In this page, you will find informations and advices we can give, based on our experience
Thingvellir - Geysir - Gullfoss : "The Golden Circle"
What to do if you have little time : Geysir
The Golden Circle is a must for tourist.
We recommend you to spend 1 day for the 3 sites.
Thingvellir
Loop of about 2,5 miles
2 to 3 hours
Free
Lava fiels protected by two large cliffs. This is the meeting place of two tectonic plates: the american plate and european plate. A ballad allows to see the cliffs, the site of the Chamber (where the first parliament met - World Heritage of Unesco), the cascade Oxararfoss, the chapel and Lake Thingvallavatn.
Access : from Reykjavik, take route 1 North for 6,5 miles, then turn right on route 36 to the Visitors Center.
Geysir
No hike
1 hour
Free
Small geothermal site consisting of geysers and bubbling mud pools. The Strokkur erupts around every 7min. But before erupting, it forms a beautiful blue bubble, which in our opinion, is the most interesting thing to see in Geysir. The other known geyser of this site is Great Geysir, but its activity is not regular and must be lucky to attend his eruption.
Access : from Thingvellir, take route 36 eastwards for 7,5 miles, then continue on route 365 for 8,9 miles to the city of Laugarvatn. In Laugarvatn, follow route 37 for 14,9 miles then route 35 North for 3,1 miles to Geysir.
Gullfoss
1000 feet one way
1 hour
Free
Impressive cascade 105 feet high with a very high flow rate which flows into a narrow fault.
Access : from Geysir, take route 35 eastwards for 6,2 miles.
Copyright Magali and David BELLEC
