
A land of ever changing scenery, dramatic lighting and incredible energy; replete with rainbows, waterfalls, glaciers, hot springs and trolls, Iceland’s beauty captivates all those who visit.
Iceland
- 5 days
- GMT
- Iceland
- Approx. 2hrs
- Seljalandsfoss
- Geysir
- Gullfoss
- Þingvellir National Park
- Reykjanes Geo Park
- Blue Lagoon
For the latest travel advice, including passport and visa information, visit the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office website
Sample itinerary
This sample itinerary is offered as a guideline. The trip focus, length and itinerary/activities can be tailored to meet your learning objectives.





- Day
Day 1 - Arrive in Iceland
Land at Keflavik Airport, a small but modern airport situated at the Western tip of the Reykjanes peninsula and begin your excursion in Iceland!
From there it's a 45 minute drive to Reykjavik, the colourful capital city of Iceland. Reykjavik is also the world's northern-most capital city and full of history as well as modern Icelandic culture.
Here, visit the Perlan, Iceland’s unique interactive nature exploratorium. A landmark in its own right, students can enjoy fantastic views of the city from the observation platform before heading inside. Voted Best of the Best 2023 on Tripadvisor, this gem includes the world’s first indoor ice cave, built with over 350 tons of snow from the Blue Mountains, an interactive exhibit on Icelandic glaciers, and a breathtaking 360° Northern Lights show in one of the world’s most sophisticated planetariums. Finish with the Lava Show, the hottest attraction in Reykjavik. Watch up close as they recreate a volcanic eruption by superheating real lava up to 1100°C, then pour it into the room. You can experience real molten lava, see it flowing, hear it sizzling, and feel the incredible heat that emanates from it.
Day 2 - South Coast and Glaciers
Today, head to Seljalandsfoss waterfall, which is fed by melting water from the glacier-capped Eyjafjallajökull volcano. This powerful waterfall is best known for the walking path that runs behind the curtain of water, where visitors can enjoy a truly unique viewpoint. It’s the only known waterfall in the world that it is possible to walk behind.
Then visit The Lava Centre, a brand new interactive, high-tech educational exhibition where you can learn about volcanic activity, earthquakes, and the creation of Iceland over millions of years. Geography school trips benefit from its interactive teaching on the art and science of geology, giving students the opportunity to watch a volcanic eruption in 4K HD, experience an earthquake, and see the 12-metre high structure showing how magma flows underneath Iceland.
Later on, experience how Icelanders have lived in the past with artefacts and tools dating back to the Viking age in the Skógar Folk Museum, before making your way to Skógafoss waterfall, one of the biggest waterfalls in the country at 15 metres wide and 60 metres tall. Thanks to the amount of spray the waterfall consistently produces, a single or double rainbow is normally visible on sunny days.
If weather permits, drive to the Sólheimajökull Glacier, an approximately 11km long outlet glacier, which advances from Mýrdalsjökull glacier down a one to two km wide valley. It has been retreating since 1995 and, if our climate continues to warm, it will disappear within 100 years. If you are feeling adventurous, our expert mountain guides can take you for an organised walk upon the glacier using crampons and ice picks.
Day 3 - Waterfalls and hot springs
Start today with a visit to Hellisheiði, one of the world’s largest geothermal power plants. It was created to provide electricity to the city of Reykjavik following increasing demand. Those on school trips are offered educational tours and can also see presentations about sustainable energy as part of the Geothermal Energy Exhibition. A pilot direct air capture scheme also shares the site, capturing 4000 metric tons of carbon dioxide each year which is then injected into the ground.
Then continue your journey with a drive through Þingvellir National Park, Iceland's popular rift valley that marks the crest of the Mid-Atlantic ridge and the boundary between the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates.
In the afternoon visit the awesome Gullfoss waterfall, a tiered waterfall, with a total height of 32 metres making it the largest waterfall by volume in Europe. Born from the Hvita River, the crevice is hidden from sight at close range, making it appear as though the river simply vanishes into the earth.
Then drive to the Geysir hot spring area, 3km² filled with boiling mud pits and exploding geysers which have existed for more than 10,000 years. This type of hot spring is very rare and does not exist in Europe outside of Iceland. Even the word “geyser” used today for this kind of hot springs is derived from the Icelandic word Geysir. Strokkur, the most frequent, spouts water 30 metres into the air every few minutes.
You will also see Kerið Crater, originally a cone volcano that erupted and emptied its magma reserve. Once the magma was depleted, the weight of the cone collapsed into an empty magma chamber, later to be filled with water.
Day 4 - Lava fields and Blue Lagoon
This morning, try out the realistic earthquake simulator at Hveragerði. The town was built over a volcanic magma chamber and, as such, experiences both the positives and negatives of living so close to danger. All around the town, you will spot thermal greenhouses heated by geothermal energy. The Earthquake Simulator shows you just what happened to the town when, in 2008, an earthquake shook the area.
Then journey on to the Reykjanes Peninsula, located on a drift zone between two continents, the North American plate and the Eurasian plate. It is a unique site where you find different elements that exist because of the drift zone: geothermal energy, lava fields, and other natural phenomena. For example, you will see remarkable solfatara fields—an amazing expanse of steaming volcanic vents and boiling hot springs framed by an incredible range of multi-coloured hills. It is the only place in the world where the Mid-Atlantic Ridge is visible above sea level. A little later, stop at the lava flows from the 2021 and 2023 volcanic eruptions in Fagradalsfjall. Get up close and touch the cooled lava—an experience students will never forget!
After some fresh fish and chips for dinner, end your stay with an evening dip in the Blue Lagoon, a world-famous geothermal spa where the warm waters are blue and rich in minerals like silica and sulphur.
Day 5 - Fly home
This morning transfer to the airport for your flight home. If you have a later departure we will fill the itinerary this morning with some additional sightseeing.
What’s included
Full TCBC support from the moment you book until you return home
Full itinerary flexibility to ensure the perfect tour for your students
We'll source the best available flights based on your school's location
You'll have all our necessary contact details to hand should the need arise
Knowledgeable TCBC guide ready to bring your walking tours to life
Detailed itinerary, with all entrance fees included, no hidden costs
Return flights, 1 piece of hold luggage per person, airport taxes and security charges and ATOL Protection Contribution
Airport transfers upon arrival and departure. We can also arrange your UK airport transfers if you wish
Experienced Icelandic Tourist Association Guide for your included excursions
Coach, fitted with seat belts, at your disposal for all included excursions
4 nights' hotel or hostel accommodation, with multi rooms for students and single rooms for teachers
Breakfasts and dinners daily either in accommodation or local restaurant. Packed lunches provided upon request
Guided tours of Reykjavik, Reykjanes peninsula, Iceland's South Coast and the Golden Circle
There will be no hidden costs on tour, everything will be clearly explained before departure
24 hour emergency contact details of TCBC's office and your local guide's mobile number
The normal free staff place ratio is 1:10 but this is flexible and we'll work to whichever ratio you require
We'll visit your school and give a presentation to parents before departure. We introduce TCBC, run through the itinerary and what to expect and answer any questions
Cover with a bespoke travel insurance policy, provided by Endsleigh Insurance, is included in all our tours. If the cover does not meet your needs or if you prefer to use your school’s existing travel insurance, you may opt out of the Endsleigh policy.
We generally don't include lunches unless requested in advance of travel
If you feel you have received excellent service, then our local guides and drivers will appreciate being tipped. Guidelines will be outlined in your quote
Curriculum Relevance
Whichever aspect of Geography you focus on, we can design an Iceland itinerary to suit your curriculum requirements.
Together with our Education Advisor Ruth Tarrant, we have compiled useful links that show how the sights visited on your tour specifically relate to your students' studies. These will be very helpful when you come to submit the tour for approval at school.

It's important that your tour meets your learning objectives. Please feel free to download our handy introduction describing the ways a trip to Iceland can be linked to the curriculum.
We have also prepared much more detailed specifications relating to particular modules. Simply enter your name and email address, select the module you'd like and we'll send it over.
Accommodation
The properties we use in Iceland are used to working with our school groups and meet our high standards

Hotel Ork
The Ork is very popular amongst our groups. It's located in Hveragerði, a small town lying in a valley on top of a geothermal park which is used to heat the whole town. Surrounded by mountains, Hveragerði is approx a 1 hour drive from Keflavik airport and Reykjavik and is the perfect base to explore the South of Iceland.
The rooms are comfortable, clean and have all necessary amenities. There is a spacious area downstairs which groups can use, complete with pool table, foosball and table tennis. The restaurant Hver can provide your evening meals and packed lunches upon request. There is also an outdoor heated pool, but lifeguard services must be paid for separately.

Lighthouse Inn
The perfect place to stay if you have an early morning departure from Keflavik. Located 10 minutes from the airport on the tip of the Reykjanes peninsula and as the name suggests, right by one of the oldest lighthouses in Iceland.
The Lighthouse Inn is a brand new property, simply laid out with one corridor and comfortable rooms off either side. As a family run hotel, there's a very personable welcoming feel. In the evening, this is one of the best places to see the Northern Lights.

Hotel Cabin
A good option if you want to stay in the centre of Reykjavik. The Cabin is located downtown, on a main road with great views from front facing rooms out to the coast, the sea and the mountains in the distance.
There are 7 floors with 249 clean and comfortable rooms. There is a decent sized downstairs lobby area and a smaller sized breakfast area just past reception.
Reasons to travel with us
We honestly believe we are the best in what we do. We'd love the opportunity to show you.
Safety & reliability
The safety of all our travellers is our number 1 priority. We have a robust Safety Management System in place to ensure that our tours are run to the high levels you expect.
Experience & expertise
We have years of experience in planning school tours. Our expertise lies in our organisational skills, attention to detail and an understanding of what you need to make your trip a success.
TCBC local guides
Our guides are our greatest assets and consistently lauded. Highly experienced, knowledgeable and trustworthy, most are hand-picked and have worked with us for years.
Complete peace of mind
Our accreditations (ATOL, ABTA, STF, LOtC) provide you with the reliability, assurance and financial security expected from a specialist tour operator.
Customer
service
Our dedicated team is on hand to offer help and advice at every stage. We are positive you will be impressed with the high level of service you receive from us.
Flexibility & customisation
We customise every trip to suit your needs and offer maximum flexibility in planning your itinerary. We won’t rest until we get it right!
The personal touch
Getting to know our clients is very important to us. It’s very likely therefore that you’ll meet one or several of us at some point, either at school before departure or on the tour itself.
Total transparency
We include as much as possible in our quotes and are very transparent about what is and what is not included. There will be no hidden or surprise costs.
Pre-departure support
We understand how much work goes into planning a school trip. You will be dealing with the same people throughout the pre-departure process allowing us to respond quickly and accurately.
Repeat business
99.9% of teachers are so happy with our tours and our service that there is no need to travel with anyone else. We are confident you will feel the same way.
We had a fantastic trip to Iceland. The service provided by TCBC was exceptional, with staff members being incredibly helpful and professional. The excursion was truly outstanding, and we would highly recommend TCBC to other school groups.
