Geography Trip to Iceland 20Th 24Th July 2017
Our Ref: MB/DMB 15 September 2016
Dear Parents/Carers
Geography Trip to Iceland 20th – 24th July 2017
Following eight successful international trips to Iceland, with the most recent in the summer of 2016, we have decided to offer the trip again in the summer holidays of 2017. We are unlikely to offer this trip again until 2019 if the trip this year does go ahead.
Iceland truly is a remarkable place and is often described as the land of ‘Fire and Ice’. 35 places will be on offer for the trip. Students studying Geography in current Years 10, 11, 12 and 13 will be eligible to attend the trip. This may be extended to students not studying Geography if there are any remaining places.
Itinerary (provisional, although the dates are fixed – all swimming optional):
v Thursday 20th July: Leave Oaklands at 07:30 and fly to Keflavik, arriving early afternoon. Visit the Blue Lagoon health spa. From there we will EITHER go to Gunnhiver and Krysuvik Geothermal areas and ‘The Bridge between two Continents’. OR we will visit the capital, Reykjavik. If we do this, then we will purchase an evening meal there. Eventually, we will arrive at Hvolsvollur to stay at the Skalinn Centre.
v Friday 21st July: The Golden Circle – Kerid volcanic crater, Faxi waterfall, watch the Strokkur geyser erupt at Geysir and Gulfoss waterfall. We will also visit Thingvellir, which is the site of the first ever parliament in the World and where the North American plate and Eurasian plate are rifting. Swim at the outdoor pool in Selfoss – geothermally heated of course!
v Saturday 22nd July: Boat trip to Vestmannaeyjar islands (Heimaey) - scene of the 1973 eruption. Climb Helgafell volcano and visit the ‘Pompeii of the North’- buried houses under ash and lava. Take the ‘Viking tours’ boat trip around the island with potential whale watching (we watched Killer Whales in 2014, which was an unforgettable experience). Swim in the outdoor pool on Heimaey, which is a fantastic pool. Visit the Gluggafoss waterfall once back on the mainland.
v Sunday 23rd July: Seljalandsfoss waterfall, Skogafoss waterfall, Solheimajokull glacier walk (crampons, ice axes and tour guides - a real highlight). Basalt columns at Vik and coastal scenery at Dyrholaey.
v Monday 24th July: Travel home – it will be an early flight, so we would get back to Oaklands probably mid-afternoon.
If there is inclement weather, the itinerary could change. However, we have not had to do this on our previous trips. I try and pack in as much as we can in the time that we have there (it doesn’t get dark until about 11:30 at night), so the days are extremely busy. Students will need to be reasonably fit and be able to cope with the physical exertion and the long days.
Accommodation is on a full board basis and we will stay at the Skalinn Centre. We have stayed there on a number of occasions and it is ideal for a school group. Cereals and toast are provided in the morning, students make their own packed lunches after breakfast and a two course hot meal is provided in the evening. All excursions will have been paid for in advance, but students will need to take some spending money (Icelandic Krona) if they want to purchase additional snacks/ drinks or/and purchase souvenirs. Students will also be advised to eat a meal at the airport on the day of departure, so will need money for this too.
The cost will be £1037, but I have tried to organise the trip early in the year to provide parents with the ability to spread the payments. Register of interest forms must be returned to the Finance Office by Monday 26 September 2016. If the trip is oversubscribed by this date, places will be allocated by means of a draw. Parents will then be informed by email by Wednesday 28 September 2016 whether their child has been successful in gaining a place on the trip and a reserve list will be generated. Deposits of £77 must then be made by 3 October 2016 to secure your child’s place. All remaining payment instalments (a total of 6) will be £160 each and these will be payable by:
· Second payment – November 25th 2016
· Third payment – January 27th 2017
· Fourth payment – February 17th 2017
· Fifth payment – March 31st 2017
· Sixth payment – May 26th 2017
· Seventh and final payment must be made by June 23rd 2017.
As this trip is non-curricular the school normally is unable to offer financial assistance and therefore the full cost of the activity must be borne by yourselves. Payments and accompanying paperwork must be handed in on or before the deadline date outlined above and late payments will jeopardise your child’s place on the trip/activity. Should your child withdraw from the activity, please be aware that deposits are non-refundable and any further payments can only be refunded if the place can be filled by another student on a waiting list, or if the withdrawal is for an insurable reason.
If there are any significant changes to the costs of the trip, these may have to be passed on to the student. Be assured that we will try to keep such costs to a minimum. Organising the trip this early does pose difficulties in terms of costs. The Skalinn Centre is ‘on hold’ with the tour company that we use, as are the flights. However, the airline is unlikely to hold them for the time that we need to get the deposits in, so the cost could change. However, my contact is doing all she can to secure the seats that we require. I will inform you if there any changes to the price; hopefully this will not occur. Frustratingly, the exchange rate has suffered since Brexit. Consequently, the cost has gone up (I think the students paid £985 last year) I’m afraid.
There are three main ‘additional’ excursions that are included in the price: Blue Lagoon spa, Viking boat tour and the Glacier walk. The quote provided by the travel company this year is based on 2016 prices as the 2017 rates for these activities have not been published yet. Hopefully, there will be no increase, but this is a potential cost that I may need to request from you. However, I hope that you can appreciate that I have tried to get the letters published for the trip as soon as possible to give parents the greatest length of time possible to pay for the trip, even if these excursion rates have yet to be confirmed.
It is important that we have the correct contact details for you so please ensure you include an email address and mobile number if possible.
Please complete and return the register of interest forms to the Finance Office by 26 September. If you have any queries, please do not hesitate to contact me at .
Yours faithfully,
Mark Bamford –
Head of Geography
PLEASE RETURN TO THE FINANCE OFFICE BY 26 SEPTEMBER 2016
Geography Trip to Iceland 20th – 24th July 2017
Student Name: …………………………………………….…. Form: …………………..
I would like to submit an application for my child to participate in the visit to Iceland 20th – 24th July 2017
He/she is in good health and I consent to him/her taking part in the programme detailed in your letter. Should my child secure a place on this trip, I will ensure deposits and payments are made according to the payment schedule as outlined in the trip letter.
I will make future payments on line
Parent/Carer Name.: …….……………………………Signature: ………………………
Email address: ………………………………………………………………………………
Mobile: ……………………………………………………….. Date: ………………………