Reykjavík Grapevine - 03.06.2016, Side 65

The “Golden Circle” is a 300-kilo-
metre loop of road in southwest-
ern Iceland, driveable in a day, that
contains several of Iceland’s most
popular sights. Lined up neatly
along the mid-Atlantic ridge
stand the Þingvellir national park,
Iceland’s geysers (known simply
as “Geysír,” in Icelandic), and the
Gullfoss waterfall. Tour buses
shuttle people in and out of their
various carparks and visitors cen-
tres, day in and day out.
If you mention this route to
Icelanders or seasoned travel vets,
you should be prepared for some
cynicism to rain down upon you.
The Golden Circle’s massive popu-
larity, and proximity to Reykjavík,
mean there are masses of tour-
ists traipsing around the loop all
year round. It’s safe to say that the
Golden Circle has become some-
thing of a tourist trope in the
minds of locals.
Nevertheless, there’s a reason
so many people go. Þingvellir is
the spot where the first Icelan-
dic parliament was established
in 930, and the stunning power
of Gullfoss and Geysír are must-
sees for first-time visitors. With
this in mind, Kexland—the tour-
operating division of the empire
that started with Kex Hostel—is
launching an alternative rendition
of the Golden Circle tour this year,
starting on June 1st. They want
to take the experience back to the
days—really, only ten or so years
ago—when a group of friends
would pile into a car together and
visit these places without thinking
of them just as boxes to be checked
on a “best of Iceland” list.
Old school
This prototype tour started at
10am, when we were picked up
at the hostel by a distinctly old-
school bus. The retro feel, it turns
out, is central to the road trip
theme running through the tour.
This also means better snacks,
more stops, and smaller, less
packed buses. In fact, the tour’s
maximum capacity is around
23, while most other coach tours
cram in 50-plus.
Kexland have clearly consid-
ered the details, and made many
choices that deviate from basic
tour expectations. Instead of the
standard impersonal recorded
guide soundtrack, we watched
the scenery to a carefully curated
playlist of classic and contempo-
rary Icelandic music for the dura-
tion of the drive.
SHARE & LINKS: gpv.is/kextrip
Reimagining The Golden
Circle with Kexland
Rose-Coloured
Glasses
Words KELLEY REES Photos TIMOTHY LAMBREQUE
66 The Reykjavík GrapevineIssue 7 — 2016TRAVEL
laxnes.is
...have
some!