Most people who travel to Iceland visit at least the famous golden circle to see Gullfoss Waterfall, Geysir and Thingvellir. These places are each completely unique and it is understandable that tourists at least want to see them.
Of these three places, I like Thingvellir the most. This place is full of magic everywhere you look. You can walk down Almannagjá and from there to Öxará and the waterfall Öxarárfoss and where the road leads to Thingvallavatn. There are countless beautiful places by Lake Thingvallavatn and there are deep ravines that you can dive into. Thingvellir and Thingvallavatn have a special place in the minds of Icelanders. at Thingvellir is the history of Icelanders from the beginning of settlement and where the first Althingi was founded. The second half of summer and the beginning of autumn is my favorite time at Thingvellir. Then the beautiful green colors change into all kinds of color variations. Enjoying the place takes on a new meaning and the experience is unique.
Geyser is a special place. There’s the historical geyser, which has actually stopped erupting, but instead there is another geyser erupting called Strokkur. It’s always nice to see some geothermal eruptions, but they last a short time. Still, it’s fun to stop by Geysir and stroll around the geothermal area. It is a special experience to smell sulfur and feel the drops of steam touching your face.
And then we come to the historic waterfall, Gullfoss. It is a unique waterfall and few Icelandic waterfalls precede it. It is full of water all year round and can therefore always be seen at full throttle. It does not matter what time of year you visit Gullfoss because it is always chic, whether it is dressed in ice or surrounded by the green colors of summer.
If there is one waterfall you are going to see during your visit to Iceland, it is Gullfoss. There is no other waterfall that can be considered except the Dynjandi waterfall in the Westfjords, which I think is the most beautiful waterfall in Iceland. Walking up to the waterfall and watching it fall a hundred meters down the cliffs with hammering sounds is unique. Up to now it has been difficult to see Dynjandi in the winter, but now it is changing due to improved roads. Dynjandi Waterfall is one of the so-called Fjallfossar waterfalls and is by far the largest, but many of these waterfalls are extremely beautiful and photogenic.
What can not be done at Dynjandi is to walk behind it except to a small extent and would cost a lot of wetness. However, this can be done at Seljalandsfoss waterfall, which is about 1-2 hours away from Reykjavík in the southern part of the country. Seljalandsfoss is high but not watery. There are good facilities by the waterfall and it is fun to walk to it. When you get close to it, you will feel the fresh water spray splashing on your face which is a wonderful experience. It’s always fun to take one selfie by Seljalandsfoss or walk behind it and take one picture from that point of view.
Seljalandsfoss is incredibly good footage as there are millions of pictures of him on the Internet and long ago he became one of these must-see places in Iceland. But then there are places that are rather recently discovered in Iceland, such as Fjaðrárgljúfur. It can be said that Justin Bieber has put Fjaðrárgljúfur on the map. It is easy to get to Fjaðrárgljúfur and a short walk to good views. This is a uniquely beautiful canyon that meanders with the river that flows at the bottom of it. What I found unique when we last visited it was the incredible number of tourists who were there that August day. The place is unique and I’m not surprised that it has become so popular.
When we visited Fjaðrárgljúfur we were on our way to the Westman Islands. It is a short ferry ride to the Westman Islands from Fjaðrárglúfur. It was windy when we went on board but the sailing was still lovely. It’s amazing to see the islands appear one by one. The entrance to Vestmannaeyjar Harbor is unique. Sailing along the steep cliffs was a unique experience that will not be forgotten. The Westman Islands are a unique place. There was an eruption 50 years ago or so and the whole environment is shaped by it. The town is on an island called Heimey and although it is the largest in this archipelago, it is not really big. You can drive around the island in minutes. But there is a lot to see. Seeing the waves of the Atlantic Ocean crashing on the cliffs and skerries around the island is magnificent.
We stayed in the Westman Islands overnight but it is actually possible to see everything significant in one day but the same can not be said about the wonder world at Skaftafell National Park. After many visits and many walks, there is always something new to experience in Skaftafell. On a bright day you can see the highest mountain in Iceland, Öræfajökull, along with the largest glacier in Iceland, Vatnajökull. The glaciers are a large part of the landscape and are easy to reach to see up close. You can walk up the mountain Skaftafell in a few hours and see the incredible landscape that has been shaped by frequent volcanic eruptions and floods that come from the glacier when the water level below it has become too high. There is also the waterfall Svartafoss which is absolutely magical. It is not large or tall but since it falls down the columnar basalt wall is unique.
Maybe it’s just because of the memories we have from there that we think Svartifoss is so incredible. The memories can make the landscape more beautiful than can be captured on film. Having good memories is a big part of traveling and sometimes the best memories are created in the most incredible places, such as when we stay one night at Hotel Núpar. The weather, the evening sun, the surroundings, the hotel and the day made this evening an unforgettable experience. We’re still talking about those moments that evening etched deep in our minds never to be forgotten.
It is the memories that the travels create that are most valuable. There is no photograph that can capture memories and experiences of good times. There is no waterfall, no canyon, no island, no national park, no glacier or mountain that can top good memories with those you love. The landscape is a beautiful accompaniment and sometimes ignites occasional moments, but being able to enjoy life with those you love is what lives with you forever.
