The Golden Triangle

By this name are known Gullfoss, Geysir and Þingvellir, “the three great destinations” for the Icelandair travelers that visit this country. The most famous attraction is Gullfoss, where the river Hvitá ends in two 32 m. cascades. In sunny days you will see a rainbow crossing the falling water.

At 10 Km. is Geysir, which name has been given to all the emanating thermal waters in the world. Unfortunately, the Great Geyser disappeared in the middles of the 20th century due to the wastes left by tourists. Nevertheless, it has nowadays irregular eruptions of up to 15 m. as a result of terrain movement as a consequence of the strong earthquakes that took place in 2000. There is also the Strokkur (churn) that erupts water up to 35 m. height every 8 minutes. There is a good collection of volcanoes, geysers, earthquakes, folklore, and natural history in the Geysisstofa Geocentre.

Þingvellir is the most important historical site in Iceland since the Alþingi (Parliament) was founded in the year 930. It was chosen thanks to its topography, acoustics, and proximity to the population. In 1928 its history and natural interest make it become the first National Park in the country.

The tours to Reykjavik and the Golden Circle circuits to Gullfoss, Geysir and Þingvellir, by Destination Iceland are 5,900 Ikr, without meals. The bus departures from the BSÍ in Reykjavik at 8:40 every day.

The Destination Iceland buses circulate among Reykjavik, Gullfoss and Geysir; departure at 8:30 and 12:30 everyday (June and August) from BSÍ (3,740 Ikr the trip) Public buses that cover the route between Reykjavik and Þingvellir departure from the BSÍ station everyday at 13:30; and cost 1,700 the roundtrip.

Pórsmörk

Þórsmörk is located at 130 Km. at the southeast of Reykjavik, constituting one of the most beautiful locations in the whole country. It’s a glacier valley filled with birches, flowers, winding rivers and clear waters surrounded by snow peaks and glaciers.

It’s an excellent destination for hiking, but in summertime it becomes crowded, noisy and full of problems brought by drunk people. There are three refugees in this area: Þórsmörk, Básar, and Húsadalur, which will be for sure full in summertime. Camping is 500 Ikr per person. There is also a HI hostel, very cozy and with a peat roof, near Fljótsdalur.

Between June and September there is a bus route between Reykjavik and Húsadalur (on the Þórsmörk hill) once or twice a day (3,200 Ikr one-way). In order to get to Fljótsdalur you have to leave the Ring Road bus in Hvolsvöllur, and either walk or hitchhiking the next 261 Km. From middle July to middle August the bus Syöri Fjallabaksled (250 Ikr) does the route once a day from Reykjavik to Fljótsdalur passing through Hvolsvöllur.