Iceland Trip

Travel information  Departure – Sunday 19 th July 2015  Please arrive at DHS at 7.00am (prompt) for a 7.15am departure by coach to Gatwick  Outbound flight from Gatwick at 13.10pm with Icelandair on Flight FI471  Arrival in Keflavik International airport, Iceland at 15.10pm  Return – Thursday 23 rd July 2015  Check in at Keflavik airport at 05.45am  Depart on Icelandic air at 07.45am on Flight FI470  Arrival at London Gatwick North terminal 11.45am  Estimated arrival time at DHS 3pm N.B. Group seats have been pre-allocated. A small complimentary drink will be available on the flight. Additional snacks are available for purchase.

Luggage  SUITCASES  Luggage allowance 23kg per person  Max. length of 158cm  The travel company will supply luggage labels for each pupil  Each pupil will be given a piece of coloured ribbon to identify cases easily at baggage collection..

Hand Luggage Suggested items:  Snacks  MP3 player/Ipod (charged)  Clothing layers  Book/magazine  Spending money – Icelandic Krona (IKr) and GBP for refreshments and souvenirs. (1GBP – 207 Ikr)  Swimwear, towel and 100ml shampoo/conditioner for our trip to the Blue Lagoon. Please do not pack the following items:  Scissors  Tweezers  Razor blades  No fluids exceeding 100ml

Ensure all electronic devices are charged for the flight! Important Current ABTA Advice re: Enhanced airport security measures – from 9th July 2014 “Due to new security requirements introduced on 2/7/14, ABTA recommends that customers ensure all electronic devices taken on board a flight in hand luggage, are fully charged before departing from home and on their return journey. The Department for Transport has advised that these additional security measures will affect ‘some routes into and out of the UK’, they have not specified which routes, so customers on all international flights should be prepared. If you are unable to demonstrate that your phone or other electronic device can be switched on, you risk having to leave the device at the airport, which may also result in you missing your flight. Many airports now have charging facilities at the airport but demand for these will be intense particularly at this time of the year. Customers are also advised to switch on their electronic devices before they reach the security check areas to cut down on potential delays."

Weather and climate  Expect temperatures around 8ºC at night and 14ºC during daytime.  Weather can be changeable so layers are advisable.  The sun sets in June at around midnight and rises at about 3 in the morning.  It might be advisable to bring some sunglasses.

Itinerary - Day 1  Flight to Iceland (arrival in Keflavik International airport, Iceland at 15.10pm)  Transfers  Blue Lagoon swimming  Hotel supper  Evening activity: Cinema No 2 – Fire, Ice and Northern Lights film.

The Blue Lagoon Set in a black lava field, the milky- blue spa is fed by water (at a perfect 30’C) from the futuristic Svartsengi geothermal plant. The super-heated sea water is rich in blue-green algae, mineral salts and fine silica mud.

Itinerary – Day 2  Hellisheidi Geothermal Power Station  Kerid volcanic crater lake  Gullfoss double-fall waterfall  Geysir – spouting geysers and hot springs  Efsti-Dalur dairy farm (optional stop for homemade ice cream – approx.’ £2 additional entrance fee to see the working dairy)  Thingvellir National Park scoured by the Mid-Atlantic Ridge and rift valleys are visible  Hotel Cabin, Reykjavik  Supper at The Hamburger Factory, Reykjavik  Evening activity: Geothermal swimming at the Laugardalslaug open air swimming pool

Gullfoss  Iceland’s most famous waterfall.  It has a spectacular double cascade with a 32 metre drop into a mile-long gorge.  Gullfoss it at it best in early summer when the Hvitas feeder glaciers upstream are first melting.

Kerid Crater Lake  A dramatic volcanic crater lake, originally believed to be formed by a huge volcanic explosion.  Thorough studies show that Kerid was a cone volcano which erupted and emptied its magma reserve.

Itinerary - Day 3  Eyjafjallajokull flood plain  Eyjafjallajokull Visitor Centre  Skogafoss waterfall  Skogar Folk Museum  Solheimajokull glacier visit  Dyrholaey natural arch rock feature along the coast  Reynishverfi walk along black volcanic sands beach  Arrive at hotel accommodation - Farm Hellisholar  Supper at hotel  Evening activity – group quiz

Eyjafjallajokull flood plain and visitors centre  Visit an area affected by a glacier burst from the recent Eyjafjallajokull volcanic eruption and see evidence from where glacial flood water has washed down the valley.  Information from the visitors centre will focus on the local impacts from the recent eruption.

Dyrholaey natural arch  The name means ‘door hill island’ with its 120 metre high natural rock arch and prominent headland.  This area is rich in birdlife such as puffins, arctic terns and guillemots.

Itinerary - Day 4  Seljalandsfoss waterfall walk  Glacier walk on the frozen tongue of Solheimajokull  Reykjavik tour- Perlan furturistic landmark, old port, central lake, Hallgrimskirkja Church, shopping  Supper at Rossopomodoro Italian restaurant  Evening activity: Reykjavik sites and packing!

Seljalandsfoss waterfall  This waterfall spills 60 metres over a basalt cliff as a result of a isostatic rebound of the land and its lava flow.  Depending on the weather conditions, we will take a walk which navigates behind the waterfall.

Glacier walk on the frozen tongue of Solheimajokull  We will explore the frozen tongue of the Solheimajokull glacier through ice sculptures, ridges and deep crevasses.  An experienced glacier guide will teach us how to use crampons, basic equipment and ice axes.  Comfortable walking boots are imperative for this activity.

Itinerary - Day 5  Early breakfast – – 04.45am!  Transfer to Keflavik Airport  05:45am check in  07.45am Depart Iceland with Icelandair flight FI470  11.45am Arrive at London Gatwick Airport, North Terminal  Arrive back at DHS for collection at approximately 3.00pm

Accommodation Hotel Cabin Reykjavik – 2 nights Farm Hellisholar, south Iceland – 2 nights

Kit  Swim wear and swimming towel (packed in hand luggage)  Walking boots – they should have a strong grip to cope with the conditions which may be muddy, icy or loose moraine/ground  Walking socks, at least 2/3 pairs  Layers of clothing, thermal t-shirt and long johns (optional), long sleeved t-shirts, jumpers, fleece  Waterproof outer clothing – jacket and over trousers  Trousers – jeans and lightweight trousers for travel and evening activities. However alternative lightweight walking trousers are essential for daytime activities as jeans are inappropriate if they get cold and wet

 Warm hat and gloves  Sunglasses, sunscreen and Insect repellent  A rucksack, for field equipment and lunch  Indoors: The accommodation is warm and comfortable so normal clothes and trainers for inside are fine. Travel slippers or slipper socks are useful too for indoors Other Personal Items:  European adaptors are suitable for the plugs in Iceland.  Mobile phones, MP3 players etc. may be taken at pupils own risk.  Sunglasses  Personal Wash bag  Eye masks and ear pugs may be useful

Food and Dietary Requirements  All food will be provided during the trip.  Breakfast and packed lunches will provided by the hotel accommodation.  Pupils may wish to pack additional snacks to supplement their packed lunches.  2 evening meals will be catered by local restaurants:  The Icelandic Hamburger Factory in Reykjavik  Rossopomodoro an Italian restaurant in Reykjavik  If you have a specific dietary requirements, please let us know ASAP.

Medical Requirements  If pupils have a medical condition that the school doesn’t already know about please let us know asap.  If anyone carries an EpiPen®, insulin or other self-administered medication, they must obtain a prescription or doctor’s certificate before travel to ease passing through security at the airport.  The travel company always pass the information to hotels regarding allergies and dietary requirements.

Iceland Hoodie Order  Hoodies have been ordered and will be distributed to pupils before they leave for Work Experience/Berlin.

Questions Reminder: Please hand in your completed consent forms before you leave.