Saturday, September 1, 2012

the golden circle

The Golden Circle is one of the most popular tourist routes in South Iceland, featuring the Gullfoss waterfalls, the geothermally-active Haukadalur valley, and Þingvellir national park. Visits to these (and any of the country's countless natural attractions) require ground transportation though, and being as I wasn't going to rent a car on my own, a bus tour was key. The front desk person at my lovely hostel suggested Bustravel Iceland for its high quality and low price point. This is how I spent my one full day in Iceland:
[Kerið volcano crater]
[our driver's favorite waterfall - name unknown]
[demonstration of Icelandic horses at Fridheimar farm]

[Haukadalur valley]
[Strokkur geyser]
[Lunch: smoked salmon sandwich & traditional Icelandic lamb soup]
[Gulfoss waterfall]
[a glaciar (look closely!)]
[Þingvellir national park]
[Rift valley & the Rock of Law]
Honestly, Iceland is the most spectacular countries I've ever been to in a completely out-of-this-world way. I guess I shouldn't have expected any less of one of the "happiest" nations founded upon volcanic rock by Vikings, huh? 

4 comments:

  1. I'm personally a huge fan of horse back riding. Iceland looks really fun. I want to go now!

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  2. @Timmy: That's so great! I've only been a handful of times but I loved it as well. Hope you get to experience it in Iceland sometime soon.

    @Sana: They are, they are!

    @ko0ty: Thanks :) I could hardly believe my own eyes (or lens) when taking them.

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