Today, I was set to explore the Golden Triangle, visiting Þingvellir National Park, the Gullfoss waterfall, and the geothermal area in Haukadalur. I woke up on time and began my day. After having breakfast, brushing my teeth, and styling my hair, I packed my bag with food and a drink. Despite the gloomy weather, I had my raincoat, so I was prepared for whatever the day would bring.




Visit to a Greenhouse
I expected the bus ride to take about an hour, so once I found my seat, I settled in and started listening to music. I drifted into a sort of “slumber mode,” hoping to catch some rest. My focus was mainly on the attractions ahead, as the Icelandic landscape around me was rocky and covered in moss. The rain and overcast skies added a rather dreary feel to everything.
The bus made an unexpected stop earlier than planned. I tuned in to our guide, who informed us that we’d be here for 40 minutes. It turned out to be one of those typical tourist stops, but the greenhouse was interesting. It produced organic tomatoes and cucumbers for Iceland, all thanks to the warmth from a local thermal hot spring. The hot water was piped in to heat the greenhouse, which was quite a clever use of natural resources.




A female employee shared information about the greenhouse with us, explaining that they harvested tomatoes every day. At the end of her talk, she mentioned we could buy some tomatoes, tomato soup, or even a Bloody Mary. “Ah, now the sales pitch begins,” I thought to myself. I considered buying some salsa as a souvenir but ultimately decided against it because it was too expensive. I couldn’t help but think how much cheaper souvenirs were in Asia. I still remember some of the paintings from Bukittinggi as beautiful souvenirs.
Geysir
The bus departed, and within 30 minutes, we reached our next stop of the Golden Triangle Tour: Geysir. It probably won’t surprise you to learn that the word “geyser” comes from this Icelandic geyser. Pretty cool, right?
The weather was terrible, luckily I had my raincoat. The experience was amazing, I just wished my pictures would turn out all right. I had to wipe the camera lens all the time, very annoying. After spending 15 minutes outside I went back to the restaurant for some shelter. I found a seat with powersocket to charge my phone. In the meanwhile I ate my lunch and relaxed with my book. We were stopping here for an hour.








A Dampened Mood
My mood was sour, as the weather was ruining the tour for me. I promised myself I’d return one day when the weather was better. I wished I could have stayed for a full hour, enjoying the geyser and taking amazing pictures. I felt the same way about the next stop.
After another 40 minutes on the bus, we arrived at this special highlight of the Golden Triangle Tour. I was excited because it was the one that interested me the most. I had thought Niagara Falls would be the last waterfall, but it turned out to be Gullfoss.








The Gullfoss Waterfall
Upon arriving at the waterfall, I had hoped the weather would improve, but no such luck. It was lightly raining, making it tough to capture clear photos as the droplets fogged up my lens.
After disembarking the bus, I followed the guide to the first outlook, where I snapped my first four photos (top gallery above). Then, I ventured off on my own, heading down to another viewpoint nearby. Despite the weather, the place was packed with tourists—insane!
A couple of friendly girls offered to take a picture of me in front of the waterfall. I then walked back and captured a few more shots of the dramatic abyss—simply incredible. After about 20 minutes, I headed back to the bus, my trousers completely soaked. I was the second person to return, with another man following the same plan.
Þingvellir National Park
The final stop of the Golden Triangle Tour was Þingvellir National Park (Thingvellir), which was particularly special for me. This rift valley marks the crest of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, making it a unique and fascinating location. I could have spent so much longer here if the weather had been kinder. After 15 minutes of snapping photos outside, I headed to the visitor center and browsed the souvenirs—but they were far too expensive.




Back to the Hostel
The Golden Triangle tour was an awesome experience, and I can’t wait to do it again when I return to Iceland someday. The bus ride back to Reykjavik took about 1.5 hours, and I went into slumber mode, even managing to catch a short nap. By 6:30 pm, I was back at Hlemmur Square. I grabbed some food from the supermarket and then relaxed in the lounge.
I was unsure about booking another tour for tomorrow, priced at 150 euros. It sounded special, but in the end, I decided against it. The weather would likely ruin my mood again. I chose to postpone the tour and save it for my next trip to Iceland. Splinter’s Paradise Part II? Who knows.
In the evening, I relaxed, typed up some articles, and watched a few episodes of Game of Thrones. Around 3 am, I finally went to bed.