In our latest road trip, we have explored Iceland a little bit. After visiting the Southern Iceland for a while, we decided to visit Golden Circle for a day. In this post, I would like to talk about the must-see spots, even though there are hidden gems in every corner of the ride.
KERID
So, this is our first stop in the Golden Circle. Kerid is one of the volcanic crater lakes in the region. Even though there are more, to my knowledge the others are not touristic as Kerid. The lake is believed to be formed when the magma from volcano depleted itself and the empty space beneath caved in. The bright, blue color of the lake is covered with red volcanic rock. You can have a really easy walk up to the lake and take a full tour as much as simply going down to the water side of the lake. Even if you do both, the trip will not make more than half an hour, so it is a pretty good trip. You can park next to the entrance for free, while the entrance was 400 ISK per person when we visited. The only disappointing part is that we had to pay for the entrance and there was no toilet.
THINGVELLIR NATIONAL PARK
Thingvellir is where one of the first Icelandic community was founded in the 10th century and most of the Iceland history took place in this place. That is why, they turned the place into a national park, where Icelandic people treat it like a shrine. Even though Thingvellir National Park holds a significant value to the Icelandic history, which you can actually learn more about simply by joining to some movie sessions in the ticket sales office or by reading through the meeting area.
Besides all the historical facts, the park is worth a visit also for the natural reasons. It is true that within the limits of the park, there are many waterfalls, lakes and super cool volcanic cliffs. But hey, this is Iceland. There are natural wonders at every corner. The real amazing point is the fact that as they walk around the park, you actually keep walking between two continents! The steep cliff belongs to the North America, while the lake side is Eurasia. Plus, at the Silfra diving, you can even snorkel or scuba dive between these two volcanic plates! That sounds like extra super cool to many, but as a Turkish woman who had to cross continents every day for work and watching the "Welcome to Asia/Europe" sign everyday, I needed much more defined boundaries.
BRUARFOSS WATERFALL
This is something one can claim to be a hidden gem. Golden Circle is one of the most touristic attractions in all Iceland and there are many daily tours departing from Reykjavik, this one is mostly skipped. Compared to an average Icelandic waterfall, we have to admit that it is super small and kinda cute, but the colors and the formation of it make Bruarfoss waterfall a must to see! The color of the water is so blue and of the bubbles so white that you will be amazed by the nature! When you type the name on Google Maps, you reach a road that is blocked for the entrance since it is a private property. You can simply park your car in a way that you won't bother the traffic flow and keep walking. Take the car road until you see a sign stating "Bruarfoss", which will be on your right. You will have to take a little hike in the nature, but it's extremely easy - just follow the hidden path. It will worth the trouble.
GEYSIR
Geysir is probably the reason why and how the Golden Circle got that popular in the first place. Geysir got popular with highly explosive eruptions of almost boiling water to the impressive heights. The water explodes in every 5 to 10 minutes (in August about 10 minutes - maybe in winter it gets more often) and it goes high about 15 to 20 meters. The water coming out from the Geysir is about 80 - 90 degrees Celsius and in fact, you can feel the warmth over your feet and your legs as you walk around the area over the water. Furthermore, the water is so full of sulfur it is impossible not to feel the smell. In front of the biggest Geysir, there is a big shop in which you can purchase some souvenirs, Icelandic sweaters or just a cup of warm coffee.
GULLFOSS
Gullfoss is another iconic landmarks of Iceland with the strongest water force in Europe and the picturesque scenery of wild nature. The waterfall has two stages and you can approach from the visitor center to the first fall easily. Just be prepared to bring your rain gear, since you will get completely wet from the water dropping from the fall. If you are lucky enough to reach there on a sunny day, you can also catch multiple waterfalls around the falls. I tried for a while and gave up really soon capturing these waterfalls - since they are really soft. Just take your time to appreciate it with no camera or tech devices. According to the history, an Englishman wanted to purchase the waterfall to use it for power production. But the owner and his daughter fought not to let any construction take place over this wild nature. And eventually, they won and thanks to them, we can appreciate the strong side of nature that we cannot always experience in our big cities.
I hope you will enjoy your trip!
Labels: Golden Circle, Highlights, Iceland
