GOLDEN CIRCLE
Spectacular Extremes
Southwest Iceland ’ s wide Hvítá River is a tremendous sight on flat grounds , but seeing the waters scramble over a threestep tiered waterfall before plunging into a rocky crevice where plumes of mist cast a perfectly arced rainbow overhead ? This is another experience entirely . It ’ s called Gullfoss , the farthest point of the Golden Circle tour carving through Iceland ’ s scenic Southern uplands . It ’ s not only one of the most accessible options from Reykjavik , but it also passes some of the big destinations in a loop of less than 200 miles . Along the way , you can gaze into the aquamarine lake inside Kerið volcanic crater from its scenic rim trail , overlooking a valley of pines below . Walk between two continents at the UNESCO-designated Þingvellir National Park , where the Mid-Atlantic Rift exposes a seismic valley between the two tectonic plates of Eurasia and North America . And visit the Haukadalur geothermal field , where the famous Stokkur geyser blasts water up to 65 feet in the air every 10 minutes .
Wildflowers in Skaftafell National Park
SKAFTAFELL NATIONAL PARK
Nestled along the southeast coast of Iceland , Skaftafell National Park is most famous for its location at the roots of Europe ’ s largest glacier , but this preservation area boasts a powerful trio of impressive geological sites — Morsárdalur Valley , Kristínartindar Mountain and the Skaftafellsjökull glacier . The hiking trails here offer breathtaking scenery for any skill level , with enough fantastic sites to fill a weeklong vacation .
See the curious columnar basalt rock formations surrounding the towering Svartifoss Waterfall . Soak in panoramic views of the surrounding mountains and glaciers at Sjónarnípa viewpoint . See miles of wildflower fields carpeting the majestic Lómagnúpur mountain valley . Summit the highest peak of Iceland at Hvannadalshnjúkur or trek to an isolated nature reserve atop the bird cliff of Ingólfshöfði Cape . Within the national park are enough sites to overwhelm even the most ambitious explorers . If you only have time for one , however , don ’ t miss the flagship attraction of Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon . Also called Diamond Beach , massive ice-blue glacier pieces float and bob in the picturesque sapphire lagoon . Over time , the glacier calves and smaller chunks break off into the icy waters . Tumbled in the rough surf , they drift ashore in hundreds of crystal-clear pieces along miles of striking black sand beach .
30 · ESCAPE Summer 2023