Exploring Iceland: Landscape, Culture, and Sustainability

Important Dates

Program Dates: May 16 - 26, 2027

Application Deadline: February 5, 2027

Withdrawal/Commitment Deadline: February 11, 2027

Final Payment Deadline: The program fee will be billed to your Kent State student account. The program fee deadline aligns with the Financial, Billing and Enrollment Center's summer due dates. You should refer to the first Summer 2027 due date.

Eligibility

• Minimum 2.0 GPA
• Must be in good academic standing.
• Must be 18 years of age or older by the start of the program abroad.

Course Information

Course Name and CRN: GEOG 40492: Study Away; Exploring Iceland: Landscape, Culture, and Sustainability

Number of Credit Hours: 3

KSU Sponsoring College: College of Sciences and Humanities

Course Language of Instruction: English

Course Description: This education abroad course will offer a comprehensive exploration of Iceland's unique geological landscapes, innovative approaches to sustainability, and rich culture. Through an interdisciplinary approach, you will gain a deep understanding of the history, society, environment, and sustainable practices of the country. The course will include two meetings prior to the trip.  The education abroad portion of the course will take place over 10 days and comprise of field excursions, guest speakers, hands-on activities, and lectures.

Faculty Contact Information

Professor's Name: Dr. Mandy Munro-Stasiuk

Title: Dean, College of Arts and Sciences and Professor of Geography

Email: mmunrost@kent.edu

Phone: 330-672-2650

Please note that this trip will involve moderate to semi-strenuous hikes.  All students will be expected to be in good enough shape to handle short but steep uphill hikes (~ ½ mile), longer but more moderate hikes (~2 miles), and short hikes over rough terrain (~a few hundred feet).  

Below is a tentative itinerary; however, the exact sequence and sites are subject to changes in availability and cost.

Day 1:

• Meals included: per airline
• Flight departs for Reykjavik

Day 2:

• Meals included: dinner
• Arrive in Iceland in the early morning; Visit the Blue Lagoon; Fagradalsfjall Lava Field Volcano; Krysuvik Mud Pots
  • As soon as we land, you will be immersed in the landscape of Iceland. We will start with a visit to the famous Blue Lagoon and observe where geothermal energy and tourism intersect in the volcanic landscape. We will then explore the recent lava fields of Fagradalsfjall Volcano and the bubbling mud pots, steaming fumaroles, and colorful geothermal features of the Krýsuvík geothermal area. All of these will provide firsthand insight into the volcanic and tectonic processes of the Western Rift Zone.

Day 3:

• Meals included: breakfast, lunch
• Icelandic Society, Culture, and Sustainability: Walking Tour of Reykjavík; Settlement Exhibition; Perlan Museum; Green Iceland
  • We will explore Reykjavík through a guided walking tour emphasizing Icelandic history, culture, architecture, and contemporary society. We will start at the Settlement Exhibition, constructed around the archaeological remains of a Viking Age longhouse, providing an opportunity to consider the settlement and development of Iceland.
  • At Perlan Museum, we will examine interactive exhibits addressing Iceland's geology, glaciers, volcanism, ecosystems, and climate. The visit will emphasize the connections among physical geography, environmental change, and human settlement.
  • We will conclude the day at Green Iceland, where you will examine Iceland's development and use of renewable energy resources, with particular attention to geothermal and hydroelectric power, sustainability, and environmental innovation.

Day 4:

• Meals included: Breakfast
• Geothermal Processes and Renewable Energy: Reykjadalur Valley; Hot Springs River; Raufarhólshellir Lava Tunnel; ON Geothermal Power Plant
  • We will travel to the Reykjadalur Valley near Hveragerði, an area characterized by active geothermal processes.  We will undertake a moderate hike into the valley, observing geothermal features including steaming vents and areas of geothermal activity ultimately arriving at the naturally heated Reykjadalur hot spring river.  This will provide an opportunity to examine a naturally occurring geothermal system in contrast with the engineered geothermal environment encountered at the Blue Lagoon.
  • Following lunch, we will visit Raufarhólshellir Lava Tunnel, one of Iceland's largest lava caves. We will examine the formation and internal structure of the lava tube and consider how volcanic processes shape the landscape beneath the surface.
  • The day will conclude with a visit to the ON Geothermal Power Plant, where you will learn how Iceland's geothermal resources are utilized for electricity generation and district heating, including the delivery of geothermal hot water to Reykjavík.

Day 5:

• Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
• Plate Tectonics, Geothermal Activity, and Sustainable Agriculture; Golden Circle: Þingvellir National Park; Geysir Geothermal Area; Gullfoss; Kerið; Friðheimar Greenhouse
  • We will travel along Iceland's Golden Circle, examining the relationships among tectonic processes, volcanism, geothermal activity, hydrology, and human land use.
  • At Þingvellir National Park, we will examine the geological expression of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge and the relationship between plate tectonics and landscape development. The site also provides an opportunity to consider the historical and cultural significance of the landscape.
  • At the Geysir geothermal area, we will observe active geothermal features, including hot springs and erupting geysers, and consider the processes responsible for geothermal activity.
  • We will then visit Gullfoss, examining fluvial processes, erosion, and the development of Iceland's distinctive glacially influenced landscapes. 
  • The day will also include visits to Kerið volcanic crater and Friðheimar, where geothermal energy is used to support greenhouse agriculture.

Day 6:

• Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
• Glacial Landscapes and Valley Systems: Seljalandsfoss; Þórsmörk Valley; Stakkholtsgjá Canyon
  • The day will focus on the interaction of glaciers, rivers, volcanism, and landscape evolution. We will begin at Seljalandsfoss, examining the relationship between waterfall development, bedrock structure, and surface water processes. The group will then travel toward Þórsmörk, a landscape shaped by the interaction of glaciers, volcanic activity, rivers, and sediment transport.
  • The day will also include an exploration of Stakkholtsgjá Canyon, where we will examine geomorphic processes and the role of water and glacial activity in shaping the landscape.

Day 7:

• Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
• Skógafoss Waterfall and Sólheimajökull Glacier
  • Today we will visit Skógafoss, one of Iceland’s most iconic waterfalls, followed by a hike on Sólheimajökull Glacier. Along the way, we will observe a variety of glacial features and examine evidence of the glacier’s significant retreat in recent years.

Day 8:

• Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
• Vatnajökull National Park: Jökulsárlón, Diamond Beach, and Svínafellsjökull 
  • We will spend the day exploring Vatnajökull National Park, beginning at Jökulsárlón Glacial Lagoon, where icebergs calve from Breiðamerkurjökull Glacier and drift through the lagoon toward the ocean. At nearby Diamond Beach, we will observe pieces of glacial ice stranded along the black sand beach. We will then visit the Svínafellsjökull Viewpoint to see another glacier flowing from the Vatnajökull Ice Cap.

Day 9:

• Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
• Skaftafell and Skeiðarársandur 
  • We will explore Skaftafell in Vatnajökull National Park, including a visit to Svartifoss Waterfall, known for its distinctive basalt columns. We will also visit Skeiðarársandur and Skeiðarárjökull to examine the landscape shaped by glacial processes and meltwater, especially large scale outburst floods.

Day 10:

• Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch
• Vík and Return to Reykjavík 
  • Today we will travel back to Reykjavík, with a stop in the picturesque town of Vík. We will also visit the Katla Woolen Mill to learn about Icelandic wool production and traditional textile practices. We will arrive in Reykjavík in the mid-afternoon, allowing time to explore the city on your own.
  • Group Dinner

Day 11:

• Meals included: Breakfast, per airline
• Flight departs for Cleveland

Reykjavik, Iceland

Reykjavik is the world’s northernmost capital city and has a population of approximately 230,000 people. The city is located on the southwest coast and is a short distance from many of Iceland’s most popular natural attractions.

Transportation

Included: Flights, airport transfer to accommodations and transportation for program activities.

Not included: Transportation to and from Pittsburgh International Airport and local transportation during free time in Iceland.

Airports

Pittsburgh (PIT)

Keflavik Airport (KEF)

Students will stay in double occupancy rooms in a hotel.

Breakfast is included at the hotel. Many additional group meals will be included. Meals are specified in the itinerary.

You should plan to bring:

• Enough clothes for 10 days
• Sturdy walking boots
• Waterproof jacket
• Layered clothing to allow you to adapt to both warm and cold conditions
• Small backpack for day hikes
• Water bottle
• Hat
• Gloves
• Walking sticks if you need extra stability while hiking