The Golden Circle, Iceland

The Golden Circle tour (which we booked via Viator) is the most popular route to take in the south of Iceland. It covers about 155 miles, starting from the capital city of Reykjavik, to the centre of Iceland and back again, featuring three stunningly beautiful locations.

The first stop was Thingvellir National Park and UNESCO World Heritage Site. The park featured throughout Season 4 of Game of Thrones, most notably when Arya and The Hound journeyed to the impregnable Eeyrie. The site was also used to film the sword fight between The Hound and Brienne of Tarth.

 

The geothermal field around Geysir is a world-renowned area for geothermal hot springs, like this one at Laugarvatn Fontana, with spectacular lake and mountain views.

 

 

The exploding Strokkur Geysir is currently the most energetic spouting hot spring in Iceland, shooting water 100 feet into the air every few minutes.

 

 

Gullfoss, which means Golden Falls, is one of Iceland’s most iconic waterfalls. It is a dramatic display, with water from the Hvita river cascading down from Langjokull glacier.

 

 

We actually finished the day off with a trip to the Secret Lagoon, but since I didn’t take any photos there, here are a couple of images that I did take at the Blue Lagoon. You should book your slot before arriving in Iceland, as nearly everyone who visits the country works a trip into their itinerary, and it’s definitely worth it. If you don’t want your hair to be destroyed, do use lashings of the free conditioner before getting into the lagoon and don’t put your hair under the water!