Buggy Golden Circle

Driving a Buggy Car Across Continents and Exploring Iceland’s Top Tourist Attractions: Þingvellir, Gullfoss, and Geysir

Starting at our main base in Reykjavík at Lambhagavegur 13, we will follow gravel tracks for most of the day, passing Hafravatn and Skammidalur, crossing into Mosfellsdalur, and taking a short break around Hraðastaðir. From there, we will gradually begin a slow ascent along the salmon river Leirvogsá, passing locations such as Sámsstaðir, Stardalur, and Sauðafellsflói on our way up to Mosfellsheiði. Along the route, we’ll drive through Stíflisdalur, Selkot, and Brúsastaðir before making a stop at Þingvellir. This part of the journey includes driving along a salmon river, past basalt column formations (stuðlaberg), and traveling from the North American tectonic plate to the Eurasian plate.

Þingvellir

Þingvellir is a truly unique location, rich in both natural beauty and historical significance for the Icelandic nation. It is situated beside Þingvallavatn, Iceland’s largest lake. One of the world’s oldest parliaments, the Alþingi, was established here in the year 930, around 100 years after Iceland's settlement. For over two weeks each year, the assembly convened to establish laws—considered a covenant between free men—and settle disputes. Þingvellir National Park, which spans 24,000 hectares (with 9,270 hectares designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site), preserves this rich history. The striking scenery and deep historical connections make Þingvellir an unparalleled destination.

From Þingvellir, we will gradually leave the farmland behind and head into rougher terrain just north of Þingvellir. At Meyjarsæti, the highlands open up before us as we follow the Eyfirðingaleið trail—a sandy, flowing route leading to Hlöðufell. We will be surrounded by the glaciers Vestari Hagafellsjökull and Eystri Hagafellsjökull to the north. The landscape changes dramatically here, and you can truly feel the raw power and ruggedness of the Icelandic highlands. Passing through Mosaskarð, we will see two lakes to our left, Hagavatn and Sandvatn. Soon, we will approach Jarlhettur, a well-known landmark made famous by the film Oblivion. After that, we will reach the Hvítá river and its stunning waterfall, Gullfoss.

Gullfoss

Gullfoss, or the "Golden Waterfall," is one of Iceland’s most famous waterfalls, showcasing the sheer power and beauty of nature. The waterfall is fed by the Hvítá River, which originates from Langjökull, Iceland’s second-largest glacier. The water plunges into a dramatic canyon with walls reaching up to 70 meters (230 feet) in height. On sunny days, a shimmering rainbow often appears over the falls.

Hvítá cascades down a wide, curved three-step "staircase" before plunging in two stages—first a drop of 11 meters (36 feet) and then another 21 meters (69 feet)—into a 32-meter (105-foot) deep crevice. This crevice, which is about 20 meters (66 feet) wide and 2.5 kilometers (1.6 miles) long, runs perpendicular to the river’s flow. The average water flow is 141 cubic meters (5,000 cubic feet) per second in summer and 80 cubic meters (2,800 cubic feet) per second in winter. The highest flood recorded at Gullfoss saw a staggering 2,000 cubic meters (71,000 cubic feet) per second rushing over the falls. Standing before Gullfoss is a humbling experience, reminding us of nature’s immense power.

From Gullfoss, we will continue on a relatively short but scenic trail through a more forested area, heading south into Haukadalur.

Geysir

The name "Geysir" comes from the Icelandic verb geysa, meaning "to gush." The Great Geysir lies in the Haukadalur valley on the slopes of the Laugarfjall lava dome, alongside Strokkur, a more frequently erupting geyser located about 50 meters (160 feet) to the south.

Geysir can hurl boiling water up to 60 meters (200 feet) into the air, though it erupts infrequently. Strokkur, on the other hand, erupts much more frequently—every few minutes, reaching heights of up to 35 meters (115 feet). Strokkur was first documented in 1789 and, unlike Geysir, gives little warning before erupting. Its underground plumbing has been mapped in detail, revealing a pipe-like conduit that narrows at 8 meters (26 feet), expands into a cavity at 11 meters (36 feet), and then narrows again at around 13 meters (43 feet), where temperatures approach boiling.

Strokkur’s eruptions have been influenced by seismic activity, though not as dramatically as Geysir’s. Because of Strokkur’s frequent activity, many online photos and videos mistakenly label it as Geysir. In addition to these famous geysers, the area contains around thirty smaller hot springs and geysers, including Litli Geysir ("Little Geysir").

From Geysir, we will ascend into the lower highlands, traveling along Lyngdalsheiði. Our route will take us westward along a similar path to Eyfirðingaleið, except this time we will head south towards the old abandoned farm of Gjábakki. Located near Þingvellir, Gjábakki marks the point where we rejoin our original trail, heading westward back to our starting point.

Our Buggies

Our 4 seaters, 4×4 buggies are fully automatic, fully inspected and road legal. They are also bursting with excellent safety and design features, such as the roll cage, safety belts, and double A-arm front suspension. All of which makes for a buggy ride that’s as safe as it is comfortable

Shared ride is when two people share one buggy vehicle. Each buggy can take 1-2 up to 4 people at a time. if you book "shared rides" you can be 2, 3 or 4 people in one buggy.

Single ride is with only the driver in one buggy vehicle.