The Quintessential Golden Circle
The Golden Circle combines 3 of Iceland’s most popular sights:
Gullfoss waterfall
The golden waterfall is in the canyon of Hvítá and nothing short of a spectacular scenic view. When the weather conditions are safe, you can even walk all the way down to the waterfall.
Geysir
Geysir is arguably the most famous hot spring in Iceland. There’s not a whole lot of action these days but Strokkur (right next to it) erupts every 5-8 minutes or so. Make sure to have your camera ready to catch that amazing natural phenomenon.
Þingvellir National Park
Last but certainly not least, Þingvellir National Park is an area of tremendous historical importance for Iceland. It’s where the first parliament was established in 930 AD. Not only is it a scenic beauty but you’ll be exploring one of the longest-running political establishments in Europe.
We’re not finished! Because of the geographical location of Þingvellir, it is possible to walk from the North American to the European tectonic plate. Talk about a bucket list item!
In addition to these stops the tour also includes:
Faxi waterfall
While it may be a lot smaller than Gullfoss, this stop offers an intimacy to nature not afforded by every other stop. You can get so close to the waterfall that you can almost touch it!
Extra stops: If time permits, we instruct our guides to stop by a couple of photogenic horses and even to stop by Efsti Dalur farm, where you can try some delicious ice cream. The Golden Circle is smack full of interesting places and vantage points, which make both driving and the sightseeing stops a day-long joy!
Here's what you'll see and do
Your pickup will start at 8:30 am in downtown Reykjavík. After the pickup is finished we will cross the wonderful Hellisheiði plateu, the location of Hellisheiðarvirkjun powerplant, one of the world's most powerful geothermal powerplant! After snapping some drive-by photos of the beautiful mossy scenery and the breathtaking view of the South Coast from top of the plateau, we stop in a small village called Hveragerði. In Hveragerði, we stop by a wonderful bakery and there's access to restrooms!
After that we can truly dive into the Golden Circle! The first proper stop of the day is Faxi Waterfall. While it is a small waterfall compared to the famous Gullfoss it will surely impress you! From the parking lot, there is a wonderful trail leading all the way up to the waterfall, so you can really get upclose and personal!
We continue our journey and the next stop is the 'Golden waterfall' Gullfoss. Located in the canyon of Hvítá, the waterfall plummets down into a 32-meter deep crevice. From the parking area, it's also possible to walk all the way down to the falls. It’s about a 10-minute walk but please be aware the walkway might be closed off in certain weather conditions.
Then it’s time to hit the road again and our next stop is the Geysir. Now, Geysir has been inactive for some time but his younger brother Strokkur, which sits right next to Geysir, erupts every 5-8 minutes. Here, it’s important to not stand too close to the water – and have your camera ready! You will have plenty of time to see the geysir erupt as this stop is where we also break for lunch!
Finally we will reach Þingvellir national park where the Icelandic parliament was established in 930 AD. We’ll let you see for yourself but soaking in the history and walking through this rift valley between the North American to the European tectonic plates this place will offer you nothing but spectacular views.
During the day, horses, ice cream, geysirs, elves, trolls, and a whole host of interesting things await you! This tour is perfect for everyone who is looking for a relaxing, easy-going day trip that is smack full of amazing scenery and photogenic stops.
