Day 4: Golden Circle Iceland

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Today’s adventure brings you to the second part of the Golden Circle route in Iceland. The order of stops may depend on your accommodation, but my journey began at Faxafoss waterfall—a hidden gem not officially included in the Golden Circle, yet absolutely worth visiting. Perhaps because it isn’t on everyone’s radar, I had the place entirely to myself, a refreshing contrast to the more crowded stops that followed. Faxafoss is a wide and powerful waterfall, visible almost immediately from the parking lot. After just a short 5-minute walk down a path, you’ll find yourself standing right at its base, an impressive and intimate encounter with Iceland’s raw nature.

The next stop is the legendary Geysir geothermal area, one of Iceland’s most famous attractions. The name might be a little misleading—Geysir itself has been dormant since 2016. Instead, the star of the show is Strokkur, an active geyser erupting every 4–8 minutes. The science behind it is fascinating: water sinks deep into the earth, heats to nearly 250°C, and then suddenly converts into steam, blasting upwards with explosive force. My first eruption was a modest one, barely a meter high, leaving the crowd puzzled. But patience pays off—minutes later Strokkur launched a spectacular 20-meter column of boiling water and steam into the sky, leaving everyone in awe. Watching this natural wonder is an absolute must, and the frequent eruptions mean you’re guaranteed a show if you linger.

The final stop of the day is none other than Gullfoss waterfall, often regarded as one of the most beautiful waterfalls in Iceland. Its name means “Golden Falls,” a nod to the golden glow it takes on under the evening sun. Fed by the glacial river Hvítá, the falls plunge a total of 31 meters into the Hvítárgljúfur canyon. Over the past 10,000 years, the river has carved a gorge 3–4 kilometers long and up to 70 meters deep, a true force of nature. From the parking lot, it’s only a two-minute walk before you reach the stairs leading closer to the falls. The view is majestic—you immediately feel small standing before such immense power. You can even walk all the way down to stand almost next to the falls themselves. When I visited, the sunlight caught the mist just right, forming a beautiful rainbow arching across Gullfoss. Truly magical—Iceland at its absolute best!