Day 5 – Earthquakes, Lava & Vikings!

Our final full day in Iceland was packed with geothermal wonders, underground adventures, and a touch of Viking flair.

We started in the steamy town of Hveragerði, where we visited the Earthquake House and experienced what a real earthquake feels like on the simulator.

Next, we visited a geothermal tomato greenhouse and got to try some tomato flavoured ice cream! Then we relaxed at the Secret Lagoon, one of Iceland’s oldest swimming hot springs – the perfect place to soak up some geothermal goodness.

From there, we descended into the Lava Tunnel, an incredible ancient lava tube formed thousands of years ago. At one point the guide turned off the lights, plunging us into total darkness.

To finish the day, we returned to Reykjavík for some well-earned free time exploring the capital’s sights, shops, and souvenirs.

We spent our final night in style – at a Viking-themed hotel complete with longhouses and Viking style banquet.

Check out our photos from the tour in the photo gallery section 📷

#IcelandStudyTour #GeothermalIceland #LavaTunnel #SecretLagoon #EarthquakeExperience #VikingVibes

Day 4 – Puffins, Volcanoes & Belugas!

Today’s adventures took us by (electric!) ferry to the beautiful Vestmannaeyjar Islands, where we explored the fascinating island of Heimaey – famous for the powerful 1973 volcanic eruption.

We began with a walking tour of the town, then visited the moving Eldheimar Museum, built over houses buried in ash and lava flows. We learned about traditional Icelandic life and the resilience of a community that refused to give up and battled the lava flows.

Next, we visited the Sea Life Sanctuary where we met some of the island’s marine life – and had the unforgettable experience of seeing Little Grey and Little White, two Beluga Whales rescued from bad conditions in a Seaworld in Asia. Only this week they were moved to the centre for their health check. You can watch the documentary here!

To end the day, we travelled to the dramatic cliffs of Heimaey, where we watched hundreds of puffins nesting and diving.

#IcelandStudyTour #PuffinsAndPeaks #Vestmannaeyjar #BelugaWhales #Eldheimar #VolcanoIsland

Well done to our 2025 YPI winners, who went to Perth National YPI Event along with other winners from the Highlands in order to celebrate their success in the competition this year. These students won £3000 for Crocus Highland, which will go towards making toolkits for secondary school students who have experienced a bereavement and need some support. Superb!

Well done to the Inverness Royal Academy team who entered the Sue Hastie Memorial Cup at Moray Sports Centre, Elgin on Sunday 8th June to raise funds for Marie Curie Cancer Nurses. The team won some games and finished in 6th place overall, against many older, more experienced players. The tournament is hosted every year by Lossie Ladies Netball club in memory of Sue Hastie, a former Player, Umpire and Schools netball coordinator from Buckie, who was hugely devoted to the development of netball in Highland and Moray. Mrs Blair [ASN] who was one of the tournament umpires, was most impressed by the IRA team's tenacity and good humour throughout the whole event. It was also nice to have an event where male netball players are encouraged to play too. Sue's son is a real " impact" player who returns every year to play in memory of his mum.

🌍✈️ Our geography study tour to Iceland has officially begun! After a long journey, we hit the ground running with a visit to the Bridge Between Continents, where we walked across the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, standing between two tectonic plates. 🗺️
Next, we explored some nearby hot springs, getting up close with Iceland's geothermal wonders. Then we travelled to the newly deserted town of Grindavík, where we drove over fresh lava flows and witnessed first hand the powerful aftermath and destruction from recent volcanic eruptions. 🌋

Keep your eye on the Iceland Photo Album in our Photo Gallery Section this week for updates!