Adventure in Trolls land - Tröllaskagi

WORK/PROJECT:

SEEDS volunteers will join a project in a beautiful and peaceful area in the north of Iceland. Volunteers will be tearing down old fence posts around the area, planting trees and other plants, building stone walls and cleaning around a construction site in the area. 

In the evenings and during the free days there will be enough time to explore the surroundings, trekking and walking. There is also the possibility to participate in activities such as yoga, meditation and a guided hiking tour around the area.

The Lodge, where we will stay, is an ancient sheep farm that's been continually habited from the time of the settlement of the Vikings in Iceland in circa 850AD.

ACCOMMODATION:

SEEDS volunteers will be hosted in a local housing in sleeping bags. Food will be provided and a kitchen will be available; volunteers will share the duties of helping in the kitchen and cleaning.

Do not forget some traditional/typical food from your home country for the international evening.

LOCATION:

The workcamp will take place in a valley at the north of Iceland in a peaceful area surrounded by mountains. Located in the heart of Tröllaskagi (“Trolls’ Headland” - between Eyjafjörður and Skagafjörður), a mountainous peninsula, where most of the mountains rise above 1000 meters and the highest one is over 1500 meters. It is the part of Iceland with the highest elevation outside the central highlands.

The area is not a continuous highland, but has deep valleys which glaciers have dug with their enormous power in the last Ice Age. The area is renowned as one of Iceland’s most spectacular areas for outdoor activity. Hikers can find suitable walking routes at any time of year, while mountaineers can scale peaks of all shapes and sizes

The local environment has many options for exploration of the flora and fauna, hiking and enjoying solitude in a beautiful surrounding. In the valley where the workcamp takes place there is hidden mountain springs, beautiful waterfalls, hanging valleys and glaciers as small canyons.  

The distance to the next town and village is about 60 km to Akureyri and 30 km to Dalvík. Akureyri is often referred to as the capital of the north and it is by far the largest town outside of the Reykjavik capital area with a population of about 17.200. Akureyri is the centre of culture, education and leisure activities in north Iceland.

Dalvik is a small community with around 2000 inhabitants. The local community is based upon the fisheries and fish processing. From Dalvik the ferry Sæfari serves the island of Grímsey, Iceland’s northernmost community, which lies on the Arctic Circle. Sæfari also serves Hrísey which is out in the middle of Eyjafjörður and is often referred to as the pearl of Eyjafjörður.  

LANGUAGE:

English will be the official language in the camp, high proficiency is not required.

TERMINAL:

Closest International Airport: Keflavík/Reykjavík (KEF).  Domestic airport is Akureyri (AEY).

SEEDS organises the “minibus option”, a shared transport from Reykjavík to the camp site and vice versa. Apart from being cheaper and more convenient, it 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 200. (Euros)

The camp is located in a place of extreme beauty and isolation; natural surroundings.

Additional free time activities will be organized for SEEDS volunteers, like yoga and a guided hiking tour using environmental interpretation for a deeper understanding of the value of nature and the importance of nature protection.

Volunteers should have a motivation for working outdoors and staying in a very remote place.

Age: 18+