September 4, 2017
After a short flight to Reykjavik from Akureyri, we board a coach headed to Þingvellir (Thingvellir) National Park. Revered for its historical importance – this is where Iceland’s Althing or national assembly, met in open air sessions from 930CE to 1798 – Þingvellir (Thingvellir) sits on an active volcano site at the spot where the fissure between geological plates of Northern America and Europe is most evident in Iceland. It’s also a gem of nature, with canyons, caves, waterfalls, and ponds surrounded by snow-capped mountains. We learned about Iceland’s historic parliament (the world’s oldest) and walked along the gorge into the rift valley itself. After lunch at a local restaurant, we departed for Great Geysir, the most famous of Iceland’s geysers; then continue on to Gullfoss, Iceland’s most popular “golden” waterfall with its spectacular two-tiered cataract. From Gullfoss we drive down to the country’s southern coast to the beautiful agricultural area of Selfoss, one of the three main regional centers in South Iceland.
