School trips to Iceland

Need something bespoke?

Halsbury Sticker

School trips to Iceland offer students the opportunity to see a landscape that is so new and so different to any they will have seen here in the UK.

Ideal for geography and science school trips, Iceland is an unforgettable land that will leave your students feeling excited about the world around them and the need to protect it.

Activities in Iceland that your school group will love

Thingvellir National Park

A UNESCO World Heritage Site, Thingvellir National Park is historically significant as the site of the world’s first parliament, and also a prime example of tectonic activity.

Blue Lagoon

One of Iceland’s most famous landmarks, this geothermal spa is an iconic experience for teachers and students.

Gullfoss

Visit Gullfoss, or Golden Falls, one of Iceland’s most powerful and famous waterfalls, as part of the full-day Golden Circle Tour.

Great Geysir and Strokkur

A must-visit for students to witness geothermal activity up close, with Strokkur erupting every few minutes.

Northern Lights Tour

The Northern Lights, also known as the Aurora Borealis, are a spectacular natural phenomenon.

Lava Tunnel Raufarholshellir

A short drive from Iceland's capital, your students can learn how one of the longest lava tunnels in the country was created over 5,200 years ago.

Hellisheidi Geothermal Power Station

An educational visit to Hellisheidi showcases Iceland’s use of geothermal energy, tying into sustainability and STEM subjects.

Lava Centre

A great interactive exhibit that helps students understand volcanic activity and earthquakes, making it highly relevant for geography-focused trips.

Popular Subjects

Why visit Iceland?

See geography in action

Walk between tectonic plates, explore a glacier and watch geysers erupting on a truly incredible geography school trip to Iceland.

The opportunity to see so many geographical features and concepts jumping out of the textbooks and coming to life in front of their eyes is something your students will never forget.

Not only will they better understand the topics they’re studying, but they’ll also return home with a greater understanding of why geography is such an important subject, and how it can help us to better understand the world around us.

Bring science to life

Did you know that Neil Armstrong twice travelled to Iceland’s remote lave fields because the landscape was the closest thing on Earth to the lunar landscape?

On an Iceland school trip, your students will see and learn more about different types of geological activity, including earthquakes, volcanoes and geysers.

They'll also have a great opportunity to see the Aurora Borealis. We can’t guarantee you’ll see the real thing, but even if the weather is unkind you can learn more about the phenomenon at Reykjavik’s excellent Northern Lights Centre.

Experience the rich Icelandic culture

Although it has its roots in Nordic culture, Icelandic culture is unique and one that your students will love the opportunity to explore.

For example, taking part in the Icelandic ritual of bathing in hot springs is always a hit with students.

And make sure you take some time to enjoy some traditional Icelandic cuisine during your trip – skyr is a popular, healthy choice!

Book with Halsbury

Take a look at our range of Iceland school trips and then get in touch with one of our tour advisers to discuss your requirements.

Where to visit in Iceland

Learn more

Why choose Halsbury?

We build your trip around you

Tell us your learning objectives, curriculum and budget and we’ll do the rest.

Contact us

We’re trusted for a reason

We’re members of ABTA, ABTOT and the School Travel Forum. We also hold an ATOL and the LOtC Quality Badge.

Read more

Our Education specialists

Laura Lucas

Tour Consultant

Paul Hudson

Tour Consultant

Laura Martin

Tours Sales & Product Manager

Emma Gray da Silva

Tour Consultant

Meet our education specialists and get to know more about the people committed to making your school trip the best it can be.

Meet the education team

FAQs

I can't see the exact destination I want to visit on this page - does this mean you can't arrange trips there?

Not at all. Most of our groups choose to base themselves in Reykjavik - as the capital, it offers a great choice of accommodation and is one of the key jumping-off points for many of the most popular tours. It's also pretty handy for the airport. 

But we also have groups that choose to head to other parts of the country, like the North or West. These are great options as they do tend to have fewer tourists and so are a little quieter, while still offering similar experiences to those you'd find around Reykjavik. 

We have really great relationships with suppliers all over Iceland, so we're sure we'll be able to take you wherever you want to go. Just get in touch and we'll see what we can do. 

When is the best time to visit Iceland on a school trip?

It depends on what you'd like to see and do during your educational trip to Iceland. For example, most groups want to try and see the Northern Lights, and the best time for that is between November and April. Our dedicated Tour Advisers have visited Iceland many times and can suggest the best time of year based on your needs and budget.

What clothing should students bring?

This is one of the questions we get asked most by groups travelling to Iceland. With extreme weather conditions and varied terrain, it's important that you and your students are well-prepared. Essential items include walking boots, a warm waterproof jacket, gloves, a hat and a scarf. Check out our Iceland packing guide for more tips. 

Do you offer travel insurance?

We do. Travel insurance is an optional extra and you can find out more about it in our travel insurance resource (which includes the policy documents and FAQs). 

If you decide against arranging this insurance through us (which is absolutely fine, by the way), please just remember you must have suitable travel and medical insurance to cover your group. 

Can the trip itinerary be adapted to my curriculum and requirements?

Every single trip we arrange is tailor-made, so yes, the itinerary can be adapted.

Our Tour Advisers and Itinerary Coordinators are all experienced school travel specialists. They'll work closely with you to make sure your itinerary supports your learning objectives. They'll be able to offer suggestions and advice to make sure you make the most of your time. 

So, when you're browsing through our school trips, just remember that the itineraries and activities you see are there for inspiration only - your own itinerary can look as similar or as different as you want. 

Equally, we've suggested trip durations based on what groups usually request - if you want to go for a shorter or longer duration, just let us know. 

How far ahead should I start planning my trip?

As a general rule, we recommend that you start planning your trip 12-18 months before you want to travel. This gives you plenty of time to get it approved and launched to students and parents.

Planning early will mean you have a greater choice of accommodation and travel options - and it will make paying for the trip easier for families, as they'll be able to break it down into smaller, more manageable payments.

You can check out our trip-planning timeline for a better idea of the process and when you should expect to be doing things. 

If you are looking to travel sooner than this, it is possible. It will depend on availability and you may find prices are a bit higher, but get in touch and we can see what's possible. 

What accommodation can you arrange in Iceland?

For such a small country, Iceland offers a great variety of accommodation. So, your Tour Adviser will chat to you about your dates, budget and accommodation requirements and will make suggestions of accommodation options they think would work best for you. 

If you have very specific ideas, just let them know - it's always easier for us if we know what you want (or what you don't want). 

We'll only offer accommodation that we believe is safe and suitable for school groups - and you can find out a bit more about how we decide that in our Safety Management System

How much does a school trip to Iceland cost?

Our school tours to Iceland start from £749 per person for a typical four-day trip, although we can adapt the itinerary and accommodation options to fit any budget. 

Faqs

Let's chat!