Cracks in the earth, clouds of steam and glacial water crashing into a canyon. The Golden Circle packs plenty of Iceland's natural drama into one route. Travelling by coach with a local guide, you'll begin at Þingvellir National Park, where the landscape has been shaped by the movement of the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates. The Alþingi general assembly was founded here around 930. “You don't have to choose between geology and history at Þingvellir,” your guide might tell you. “They're both right there in the landscape.”
From here, you'll head into geothermal territory at Geysir. Steam rises from the ground and hot springs bubble nearby, but Strokkur tends to steal the show, bursting into action every few minutes. You'll have time to take in this restless landscape before continuing towards Gullfoss.
Here, the Hvítá River drops in two stages into the canyon below. Take some time to watch the water surge over the falls and feel the spray in the air. Then, after experiencing the Golden Circle's geothermal landscapes, shifting geology and waterfalls up close, you'll settle in for an included lunch at Gullfosskaffi, with a warming bowl of soup, followed by coffee and cake.
