Patreksfjörður - Unique West fjords

WORK/PROJECT: SEEDS volunteers will be working with the local community in Patreksfjörður to build a new walking path above the town. SEEDS has been working with the municipality of the last 5 years in different projects.

We will also assist in beautifying the town of Patreksfjörður and surroundings by maintaining hiking paths, planting trees and taking care of green areas.

We will do some painting jobs, and few other tasks that need to be done around town.

ACCOMMODATION: We will be hosted in a local school in a sleeping bag accommodation.

Food ingredients will be provided and a kitchen will be available, volunteers will share the duties of cooking and cleaning. Please bring your own sleeping bag. Please do not forget some traditional/typical food from your home country for the international evening.

LOCATION: Patreksfjörður is located in the Icelandic Western Fjords, which are too often missed by visitors due to its distance (real and perceived) from Route 1, the circle road, and from other population centers.

Patreksfjörður is a small fishing town, which bears the name of the fjord and one of the communities of Vesturbyggð, where the main trades are/were fishing and fish processing. In Patreksfjörður a coastal lagoon has been dredged and opened to the sea to provide a sheltered harbour. The town stands on slender sandpits and stretches two kilometres along the narrow northern shore of the fjord. It began as a fishing port, like most of the villages and towns in this region. Nearness of rich fishing banks, and a sheltered harbour, made the town one of the main fishing ports in the region, dating back to the 16th century.

The West Fjords are a mass of fjords, mountains and isolated villages on spits of lands surrounded by water and mountains. The area includes its own glacier, the magnificent, remote Hornstrandir and Europe's westernmost point of land at Látrabjarg, about two hours drive, you will find this gigantic, sheer cliff facing the North Atlantic Ocean. There, millions of birds nest in the cliffs among them puffins, arctic tern, guillemots and other types of birds making Látrabjarg a must for bird watchers.

The town is located on the shores in the south of the Western Fjords and is surrounded by mountains that offer endless opportunities to enjoy nature and wilderness during all seasons.

The vicinity offers a variety of interesting places to explore; hiking and mountain climbing are popular. The sheer beauty of the region attracts many people and tourism has started to play an increasing role recently. The distance from Reykjavik is 7-8 hours drive by the Whale Bay tunnel but only about 5 hours via Stykkisholmur and by the ferry to Brjanslaekur.

It is perhaps one of Iceland's most remote areas. In the West fjords one travels through the whole range of Icelandic flora from the shore and meadows, through birch and willow, to mossy moors. On a stroll amidst the driftwood on the shore one can see birds and seals and then an occasional arctic fox around the deserted farmsteads.

LANGUAGE: English will be the official language in the camp; high proficiency is not a requirement.

TERMINAL: Closest International Airport: Keflavík/Reykjavík (KEF). Closest bus stop is in town.

SEEDS organises the “minibus option”, a shared transport from Reykjavík to the camps and vice-versa, which apart from being cheaper and more convenient, allows volunteers to meet fellow campers and have a relaxed trip, while stopping on the way for interesting and tourist sites.

EXTRAS / SPECIAL REMARKS: Participation fee EUR 120,- (Euros).

SEEDS volunteers will have access to the town’s geothermal swimming pool and to the hot tubs. Several hiking options are within easy distance and many beautiful surroundings in the area. SEEDS volunteers will also be able to take part in the Icelandic independence festivities on June 17th.

AGE: 18+