Golden Circle in Six and a Half Hours: Althingi, Strokkur, Gullfoss

Six and a half hours out of Reykjavík, on a modern bus, with a guide. At the Geysir geothermal area, Strokkur is the most active geyser in Iceland, and it erupts with boiling water every few minutes. It is the reason the field is worth the stop, since the Geysir that named the phenomenon has stopped. Gullfoss drops into a rugged canyon, throwing up enough mist that rainbows come with it on the right day. Þingvellir is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and it is where the Eurasian and North American plates meet. It is also where the Alþingi, the Icelandic parliament, was established in 930 AD, which makes this ground the birthplace of the institution rather than a monument to it. The departure point is the BSÍ Bus Terminal, a short walk from the centre of Reykjavík and the hub for airport transfers and day tours. Be there 15 minutes before departure.