Fjallabak Nature reserve - Landmannalaugar

WORK/PROJECT: SEEDS volunteers will have the unique opportunity to work at Landmannalaugar, which is a very popular destination and hiking hub in the highlands of Iceland. It is within the Fjallabak Nature reserve and it is a protected area of unique beauty and fragile nature.

SEEDS Iceland has been working with the Environmental agency of Iceland (Umhverfisstofnun) since 2007 in diverse projects in the national parks and protected areas of the country.

The work in this project will mainly be making and maintaining hiking paths, put gravel on paths and along the roads. Other tasks may be clean up and light maintenance in the area.

Well maintained paths enable people to visit these amazing areas without damaging them and this important work also helps to improve safety for visitors.

Volunteers should be prepared for all kinds of weather. The work is physically demanding and volunteers need to be motivated to work outdoors.

ACCOMMODATION: SEEDS volunteers will stay in tents during this workcamp. Volunteers will have access to a kitchen tent and all equipment related to cooking.

Volunteers will share the responsibilities of the cooking and cleaning activities.

Volunteers will have to bring their own warm sleeping bag, sleeping mat and familiarize themselves with the Equipment Checklist in the Information sheet.

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

LOCATION: Landmannalaugar (the people's pools) is situated in a valley between colourful mountains at the dark edge of the rhyolite lava field Laugahraun. In Landmannalaugar there are many hot and cold springs creating a bathing warm brook where people can bathe, although it is forbidden to use soap in the brook.

The area displays a number of unusual geological elements, like the multicoloured rhyolite mountains and expansive lava fields, not far from the service centre. The surroundings of Landmannalaugar are too colourful and magnificent to describe with words. The mountains are split with gullies and gorges, one of which, the Jökulgil, is about 13 km long. It is possible to hike all the way to its end, when the river is not swollen, and there are many other hiking possibilities.

Visitors can access the area from June through September, after which time the road is closed.

Landmannalaugar is about 200 Km from Reykavík. Four routes lead to there but only one of them is accessible by regular car, though the road is rough (stones the size of fists are not uncommon as well as washing-board style sections of the road).

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

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

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 200 (Euros). Please note that these fees are to be paid to SEEDS on arrival in either Euros or Icelandic krónas.

In the area there are many hiking trails which volunteers will be able to explore in their free time.

Volunteers need to be prepared for physical work, free time activities are mostly outdoors, like hikes in the area. Bring your own warm sleeping bag & sleeping mat.

Volunteers have to familiarize themselves with the Equipment Checklist at the Information Sheet.

Age: 18+