Pictures of the National Park of Thingvellir
Pictures from the 19th of November 2023, at sunrise
Pictures taken before November 2023
Our first stop on the Golden Circle Tour
A national park with both a natural and historical aspect
A brief history of Thingvellir (Þingvellir)
In Thingvellir was founded by the Vikings the very first parliament of Europe. This was in 930. They would convene there once a year to discuss the laws of Iceland and conduct trials.
Among the most important events that took place there, we can mention the decision to adopt Christianity in the year 1000, under pressure from the kingdom of Norway. If the plan was to initially simply pretend to stop worshipping their pagan gods, with time, and religious pressure, Christianity quickly became the main religion in Iceland.
The incredible nature of the national park of Thingvellir
Iceland is divided by the North-Atlantic ridge, which represents the separation of the two following continental plates: The North American tectonic plate and the Eurasian tectonic plate.
This ridge mainly runs under the surface of the ocean, except in Iceland, which is sitting right on it. As the two tectonic plates are drifting apart, Iceland gets two centimeters bigger and bigger every year.
The only place in the world where the North Atlantic Ridge can be seen above water is in the National Park of Thingvellir. You will see there a big dark wall, which is the real edge of the American continent.
Discover our Golden Circle Tours going to the National Park of Thingvellir
We offer different Golden Circle Tours, they all stop in Þingvellir
Golden Circle Essentials
This tour is designed to show you the 3 main sites of The Golden Circle, in half a day. You will begin with the national park of Thingvellir, then visit the geyser of Strokkur and the waterfall of Gullfoss.
Golden Circle and farm visits
This tour is similar to the Golden Circle Essentials Tour, but will also include a visit to the hot spring of Laugarvatn. Besides sightseeing, we will visit two farms. The farm of EfstiDalur, where we will enjoy homemade ice cream, the best in Iceland in our opinion, and the tomato farm of Friðheimar.
In Friðheimar, we manage to grow tomatoes in Iceland, all year long. After learning about how we accomplish this miracle, we will enjoy a delicious lunch inside of the greenhouse.
Golden Circle and Northern Lights
On this tour, with a name that speaks for itself, we will enjoy the exact same program as in The Golden Circle and Farm Visits tour, to which we will add a Northern Lights Hunt at the end.
Maybe the best tour for any first-timer in Iceland.