Iceland Winter Nature Camp for Teenagers in Reykjavik

Iceland sits just short of the Arctic Circle, and in winter the island shows its two faces at once: snow-covered lava fields and water that comes out of the ground hot. This seven-day camp is built for teenagers aged 12 to 17 who want that contrast rather than a beach, and it stays in and around the province of Reykjavik so that travelling time never eats into the programme.\n\nThe stay opens in Reykjavik itself, a capital whose name means the smoky bay and which feels closer to a large provincial town than to a metropolis. The group walks the historic centre, visits the Viking Museum and the Perlan Museum with its artificial ice cave, and spends time in a geothermal swimming pool that comes with slides and a sauna. When the sky is clear enough, evenings are given over to hunting the northern lights.\n\nA full day goes to the Golden Circle. Thingvellir National Park is the geological set piece, the rift where two continental plates pull apart, and it doubles as a filming location familiar to anyone who has watched a certain fantasy series. Gullfoss follows, a waterfall that disappears into a fissure rather than falling into a pool, and then Geysir, the geothermal field that gave every other geyser in the world its name.\n\nThe walking day is the Reykjadalur trek: about four hours at an easy pace, with viewpoints along the way and a river warm enough to bathe in at the end. No previous hiking experience is needed.\n\nAccommodation is a youth hostel with single-sex dormitories of four to ten beds, shared bathrooms outside the rooms, a communal kitchen and a common room used for activities. The camp is co-managed: breakfasts are served at the hostel, lunches are packed for the day, and the evening meal is cooked by the group with the team. Participants therefore take a real share in running the stay, which is part of the point.\n\nGroups are small, from twelve to twenty-four participants, and are accompanied by a qualified director and activity leaders at a ratio of one adult to every eight young people. Return scheduled flights between Paris and Reykjavik are part of the package, along with local and private transport on the ground that meets Icelandic safety standards. Departures from other French cities can be arranged and appear among the optional extras on this page.\n\nAvailability, dates and prices may change quickly. Please always confirm details directly with the camp provider before making travel arrangements.