The Golden Circle of Iceland

Kerio Crater

Loved, Loved Iceland! Seriously, the taste of glacier water and their ice cream (or any milk products actually) are phenomenal! The fresh cod and seafood - yummy! (see Eat section for details)

Don't spend money on a organized tour of the Golden Circle when you can rent a car and travel it yourself. It allows you to experience some of Iceland that can't be found on the popular bus tours and you can stay as long as you want at each place.

What I like about this itinerary is I did all the stops (+more) that the bus tours do, but in reverse, which makes it less crowded until you get to the halfway point where both directions kind of meet up.

My itineary for the GOLDEN CIRCLE TOUR IN A DAY

8am Depart Reykjavik

8:47am - Selfoss waterfall - from Reykjavik via Rt.1 drive time 47 mins

You will first see Dettifoss waterfall and there will be a 45 minute hike each way to reach Selfoss (90 mins total hiking there and back + the time you want to spend at each waterfall) Depart area approx 10:45am

drive time from Selfoss 15 mins.

11am - Kerio Crater - location on Rt.35 between the towns of Selfoss and Reykholt sign on left $3pp walk down to bottom of crater Depart NLT noon

drive time 22 mins from Kerio Crater

12:30 pm LUNCH Frioheimar greenhouse and restaurant This is a fun place to eat - see the tomatoes on the vine that are being used for your meal and the bees that pollinate them. All you can eat tomato soup and bread for a reasonable price and other tomato related foods to eat: pasta, pizza. DON"T forget to have the tomato ice cream for dessert! To be quite honest, I thought it would be horrible, but it was anything but - I could have eaten a second one - it was delicious and served in a cute clay plant pot.

location: on Rt.37 off Rd 35 in Reykholt. Their phone number is (+354) 486-8894 Make your reservation here before you come to Iceland so you can get a table!

drive time from green house restaurant 8 mins

1:30 pm Faxi Waterfall location: Rd 35 between Reykholt and Geyser allow 30 mins here.

depart 3pm

drive time from Faxi Waterfall to Gulfoss waterfall 20 mins

2:20-2:30pm arrive Gulfoss waterfall on Rt. 35 allow 30 mins here depart around 3 pm

drive time from Gulfoss waterfall to Strokker hot springs 10 mins

3:15pm Strokker hot springs and Geysir at Haukadalur on Rt 35 allow 30 -45 mins here. They have a nice shop to browse for gifts but don't eat here - you want to save your appetite for your next stop! depart around 4 pm

drive time from Strokker to the Efsti-Dalur II 16 mins

4:20-4:30 pm early DINNER/DESSERT - Efsti-Dalur II - farm and restaurant with FRESH ice cream! See the cows that produced your ice cream through the glass windows. Definitely get the waffle with Rhubarb sauce topped with the blueberry ice cream - my mouth is watering just thinking about it! Don't forget to buy a jar of Rhubarb jam to bring home with you - made with the family recipe! open 11:30- 8pm Location: 801 Blaskogabyggo Depart here around 6pm

drive time from Efsti to Thingvellir 40 mins

6:45pm Thingvellir - where the continents meet allow 30-45 mins here

7:30pm drive time back to Reykjavik 41 mins from Thingvellir

8:15pm arrive back at Reykjavik