Priory Academy Geography Tour 19-22 October 2018
Travelling to Gatwick in a coach from Grant s of Ely, we will meet on High Street South (opposite the BP garage) from 2.00am. We will depart by 2.30am at the latest.
Students are in accessible possession of; Passports EHIC (E111) Food until 7pm Money Sterling and Krona (ISK) They should be dressed comfortably as we will be spending a relaxed day in Reykjavik. The trip hoodie is compulsory please.
We fly out with EasyJet on EZY8507 @ 6.40am, we arrive in Reykjavik @ 8.50am local time (1 hour behind). On Monday 22 October, we return on flight EZY8508 @ 9.35am and are estimated to arrive at Gatwick @ 1.35pm (GMT). Collected by Gray s on arrival, our ETA for Dunstable is 4.15pm.
Our allowance is 23kg each in the hold and we are allowed to take cabin hand luggage. Although EasyJet don t operate a maximum hand luggage weight policy, it must measure a maximum 0f 56cm x 45cm x 25cm including handles and wheels. Please remember the liquids policy!
Iceland uses the Icelandic Krona (ISK). The present exchange rate is 143.32 ISK to 1 Confusing? Yes! But, it helps to remember that 1000 ISK is approximately 7 Expensive place is an understatement! I am happy to operate a bank should parents/students wish me to? Although avoiding them if we can, public toilets cost 200 ISK
We will stay all three nights at the Hotel Cabin in Reykjavik. Tel: +354 483 4700 We are in twin rooms with one three bed room. The hotel has a small shop and plenty of socialising space. Our Hotel Food wise, we will receive a continental-style breakfast and, generally, a hot evening meal. For our excursions, we will be provided with a packed lunch and a drink. N.B. On the final morning, we will receive breakfast and a packed lunch. All other food and drinks must be purchased on our journey.
The present temperature in Reykjavik is 7 degrees dropping to 4 degrees tonight. The average October temperatures offer a maximum of 6 degrees during the day and the minimum night temperature is 1 degree. However, November offers an average 2 degrees maximum in the day and -2 degrees minimum at night! Late October, daylight decreases by 7 minutes per day! Sunrise is at about 8.30am with sunset at approximately 5.50pm; roughly a 9 hour day.
Layers, layers, layers! Yaktrax are approximately 20 and are available from Amazon or Blacks. A fully-waterproof coat and trousers are absolutely compulsory. Think, What gets cold? Hands, neck, feet, head! Decathlon, White Lion Retail Park, offer perfectly adequate equipment for an Icelandic October at very cheap prices.
Day 1 Friday 19 October Reykjavik 02:00 hrs Meet at departure point. We would suggest that the group take provisions from home for the journey and suitable stops will be made en route as necessary. 02:30 hrs Depart school 04:30 hrs Check in at London Gatwick Airport, North Terminal for EasyJet flight number EZY8507 06:30 hrs Flight departs No meals are served on this flight; however, snacks and beverages may be purchased on board the aircraft. 08:45 hrs Arrive at Keflavik International Airport (local time) 09:30 hrs You will be met by your coach for transfer to the hotel. 10:45 hrs Anticipated arrival at Hotel Cabin where the group will spend the next 3 nights with full board accommodation. Towels will be provided by the hotel. Afternoon - Group to depart on foot for Reykjavik, where, following a safety/recommended sights meeting, the group will spend free time sightseeing. Return to the accommodation on foot. 19:00 hrs Buffet style evening meal will be served at the hotel. Remainder of the evening games and at leisure.
Day 2 Saturday 20 October Golden Circle Day 08:00 hrs Buffet breakfast will be served at the hotel. Packed lunches will be provided. 09:00 hrs A full day excursion of the Golden Circle with a national guide, to include; Þingvellir National Park a unique opportunity to witness the mid-atlantic ridge. A visitors centre with multimedia exhibits and a gift shop. 11.20hrs - The Secret Lagoon. It is compulsory for all bathers to have a full shower just before entering the pool. Bathers will be expected to shower without their swimming costumes and the showers are communal (single sex) Continue on the Golden Circle excursion, to include: Gullfoss Waterfall One of the most impressive waterfalls in Europe which is approached along the rim of a 2.5 km canyon where students can observe a classic example of waterfall formation caused by a resistant basalt cap rock. Great Geysir You will see one of the most active geysers in the area, Strokkur, spouting up to 25 metres every 5-7 minutes. Nearby there is a café and gift shop. The Kerið Crater is an almost perfect miniature volcano and northern most of a row of spatter cone formed by an eruption 3000 years ago. There is a lake within the crater whose level changes with fluctuations in the water table. 18:30 hrs - Approximate time of arrival back at the hotel. 18:45 hrs Buffet style evening meal will be served at the hotel. 19:30 hrs - Group to depart on the coach and travel out of the city to look for the Aurora Borealis. Please note that visibility is highly dependent on weather conditions and therefore cannot be guaranteed. 23:30 hrs Arrive back at the accommodation and off to bed.
Day 3 Sunday 21 October South Shore Day 08:00 hrs Buffet breakfast will be served at the hotel. Packed lunches will be provided. 09:00 hrs - Depart on the coach for a full day excursion of the South Shore with a national guide, to include: 11:00hrs - The Lava Centre; an interactive, high-tech educational exhibition depicting volcanic activity, earthquakes and the creation of Iceland over millions of years. Skógafoss Waterfall, which is more than 200 ft high. Reynishverfi, a black sand beach with views of sea stacks and Dyrolaey, a peninsular with a good example of an arch. There is a coffee shop with toilets nearby. Sólheimajökull, a glacier tongue that lies south of the Mýrdalsjökull Glacier. The glacier tongue will be viewed from the car park; it is not currently possible to get close to the glacier. Please note: The visit to Sólheimajökull is weather and time permitting Seljalandsfoss Waterfall. If the path is free of ice it may possible to walk behind the fallswaterproof clothing is essential. There are public toilets here. Gljúfrafoss or Gljúfrabúi is a small waterfall north of the larger falls of Seljalandsfoss in Iceland. Hveragerdi Earthquake Exhibition 20:00 hrs Approximate time of arrival back at the hotel. 20:15 hrs Buffet style evening meal will be served at the hotel. Remainder of the evening at leisure.
Day 4 Monday 22 October Back to Blighty 05:45 hrs Hoodies on! Buffet breakfast will be served at the hotel. Packed lunches will be provided. 06:10 hrs Group will be met at Hotel Cabin by the coach and load luggage ready for departure. 06:25 hrs Depart for transfer to the airport. 07:35 hrs Check in at Keflavik International Airport for EasyJet flight number EZY8508 09:35 hrs Flight departs. No meals are served on this flight; however, snacks and beverages may be purchased on board. 13:35 hrs Arrive at London Gatwick Airport, North Terminal (local time) You will be met at the aircraft door by your airport representative, who will guide you through customs to the baggage claim area and then escort you to your coach. 16:15 hrs Anticipated arrival at school