic restaurant.

After breakfast at your hotel, depart for Þingvellir National Park to explore the grounds of Alþingi, the ancient parliament site on the shores of Iceland's largest lake. Þingvellir also showcases the dramatic continental drift between the American and Eurasian tectonic plates. Next, visit Iceland's famous Gullfoss, or "Golden Falls," and the nearby Geysir hot spring area to see numerous spouting hot springs and boiling mud pools. Lunch will be at Friðheimar Greenhouses for an out of the ordinary "stem to table" experience in the Icelandic countryside. After an introduction to the greenhouse, enjoy a special lunch served among the plants. Sample classic tomato dishes like Friðheimar's famous tomato soup, as well as new creations made with a twist, like green tomato and apple pie or refreshing, homemade tomato ice cream. Afterward, watch a horse presentation to learn about the history of the Icelandic horse. Continue along the South Shore region, making a stop to admire Seljalandsfoss and Skógafoss waterfalls before arriving in the charming village of Vík, where you can take a walk on the beautiful black sand beach with powerful waves thundering in the distance. If you're lucky you can view puffins amid seatop cliffs near the beach.

This morning, traverse Eldhraun, a lava field that was created by an eruption in 1783-1784 AD. The resulting lava flow was among the largest in recorded history. Make a stop for lunch in the town of Kirkjubæjarklaustur, where the greenery contrasts beautifully with the surrounding lava fields and black sand deserts. Your tour continues over Skeiðarársandur volcanic sands to Skaftafell, a beautiful glacial area, part of the vast Vatnajökull National Park system. Hike around the mighty Vatnajökull, the biggest glacier in Europe. The next stop is at Fjallsárlón Glacier Lagoon where you can walk to the lagoon and your guide explains about the effects of the climate change in Iceland as well as its effects on the glaciers. Continue to the stunning Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon. Enjoy a boat tour, sailing among the lagoon’s many floating icebergs, and possibly glimpse sunbathing seals on the ice. Dinner at the hotel this evening.

After breakfast at your hotel, we will drive from Hof through Almannaskarð Pass, stopping to admire the majestic coastline. Continue for magnificent views of the East Fjords: towering mountains plunging vertically into the sea. Lunch en route. In the evening enjoy a presentation on Puffin Biology by your local guide.

We will start the day by driving directly to Borgarfjördur Eystri, which is the northernmost fjord in the East fjord mountain range. At the end of fjord road, we will enter the isolated village of Bakkagerdi at Borgarfjördur Eystri. This charming village was built snugly next to the steep mountainside. The mountains surrounding the village are colorful and dramatic and give this village an impressive charm. There are only about 120 inhabitants in this peaceful surrounding, which offers the possibility to see puffins up close, as well as take shorter hikes and walks in the village. After lunch, we will drive back via Egilsstaðir again and visit the independent, family-owned organic farm and food producer Móðir Jörð-Vallanes. The couple, Eymundur Magnússon and Eygló Björk Ólafsdóttir, welcomes guests and introduces their production. They grow cereals and various types of vegetables, and their product line is inspired by ingredients they grow or forage at their farm. We will end the day by swimming in the floating pools of a genuine hot spring lake at the Vök geothermal area near Egilsstaðir.

Depart for the Lake Mývatn area, stopping en route at Dettifoss, Europe’s most powerful waterfall. Once you arrive in Mývatn, stop to explore the empty vastness of the highland desert plateau Möðrudalsöræfi and visit Námaskarð Pass, with its boiling mud pools and vibrant colors. Explore the natural beauty of the Lake Mývatn area, including the peculiar lava formations of Dimmuborgir, the pseudo craters at Skútustaðir, and the swiftly flowing Laxá Salmon River. The Mývatn area is also known for its bird life, including more than a dozen duck species, which nest in the thousands during the summer months. Visit Sigurgeir’s Bird Museum, which will shed more light on the incredible diversity of birds in the area. This evening, enjoy a lecture presented by your naturalist guide on the avian fauna of the area.

Travel toward the bustling northern port and town of Akureyri, the unofficial "capital" of North Iceland, making a stop at the magnificent Goðafoss Waterfall en route. Akureyri is home to some of the finest timber buildings in the country, beautifully restored to their original glory. Set in a scenic fjord, the town boasts a vibrant art and culture scene. This morning, have some time on your own to explore the town and have lunch. Early this afternoon, meet back up with your group to take the bus back to Reykjavík. Upon arrival this evening, enjoy a farewell dinner at a local restaurant. If you have a flight home tonight, you will be taken to the airport.

Check out of your hotel in Reykjavík and travel to the Keflavik Airport for you flight back to the U.S. *Hotel check-out time is 11 am.