A one-day driving tour of the Golden Circle will leave you with unforgettable memories. Our first stop will be Þingvellir National Park, the first national park in Iceland to be established. This verdant landscape differs from the highlands; bright green moss creeps over the lava fields, and birch and pine forests line the horizon. Ravines are filled with fresh, crystalline water—so clear that this area is popular with avid snorkelers and divers (later on in the trip, we’ll get to whitewater raft here!). Fun fact: This stunning landscape is featured in several Game of Thrones episodes. Next up on our Golden Circle tour is the Geysir Geothermal Area. You’ll see the steam rising from the pools from miles away, and the hilly landscape gets even more colorful due to the earth’s naturally occurring minerals. While the area’s namesake geyser rarely erupts, it is the earliest documented in European history. Its neighbor, however, throws water 20 to 40 meters into the air quite regularly. Our third and final stopover is the Gullfoss Waterfall. On a sunny day, the spray throws up vibrant rainbows, and in the summer, you can take a walkway to the edge of the staircase-shaped falls, close enough to feel the mist on your face. We’ll even have the option for a late-night hot spring river hike to take advantage of the midnight sun!

Accommodation: Camping

This “Iceland in a nutshell” will once again take your breath away with its diverse landscape. We’ll enjoy a hike in the Arnarstapi, home to soaring columnar basalt formations and lava flows and once a thriving fishing village. We’ll also visit the trading post, Stykkishólmur, where beautiful old houses and museums line the city’s streets. Last but not least, we’ll hike the paths around Kirkjufell (meaning “Church Mountain”), roaming lush green fields and the filming site of several Game of Thrones scenes.

Accommodation: Camping

In the morning, get ready to explore Rauðfeldsgjá, a deep and narrow ravine near the Snæfellsjökull glacier! Bright green moss line the canyon’s walls, and a waterfall is hidden in the gorge. Later, we’ll bask in the famous geothermal spa Blue Lagoon, whose warm, milky-blue waters contrast sharply with the surrounding black volcanic cliffs. Water continually streams into and out of the lagoon, making for clean water with no chemicals—only natural minerals (like silica and sulfur) that are good for your skin!

Accommodation: Hostel

*Listed above is Bold Earth’s intended itinerary for this trip. All itineraries are subject to change in order to provide the best possible program quality.