Second Stage: Gullfoss - Geysir - Silfra - Secret Lagoon

Free parking with views of this great natural spectacle. In Iceland it is striking how many of the tourist sites are so easily accessible that, in most of them, with just a 5 minute walk you can marvel at them. A 10 out of 10 in accessibility.

Gullfoss is a water monster, a churning giant with millions of cubic metres of water flowing into the canyon cut by the Hvítá River in southwest Iceland. The Langjökull glacier is the "father" of this waterfall with a 32-metre drop in two falls that show the force of nature.
Be amazed by the energetic rapids of Gullfoss (Icelandic for "Golden Waterfall" or "Golden Cascade") which, from time to time, release a drenching spray.
This waterfall is a milestone in the defence of Iceland's natural resources. In the early 20th century (1907), an English businessman named Howell wanted to build a hydroelectric plant at Gullfoss. Tómas Tómasson, an Icelandic farmer who owned the land, refused to sell the land but leased it to Howell, not knowing that this gave the businessman options to carry out his plans.
Sigríður Tómasdóttir, the landowner's daughter, hired a lawyer to conduct a legal dispute that lasted more than 20 years. In 1929, Howell cancelled the lease because he could not afford the high costs, and the victory in this fight made Sigríður the first Icelandic environmentalist and an important figure in Iceland's history books.

Between Gullfoss parking and Geysir is only 10 minutes by car. Parking is free and without time limitation. By the way, if you are a videographer and you have a drone, it is not allowed to fly it in this area.

The three states of water are: solid, liquid and gaseous. Something that in Iceland is possible to see in very few kilometers. If Gullfoss is the manifestation of the liquid force, this geothermal park is the closest thing to the gaseous state.
The term geyser owes its name to Geysir, homonymous geyser located in the Haukadalur valley, one of the most active geothermal areas in Iceland.
Today, the star of this region is the Strokkur geyser, very close to the large geyser that has been inactive due to internal landslides in its tunnels. Strokkur shoots jets of steam and water every 5-10 minutes at 90 degrees and up to 30 meters high! Geysir, in its best days, reached heights of up to 80 meters. Get your cell phone ready and be on the lookout to capture just the moment when Strokkur greets you with its force.

Friðheimar is a restaurant-greenhouse that grows tomatoes and cucumbers all year round, even during the long, dark winter - they grow more than 10,000 plants! You can see the tomato plants up close and then sit at the table to taste dishes made, obviously, with tomatoes and/or cucumbers.
In addition to the restaurant, Friðheimar offers tours of the greenhouses to learn about the horticultural process and the use of geothermal energy in a country with a cold climate.
Keep an eye on their store physical and online as they have very tasty products (green tomato drink, cucumber sauce, marinades for pork, beef, lamb or chicken, green tomato jam with cinnamon and lime, tomato chutney) that can be an excellent gift for your friends or family.
In the summer months at Friðheimar they organize a horse show and Icelandic music in 14 languages where you will learn about their qualities, how they were brought from Scandinavia in 900 AD and the role they have played for centuries in the lives of Icelanders. They have about 40 horses and are professionally dedicated to horse breeding.
Opening hours Every day from 12:00 to 16:00 hours. Book a table by phone (+354) 486 8894 or via email fridheimar@fridheimar.is Official website

Thingvellir National Park (þingvellir in Icelandic) is one of the highlights of the Golden Circle, not only for its geography but also for its historical weight. Here, around 930 AD, the Alþingi, the world's first parliament, was founded, Iceland adopted Christianity seven decades later and on June 17, 1944 the Republic of Iceland was born. Need more reasons to be convinced?
This parking is free of charge. In summer there are usually a lot of mosquitoes and flies so I recommend you to bring a mosquito net to cover your face, they are very very annoying!

The Silfra rift is the point where the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates separate. Note this fact: every year the separation increases by more than one centimeter. Walking around this fissure that originated in 1789 due to a series of earthquakes is fascinating, these large natural walls form a stunning gorge, on land and underwater, where you will feel small.
Can you imagine being able to snorkel or dive between two continents? It's possible. Silfra is the only place in the world where you can try this experience.
The snorkeling dive takes between 30-40 minutes with a maximum depth of 18 meters. The crystal clear, pristine water comes from the nearby Langjökull glacier, with an average temperature between 2 and 4 degrees, and excellent visibility of over 100 meters. You will be provided with a dry suit and all the necessary equipment to enjoy the experience comfortably. Ready to enjoy one of the best dive sites in the world? We are not alone, National Geographic has given it this rating.
Book your experience in advance so you don't miss out on this adventure.

Return from the dive site to the parking lot and from there follow the trail along the left flank of Almannagjá (land crack). In addition to seeing a panoramic view of this strip of Thingvellir National Park, you will arrive in a few minutes to the beautiful Öxarárfoss waterfall. It is neither the most spectacular in height nor in size but the location of this waterfall with black rocks at the base will keep you spellbound for a while.

Small but charming. Take a walk around it, take a couple of pictures and look at the small cemetery next to it. Thingvallakirkja is the first church to be erected on Icelandic territory. The Norwegian King Olaf II the Holy was the instigator of this project after the Christianization of the country in the year 1000. The church you see today is not the original one - it could not resist the inclemencies of the passage of time - and was built in 1859.

The spectacular nature of Thingvellir National Park has also attracted the filming of audiovisual productions such as Game of Thrones, which in its fourth season featured this natural setting. Fans of the Seven Kingdoms will recognize the path along which Arya, in the company of Sandor Clegane, headed towards the Arryn Valley.
Your eyes have been filled with unique snapshots. From the icy waters of the fissure of Silfra you will feel the pleasant warmth of the hot springs on your skin in just one hour.

Iceland is a paradise for lovers of hot springs. You have all kinds of ranges and prices. The Secret Lagoon is the oldest spa in Iceland. It was built in 1891 around the Hverahólmir hot spring near the village of Fludir. It is much simpler and perhaps not as cool - but a lot cheaper - than other thermal pools such as the Blue Lagoon.
The water ranges between 36 and 41°C and is shallow, just over a meter. The closer you get to the spring area, the hotter the water gets. I recommend you get out of the pool and walk around to see the small geysers and feel the hot-cold temperature contrast. At the reception, in addition to drinks, you can buy a vacuum case for your cell phone to protect it from the water if you want to take pictures or videos while enjoying the spa. You can also rent towels and bathing suits.
If you travel during the aurora borealis season, the mix of relaxing bath plus aurora will be an unforgettable experience. The best months are from December to February. If you are lucky they can appear in March or from September to November.
Timetable Winter: October 1 to May 31 Every day from 10:00 to 19:00 hours. December 24 and 31 from 10:00 to 18:00 hours
Summer: from June 1 to September 30 Every day from 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Official website

What a day! Epic! Rest up because tomorrow continues this adventure along the south coast of Iceland. good night!