Road Trip, Iceland’s Golden Circle

Iceland is one of the least populated countries in the world, and one of the youngest landmasses with several active volcanoes. I had my first layover in Iceland several years ago. I was so mesmerized by the foreign landscape as we landed that I vowed to return.

The Golden Circle Route is the perfect introduction to the beautiful landscape. Possible to complete as a day trip from Reykjavik, the route takes you through the Geysir Geothermal Area, Gullfoss Waterfall, and Þingvellir National Park on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. There are countless companies that provide a range of tours, but I highly recommend renting a car and exploring on your own. A rental car will also allow you to add a visit to Kerið Volcanic Crater Lake. Iceland is becoming an increasingly popular tourist destination, so going on your own will allow you to either outrun or wait out the multiple tour groups that seem to descend on each attraction at once.

Kerið

Kerið is a beautiful volcanic crater lake that is located on private land and not included on bus tours. The owners charge about $4 for access. It is usually the least crowded of the Golden Ring attractions, but Bjork once gave a concert from a raft in the middle of the lake to crowds surrounding the crater. Before you set out, make sure to print out directions for the entire trip. Occasionally our Icelandic GPS would find the most direct route without regard to existing roads. For Kerið we went about 20 minutes out of the way before it said “now go off the road,” and directed us through a farm straight up a mountain. I have no doubt that we would have ended up at the crater, but we decided to backtrack and take a paved road instead.

Gullfoss is Icelandic for “Golden Falls.” Photos don’t quite capture the magnitude of the immense waterfall. Our GPS once again tried to take us off roading, this time suggesting that we drive past the barrier and over the falls. We decided to follow the signs to the parking lot instead. You can hike down to the lower level for a closer view, just make sure you are prepared to get wet.

The Geysir Geothermal Area includes Great Geysir, the first known gushing hot spring. The name Geysir is an adaptation of the Icelandic word for “to gush,” and is the origin of the English word “geyser.” The original Geysir has been active for at least 10,000 years, but is unpredictable these days. Mostly dormant due to man made channels around the vent, it occasionally resumes violent eruptions following seismic activity.

Nearby Strokkur erupts every few minutes and is the main attraction in the area.

Some eruptions are more spectacular than others, so it is worth watching for a while. The winds and size of the eruption are unpredictable. If you stand near the geyser, you will get wet! Geysir Center is a good rest stop located right across from the entrance to the geothermal area. There is a hotel, restaurant, cafe, large souvenir shop, and most importantly – restrooms. There are also clothes for sale should you find yourself soaked from the geyser.

Þingvellir National Park has both geographical and historical significance. The park sits on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, the boundary between the North Atlantic and the Eurasian tectonic plates. We didn’t try it, but it is possible to dive between two submerged rifts.

Þingvellir is Icelandic for “parliament plains,” and is the site of the first Icelandic general assembly.

Besides the main attractions, the Golden Ring is a beautiful drive.

Renting a car gives you the flexibility to stop when you spot a spectacular field of cairn (stacked stones).

Or Icelandic horses.

Or to get a closer look at some sheep.

Maybe not too close. . .

Tips

The Golden Ring is a popular tourist route, but most people seem to take the bus tours. For a more unique experience, rent a car. I recommend plotting out your journey on google maps and bringing a hard copy of the directions and a map. We found that the complicated Icelandic spellings can be easily mistyped, and in some cases, GPS led us to a geotag in the most direct manner instead of following roads.

High tourist season is mid-June to August, when you are most likely to see a blue sky. I prefer the less crowded shoulder seasons. During the winter, you also have a chance to see the Northern Lights.