Geysir, Thingvellir and the Gullfoss waterfall are advertised as the three highlights of a Golden Circle tour in Iceland. But the natural wonder to look out for is Strokkur.
The main attractions on Iceland’s Golden Circle
Iceland’s Golden Circle is a world class example of how to create a successful tourist route.
It pulls together three high quality attractions – the Gullfoss waterfall, the geyser that gave its name to all geysers and Thingvellir National Park – and turns them into a day-long loop from Reykjavik.
Thousands of people tackle the Golden Circle route every day, whether in a tour bus or self-driving.
But I’m going to argue that the highlight of the Golden Circle isn’t Gullfoss. Or Geysir. Or Thingvellir.
No, the star attraction of Iceland’s Golden Circle is Strokkur.
Why book a Golden Circle super jeep and snowmobiling tour?
- Explore Iceland’s Golden Circle in a rugged super jeep: visit Thingvellir, Gullfoss, and Geysir
- Ride a snowmobile across Langjökull glacier: a thrilling Arctic adventure
- Small group experience: more flexibility, fewer crowds, and off-road access
- Expert local guide included: gain insight into Iceland’s geology and legends
- Hotel pickup and drop-off from Reykjavik: travel in comfort and style
Gullfoss and Thingvellir National Park
This is not to say Gullfoss and Thingvellir are overrated, however.
Gullfoss is a properly impressive and absolutely furious waterfall, where water rages into a crevice.
Thingvellir, meanwhile, combines a striking, sparse horizon of volcanic carnage with substantial human heritage – Iceland’s first parliament was held here. It’s also home to the Silfa Fissure, where you can go snorkelling between two tectonic plates.
Why Geysir is a disappointment
Geysir, on the other hand, is something of a let-down. The very concept of a geyser was named after it but most visitors are not going to see it in action.
When active, Geysir propels boiling water 60 metres into the air. But its activity is strongly linked to earthquakes. Most of the time, nothing happens, and it can go for years without springing into life.
Geothermal activity in the Haukadalur Valley
However, Geysir is not alone in the Haukadalur Valley. It is surrounded by bubbling pools, some of which contain alarmingly hot water.
More importantly, Strokkur lies 50 metres to the south.
And Strokkur is a very, very active geyser.
Watching the Strokkur geyser in action
Strokkur is billed as the most reliable geyser in the world.
It goes off every six or seven minutes, and the anticipation is almost as exciting as the main show.
The water slops back and forth, rumbles with inner turmoil, starts to bulge and then… WOOSH! It’s a fearsome aquatic eruption, shooting 25-30m in the air, followed by a swarming cloud of vapour.
This is all accompanied by the noise of a really fat person jumping into a swimming pool.
It’s a great spectacle, and you don’t have to wait around too long to see it.
If you’ve ever wanted to see a large geyser in action, then Strokkur is your best bet.
Yet the Golden Circle tours promote Geysir instead, largely due to name recognition. Just be sure that when you do stop at the Haukadalur Valley, you’re looking at the right geyser…
Booking a Golden Circle tour
If self-driving the Golden Circle, the smart plan is to take advantage of the long summer days. Start late and finish late, as most of the tour buses do the loop during office hours.
If you’re only in Iceland for a few days and don’t want the hassle of hiring a car, a Golden Circle tour is the best bet.
There are dozens of Golden Circle tours to choose from, and there’s not a great deal of difference between them. If you want to do something a bit different, look for a tour that adds something else on, such as the Secret Lagoon, Kerid Crater or snowmobiling.
More Iceland travel
Other great Iceland travel experiences include Northern Lights tours, Reykjavik food walks and whale-watching cruises.
Other Iceland travel articles on Planet Whitley include:
- Should you tackle Jökulsárlón as a day trip from Reykjavik?
- Seeing Jökulsárlón’s icebergs up close on a RIB cruise.
- A review of the Inside the Glacier tour.
- Inside Vidgelmir – Iceland’s giant lava cave.
- How many bottles of wine can you bring into Iceland?
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