Iceland's classic travel region, linking Þingvellir's rift landscapes and lake views with Geysir's geothermal fields.
Our real winter route through Thingvellir, Geysir, Gullfoss, Secret Lagoon and Kerid, including why an overnight stay near Geysir worked better for us than rushing the whole Golden Circle in one day.
A February 2025 visit to Kerið Crater on the Golden Circle, walking around the rim and down to the frozen crater lake. The scale of the volcanic landscape felt completely different from above and below.
A February 2025 visit to Secret Lagoon in Flúðir, a quiet Golden Circle geothermal bath with warm pools, a cold plunge, snowy paths and changing winter weather.
A winter stop at Gullfoss on Iceland's Golden Circle, where the broad Hvítá River drops in two stages before turning into a narrow canyon.
I walked from Hótel Geysir into the geothermal area, waited through a small false start for Strokkur's full eruption, then spent the morning exploring steaming pools and winter paths as snow began to fall.
My first night in Iceland was at Hótel Geysir, with a spotless room, geothermal steam visible beyond the balcony, the Geysir area within walking distance, and a breakfast that made the start of the road trip much easier.
I walked across the exposed winter landscape of Þingvellir toward Öxarárfoss as clear skies gradually gave way to snow. At the end of the long walk, I found the first waterfall of my Iceland trip.