Hiking Trails in the East Fjords

PROJECT: In this project SEEDS volunteers will be mostly doing construction, repair and marking of hiking trails and walking paths in the beautiful fjords of the easternmost area of Iceland, in the Fjarðabyggð district, the area known as a hiking paradise characterised by high mountains surrounding deep fjords.

SEEDS volunteers will be working under the supervision and with a group from The Environment Agency of Iceland. The main tasks will be to mark and repair hiking trails or walking paths in the protected area of Hólmaness and Neskaupstaður. The path maintenance will be done using manual labour, since machinery is not allowed in the protected area, and using natural materials available on the site.

Well maintained paths enable people to visit these amazing areas without damaging them and this important work also helps to improve safety for visitors.  Additional tasks may be cleaning or beautifying the area, like hand-picking garbage or collecting trash blown by the wind or brought by the sea to the shores and surrounds.

The working day normally runs from 09:00 - 17:00 with breaks for lunch and coffee; however, please be prepared for some flexibility due to the nature of Iceland's changeable weather. Volunteers need to be prepared for working and walking in a wild landscape and sometimes cold weather. Be prepared to experience all kinds of weather and bring warm winter clothes as the tasks take place outside and it can get cold. Bring warm under-layers, waterproofs, walking shoes/boots, a good sleeping bag and gloves.

No previous experience is necessary but the work is demanding and requires a good physical condition.  As it is outdoors work, volunteers shall be ready to adapt and be flexible with the working and free-time schedule, as depending on the weather, we may not be able to perform some of the tasks or activities planned.

In the beginning of the camp there will be organised a guided two-day hiking trip to Gerpissvæði, the volunteers will sleep one night in the cabin in Vöðlavík. The participation in the hiking trip is voluntary, volunteers that choose not to participate can use the time to relax in the accommodation and get to know the town and the surrounding area. For the most part, there is no phone and/or internet connection in the working areas.

ACCOMMODATION: SEEDS participants will be hosted in a local mountain hut in the municipality, away from the towns. Volunteers will sleep on mattresses on the floor sharing rooms. Please bring your own sleeping bag.

The hut is equipped with a kitchen. Volunteers will be provided food supplies  and will share the duties of cooking and cleaning. Do not forget some traditional/typical food or drinks from home for the international evening. There is no shower in the house, but the volunteers will have free access to showers in the local swimming pool.

LOCATION: The project takes place in the municipality of Fjarðabyggð, East of Iceland in a beautiful area surrounded by magnificent mountains, picturesque fjords and the sea.  Fjarðabyggð is comprised of six fjords, Mjóifjörður, Eskifjörður, Reyðarfjörður, Norðfjörður, Fáskrúðsfjörður and Stöðvafjörður. The name of the municipality, which is the most easterly one in Iceland, has a strong fjord connection, meaning the people/or the settlement of the fjords. Of the municipality's six villages the most populous one, is Neskaupstaður, with about 1,400 residents. The attractions are a combination of landscape, history and easy going attitude towards life.

LANGUAGE: English will be the language in the camp; basic conversational skills are needed.

TERMINAL & TRANSPORT: Closest international Airport: Keflavík/Reykjavík (KEF).

SEEDS organises a “minibus option”, a shared transport from Reykjavík & back. Apart from being cheaper and convenient, it allows participants to meet and have a relaxed trip, while stopping on the way for interesting sites.  

The SEEDS minibus will travel one way along the Northern part of the country and the other along the South coast of Iceland. In this way we will travel the whole ring road and stop at magnificent natural sights, including waterfalls, glaciers, volcano craters, hot springs, iceberg lagoons, black sand beaches, etc.  Meeting point at SEEDS office in Reykjavík at 7:00 am of July 20.  Return to Reykjavík in the late evening of July 30.

EXTRAS / SPECIAL REMARKS: Participation fee EUR 120 (Euros). Please note that these fees are to be paid to SEEDS on arrival in either Euros or Icelandic krónas.

The participation fee does not include the transportation from Reykjavík to the camp and back but we estimate the costs about EUR 75 each way.

Volunteers have access to the local swimming pool and hot tubs, the town museums and the local public buses.