Sandfell – Fljótsdalshérað

WORK/PROJECT: SEEDS volunteers will be working for the fifth year on construction and nature oriented tasks in the East of Iceland. The tasks will mainly be focused on improving the environment in and around the whole area; planting trees and doing some paint work. Volunteers will be based in a local Icelandic farm where the hosts also run a horse rental and a hotel, so volunteers will have the chance also to experience how locals live and work on a daily basis.

The host keeps horses, dogs and cats. SEEDS volunteers will have access to the animals and will be given guidance in taking care of and riding horses. The working plan will be flexible and it will depend on the needs of our local host, the advance of the diverse projects in the area surrounding the valley and of course on the weather conditions.

Last but not least we will explore the surroundings of the location and enjoy free time activities arranged in cooperation with the local host, such as horseback riding.

ACCOMMODATION: Volunteers will stay in shared rooms in a sleeping bag accommodation with access to kitchen and bathroom. Please bring your own sleeping bag. Volunteers will receive food supplies and be in charge of the cooking and cleaning activities. Do not forget some traditional/typical food from your home country for an international evening.

LOCATION: The farm is located in beautiful landscape with mountains and valleys. It is close to Hallormsstaðaskógur, the largest wooded area of the country that spreads over 30 ha of land. The reforestation of the forest has been going on ever since a law for the protection was passed in 1899. The tree collection keeps an extensive variety of foreign trees and is renowned among professionals and travellers. The oldest part of the woodland is accessible with good hiking trails and explanation signs. The area offers great variety of walking paths, such as to the deepest valley of the country and up to Sandfell where the view is quite magnificent. Riding tours up to the mountains or in the woodland is also a nice experience. Small stream runs through the land where children and adults can cool down in warm summer days.

The project is located in the municipality of Fljótsdalshérað, Iceland's easternmost populous municipality; 17 km from the largest town in the Eastern Iceland - Egilsstaðir (population 2600). It is a young town, but which has become the largest town of east Iceland and offers a swimming pool, shops and museums among other main services. The East Fjords is a region of a special landscape, dominated by long, narrow fjords and steep mountains and the wild reindeers of Iceland are found here, the herd counts between three and four thousand animals.

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

TERMINAL: International Airport: Keflavík/Reykjavík (KEF); domestic airport and bus stop is Egilsstaðir.

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.

Volunteers should have a motivation for working with outdoors and getting to know ways of living in rural areas in Iceland. Volunteers have to bring good working shoes and clothes, even though it is summer, it might still be cold and hats and gloves might be necessary.

Our hosts will organize free time activities and introduce us to the local community. Volunteers will be offered to take horse-back riding and an introduction to how to treat and hold horses.

If you take SEEDS minibus option to and from the camp location, you will be able to go all around Iceland, as we drive different ways (either North or South) to and from the camp. 

Age: 18+