We only had time to explore the western portion of the island for the most part, so we missed out on Jokulsarlon Glacier Lagoon, the abandoned airplane, and, much to my husband’s disappointment, the filming of Game of Thrones. However, we covered a lot of ground and some pretty cool stuff. So here it is:
Blue Lagoon
This is probably the most well known tourist attraction in Iceland, but what is it??! The Blue Lagoon is a man made lagoon nestled in a lava field near Grindavik. It originated when a nearby geothermal energy plant drained it’s excess water to this spot. Iceland is the most volcanically active country in the world and when the water runs through the geological layers it is heated and picks up precious minerals (silica and sulfur) that have been found to be beneficial for human skin. Some have even said the mineral packed bath cured their psoriasis.
The Blue Lagoon has very strict hygiene rules. Prior to entering you must shower in the locker rooms. The lagoon water is renewed every 2 days.
In addition to a nice warm soak there are “bars” situated throughout the lagoon where you can use skin masks and scrubs made from the materials found in the water. Products are also available for purchase in the gift shop. *I would not recommend going under the water completely as the minerals are not easy to remove from your hair!
We hit up The Blue Lagoon the day we got off the plane. If you are looking to enjoy a few hours of R&R, this is the place to be. Reservations are required prior to arrival. Options range from simple entrance and use of the lagoon, to full spa packages. There are 2 restaurants on site, Lava and Moss. There is also a hotel package if you choose to stay here. Blue Lagoon is an easy drive from Reykjavik if you have a rental car.
Visit www.bluelagoon.com for more information and reservations.
Silica from the bottom of the Blue Lagoon
“Bar” in the Blue Lagoon
Strokkur Geyser
A geyser, as you may or may not know, is a spring that is in contact with hot volcanic rocks, and when it reaches a boiling point, it erupts into the air. Strokkur Geyser is one of Iceland’s most well known geysers; it is fairly consistent and erupts about every 6-10 minutes, shooting water approximately 15-20 meters in the air on average, but has been known to go as high as 40 meters!
Strokkur is about an hour and a half drive from Reykjavik and is accessible by rental car. If you are driving in winter, remember to start as soon as day breaks so you have plenty of time to get out, explore, and get back before it is too dark. Also, watch the weather forecasts as white out conditions are possible on the roads in Iceland.
Gullfoss Falls
The location where the Hvita River drops to the south is known as Gullfoss Falls. Gullsfoss is part of the “Golden Circle” and is fed by Iceland’s second largest glacier, Langjokull. The walls of the falls reach 70 meters in height. It is said that when the sun is shining in the summertime, a rainbow is cast over the falls. While this sounds enchanting, seeing the falls in all their frozen glory was pretty spectacular as well. Visit the viewing area which allows you to look down into the falls as they plummet 32 meters into the mile long canyon that is Gullfoss Falls. Gullfoss falls is about 2 hours from Reykjavik by rental car but along the same route you can visit Strokkur and Thingvellir National Park.
Thingvellir National Park
Iceland is located on the Mid-Atlantic Rift, or the ridge that separates the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates. Thingvellir, Iceland is the only place in the world where this rift is above sea level! We were lucky enough to walk the path between the plates and saw lots of frozen beauty. In the summer time you can scuba dive in the crystal clear ravines. It is said that the visibility is 100 meters from the surface! There is a parking lot at Thingvellir National Park if you are driving. It is also part of the “Golden Circle” tour.
Icelandic Horses
The beauty of driving is having the freedom to stop and explore when the opportunity arises. During our drive back from the Golden Circle we stumbled across a small herd of Icelandic horses on the side of the road. There was a fence between them and the road and others were stopped taking in their beauty so we pulled over and did the same.
Enjoy the Golden Circle!
See the next article for information on our Tour of the South Coast!