Getaway to the Golden Circle

The Golden Circle is one of the most popular - if not the most popular sightseeing tours in Iceland. It takes you around the southwest of the island and passes by three equally stunning natural wonders:  the Thingvellir National Park, the Geysir Geothermal Area, and the Gullfoss Waterfall. Pretty much every tour company has the Golden Circle on its program. However, it is also possible to rent a car and explore it all at your own pace. That way, nothing stands in the way of the occasional detour.

After a 45-miute drive from Reykjavik you arrive at the Thingvellir National Park, which is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Its volcanic activity and impressive geological formations are a result of the convergence of the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates. Visitors can find evidence of constant seismic activity everywhere.

The beauty of this park is only half the story. Indeed, the remarkable history is why the Thingvellir National Park is is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site. In fact, the word Thingvellir translates to “the fields of parliament”, paying homage to the first parliament of the country which met in 930 AD. The annual gathering at Lögberg, a rocky outcrop in the national park, took place until 1799 and after a 45-year hiatus, the parliament relocated to Reykjavik. It shouldn’t come as a surprise then, that the Icelandic Althingi (parliament) is the oldest ongoing representative parliament in the world.

On a less poetic note, geysers are in fact a rare natural phenomena and occur only when very specific criteria are met. Such is the case in the Haukadalur valley, home to the namesake of all geyser: the Great Geysir. This giant hot spring has existed for about 10,000 years and is nowadays mostly inactive. However, when it does explode, it throws the water up to a hight of more than a hundred metres. There have been efforts in the past to get the dormant geyser to erupt more frequently - by digging a channel into its silica rim or adding soap to the water – but because of environmental concerns, these methods all have been stopped.

Exploring the Geisyr Geothermal Area is a fascinating experience and an incredible place to marvel at nature. However, the area has more to offer than just stunning landscapes. In the village of Laugarvatn, midway between Thingvellir and Geysir, there is a spa that is heated entirely by the hot water currents underground. Its steam rooms sit on top of hot springs that reach a scorching 60°C. If you have the time, the Fontana Geothermal Baths would be an ideal place for a relaxing break.

Fontana Laugarvatn

In order to witness all that water up close, there is a walkway that leads you right to the edge of the falls, granted that there is no ice on it. Consequently, one can often not get as close to the action during the winter months than during the rest of the year. Moreover, it should come as no surprise that the views are more colourful and impressive during summer. However, that does not mean that the Gullfoss Waterfall is unspectacular during winter.