Geography trips to Iceland have long been a popular choice for schools. With its stunning landscapes and unique geological features, Iceland offers countless opportunities for young geographers to experience the awe-inspiring wonders of the planet firsthand.
We spoke with Georgia Clark, a Geography Teacher at Didsbury High School about their school’s trip to Iceland and the unforgettable experiences they had.
“As a Geographer who has never been to Iceland before it was really breathtaking because it has every component you have ever spoke about, have ever learnt about, in one location.”
Choosing Rayburn Tours
The first step in planning any school trip is choosing the right tour provider. At Didsbury High School, they looked for recommendations to find what suited their needs best.
As a first-time party leader, Georgia needed a tour operator that could support her through every step of the process and ensure a smooth and memorable geography trip.
“Best moment was definitely the Northern Lights, the accommodation had a hot tub which we did on rotation, so some students were out and some students were inside playing cards, and the Northern Lights just came out, so we had everyone from across the accommodation, and they all bolted to watch the Northern Lights, some facetimed home because they are so bright you can see them on facetime, so there were happy tears, but I think the highlight of my teaching career was that moment.”
Iceland is packed with remarkable moments for geographers to experience. Every corner and every minute of the day offer students a chance to gasp in amazement.
“Theres so much to do in Iceland, and each year we get better at finding free things to do, Iceland is expensive, but there are so many landmarks to see just by having a walkaround or a drive around which is also quite wonderful particularly as part of a school trip”
The Best Moment
We asked Georgia to share the most memorable moment from her trip to Iceland with her GCSE students, and she reflected on some experiences that stood out above the rest.
“Best moment was definitely the Northern Lights, the accommodation had a hot tub which we did on rotation, so some students were out and some students were inside playing cards, and the Northern Lights just came out, so we had everyone from across the accommodation, and they all bolted to watch the Northern Lights, some facetimed home because they are so bright you can see them on facetime, so there were happy tears, but I think the highlight of my teaching career was that moment.”
Fun fact!
September to March in the winter months is the best time to see the Northern Lights.
“The other best moment was when we went to see the Lava show, because it’s one of those that’s a little bit theatrical and a little bit heavy, but when you watch the students faces light up as the handmade lava came down and the woman plays with it and you can see it cooling, they all said that was one of the highlights of the trip.”
During the Lava show students will experience the intense heat of real lava as it flows right before their eyes. A rare opportunity to witness molten lava in action.
Challenges
With every tour comes some challenges, but with every challenge comes a memory. For Didsbury High School the main challenge was the weather, which we wish we can rectify for every trip however mother nature calls! And experiencing all types of weather on a school trip is part of the full geographical experience.
“The tour was really smooth sailing, the biggest challenge was ahead of the trip and not knowing what was going on, such as the eruptions causing flights to be cancelled and postponed and activities being cancelled, but for us Rayburn advised us where we should go instead, for example the blue lagoon, it’s quite expensive and you’ll be vulnerable because it gets hit by lava quite often. So, all our activities were moved away from there before the eruptions allowing our trip to run smoothly. Other schools that were there with other tour companies didn’t have the same experience we had and therefore had more challenges and changes on the day which wouldn’t be as wonderful”
“The weather was a tough one because it was cold and wet and it was difficult to get the students up to the top of the waterfall. But even if the weather is bad, the magic of Iceland still comes through”
Iceland is famously unpredictable when it comes to its weather, which can change dramatically. Adding to this, Iceland’s natural wonders such as the volcanoes that spread across the island, can suddenly erupt which can impact travel plans, and this is where the team at Rayburn Tours become superheroes to ensure a seamless and memorable school trip.
Inspire young explorers!
Iceland is brimming with wonderous natural gems that every young geographer should experience. If students feel inspired in the classroom, they’ll be truly amazed when they witness geography come to life in the field!
Speak to our experts, as we prepare you for your next geographical adventure!
Start planning!
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