Gap Year Programs in Iceland

Alllll aboard, my fellow vikings! To the land of small colorful cities, heart-warming locals, and tons of natural landscape, we venture into a gap year in Iceland. Put on your gold hat with the horns and pull your hair back in braids, you don’t want to miss out on this beaut of a country. Home of the native explorer, Leif Ericson, adventure lurks around every icy corner. Did we tell you about the ice caves or the frozen waterfalls? You’ll practically be Elsa. A gap year in Iceland is one of the greatest opportunities out there. Oh wait, forgot to mention… sheep’s head might be served for dinner.

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A Guide to Gap Year in Iceland

Popular locations

Once you come down from cloud 9 over the adorable miniature horses and elves, you’ll want to make sure you land in a badass place. Icelandic cities make you feel right at home—these ones, especially, will give you access to both the hustle and bustle of a city and peace and tranquility within nature.

Reykjavik. Did you know that Reykjavik is Iceland’s biggest city? Bet you didn’t know only 120,000 people live there. Holy tiny, right? But, the city has so much to offer and it’s like being in your own little corner of the world. The tallest building in Iceland is the Hallgrimskirkja, which is a beautiful lutheran church in the city center. Love the water? Check out Old Harbour and see nothing, but ocean for miles.

Mt. Hekla region. Looking for a little bit of a thrilling adventure? Stay at the jaw-dropping Mt. Hekla region. What is Mt. Hekla? It’s an active volcano. Duh. Tons of tourist flock here to take a trek up the mountain to see what it’s all about. Dangerous? Sure. Exciting? You betcha. This place would be a great stay for anyone studying geology or has a wicked cool obsession for hot lava. Not to mention, they have tons of Iceland travel tours that lead people to this spot.

Akureyri. Trace back to the roots of Iceland’s culture and live in Kopavogur. This city is home to the Icelandic Folk and Art Museum. See artwork, clothing, music, and other neat culture items that make up the Icelandic way of life. Want to have your own secret garden? Check out Lystigarurinn botanical garden. Get lost in the endless array of colors.

Popular activities

Dudeeeee, do something on your gap year! I mean, it’s cool to say you’ve been on a gap year in Iceland, but did you really experience the culture or make your time worthwhile? With GoAbroad, you can search heaps of fun gap year options that cater to what you’re passionate about!

Volunteer. Dedicate your time to making a difference in the world and volunteer in Iceland. You could take the splendid conservation route and perform studies on the beautiful nature. Or you can help support a small city by teaching students English or helping them make wells for clean water access. To volunteer in Iceland is such a reward and people will appreciate your generosity.

Adventure Travel. Work in Iceland isn’t your thing? No worries, you could totally sign up for a few Iceland travel tours and live through adventure. Head to the Blue Lagoon and swim in the water that is compared to the dead sea when it comes to its healing powers. Head into the cave hot springs that are naturally headed by a volcano. Just ask the locals first if you should be swimming first.

Study Abroad. Finish school and travel at the same time. Study abroad in Iceland is one of your best options! Take courses about the history of this lovely country and then later, explore what you learned in the text books. Make friends with other students who have the same interest as you. Study together. Travel together.

Everything else you need to know about gap years in Iceland

Costs. How awesome is it that everything costs money?! Not… But hey, that’s life. So get your butt to saving for an incredible journey. You want not only save up for your program dues, but also for other fun stuff like weekend trips, hand-knit Icelandic sweaters, and sheep’s head, of course. Wanna start saving now? Set up a FundMyTravel account and see the cash begin to flow.

Accommodations. Get your life together before you set sail on your gap year in Iceland and find a place to live! Your program might have accommodations options for you to choose from like a host family, dorms, apartment, etc. If you ask what our fav is, it’s def the host family. They cook, clean, and give you the best culture experience… ever. Besides, not everyday you get to live with an actual Icelandic family, recreating Frozen. We mean, um…

Visas. Will you need one? Ahhhh, yeah. It’s a necessity. You can’t have a gap year in Iceland without one. There’s multiple types of visas out there, but please contact your program advisor to see what one you’ll need to apply online for. Once you’ve applied, head to your local Iceland embassy to finish the process in person. Yes, you have to go, no matter what country it is. Not sure where the closest one is? Check out the GoAbroad embassy directory.

Safety. Remember that gym lock you never use any more from your middle school gym class? Time to bust that bad boy out again and use it on your gap year in Iceland. Why? Pickpockets suck. That’s why. Once you leave your hostel or room for a long weekend or even for a few hours, lock up everything. Also, it’s best to invest in a money belt. It keeps your money hidden in your pants. Plus, don’t be carrying around hundreds of dollars in your pocket. It’s better to lose $5 than $500.

GoAbroad’s Inside Scoop

Hate to sound like your mom, but really, drink lots and lots of water. With the fresh air and mountainous terrain, you don’t want to lose your voice or feel faint during your gap year in Iceland. We certainly wouldn’t want you to pass out just before the Northern Lights debut. So, bring your camelback and stay hydrated!

Another fun tip is to try find the hole in the wall restaurants and taste all of the delicious local dishes. When you’re there, try Kjötsúpa, a meat soup... with bones. Or try shark. Yes, shark that has been prepared for 4-5 months. Yeah, we know that Iceland’s cuisine hasn’t made it to a five star restaurant near you, but you never know if you like something unless you try it! Don’t be hanging out at McDonald’s when you know you can have that when you’re at home.

Alright my vikings, time to hit the seas in your gap year in Iceland. There’s no greater excitement than stepping onto new soil of your greatest adventure. You can do anything you set your mind to and Iceland can show you what you’re capable of.

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