THE GOLDEN CIRCLE

Dream of being whisked across Iceland's natural landscape? Get involved and book a tour of the world-famous 'Golden Circle'

The Golden Circle is a popular tourist route in Southern Iceland. It starts in Reykjavík and arrives at three key landmarks: Þingvellir National Park, Geysir Hot Spring, and Gullfoss Waterfall.

Þingvellir National Park

I was delighted to visit a place of such geographic beauty. The spectacular rift valley gives the impression that nothing has changed for thousands of years. It goes without saying that all die-hard Game of Thrones fans will recognise this landscape! Several scenes were filmed here, perhaps the most memorable being the fight scene between ⚔ Brienne of Tarth and the Hound ⚔

It's clear to see why this has been marked as a World Heritage site. The park itself lies upon the boundary between the North American and Eurasian tectonic tectonic plates. I had visions of myself jumping from America to Europe all morning... until I found out you actually have to dive into the lake and swim between the continents to do this.. 🥶

Fun fact: If you're brave enough to dive into the Silfra fissure, you'll be able to touch North America and Europe at the same time!!

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Geysir Hot Spring

The mini volcanic eruptions and hot springs in Haukadalur are spectacular. Before we arrived, I didn't really know what to expect. Is this a luxury spa experience? Should I pack a swimsuit?

In a word... no 😄🔥

The hot springs in this region are a collection of geothermal pools reaching a temperature of up to 100°C. Many are constantly boiling, which explains the inviting steam rising from the tranquil blue water. If the temperature goes beyond boiling point, it causes an eruption which upgrades its title from 'cheeky little hot spring' to 'powerful and majestic geyser.'

The walking paths help tourists to navigate their way around these special landmarks. 'The Great Gersir' was named in 1294, following a series of earthquakes and a vast eruption from Mount Hekla. This is the largest geyser in the valley, but it rarely erupts and has been known to lie dormant for years at a time. Strokkur, on the other hand, is a lively geyser which erupts every 4 - 8 minutes.

So... did I miss Stokkur's first eruption? Of course I did. I had my eyes glued to it and everything :( After a momentary strop, I managed to keep my eyes p.e.e.l.e.d for the next one and BOOM!! There is was! An explosion of boiling water reaching over 50ft in the air.

Gullfoss Waterfall

Now this was easily my favourite spot of the whole tour! The sight of a two-layer waterfall covered in snow nearly knocked my ski boots off!!

The word 'Gullfoss' translates to: golden waterfall and this reserve is protected by The Environment Agency of Iceland.

A true wonder to behold, Gullfoss has attracted tourism as early as 1875.

In the early 20th Century, there were plans to build a hydro-electric plant in this area which would, in turn, have had a devastating impact on Gullfoss.

We learned that Sigríður Tómasdóttir was the landowner's daughter during this time, and she entered a legal battle to try and stop this from happening. She was so desperate to prevent construction that she threatened to commit suicide by throwing herself into the water.

It is believed that after Sigríður walked a staggering 74 miles to Reykjavík to protest these plans, her love and devotion for Gullfoss captured the hearts of the locals. Perhaps this glorious waterfall wouldn't be here today if it wasn't for Sigríður.

I would highly recommend wearing sensible shoes at this site, because the stairs leading down to the main viewpoint are very icy in winter. The gift shop and restaurant are particularly good at this stop! As there are often lots of tourists around the waterfall, try to be patient and don't forget to take lots of pictures ;)