Golden Circle

The Golden Circle showcases some of the most beautiful natural wonders of Iceland. Along the way you can see glaciers and volcanoes, not to mention the incredible Þingvellir. This route has been a favourite among tourists for years. The route is about 300 km (190 miles) long, from Reykjavík into the southern uplands and back again.

Geysir – the original geyser

A favourite stop along the Golden Circle is the highly active Geysir Hot Spring Area with boiling mud pits, exploding geysers and the lively Strokkur, which spouts water 30 metres (100 ft) into the air every few minutes.

The area became active more than 1000 years ago and comprises more than a dozen hot water blow holes. Although Geysir is less active these days, it did lend its name to hot springs all over the world. It was the first geyser described in a printed source and the first known to modern Europeans.

Geysir and history

The oldest account of Geysir in Haukadalur Valley dates back to AD 1294, when earthquakes in southern Iceland caused changes in the geothermal area and created several new hot springs. Research in the 19th century showed that Geysir could reach the height of 170 metres (550 feet)! Seismic activity in the area has still affected Geysir. After being dormant for years, Geysir was revived by an earthquake in 2000 and erupted for a couple of times a day for a few years. Now, Geysir is mostly dormant, though other hot springs in the Geysir geothermal area are quite active. The most active geyser in the area is called Strokkur. It sprouts hot water as high as 30 metres (100 feet) into the air every few minutes or so.

A truly unique experience offered is geysir or “hot spring bread”, where visitors assist a chef to boil eggs outside in a hot spring, and dig up rye bread that has been ‘baking’ underground for 24 hours.

Gullfoss

A ride along the Golden Circle in the south will show you the breathtaking Gullfoss (Golden Waterfalls), where walking a narrow path provides close-up views of the massive, two-tiered waterfall below. In winter, the view is spectacular when the waterfall freezes over into undulating waves of glistening ice. On sunny days visitors are treated to thousands of rainbows, a natural reaction with the clouds of spray from the tumbling falls.

Gullfoss is one of the most popular tourist attractions in Iceland, and the waterfall is considered by many Icelanders as one of the country’s most beautiful waterfalls. It is situated in the upper part of the Hvítá river. The water cascades down in two stages, one 11 m (36 ft) high, and the other 21 m (69 ft), into the 2,5 km (1.6 mi) long crevasse below. This crevasse was created at the end of the Ice Age by catastrophic flood waves and is lengthened by 25 cm (9.8 in) a year by the constant erosion from the water.

Plans for harnessing Gullfoss for Electricity

In the early 20th century, there was much speculation about harnessing Gullfoss for electricity. Foreign investors who rented Gullfoss indirectly from the owners, Tómas Tómasson and Halldór Halldórsson, wanted to build a hydroelectric power plant. This development would have destroyed Gullfoss forever. Sigríður Tómasdóttir, the daughter of Tómas Tómasson, was fiercely against this, as she loved the waterfall so much. She took many long and difficult journeys, walking all the way to Reykjavík (120 kilometres/75 miles each way) to further her cause. When all else had failed, she threatened to throw herself in the waterfall in protest. Fortunately, it did not have to come to that. With the help of her lawyer, Sveinn Björnsson (who later became the first president of Iceland), they managed to have the contract annulled, and Gullfoss became the property of the people of Iceland.

Sigríður’s memorial by sculptor Ríkharður Jónsson sits by the waterfall and is visited each year by thousands of tourists.

Gullfoss is also a popular photostop during winter, since it offers a great setting for a beautiful photo of the majestic northern lights as they dance across the sky. Gullfoss has also been the location for some films and even music video, as it features in the music video “Heaven” by the American rock band Live.

Þingvellir National Park

Þingvellir is a favourite stop among travellers along the Golden Circle route. It has been a national park in Iceland since 1928 and was named a World Heritage site by UNESCO in 2004. When Viking settlers arrived in the 10th century, they chose this site as the meeting place of Alþingi, the world’s first parliament.

The location may seem a bit out of the way, but the unique geology created a natural amphitheatre perfect for public speaking, including the high rock wall of Lögberg (Law Rock), where the laws of the land would be recited from memory.

Aside from its historic interest, Þingvellir holds a special appeal for nature lovers. It is the visible site of the mid-Atlantic Ridge where the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates meet, and are being pulled apart at a rate of 2 centimetres (nearly an inch) per year, creating the Þingvellir Rift Valley. The geology here is not only interesting to learn about but also spectacular to behold.

In winter, Þingvellir also offers a great view, especially after dark when northern lights reign supreme in the sky. When snow covers the lava field and the days are short, the landscape becomes almost surreal and offers some great photo opportunities. Þingvellir has been a favourite spot among professional and amature photographers for years, and for good reason.

According to a law, passed in 1928, Þingvellir will always be the property of the Icelandic nation, under the preservation of the Alþingi. The National Park was formerly founded in 1930, marking the thousand-year anniversary of the Alþingi. Later, the park was expanded to protect the incredible and diverse nature of the park and was named a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 2004.

Often added points of interest

Some Golden Circle tours also offer stops by Skálholt Cathedral, Kerið crater, or Hellisheiði geothermal power plant. Make sure you check out the itinerary of your tour, in order to see if the tour stops by the attractions you would like to see.

If doesn’t matter when you visit, seeing these places whether in summer or winter, it is an unforgettable experience and we fully recommend the Golden Circle.