Arctic adventures in the West fjords

WORK/PROJECT: SEEDS volunteers will assist in maintaining the housing facilities and surroundings of an organization specialized in arctic adventure trips in the West of Iceland. Their trips include skiing, hiking, kayaking and sailing. The main house is an old abandoned farm that has been well maintained.

The farm is located in a fjord that is not accessibly by car, so volunteers will be picked up by boat and sail to the farm.

SEEDS volunteers will assist in the maintenance of the farmhouse and its surroundings. The main tasks include painting windows, fixing walking paths, maintenance inside the house and around it.

SEEDS volunteers will also help in preparing a vegetable garden and planting vegetables as well as other tasks that might come up.

Volunteers will be able to take a kayak trip and our host plans a feast during the camp. Other activities include hiking as area has countless opportunities for hiking and exploring.

ACCOMMODATION: SEEDS Volunteers will sleep in a farmhouse, on mattresses, sharing rooms. Please bring a warm sleeping bag.

Food ingredients will be provided and volunteers will help with preparing food and cleaning after meals. Do not forget some traditional/typical food from your home country for the international evening.

LOCATION: The work camp takes place in the Westfjords, the north-western part of Iceland. The region accounts for 10% of the country’s surface but only about 7200 people live there. Therefore it is one of the least populated areas of Europe. The Westfjords are very mountainous; the coastline is made up by dozens of fjords surrounded by steep hills.

The farmhouse where we will be staying is called “Kvíar” and is situated in the fjord “Lónafjörður”. This fjord is thought to be the most beautiful fjords in the Westfjords and is a nature reserve. The fjord can only be reached by boat and it takes about 2 hours to sail there.

In the Westfjords you will be able to explore the whole range of Icelandic flora from the shore and meadows, through birch to mossy moors. On the shore, one can see birds, seals, whales and the occasional arctic fox. Hiking in this beautiful area is amazing and an inspection of the coastline by walking or kayaking is an inspiring option.

Fishing has traditionally been the main industry in the region but tourism is starting to get evermore important as local and foreign visitors are discovering the uniqueness of the area.

The closest town is the biggest town of the Westfjords called “Ísafjörður”. It has a nice swimming pool, museums and a vibrant music scene. In fact, many of Iceland’s most prominent musicians come from Ísafjörður. 

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

TERMINAL: Closest international Airport: Keflavík/Reykjavík (KEF). Domestic airport is Ísafjörður (IFJ)

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 weather in Iceland can be unpredictable. Please bring warm clothes and outdoor wear.

Remote and very isolated site located in natural areas of extreme beauty. 

Volunteers need to be prepared for physical work, free time activities are mostly outdoors, like hikes in the stunning surroundings, which offer countless opportunities to discover it by foot.

AGE: +18