Curator’s statement
South Iceland has a variety of natural landscapes to enjoy and lots of stop-off points that a bus tour may not take you to. We had our own adventure when we did the Golden Circle, and it made for our own memories and a sense of pride when we discovered what international travel meant to us. The ability to spend the time you want without time restrictions really helped us appreciate our experience.
The Fora Difference
Book with Cassandra Fewster to access exclusive perks and experiences on your trip.
Killer perks
Free upgrades, spa credits and more—we got you
Personalized recs
Customized travel planning for your style
Insider knowledge
Expert advice from people who’ve actually been there
Where to stay
Unlock perks by contacting Cassandra Fewster to book your trip.
Day 1: Arrive in Iceland
Day one was our arrival day. We grabbed our luggage and took a shuttle to our rental car company.
After picking up the car, we went into Keflavik for a quick breakfast bite. We then traveled over to Blue Lagoon for our swim in the geothermal pool. We finished there and went into Grindavik, where we enjoyed fish and chips for lunch at the Fish House Bar and Grill.
We then went westward, up and back up toward the airport on our way to our lodging in Laugarvatn—a cozy cabin sitting behind a mountainside.
Day 2: Hike Brúará Trail
On day two, we had a full itinerary and extra time, so we decided on a 4.5-mile hike through Brúará Trail for the first part of the day. The extra energy was so worth it—it was the bluest waterfall we saw while on our trip, and the landscape was breathtaking.
We continued our adventure toward Gulfoss, stopping at the Geysir Hot Springs on our way there.
We then drove through Reykholt and stopped at Kerid, a massive crater in the ground, and Selfoss for dinner before heading back to our cabin for the night.
Day 3: Visit Thingvellir National Park
Day three was our visit to Thingvellir National Park. On our way, there were a lot of stop-off points where we could get out and take photos. We took our time walking the visitor trail and climbing rocks up to more scenic spots. We also visited the visitor center and took a walk down to the original town to explore the old buildings and learn more about the history.
This was our last day in the South Iceland region before we moved eastward toward the glaciers.
Need to know
We chose to visit Iceland at the end of March and really loved being able to experience all four seasons on our adventure without worrying about a lot of snow. When self-driving in Iceland, there's an app you can use to track roadway conditions—it will tell you what roads are closed and what type of vehicle you need for the weather conditions. The best advice is to get a vehicle that has four-wheel drive. The estimated amount of time to complete the Golden Circle is about 3.5 hours—we broke that down into two days, and it really allowed us to see the majority of South Iceland.
Travel Advisor
Cassandra Fewster
Get in touch with Cassandra Fewster
Did you like this guide? Reach out to customize and book your own experience. Or, just to chat about travel in general.
You can expect a response from Cassandra Fewster within 1–2 business days. You’ll also be subscribed to our traveler newsletter (you can unsubscribe at any time).
For more inspiration and insider recommendations, visit our Iceland page.