The Geysir geothermal area is one of Iceland’s most famous natural sights. Its star, the Strokkur geyser, erupts every few minutes, shooting boiling water high into the air. All around it are hot springs, bubbling mud pots and colourful mineral deposits – an otherworldly place to see the Earth’s geothermal power up close.
Gullfoss, the “Golden Falls”, is one of Iceland’s most iconic waterfalls. The Hvítá river drops in two tiers into a deep, rugged canyon with a constant roar, and on sunny days rainbows often form in the spray. It is a highlight of every Golden Circle trip.
Kerið is a volcanic crater in South Iceland, about 3,000 years old, with a striking turquoise lake at the bottom. Its steep walls of red and black volcanic rock make it one of the most photogenic stops on the Golden Circle – and a good reminder of Iceland’s volcanic past.
Sólheimar is a pioneering eco-village founded in 1930, known for organic farming and an inclusive community where people with and without disabilities live and work together. Its greenhouses, gardens and handmade products show what sustainable living in Iceland can look like.
Þingvellir National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is where the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates pull apart, creating a dramatic rift valley. It is also where Iceland’s first parliament, the Alþingi, was founded in 930. You can walk between the plates and, if you wish, snorkel or dive in the crystal-clear Silfra fissure.
