The Golden Snorkel

The National Park of Þingvellir is the ideal starting point for this tour, offering both historical significance and breathtaking geological wonders.

At Þingvellir, you will stand on the very site where the world's first parliament was established in the year 930, a place of immense cultural heritage.

Moreover, this is the only place on Earth where you can witness the North Atlantic ridge—the boundary between the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates—right beneath your feet. Standing on the viewing platform, you are quite literally at the very edge of the American continent.

In Iceland, within the National Park of Þingvellir, you can swim in some of the clearest waters on Earth, with an astonishing underwater visibility of about 100 meters.

The fissure separating the North American tectonic plate from the Hreppa plate (a tiny tectonic plate trapped between two massive continental ones) runs through Þingvellir. About a hundred kilometers away, water from the Langjökull glacier travels underground through a corridor of lava rock before emerging in the Silfra fissure. Since lava rock is one of nature’s best filters, the water remains crystal clear, making this experience truly breathtaking.

Geysir is the namesake of all geysers worldwide. This is where the word 'Geyser' originates from. The name Geysir comes from the Icelandic term 'Að geysa,' meaning 'to gush.'

However, Geysir is now dormant, with its last eruption occurring in the year 2000. Its little brother, Strokkur, remains highly active, shooting a spectacular column of water into the air every 5 to 10 minutes on average.

The famous tourist route known as the 'Golden Circle' is named after this iconic waterfall. Its name, Gullfoss, translates to 'Golden Waterfall.'

There are various stories and legends explaining the name of Gullfoss, but we will leave it to your guide to share them with you! It is also worth noting that this waterfall almost vanished due to an industrial project that aimed to harness the river’s power for a hydroelectric plant.