Thingvellir National Park is an amazing site, steeped in history and folklore and surrounded by incredible geology. It has the honour of being the first of Iceland’s three national parks to be established. It is also the only one that has been granted UNESCO World Heritage Site status. Considered to be the first stop on the Golden Circle, the park is located only about 45 minute’s drive away from Reykjavik. The roots of both how this island formed and how its civil society was created can be found at Thingvellir. It is a place where dramatic geology meets a millennium of fascinating history and where visitors can spend hours learning about the processes of the earth and the roots of democracy.

The second stop on the Golden Circle is the Geysir Geothermal Area, located within the Haukadalur Valley. It is approximately a fifty-minute drive from Thingvellir. En route, it is possible to see the volcanic activity of the earth grow more and more intense. Geysers are a rare natural phenomenon. Part of what makes the Golden Circle so incredible is that there is a geyser so active and reliable in such an accessible location.

The third and final stop on the Golden Circle route is one of the most spectacular waterfalls in Iceland, Gullfoss. It can be found less than ten minutes down the road from Geysir. Gullfoss is not only known for its breathtaking power but also for the rainbows that arise from its spray on a sunny day. These only add to an already beautiful sight. Other than the dramatic valley and falls, the area looks over rolling fields, right up to the magnificent ice sheet of Langjokull. Like with the springs in Thingvellir and the water at the Geysir Geothermal Area, the river that flows down Gullfoss comes from Langjokull glacier.

The Golden Circle consists of three equally stunning locations in southwest Iceland: Thingvellir National Park, the Geysir Geothermal Area, and Gullfoss Waterfall.

As the most popular tourist trail in Iceland, many different ways to see the Golden Circle have emerged. There are hundreds of different tours, from dozens of different providers, that combine your Golden Circle with extra activities or more sightseeing locations. Some tours allow you to see it in an entirely unique way, such as on a helicopter tour or under the midnight sun. It is possible to rent a car and drive from one attraction to another, in your own time without the time and itinerary restrictions that come with a guided tour. One of the perks of driving the Golden Circle yourself is that you choose when to leave and how long you'll stay.

Trying to decide whether to drive in Iceland? During my research I read how dangerous it could be especially during winter so decided to book a 4WD and had no issues. Perhaps this increased our safety of driving by ensuring we had a large heavy 4WD with all the winter tyres and insurance. The main areas I remember being hectic windy was arriving in Reykjavic and then icy roads closer towards Jökulsárlón.

Fridheimar is a tomato, cucumber and horse farm

The Fontana Geothermal Baths is the name of a spa in the town of Laugarvatn, on the way from Thingvellir National Park to Geysir. Laugarvatn is a picturesque village, perched on the edge of a wide lake, renowned for its geothermal activity. Features of Fontana include three steam rooms and a traditional wooden Finnish sauna with fantastic views of the surrounding nature. The Fontana Geothermal Baths open out onto the lake, where it is possible to feel warm water rising from the earth between your toes.

The rocks surrounding the crater are fiery reds and oranges, with streaks of black and green running through them. These colours contrast beautifully with the azure waters.

The Secret Lagoon, or Gamla Laugin, at Fludir is a great place to relax and renew your energy after a busy day of sightseeing. The temperature of the pool is 38-40°C year-round, sustained by the water entering it from the surrounding natural hot springs.

The Secret Lagoon, or Gamla Laugin, at Fludir is a great place to relax and renew your energy after a busy day of sightseeing. The temperature of the pool is 38-40°C year-round, sustained by the water entering it from the surrounding natural hot springs.

The classic route takes you to Gulfoss waterfall, however, there are other hidden gems located close by which are well worth a visit. Two stand out options are Helgufoss waterfall and Thorufoss waterfall. To visit both waterfalls requires access to a car, as Golden Circle tours don’t typically visit these off-the-beaten-track locations.

If you wish to explore some more hidden gems off-the-beaten-track, and do not mind a bit of extra driving, it only takes a couple of hours detour to Thjorsardalur Valley. Thjorsardalur Valley is considered to be part of the Southern Highlands of Iceland. It boasts a wide range of incredible natural sites. Here, you can find a wealth of beautiful waterfalls that most never get to visit, such as Haifoss, Granni and Hjalparfoss. Burfells Woods is another natural attraction, being a particularly large forest for Iceland. Thjorsardalur is, in fact, quite the botanist’s paradise, with many species of wildflower, grass and moss growing in the area.