Day 3 explores Iceland’s famous Golden Circle. You can choose to travel by rental car or book a guided tour. But first in case you missed it:
Now begins Day 3!
Faxi Falls
Your first stop on the Golden Circle is Faxi Falls. I like to think of this as a nice warmup for your waterfall senses. It’s the baby version of the mighty Gulfoss, which you will see later. But set against the rolling hills of the Iceland landscape, it’s a beautiful sight to behold. Faxi Falls is 22 feet and 300 feet wide. If you arrive early in the morning, you may have the place to yourself.
Strokkur and The Great Geysir
While most of us Americans are familiar with Old Faithful, the famous geyser in Yellowstone National Park, you may not know the granddaddy of all the world’s hot water fountains, is in Iceland. The English word “geyser” is derived from Old Norse, which translates to “gushing” and was the name appropriately given to the Great Geysir.
Today, Geysir is dormant, but his little brother, Strokkur, erupts every few minutes with a boom of boiling liquid that shoots over 130 feet in the air.
There are no ropes to prevent you from getting to close, so be very cautious around the Geysir and stay on the path. I, for one, appreciate Iceland’s lack of safety signage. Icelanders have a deep respect for nature, which evidently includes natural selection.
Old Faithful vs. Strokkur
According to Travel Reykjavik here are the Differences between The United State’s Old Faithful and Iceland’s Strokkur:
- Strokkur is a fountain geyser. That means it erupts from a pool of water. But Old Faithful is a cone geyser. That means it erupts from a cone or a mound of siliceous sinter.
- Strokkur erupts every 6-10 minutes, but Old faithful erupts typically every 60-90 minutes.
- Strokkur eruptions last for a few seconds while Old faithful erupt for 3-10 minutes.
- Strokkur eruptions reach up to 130 feet in height, typically 15-20 meters. Old Faithful’s eruptions reach up 105-180 feet.
The Mighty Gullfoss
The most popular spot on the Golden Circle is the Gulfoss. This giant of a waterfall was created as ancient glaciers split the earth open, ironically, like a hot knife through butter. The Gulfoss drops 105 feet into the crevice. Be ready to get wet here. The power of the Gulfoss creates a misty spray that will soak you to your core.
Fun Fact: According to Iceland Travel, Gullfoss in Icelandic means “Golden Waterfall,” because on a sunny day, the water takes on a golden-brown color.
Icelandic Horses
One of the most endearing aspects of Iceland is its famous horses. They are short, stocky, and adorable. But please do not call them ponies, it upsets them. The Icelandic horse is the only breed of horses allowed in Iceland. Brought to Iceland by the country’s earliest settlers, this bloodline remains pure. If one of these horses leaves the island for a competition or various other reasons, it is never allowed to come back. You’ll find these horses with their 1980’s glam-rock hairstyles all over Iceland. If you take a guided tour of the Golden Circle, you may have a chance to pet these majestic beasts. As far as tours go I would recommend this one. (Ask for Bjorn, he is a legend when it comes to tour guides).
Þingvellir National Park
If I could pick one spot to revisit in Iceland, it is Þingvellir National Park. I could have spent an entire day here. The park is rich with history, wildlife, and spectacular scenery. As Iceland’s first National Park, this area marks the original seat of power for the world’s first parliament government. During Iceland’s transformation into a nation in 930 AD, Viking Chiefs traveled from all over the island to this central location to establish the laws of the commonwealth. As you walk through the park, imagine hordes of Vikings from all walks of life perched on top of the volcanic rock, watching their chiefs bickering and arguing as they work to create a fair and harmonious country. Þingvellir was also the spot where the chieftains agreed to abandon the Old Norse Mythology and convert the land to Christianity. The grounds you walk in Þingvellir National Park are where some of the most significant moments of Viking history occurred. If that doesn’t send a shiver of excitement up your spine, then you and I are very different people.
Icelandic Hotdogs
You should make it back to Reykjavik just in time for dinner. Now you could choose a fancy fish meal at a nice restaurant but let me tell you about a more excellent delicacy, the Icelandic Hotdog. I heard a lot of crap about Icelandic food before my visit. I can honestly say I enjoyed everything I ate while I was there. Especially this Hotdog. This Hotdog is made from lamb instead of beef (or other things) and is utterly delicious. You can grab this Icelandic delicacy downtown at a stand called Bæjarins Beztu Pylsur. The Icelandic dog typically comes with crispy onions, sweet mustard, raw onion, apple ketchup, and remoulade (a sauce made with mayo, capers, regular mustard, and herbs). It’s also the cheapest meal you’ll find on the island, adding to its allure.
Hallgrímskirkja
The last stop of the long day is Hallgrímskirkja, the largest church in Iceland. At your visit to Þingvellir, you stood where the country decided to ditch Thor for Jesus and the Hammer for the Cross. Now behold the tribute to that decision hundreds of years later. They began construction of the church in 1945, and it took 41 years to finish it. You can go inside, but it’s very plain and does not come close to lavish interiors like those in Prague or Budapest. You can also ride an elevator to the observation deck in the spire, but in my opinion, it is not worth the price. Instead, just admire the fantastic architecture of Hallgrímskirkja that was inspired by the Black Falls, which you will see in the upcoming days.
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Chad can be summed up by his idea of a perfect day: Waking up early to watch the sunrise over the mountains, warm cup of coffee in hand then grabbing his camera and fly rod, hitting the trail to explore some uncharted territory followed by cold beers and campfire steaks. Chad is often joined on his adventures by his wife, Tori, and their dog, Kona.