Five days of glaciers, geysers, waterfalls, whales and real molten lava — a small-group AKL expedition for explorers ages 8–12* where every stop is a hands-on lesson in how our planet works.
*Children outside the 8–12 age range may be considered on an individual basis. Contact us to talk about your child.
At Þingvellir, the North American and Eurasian plates are pulling apart — and our explorers get to walk right through the gap.
Iceland puts the three things AKL cares about most — STEM, nature and culture — within a short drive of each other. Kids don't read about plate tectonics here. They stand in the gap between two continents.
Geothermal energy, volcanic science, glaciology and erosion — all visible, audible and measurable on site.
Black-sand beaches, roaring waterfalls and the open ocean give young explorers a feel for how wild places work.
From a thousand-year-old open-air parliament to bold modern architecture, Iceland's story is told in stone and design.
About a tenth of Iceland is covered by glaciers. Explorers learn how glacier ice forms, moves, melts and carves caves — and step inside the real Katla Ice Cave beneath the Mýrdalsjökull glacier.
Landscape photos of Iceland's glaciers. See the itinerary for the stops on our trip.
We stay in one hotel in Reykjavík the whole trip — unpack once, sleep well, and head out each morning on a guided day of discovery.
We land at Keflavík and transfer together to our Reykjavík hotel. After settling in, the group explores the capital on foot — the soaring Hallgrímskirkja church (with an elevator ride to the top for panoramic views), the Sun Voyager sculpture on the waterfront, the glass-walled Harpa concert hall, and the colorful shops of Laugavegur.
Our guide takes us to Þingvellir National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, where we walk through the Almannagjá rift between the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates — and where Iceland's parliament first met over a thousand years ago. Next, the Geysir geothermal area, where Strokkur erupts every few minutes, then the thundering two-tiered Gullfoss waterfall.
We start at Reykjavík's Old Harbour with a whale-watching cruise into Faxaflói Bay, looking for humpback and minke whales, dolphins and seabirds. In the afternoon, Perlan's museum brings glaciers, volcanoes and the Northern Lights indoors — including a walk-through ice cave and a 360° observation deck. We finish at the Lava Show, where real molten lava is poured safely in front of the audience.
A full day along Iceland's dramatic southern coast. We walk the footpath behind Seljalandsfoss, feel the spray of 60-meter Skógafoss (rainbows are common!), then head into the Katla Ice Cave. A guided super-jeep ride from Vík brings us to the edge of the Mýrdalsjökull glacier, where we put on helmets and crampons and step inside a cave of ancient ice streaked black with volcanic ash from the Katla volcano below. Next we visit Reynisfjara's black-sand beach and basalt sea stacks near Vík — enjoyed from a safe distance from the waves. We finish on the Dyrhólaey cliffs, where puffins nest in summer.
A final stroll through downtown Reykjavík for souvenirs (time permitting), then a group transfer to Keflavík for the flight home.
AKL handles the planning so families can focus on getting their explorer ready.
The same standards families trust after school travel with us: degreed AKL educators, clear supervision plans and constant communication with parents back home.
Spots are limited. Join the interest list and we'll send you the full trip packet as soon as enrollment opens.