The Golden Circle is the most famous of all Iceland’s scenic routes. This is a circular sightseeing tour.
- Distance: approx 250 km from and back to Reykjavík
- Highlights: Kerid, Secret Lagoon, Geysir, Gullfoss, Pingvellir
- If you are self-driving check the road and conditions on safetravel.is
Places to visit and see on the Golden Circle Tour loop
Kerid
Kerid – This is a volcanic crater lake which you can walk around in around 30 minutes. Geologically it is only 6,500 years old and is still one of the most recognizable volcanic craters in Iceland. In either case the caldera is approximately 55 m deep, 170 m wide, and 270 m across, and is made up of a unique red volcanic rock. In light of the Icelandic pop star Bjork once performing here with a backdrop of dazzling lights Kerid straight away became an national tourist hotspot.
Secret Lagoon
Secret Lagoon – The Secret Lagoon, is the oldest swimming pool in Iceland. It was made in 1891 in geothermal area near Flúðir. The rich natural resources of warm water coming from hot springs. This is a more rustic hot spring bathing experience compared to the Blue lagoon. The pool water flows continuously, and it takes only 24 hours to its complete replacement. Warm, clean, rich in sulfur, stays at 38-40 Celsius all year round. Additionally around the main swimming pool area are further hot springs to view.
Geysir
Geysir – Along this valley lies one of the most active geothermal areas in Iceland which is home to several geysers. The original Great Geysir is now dormant. A point often overlooked is the geyser, Strokkur is now the one comes to see. Nevertheless there are a range of significant hot springs, steam vents, and sulfurous mud pots that can also be explored around Geysir. Strokkur geyser reliably gushes its fountains of boiling hot water every 8-10 minutes up to 30 meters in the air. Have your camera ready and stay on up wind of the geyser!
This is one of three places on earth, where one can closely observe active geysers. These also inlcude Yellowstone in the USA and Rotarua in New Zealand.
Gullfoss
Gullfoss – Taken literally this means the ‘Golden Waterfall’. It falls in two stages and is angled to create a cascading shape making it extremely photogenic. On average 100.000 litres of glacial water from the river Hvítá plunge 31 meters into the Gullfoss canyon every second. Before 1875, it was practically impossible to access Gullfoss, but at the end of the 19th century, Icelandic environmentalist Sigrídur Tómasdóttir and her sisters built the first footpath down to the waterfall. A plan to build a hydroelectric dam on the waterfall was devised to harness its power to generate electricity but was eventually prevented.
Þingvellir National Park
Þingvellir National Park – Iceland’s first national park was established there in 1928 and the today the aera is listed as a UNESCO world heritage site. You may recognise it from Game of Thrones too. The site is important due to its beauty but also its geology and historical significance in Iceland.
Geology. In Þingvellir, the tectonic plates are visibly drifting apart forming a rift valley between the North-American and Eurasian continental plates. This has created the biggest natural lake in Iceland, Þingvallavatn.
History. From 930 AD until 1789 the Icelandic parliament Althing met here, and on the 17th of June 1944, Iceland proclaimed its independence from Denmark at this significant place. Significantlly name Þingvellir literally means “Assembly Place”.
Now you know all about the Golden Circle Tour why now check out our blogs on Reykjavik and day trips out from the city of Reykjavik –