Spouting Geysers & Crashing Falls
Bite-sized trip
Day 1 – Arrival at the Golden Circle
With Reykjavik in your rear-view mirror, head off on your drive to the captivating Golden Circle. We recommend a stop at remarkable Thingvellir en route, where you’ll find a gap between the European and American continental plates in a national park that’s well worth checking out. Immerse yourself in the natural beauty of this UNESCO World Heritage Site, as you explore the intriguing landscapes and soak in the rich history. From Thingvellir it is then a half hour drive to the Golden Circle, where you will find Iceland’s highest spouting geyser, Strokkur. With eruptions occurring every 5 to 10 minutes, you’ll have ample opportunities to witness the impressive spectacle. Be sure to have your camera ready, as you can take spectacular pictures here.
As the day draws to a close, check into your charming countryside hotel and after such an exciting day seeing the sights, it’s time to relax at the Secret Lagoon, one of the oldest and most revered thermal baths in Iceland. We’ll reserve entrance tickets for you in advance, so all you have to do is get there. As you step into the lagoon, you’ll instantly unwind as you float in the warm water, with natural heat sources giving the water a comfortable temperature. Between the different baths you walk through a world of moss and steam and although the lagoon is no longer very secret, it still gives you a magical feeling.
Day 2 – Leave the Golden Circle
Get up early today, so that you have enough time to visit the spectacular Gullfoss waterfall before all the day trippers arrive. This way you have all the peace and space to grab yourself some beautiful photos. From the car park you can walk to the waterfall in fifteen minutes. The closer you get, the louder the sound of the roaring water mass becomes. The water begins at the glacial river Hvítá and plunges here like a perpendicular water curtain into a 70 meter deep gorge. There are also fantastic views over the Gullfoss from all sides and when the sun shines, you almost always see a rainbow here. After your visit to Gullfoss, you will leave the Golden Circle region and continue your journey.
Accommodation
For this bite-sized trip we offer the following options
Upgrade to our In Style accommodation
For this bite-sized trip we have an alternative option available for your accommodation. Our In Style version is something a bit more special or unique but still with lots of local flavour! If you would like to upgrade your accommodation for this bite-sized trip select our In Style option below.
Silfra – snorkeling tour (en route to Golden Circle)
You’ll hesitate for a moment, but then jump in anyway! The water between the two continental plates of Thingvellir National Park is around 4 degrees all year round, but with your thermal suit on you can relax with the current. In the crystal clear water you can sometimes see up to a hundred meters on this guided snorkelling trip. There’s undulating green algae and golden-yellow rocks to make this a completely alien underwater world.
Please note: If you suffer from heart or lung problems, have epilepsy, or if you are pregnant, this excursion is not suitable due to the cold water.
Golden Circle - Snowmobile Tour (from Gullfoss)
Extend your stay by one night at the Golden Circle and you will have time for a very special adventure. Make sure you dress warm today, as you are going up the icey Langjökull glacier on a snowmobile . You will be picked up at Gullfoss waterfall around noon and taken to the meeting point, where you will switch to your new mode of transport. White tracks form in the fresh snow as you scoot through Iceland’s second largest glacier with your experienced guide. The excursion lasts approximately four hours, with one hour of that you sit on the snowmobile and the rest on foot.
Golden Circle - Laugarvatn Fontana Spa
At Laugarvatn, the local population has been enjoying natural steam baths since 1929. Today we’ll arrange tickets to the Laugarvatn Fontana Spa for you. The warm steam emerges directly from the ground here, varying in temperature between 40 and 50 degrees Celsius. Its proximity to the lake allows for taking a cold plunge from the warm steam rooms and baths. For the little ones, there is a shallow pool with toys, and there is a pool with natural water with a temperature between 32 and 36 degrees Celsius. There are stones in it where you can lie down and relax. Moreover, there are four saunas (with a view of the lake) and steam saunas. It’s fun; from the warm natural pool, you can jump directly into the icy lake.
