Holidays
Destinations
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Experience Overview
Complete the Experience Overview with the following words. Drag the words to the right places in the text
Tip: Check the meanings of these words using the flashcards below.
Dates: August 23-28, 2021
Retreat Duration: 6 Days, 5 Nights
Group Size: 15 people
Accommodation: Twin share accommodation in a cosy guesthouse
Cost: €1,195
Activities
Match the activities and the respective day programmes by dragging them to the right box.
DAY 1 – WELCOME TO ICELAND
Day
- Arrival at the accommodation in Reykjavik, to settle in and meet your fellow travelers! Relax, get to know one another, and begin exploring the surroundings.
Optional Activities for Early Arrivals
- Let’s explore the local neighborhood together! Discover local flea markets to find the perfect pre-loved Icelandic sweater, marvel at Fagradalsfjall Volcano, view stunning public sculptures and street art, and maybe visit a museum or gallery!
Evening
- Meet together in the evening for dinner, to get to know each other, and for a trip introduction from your Girl Gone International Travel Guide.
Included: transfers from the airport to the accommodation.
DAY 2 – REYKJAVIK
Morning
- Meet for breakfast together in the hotel breakfast room (included).
- After breakfast uncovers local secrets with a guided walking tour of the fascinating city of Reykjavik – let’s get to know this amazing city through the eyes of a local, as they share the history and culture of Iceland with us! After the tour explore a local street food market for lunch together, with free time to relax and explore.
Afternoon
- In the afternoon there are 2 incredible activity options to choose from:
- Option 1: Experience the wildlife and nature adventure of a lifetime on a small group personal whale watching tour! Board a custom-made RIB fast boat for a private nature tour to view whales, dolphins, and puffins, learning from our expert guide about Iceland’s whales and their importance to Icelandic culture. This unforgettable experience offers a fun and intimate chance to view these majestic animals as close as you can from sea level – great for those who love adventure!
- OR
- Option 2: Relax at the world-renowned Blue Lagoon for an otherworldly experience in the heart of a volcanic landscape, named one of National Geographic’s 25 wonders of the world! Treat yourself to an afternoon of relaxation and pampering at this truly unique geothermal spa. The Blue Lagoon’s geothermal seawater is enriched with silica, algae, and minerals that heal, rejuvenate, and nourish – all while surrounded by a breathtaking landscape.
Evening
- Free time to relax together and perhaps share a meal at a local Icelandic restaurant.
Included: guided walking tour, and either a Whale Watching tour (subject to weather conditions) OR a visit to Blue Lagoon.
DAY 3 - THE GOLDEN CIRCLE
Morning
- Meet for breakfast together in the hotel breakfast room (included).
- Depart Reykjavik for a guided tour of one of the most spectacular drives in the world – The Golden Circle.
Day
- View the gorgeous Kerid Crater Lake – Kerid is an extremely colourful crater lake formed in a volcanic eruption some 6500 years ago when a former volcanic cone collapsed within its own magma chamber. The bright red volcanic rock and mesmerizing green-blue lake at the bottom are truly a beautiful and inspiring sight to behold, with hiking paths around the crater’s rim providing a full view of the phenomenon and surrounding landscape.
- Marvel at the wonders of the Geysir geothermal area and discover the power of Strokkur – one of the most active geysers in the world.
- After a lunch break in the area, head towards the Gullfoss “Golden Waterfall”, named for the golden glow that the glacial water creates as it roars over the cataract. Have your camera ready, this is one of Iceland’s most spectacular natural wonders and a truly spectacular sight.
- Experience one of Iceland’s most fascinating geological wonders, Þingvellir National Park. This is the site where the world’s first parliament was formed (that is still active) in 930. Explore an epic Icelandic landscape and walk in the footsteps of the Vikings, where the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates meet. Notorious for its outstanding natural beauty, Þingvellir National Park was one of the main filming locations of Game of Thrones in Iceland.
Late Afternoon
- Take a dip in the Secret Lagoon, relaxing in the natural hot springs while surrounded by the rugged Icelandic countryside. Located in the peaceful region of Flúðir, soak in the natural hot springs while surrounded by rolling green meadows and summer wildflowers – the perfect end to the day.
Evening
- Free time to relax at the hotel, or perhaps to share a meal at a local Icelandic restaurant.
Included: breakfast, private transport, private local guide, entrance to the Secret Lagoon, entrance to Kerid Crater Lake, and activities listed.
DAY 4 – THE SOUTH COAST
Morning
- Meet for breakfast together in the hotel breakfast room (included). Depart from Reykjavik for a private guided day tour of the South Coast with a local expert.
Day
- The South Coast is rich in magnificent and diverse landscapes, ranging from vast farmlands, active volcanoes, numerous ice caps, glacier outlets, and Glacier Rivers, amazing waterfalls, wide black sandy plains, and beaches of black and fascinating basalt rock formations. Stand below the Seljalandsfoss and Skógafoss waterfalls, both being amazingly beautiful and receiving their water directly from Eyjafjallajökull glacier.
- Stroll also the Reynisfjara Black Sand Beach, which gets its name from the cool hardened lava that the sand was formed from. Its beautiful black sand, powerful waves, and impressive Reynisdrangar sea stacks make Reynisfjara a truly unique and memorable place to visit. • Stop for lunch at the picturesque coastal village of Vik (Iceland’s southernmost village with only 300 inhabitants), which offers a glimpse of old Iceland with its beautiful wooden churches and old-world charm. Shop for handmade gifts crafted from local ingredients.
- View the Sólheimajökull Glacier (The Home of the Sun Glacier), which is the southernmost glacier of Iceland and an outlet glacier from the main ice cap Mýrdalsjökull. The beautiful colour of the ice is ever-changing and the incredible scale of the glacier front shows the grandeur of nature.
Evening
- Free time to relax at the hotel, or perhaps to share a meal at a local Icelandic restaurant.
Included: breakfast, private transport, private local guide, and activities listed.
DAY 5 – THE SNAEFELLSNES PENINSULA
Morning
- Meet for breakfast together in the hotel breakfast room (included).
- Depart Reykjavik for a guided private tour of the Snaefellsnes Peninsula.
Day
- Drive to the northern coast of Snaefellsnes to visit the spectacular 4000 year old lava field named Berserkjahraun after one of the Icelandic Sagas, Eyrbyggja-Saga. The dramatic and alien landscape is filled with green moss-covered black lava stones and surrounded by pyramid-shaped mountains and fjords, making it a truly unique landscape.
- Marvel at the peninsula‘s iconic landmark Kirkjufell, known as “church mountain” for it’s remarkable shape – it is the most photographed mountain in Iceland and it’s easy to see why! View the nearby Kirkjufellsfossar waterfalls to take in the picturesque beauty of the mountain. The waterfall is a three-pronged waterfall alimented by glacial waters from Snæfellsjökull glacier. A small path leads around the area for a great view of the falls and Mt Kirkjufell from all angles.
- Travel around the tip of the peninsula to enjoy the extraordinary landscape. Enjoy an amazing view of the volcanic crater Saxhóll, before arriving at Djúpalónssandur. This epic, black-pebbled beach offers stark views out to the ocean, hair-raising rock formations, and fascinating histories of shipwrecks.
- Visit to the idyllic Arnarstapi fishing village to take a walk through the extraordinary landscape and admire the coastal rock formations. While in town visit the Miðgjá stone bridge, a natural stone arch off the coast. Just east of the town our next stop is by a tiny, 19th-century wooden church called Búðakirkja.
- Heading back to Reykjavik there is one final stop to take in the view of the Natural Heritage Site of Gerðuberg, home to a beautiful belt of basalt columns in impossibly geometric shapes that run along a cliff on the southern side of the Snӕfellsnes Peninsula.
Evening
- Free time to relax at the hotel, or perhaps to share a meal at a local Icelandic restaurant.
Included: breakfast, private transport, private local guide, and activities listed.
DAY 6 - REYKJAVIK AND DEPARTURES
Morning
Meet for breakfast together in the hotel breakfast room (included), followed by a relaxed morning preparing to leave. For those with flights in the evening or the following day there will be a chance to explore more of Iceland together.
Included: breakfast, transfers from the accommodation to the airport.
Please note that some of the activities included are subject to weather conditions, and the itinerary may alter.
Match the activities with the right day programmes
Match the activities with the right day programmes
What’s Included?
Read the following text and decide whether the following statements are TRUE, FALSE, or NOT GIVEN. Choose from the drag down list.
True or False
True or False
Writing/Speaking
Choose one of the tasks below:
1
You want to go on the trip with someone. Phone/chat with them about the trip and share your spoken/written conversation here.
2
You want to gift the trip to someone. Phone/chat with them about the trip and share your spoken/written conversation here.
3
You want to go on the trip with three friends, and you wonder if you can get a group discount. Drop them a quick message here and share it here.
Writing
Choose one of the tasks below:
1
Individual task: You’re working at a travel agency. A family of six (1 elderly, 2 parents and 3 children) from overseas wants to spend a long weekend (3 days, 2 nights) at a summer cottage in Finland. Create a programme brochure to share with them.
1. Individual task return
1. Individual task return
2
Individual task: You’re working at a travel agency. A company of about 50 people want to organise a cruise trip to an exotic island during their summer holiday. Create a programme brochure to share with them.
2. Individual task return
2. Individual task return
3
Collaborative task: You are working in the marketing team of a travel agency promoting Oulu as a holiday destination as the city has just been chosen the 2026 European Capital of Culture. Work together to design a brochure for a holiday in the city of Oulu and write an advertisement to market the holiday on social media.
3. Collaborative task return
3. Collaborative task return
Tips: Remember to include the following details:
- destination
- duration
- accommodation
- cost
- itinerary
- other information to attract your customers/target audience.
Festive celebrations
Discussion
1
What festive occasions do companies celebrate in your country?
2
What activities could be organised at a company’s celebration?
Share your thoughts here.
Celebration Plans 1/2
Listen to Saana calling the Spring Spa and Resort regarding her company’s upcoming celebration and choose the correct answers to the questions below.
Celebration Plans 2/2
Listen to the conversation again and complete the following expressions with words from the box.
Writing
After further discussing the plan with her team, Saana decides to call the Spring Spa and Resort again for more information about their services. Make notes of the things Saana asks.
Share your notes here.
Speaking/Writing
Your company is going to hold a New Year celebration for its employees. Call/email an imaginary restaurant to book a dinner party or an imaginary catering company to book a dinner party at the office. During your call
- introduce yourself and state the reason for calling
- enquire about what kinds of services the restaurant/catering company has to offer.
You may use some of the previously addressed structures to enquire and respond during the call.
Share your written/spoken conversation here.
Critical Ops League
Read the following text and choose the correct answers to the questions below.
Exercises
Exercises
Player Profiles
Read the profiles of different players below and choose the players who are eligible to take part in the Circuit according to the rules with which you familiarized yourself earlier. All the players’ in-game names are acceptable
Speaking/Writing
Choose one of the tasks below:
1
Download the Critical Ops game, try it out, and discuss with your friend whether you enjoy the game or not. Share your spoken/written conversation with others.
2
Your team of four is considering participation in the Critical Ops Circuit next year. Share your spoken/written conversation with others.
3
You really enjoy the Critical Ops game and want to persuade your friend to join you to form a team. Talk to your friend and share your spoken/written conversation with others.
Speaking/Writing
Choose one of the tasks below:
1
You are working for the marketing team of an eSports company. Write an article announcing an eSports league, using the article you read before as a guide.
2
You are part of the Critical Force team preparing for the next Critical Ops League. To prepare for a promotional video, you need to interview three Critical Ops players. Interview the (imaginary or actual) players, select the parts that can be used for the promotional video and share your thought process with others.
About Us – Company Branding
Discussion
1
How do businesses need to promote themselves?
2
What do you think are some of the most effective strategies?
3
How about your company/yourself?
Share your observations and thoughts with others.
Watch the 2020 promotion video of Accountor, a company providing software solutions and and outsourcing services for finance and HR services. Afterwards, answer the questions below.
Further Discussion
In promotion videos, illustrations have to match the message conveyed. For example, in the Accountor video, as the narrator emphasises “time, growth, and structure”, big trees in the light of the sun are shown as representations of development and positivity.
Watch the promotion video again and find at least two further examples showcasing the connection between the narrated content and the illustration.
Share your findings here.
Speaking/Writing
Find a promotion video of a company of your interest and take notes. Your notes should include
- the structure of the video and the language used
- your key takeaways/messages
- the connection between illustrations and narrated contents
- your thoughts on the target audience and whether the video successfully reaches it
- your thoughts in the content (most interesting/impressive things about their promotion content/strategies).
Share the video and your notes in written or spoken form here.
Speaking/Writing
If you were to create a promotion video for your own company or a company you would like to work for in the future, what would you like to include?
You can think about
- who could be your target audience?
- what kind of message you’re trying to convey?
- how would you like to make the audience feel watching the content?
- what kinds of information to include?
- what text (key words/phrases) to show on the screen?
- what kinds of graphics to use to illustrate the message?
Explain your choices. Share your plan in written/spoken form here.
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