Reykjavík Grapevine - 10.05.2019, Blaðsíða 42

What are the components of a per-
fect tour? Hidden Iceland, a company
founded by three friends, may have
perfected the formula—they show
their customers the Iceland they’d
show a visiting family member. With
a maximum of 12 people per tour,
the company schedules visits to the
tourist-heavy spots like the Skógafoss
waterfall and the geothermal area of
Geysir at times when they’re least
likely to be busy.
On a Saturday morning, I received
a text message from our guide Ryan,
announcing his estimated arrival
time. I don’t know about you, but for
me this kind of extra attention to de-
tail is a bonus.
Hot soup and
steamy photos
Our trip for the day is the Golden Cir-
cle Platinum Tour, which covers sev-
eral major spots in South Iceland over
the course of around ten hours. The
tour starts with a visit to the Secret
Lagoon, a natural hot pool located in
the village of Flúðir. We get there ear-
ly, and for a good ten minutes, we’re
the only people in the water—every-
body gets a good chance to relax in
peace, and take plenty of those cov-
eted steamy geothermal photos with-
out any crowds in the background.
We emerge from the pool feel-
ing refreshed and ready for what
lies ahead. Ryan drives us to the
Friðheimar greenhouse, famous for
its geothermally grown tomatoes.
We’re treated to a tour of the facili-
ties, learning how this Icelandic busi-
ness manages to produce over a tonne
of tasty tomatoes each day, all year
round, using geothermal energy. We
taste the deliciously fresh tomato
soup, with an impressive house-
baked bread buffet. My advice? Skip
the ravioli and pasta—it’s the soup
that you are really here for.
Enveloped in mist
After saying hi to some Icelandic
horses at the Friðheimar farm, we’re
off to Gullfoss, one of Iceland’s most
powerful waterfalls. This formidable
force of nature crashes down thun-
derously into the gorge below, filling
us with energy. Iceland’s signature
persistent wind creates a misty fog
that resembles a scene from the Sa-
gas, which only adds to this once in a
lifetime experience.
The next stop is the geothermal
area of Geysir in the Haukadalur Val-
ley. There are plenty of hot springs
and geysers in this colourful region,
such as Strokkur, Smiður and Litli-
Strokkur. Strokkur is the largest of
the consistently active geysers, erupt-
ing every five to ten minutes, spout-
ing boiling water as high as 40 metres
into the air. If you’re not afraid to get
a little wet, standing downwind of
the geysir and feeling the warm, pun-
gent mist enveloping you is a truly
unforgettable experience. (This is not
recommended on a windy day. A little
spray is nice, but a wave of steaming
water in your face is not.)
Powerful nature
After getting thoroughly soaked, we
headed to the Þingvellir National
Park. Located on the rift valley that
separates the North American and
Eurasian tectonic plates, Þingvellir is
the site of the first known parliament
in the world. If you want to picture
how early, pre-Danish rule Iceland
governed itself, this is the place to
visit.
But Þingvellir National Park is also
a perfect place to reflect. From the
top of the path, there’s a wide view
spanning hundreds and hundreds
of acres of magnificent and mostly
untamed land. This is where it hits
me how lucky I am to be able to visit
all these amazing and very different
places in one day. Several people on
the tour hail from metropolitan areas
like Beijing and London, and to them
particularly, taking a minute to see
all that Iceland’s nature has to offer
was a rare and priceless experience.
The tour that started bright and
early at 8:30am concluded at just after
six in the evening—just in time for
dinner. Before departing, everyone on
the bus exchanged their contacts and
shared the photos from the day. And
who knows—maybe one day our paths
will cross again.
Distance from
Reykjavík:
125 km

How to get there:
Book a hotel pickup,
sit back and relax
Tour provided by:
hiddeniceland.is
42The Reykjavík Grapevine
Issue 07— 2019
One Ring
To Rule
Them All
Hidden Iceland’s pro-level Golden Circle tour
Words & Photos: Aliya Uteuova
Travel
“Standing
downwind
of the
geysir and
feeling
the warm,
pungent
mist en-
veloping
you is a
truly un-
forgetta-
ble expe-
rience.”
The best tomato soup literally anywhere at Friðheimar The rolling fields of Þingvellir