Little Escape from the Earth - Iceland Road Trip Day 1

‘There’s no planet B!’ We often hear people saying that to ask for changes in our lifestyles and save our beautiful planet Earth. But wait...there is! I guess I have found a planet B when I was finally in Iceland which is surely a goal for everyone. No matter how many places and trips you have been, never could you find a place like Iceland which gives you a surreal feeling of staying outside the Earth. The Golden Circle is the most popular and well-known route so maybe this is where I should kick off my Iceland road trip series. For those who may not be able to make a road trip, don't worry! This route which is relatively closer to Reykjavik is always available in a variety of local day tour options. Here we go!

Þingvellir National Park

Designated as one of the UNESCO World Heritage Sites, the national park is famous for its location which lies on the plate boundaries separating the North American and Eurasian plates with endless tectonic movements going on. Walking along towards the inner part, you will see thousands of rocks and layered walls with rough surfaces. They are all in unique shapes, textures and grains after decades of formation and erosion. Detailedly observing the cracks, faults and valleys gave us a sense of mystery towards the nature and I often wonder how the same landform would look like the next time I see it after another wave of erosion. Seeing the photo down there, can you imagine it was gloomy with a little drizzle the minute before? Yes, the weather in Iceland is actually ever-changing in which you can never anticipate. It may be rainy when you set off and surprise you with a big bright sun when you get off the car. ‘The best view comes after the rain’ is really true in this breathtaking country!

Geysir

You can feel the heat underground once you step into the smoky geothermal Geyser area. Among all of the little geysers and hotsprings all over the area, Strokkur Geyser is the most impressive one. You don't have to search it on google map for its location as Strokkur is always the one crowded with tourists. Everyone is holding up their camera trying to capture the moment when the massive water column comes underground all the way to reach 40m tall. The fountain-like water is erupted every 5 to 10 minutes when the water temperature under the crust is too high with immense pressure. As I was a geography student in high school, it is even more interesting and surprising for me to see all the textbook images with my own eyes. Don’t forget to take a video clip to record this phenomenon! But be extra careful not to stand too close to the geysers or try to touch the water on the ground. They are boiling hot with up to 100 degree celsius!

Tips: If you are on your road trip and planning for the itinerary, you may follow the sequence of my introduction of the spots here. As there are a few restaurant and cafe options in the Geyser area, it is a good idea to grab some food here with the calming iceberg view. Having a hot daily soup served under the extreme weather is a must as well!

Gullfoss Waterfall

You can tell how aggressive and speedy the water flow of Gullfoss is by seeing the crystal blue freshwater gradually turning into white as it bounces off the rocks quickly. There is a path on its side to walk on and have a closer look from the upper course where the water is flowing from. Be prepared to feel the slight splash of water and the blustery weather. The landscape of the two-staged waterfall is simply majestic. Words cannot describe how touched and grateful I was when the fall came right into my eyes with the utterly flawless rainbow. This was the moment I could be so connected to the rawness, power and strength of the nature on this planet. Days could not be better when you see the wonders of the world on your own that feels like you receive the greatest gift from god. I found it easier to see the rainbow or even double rainbows in Gullfoss than in Skogafoss which is famous for its stunning rainbow arch beneath the waterfall so do not miss it out!

Kerio Crater Lake

This is an extra spot that we put in our day 1 Golden Circle route. This crater lake is huge and wide. If you would like to take a photo of the whole crater lake like the one I took, remember to walk to the side! There are stairs on the other side so feel free to get down if you want a closer look of the lake. We originally planned to walk around the lake and get down as well to see it from all angles but we soon gave up this idea as the weather turned way too windy. Local day tours normally include only the first three spots mentioned above. But if you are lucky enough to take a road trip to Iceland later on, make sure you put Kerio crater lake together with the Golden Circle on the same day for the complete route! It is definitely worth a visit to feel how tiny we are while seeing this boundless scene!

Of course I am just kidding at the beginning. Indeed, we do have no planet B. If we still wanna appreciate the beauty of this wonderland all over again; if we still have the wish to leave all these natural assets to our future generations, act now. Every little action matters. There is a climate clock in Manhattan showing that only 7 years are remaining before global warming causes irreversible consequences to our Earth, our home. Be committed and change our habits bit by bit before it is too late. Together we can make our world a better place!