Eyjafjalljokull volcano - then and now!

You might be interested to know that Eyjafjalljokull has quietened down tremendously since its rather spectacular eruption in April. Follow the latest updates on the Iceland meteorological website the crater is beginning to fill with water and it is just steam now which is filling the air. The ash has also provided some extra nutrients and the grass and crops are seemingly thriving. Scientists are watching this carefully.

If you would like to see what is happening and to monitor the earthquakes in Iceland the meteorological office has a fantastic website where you can see the earthquake activity.

Take a look now at the latest picture of this sleeping volcano.

If you haven't been to Iceland before and would like to see for yourself how inspiring a trip might be we are offering two teacher inspection trips  - October 2010 and May 2011 register for details now to check if you qualify for a free place.

We also are delighted to welcome back schools who travel with us regularly and will be announcing our new loyalty programme shortly.

Iceland Video - now is the best time to travel!

Here at Discover the World we all LOVE the recent video just posted on Inspired By Iceland!  Take a look below - very reminiscent of Bjork's video - fantastic to see some of that stunning Icelandic scenery and everyone having fun! Spread the word that now is a fantastic time to visit Iceland!

Inspired by Iceland Video from Inspired by Iceland on Vimeo.

Eyjafjallajokull Volcano - all our school groups home!

Well, what a trip they had!  We are really pleased to report all school groups on our study trips to Iceland during the latest volcanic eruptions are now home in the UK.  Some groups saw more of Iceland than planned with a trip round Iceland going all the way round on Route 1 to get back to Reykjavik. Although one  group did travel through the night!  A big thank you to all our teachers who were in Iceland - welcome  home!

And if you thought the students  were having a good time - yes they did - we organised additional activities like whale watching, and horse riding.   But don't worry, if you thought the students were having too much of a good time some even went to school for their lessons in an Icelandic secondary school. 

If you want to learn how to pronounce Eyjafjallajökull, the volcano that caused the ash cloud, we have been practising quite a bit.  So here goes Aaya-fiatla-yurkult!  Easy!

To witness how practised and organised the Icelandic people are when it comes to keeping people safe during a volcanic eruption being there really did bring the text book to life.  To find out more on the volcanos visit our guide to volcanos.

If you would like to take your students to Iceland to really see the Living Planet at work - not in a text book we would be delighted to help.  To see how other schools feel about their educational visit with Discover the World please see our testimonial page.

Once again, welcome back to all our schools.  Lorraine

New Volcano Charter - Your Travel is Protected

Here at Discover the World we are committed to providing you with the best possible service and understand that the recent air travel disruption may have highlighted some travel concerns. To offer you reassurance in your future travel plans we would like to advise you of our new clear and transparent travel policy.

New Volcano Customer Charter – Applicable to all our Destinations

This comes into effect in the event of any further ash cloud disruption where an airline does not provide this equivalent level of care and assistance.

Flight Cancellations

In the event that it is not possible for your outward flight(s) to operate within 24 hours of the scheduled departure time we will do our best to rearrange your holiday for a later date or if you prefer, receive a full refund of the holiday costs that you have paid to us (excluding any travel insurance premium).

If your scheduled return flight(s) are cancelled and it is necessary for you to remain in your destination and if the airline does not make these arrangements for you, then we will provide you with accommodation and meals until such time that we or the airline can make alternative travel arrangements. This may include returning you to an alternative UK airport via an alternative route, in order to repatriate you to your original UK departure airport.

Holiday Alterations / Rerouting

If you are on holiday and it becomes necessary to alter or reroute any of our holiday itineraries then we will make these arrangements for you at no additional cost. 

To read our complete new Volcano Customer Charter and conditions please click here.

Please contact our specialist team if you require any further advice.

Iceland - volcano witness account

Dan Stacey, Discover the World’s Schools & Groups Manager, is on location in South Icelandand has just been to witness the volcanic eruption near the Eyjafjallajokull glacier.  

“…I just returned from an absolutely fantastic experience in Iceland; I took the 'Volcano Eruption by Snowmobile' tour.  I've been fortunate enough to travel around this amazing country quite a bit, but seeing a live eruption was something else! It took around an hour to get close to the area by snowmobile, and then we stood in awe around 200 metres from the lava (for about an hour); feeling the heat on our faces and just marvelling at the immense power of the earth as it burst out in all kinds of reds and oranges  and yellow. It was like something out of Lord of the Rings; conjuring up images of Mordor and the lava spilling down through black earth and sizzling against the snow.  It was possibly one of the most awesome experiences of my life - seeing a natural display of fireworks that was simply out of this world. "

 

Some of our school groups were in Iceland and could witness for themselves this eruption.  With safety paramount the Icelandic people were well prepared and had their emergency procedures in place.

 

Lucky Dan.....

 

Lorraine

Volcano watch in Iceland

Geologists will be interested to hear that in the last 48 hours there has been a lot of seismic activity under Eyjafjallajökull in southern Iceland and Icelanders with their ever present awareness of the natual forces that surround them are always prepared for all eventualaties.  At the moment they are keeping a very watchful eye on the Icelandic Weather service to monitor the activity under Eyjafjallajokull. If you would like to find out more, visit the volcanism blog by Dr Ralph Harrington. 

For those of you who want to get out there and see an eruption first hand, register with our volcano hotline and whenever these is an eruption in Iceland we run special trips.  In the past we've managed to get people viewing the activities at close hand within 24-48 hours of the eruption beginning.

If you would like to visit the Eyjafjallajokull area click here and take your students on an awe-inspiring educational visit to one of the most incredible islands in the world, Iceland.

Lorraine

Youngest Mountain in the World

There seems to be a bit of a theme going on between the last post and this – another of my schoolgirl dreams was to visit an active volcano and I managed to visit the world’s youngest mountain Eldfell on the island of Heimaey created by an enormous eruption in 1973.  We are producing a case study in the latest schools brochure of the eruption and the amazing way that the people managed this natural hazard that inspired the Hollywood film “Volcano” saving the harbour by pumping lots of water onto the lava to cool it.  If you would like a copy of the brochure please contact study@livingplanet.co.uk

I travelled in the company of Geography teachers on one of our regular inspection visits to Iceland and this year I included Heimaey as I was desperate to visit this volcano that erupted in 1973.  The trek up to the crater of the volcano was well worth it as we stood at the crater before descending down into the bowl.  The rocks were quite cool at the surface but just inches down the rocks were still hot.  Holding this hot rock was actually quite moving as I had dreamt of feeling the heat of a volcano since school days.  The students who were on the same tour as us were equally amazed – as were the teachers on the Inspection Visit – a truly a wonderful experience.