Education and Adventure Tours

Schools Programme 2017-18 www.arcticdirect.co.uk [email protected]

Designed for your students Providing the adventure of a lifetime Arctic tours tailored to your requirements

Working with schools worldwide we have hand crafted a number of bespoke tour programmes. These are designed to complement the work young people are undertaking in the classroom whilst enriching their outlook on the word around them and driving their sense of adventure. Tours are designed to offer excitement and fun for students and staff alike whilst still embracing an educational approach.

Winter:

 Swedish Winter Adventure  Rovaniemi Arctic Experience  Ski Week in Finland

Winter and Summer

 Study Visit Iceland: Renewable Energy and Green Thinking

All of our packages can be further tailored to suit any specific requirements. Where required, full safety briefings are given and equipment is provided. All of our packages are ATOL protected for your peace of mind and that of the parents.

We look forward to arranging your next arctic adventure.

Charlotte Marshall-Reynolds Director - Travelbee, Arctic Direct Swedish Winter Adventure 5 Days, 4 Nights Offering an unparalleled opportunity to see the Northern Lights as there is 2 nights in the wilderness, this package is perfect for schools who want to encourage a student’s sense of adventure. There is an Igloo experience, husky and snowmobile safaris (non-driving) so offers students lots to do as well as all the thermal clothing rental for everybody.

 Flights from London Gatwick via Stockholm  All Transfers  2 nights youth hostel  1 night wilderness camp  1 night in Igloos  Husky Safari  Snowmobile sledge safari  Northern Lights dinner  Wilderness dinner at camp  Warm clothing rental  ATOL protection

From £995pp for 25—50 students 1 free staff place for every 10 paying passengers Departures: January, February, March (excluding half term week) Rovaniemi Arctic Experience 4 Days, 3 Nights Rovaniemi, located right in the confluence of the rivers Kemijoki and Ounasjoki at the Arctic Circle, is the unofficial capital and the gate to Finnish Lapland. The rural municipality comprises Rovaniemi, Rovaniemi sub-region and Ranua. The population of Rovaniemi is 36000 and Ranua’s 5000 inhabitants, and together with Rovaniemi sub-region makes a total of 63000 inhabitants.

The Arctic Circle is the imaginary line located at 66 32’ ‘35’’. Above the Arctic Circle the sun never sets in summer for at least one night a year, giving us the chance to enjoy the midnight sun; during the winter months, the sun does not rise at least one day a year. The winter darkness brings the kaamos, a very special dark blue light from the sky reflected on the snow, and Northern Lights dancing in the sky. Winter is long, and the darkness is just a part of it: from February we have longer days, and in mid-March days already longer than in South Europe. Rovaniemi is home to Arktikum (pictured, top) a museum and science centre exploring the Arctic region and the history of Finnish Lapland. The Science Centre Pilke features interactive exhibits on northern forests.

 Flights from London Heathrow via Helsinki  All Transfers  3 nights in log cabin accommodation with Half board  Visit to Arktikum museum and science centre.  Husky Safari  Snowmobile sledge safari  Northern Lights tour  Warm clothing rental  ATOL protection

From £995pp for 25—50 students 1 free staff place for every 10 paying passengers From £895pp room only basis

Departures: January, February, March (excluding half term week) Ski Week Levi, Finland 8 Days, 7 Nights Levi is a fell located in Finnish Lapland, and the largest ski resort in Finland. The resort is located in Kittilä municipality and is served by Kittilä Airport and Kolari railway station. At a latitude of 67.8° north, it is located approximately 170 km (110 mi) north of the Arctic Circle.

The slopes in Levi are mostly suitable for beginners or intermediates, but there are also three black slopes for experts. The highest vertical drop is 325 m (1,066 ft) and the longest slope is 2.1 km (1.3 mi) in length. The longest ski lift is about 1,636 metres (1.017 mi) long. Its ski area is regarded as the best and most extensive in Finland and offers snow-sure, uncrowded skiing in an area of exceptional natural beauty.

This pristine winter wonderland of snow-sculpted forests and glistening frozen lakes offers an extensive choice of activities including exhilarating husky, reindeer and snowmobile safaris. Skiing amidst the silence of the fells in a mystical blue twilight with rose-coloured dawns and dusks will leave you and your students with incredible memories.

 Flights from Bristol, Gatwick and Manchester direct to Kittilä  All Transfers  7 nights in log cabin accommodation, half board  7 days lift pass  5 days ski/snowboard tuition (1 ½ hours per day)  Ski/board and boot hire  Ice-Karting competition (Drivers 12yrs +)  Northern Lights tour  Warm clothing rental  ATOL protection

From £1,195pp for 25—50 students 1 free staff place for every 10 paying passengers Supplements apply for Bristol (+£45pp) and Manchester (+ £25pp) departures.

Study tour Iceland: Renewable energy, green thinking 7 Days, 6 Nights Day 1

 Arrival at Keflavik International airport. Transportation to Reykjavik via short detour to explore the lunar-like lava landscapes between Keflavik airport and Reykjavik city. Check-in to Reykjavik City Hostel (www.reykjavikcityhostel.is). Students will share rooms for 4-6 persons and group leaders will be provided with single/twin rooms. A warm-up and get together.  City tour to downtown Reykjavik with stræto public transportation, including the most significant places in the capital such as the beautiful Solfar sculpture, the magnificent Harpa concert and convention palace on the waterfront, the main street Laugavegur & the harbour area. Visit to the towering Hallgrim‘s church, the largest church and the sixth tallest architectural structure in Iceland famous for its pipe organ and a climb to the church tower for a magnificent view of the city. Visit to the restaurant Perlan (The Pearl) and Hofdi House, where the all-important summit meeting between President Ronald Reagan and Secretary General Mikhail Gobachev took place in 1986. A jump into Laugardalslaug, the largest geothermal heated outdoor swimming pool in Iceland (situated next door to Reykjavik City Hostel.  Dinner. Free time in the evening for relaxation.

Day 2

 An excursion day trip to the Golden Circle to explore historical and cultural icelandic sagas and places. Reykjavik-Hellisheidi Power Plant-Hveragerdi-Ljosafossvirkjun Power Station-Gullfoss-Geysir -Thingvellir-Reykjavik. Presentations will be given to the youth groups on Iceland and Icelandic heritage.  Breakfast at Reykjavik City Hostel. The Geothermal Energy Exhibition at Hellisheidi Power Plant. The exhibition is a state-of-the-art look into the utilization of geothermal energy in Iceland. The Hellisheidi Power Plant, owned by Reykjavik Energy, is a striking example of how geothermal energy can be utilized in a sustainable manner and is a showcase for geothermal‘s global role in a renewable and sustainable future. Experienced guides are on-hand to provide informative presentations and lectures backed by multimedia exhibitions about geothermal energy as a global energy source. A short film, The Origin of Geothermal Energy, is available in Icelandic, English, French, German, Spanish, Chinese and Japanese.  A short stop in Hveragerdi town. A visit to Ljosafossvirkjun Power Station, a hydroelectric power station located by Ulfljotsvatn Lake, by Ljosifoss waterfall, around 35 km north of Selfoss town in South Iceland. Ljósafossvirkjun Power Station is the oldest power station in Sogið River (Sogid), the longest spring-fed river in Iceland. When operations were started in 1937, the supply of electricity for the Reykjavík area was quadrupled, allowing the people living there to have the luxury of using electric stoves instead of coal stoves. Each home could use an electric stove in order to maximise the use of the “new” power from the Ljósafossvirkjun Power Station. Up until, then most of the electricity available had been used for lighting.  A visit to Gullfoss waterfall, one of the most popular waterfalls of Iceland.  Lunch at Gullfosskaffi. Traditional Icelandic meat soup with bread and butter, coffee/tee and chocolate. www.gullfoss.is/cafe/  A visit to Geysir geothermal area where guests can see bubbling hot springs and the geyser Strokkur erupting about every 10 minutes to a 15-20 meter height.  A visit to Thingvellir National Park, which is regarded as almost a holy place by many Icelanders, and is the site of the world‘s oldest parliament where guests can see the rift valley between the tectonic plate boundaries of the Mid- Atlantic Ridge. Thingvellir is a site of historical, cultural and geological importance and is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Iceland. It is also home to Thingvallavatn Lake, the largest natural lake in Iceland. The Parliament, or Althing, was established at Thingvellir in 930 and remained there until 1798. Thingvellir National Park was founded in 1930 to protect the remains of the parliament site and was later expanded to protect natural to where we are today? How can anyone make their first steps to more phenomena in the surrounding area. sustainable way of travelling?  Dinner. Geothermal swimming pool and relaxation in the evening.  Lunch. Visit to The Technical College Reykjavik ( http://en.tskoli.is/), where

students will get a presentation on a new study course on renewable energy, Day 3 followed by an introduction on the school and facilities, inside and outside.

 Dinner. Geothermal swimming pool.  Breakfast at Reykjavik City Hostel. The Green Agenda at Reykjavik City Hostel

presents a presentation and workshop for students to acquire new knowledge Day 4 on sustainability, followed by a tour around the hostel + discussion. It is a

presentation about Sustainable Tourism and HI Iceland‘s environmental policy.  An excursion day trip to Borgarfjordur, including presentations on Icelandic saga, What does sustainability mean and how is it related to tourism and the heritage and natural resources such as geothermal waters, which is a valuable hostelling movement? HI Iceland has been committed to sustainable tourism resource for Iceland. since 2003 and this has direct impact on the guests. Students will discover the  Sight-seeing and visits to historical and educational sites. Reykjavik-Agricultural exciting journey in becoming an officially certified Swan Ecolabel Hostel and University of Iceland at Hvanneyri-Reykholt-Barnafossar-Deildartungukver- find out more about what it means to maintain high environmental standards Borgarnes-Reykjavík. Breakfast at Reykjavik City Hostel. on a daily basis. What have we done as a green hostel in the past years to get  Visit to the Agricultural University of Iceland. www.lbhi.is/en/english.  Visit to Deildartunguhver, the highest-flow hot spring in Europe.  Visit to the Resource Park http://www.resourcepark.is/  Visit to the medieval center Reykholt where Snorri Sturluson lived and a lecture  Visit to the Blue Lagoon (remember swim-wear). www.bluelagoon.com from the Reykholt´s priest, Mr. Geir Waage, on the work and influence of Snorri  Dinner Sturluson, an Icelandic historian, poet and politician. www.snorrastofa.is  Bowling night.  Visit to the waterfall Barnafoss on the river Hvita in Borgarfjordur.  Lunch-buffet/The Settlement Center in Borgarnes. Freshly made vegetable soup Day 6 and a variety of vegetable dishes, newly baked bread, coffee/tee. www.landnam.is  Breakfast at Reykjavik City Hostel.  Visit to the Settlement Center in Borgarnes. After lunch, we will explore the  Visit to Reykjavik University, School of Energy and Research Center ( http:// saga of the Viking heritage. Each participant can choose one out of two en.ru.is/) where students will get introduction on green energy in Iceland. exhibitions in the Settlement Center (30 min) which tells the saga of the  Lunch Settlement of Iceland and Iceland‘s most famous viking and first poet Egill  Free time/City tour and shopping, using public buses. Skallagrimsson. The two exhibitions are:  Farewell barbecue party dinner. The Settlement Exhibition and The Egil Saga Exhibition  Youthpasses issued to all participants, coming through Erasmus+ projects.  Dinner. Movie-night.

Day 5 Day 7

 An excursion trip to Reykjanes Peninsula and a visit to the Blue Lagoon.  Departure day. Reykjavík-Krýsuvík and Gunnuhver (ground cooking at two different geothermal areas), Reykjanesviti lighthouse, Planet Earth and finally step out on the "Bridge From £1,295 for 25—50 students Between the Continents", which connects the American and Eurasian tectonic 1 free staff place for every 10 paying passengers plates.  Breakfast at Reykjavik City Hostel. For students 14-16 and 16-18 years old  Krýsuvik, Gunnuhver, Reykjanesviti lighthouse, Bridge Between the Continents.  Planet Earth – Interactive Exhibition in Reykjanes Plant.  Vitinn Sandgerdi/Lunch buffet: Chicken, deep-fried fish, oven baked fish, vegetables, soup, salatbar, coffee/tea.