Skriðdalur - Crawling Valley (1:2)

WORK/PROJECT: SEEDS volunteers will be working on environmental and nature oriented tasks in this project. We will be based on an Icelandic farm in the East of the country. This is our fourth year of cooperation and the volunteers’ experiences have been very positive.

Our tasks will mainly be focused on improving the environment in and around the whole area; planting trees, beautifying the area, clearing old fences, etc.

The working schedule will be very flexible. It will depend on the needs of our local host, the advance of the diverse projects in the area surrounding the valley and the weather conditions. While we help to preserve the local environment, we will explore the surroundings of the location and enjoy free time activities arranged in cooperation with the local host, such as hiking and discovering the beautiful scenery.

ACCOMMODATION: We will be lodged in a farmhouse, in shared rooms, sleeping on mattresses on the floor. Please bring your own sleeping bag.

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

LOCATION: The project is located in the municipality of Fljótsdalshérað; 17 km from the largest town in Eastern Iceland called Egilsstaðir (population 2300). The town has a swimming pool, shops, pubs and museums among other main services.

The area is beautiful and has a lot of interesting sites. The biggest forest in Iceland, Hallormstaðarskógur is located within the district. The forest spreads over 30 ha and it offers great opportunities for hiking. The tree collection has a huge variety of foreign trees and is renowned among professionals and travellers. There is also a horse rental and a small swimming pool in the forest.

The farm we will be staying at is located close to Lagarfljót, the home of the mythical creature “the Lagarfljót Serpent” (Lagarfljótsormurinn) which was believed to have been spotted last in early 2012 by a local farmer. The serpent is thought to be Iceland’s equivalent of the Loch Ness Monster. If you get lucky you might get a glimpse of it and maybe even be able to get a picture of the much sought after serpent. Other interesting animals of the area are the wild reindeers. They live in and around Fljótsdalshérað and count about ten thousand.

The East Fjords of Iceland have a special landscape, dominated by long, narrow fjords and steep mountains. This is one of the oldest regions of Iceland shaped by glaciers in the Ice Age.

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

TERMINAL: Closest international Airport: Keflavík/Reykjavík (KEF). The closest bus stop and local airport is located in Egilsstaðir (EGS).

The ferry “Norræna – Smyril line” sails from the Faroe Islands and Denmark and docks in the harbour in Seyðisfjörður town, 27 km from Egilsstaðir.  

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

EXTRAS / SPECIAL REMARKS: Participation fee EUR 160 (Euros).

Volunteers should have a motivation for working outdoors and getting to know ways of living in rural areas in Iceland.

Please bring warm clothes and out-door wear as weather in Iceland can be unpredictable.

Age: 20+