Buggy Golden Circle

Þingvellir is a truly unique location, rich in both natural beauty and historical significance for the Icelandic nation. It is situated beside Þingvallavatn, Iceland’s largest lake. One of the world’s oldest parliaments, the Alþingi, was established here in the year 930, around 100 years after Iceland's settlement. For over two weeks each year, the assembly convened to establish laws—considered a covenant between free men—and settle disputes. Þingvellir National Park, which spans 24,000 hectares (with 9,270 hectares designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site), preserves this rich history. The striking scenery and deep historical connections make Þingvellir an unparalleled destination.

Gullfoss, or the "Golden Waterfall," is one of Iceland’s most famous waterfalls, showcasing the sheer power and beauty of nature. The waterfall is fed by the Hvítá River, which originates from Langjökull, Iceland’s second-largest glacier. The water plunges into a dramatic canyon with walls reaching up to 70 meters (230 feet) in height. On sunny days, a shimmering rainbow often appears over the falls.

Hvítá cascades down a wide, curved three-step "staircase" before plunging in two stages—first a drop of 11 meters (36 feet) and then another 21 meters (69 feet)—into a 32-meter (105-foot) deep crevice. This crevice, which is about 20 meters (66 feet) wide and 2.5 kilometers (1.6 miles) long, runs perpendicular to the river’s flow. The average water flow is 141 cubic meters (5,000 cubic feet) per second in summer and 80 cubic meters (2,800 cubic feet) per second in winter.

The name "Geysir" comes from the Icelandic verb geysa, meaning "to gush." The Great Geysir lies in the Haukadalur valley on the slopes of the Laugarfjall lava dome, alongside Strokkur, a more frequently erupting geyser located about 50 meters (160 feet) to the south.

Geysir can hurl boiling water up to 60 meters (200 feet) into the air, though it erupts infrequently. Strokkur, on the other hand, erupts much more frequently—every few minutes, reaching heights of up to 35 meters (115 feet). Strokkur was first documented in 1789 and, unlike Geysir, gives little warning before erupting. Its underground plumbing has been mapped in detail, revealing a pipe-like conduit that narrows at 8 meters (26 feet), expands into a cavity at 11 meters (36 feet), and then narrows again at around 13 meters (43 feet), where temperatures approach boiling.

Strokkur’s eruptions have been influenced by seismic activity, though not as dramatically as Geysir’s.