This is around an hours drive from Thingvellir, and is home to a range of geothermal wonders. Alternatively, if you dont want to be out too late, you could do the hot spring or the Blue Lagoon on day 1, then do the Golden Circle in the morning of day 2, followed by spending the remainder of your time sight seeing in Reyjkavik. I have been here a few times but brought family this time (wife and active 30 yr old special needs daughter). The algae mask felt nicer than the silica mask and the drink I chose (a blueberry smoothie) was yummy. See more on insurance in Iceland, plus general advice for driving in the country, in our tips for driving in Iceland post. The route is popular, either as a day trip from the city, or as a precursor to exploring Icelands south coast. T he first thing I noticed upon entering the Laugarvatn Fontana Geothermal Baths gates was the lack of people - well second to the jaw-dropping backdrop surrounding this spa. Bobby was originally from Chicago in the USA, but lived the last years of his live in Iceland, largely as a way to avoid deportation to the USA following his violation of US sanctions in Yugoslavia. I wish I'd known at the time that visiting Laugarvatn Fontana geothermal baths at night to see the Northern Lights is an option. Gullfoss, which means golden falls, is where the name of the Golden Circle comes from. We live outside as much as possible. As I try to only ever travel with hand luggage I never have space for a towel, so having that alone was a great perk (you need a towel). I really enjoyed our fleeting moment of relative solitude in the Lagoon before the crowds descended for the day. Total sightseeing time on the Golden Circle: 3 8 hours, depending on sights and activities. Lots of different pools plus an option to dip on the lake or take a cold bucket. Other than them both being spas in Iceland, they are very different places. This eruption is not quite as big as Geysir, generally averaging around 50ft in height, but it is still very impressive. Laugarvatn Fontana Geothermal Baths Iceland Tours - Lagoons I hope you and your family have a great trip . The falls are around a five minute detour off the Golden Circle route, and if you have the time are worth visiting for some photos. Your programme will work for us and to do it at a leisurely pace will be ideal for the two parents Spend a couple of hours sightseeing in Reykjavik on The crater is one of the best examples of its type in Iceland. The waterfall is just off Route 48, and theres a small parking lot off the road. From Reykjadalur to Reykjavik its about a 45 minute drive. Photo from Golden Circle Day Tour with Fontana Spa. We liked Fontana better than Blue Lagoon, simply for the view, and the ability to move back and forth between separate bathing temperatures. I was more than happy with the Fontana and don't feel as if i've missed out by not going to the Blue Lagoon. Another option is to add on a visit to the Blue Lagoon or Sky Lagoon at the end of your trip. If youre still keen on seeing some waterfalls, then a stop at the quieter Faxi waterfall, 20 minutes drive from Gullfoss, is worth it. Its directly on the lake which you can swim in to cool off. It is located in South Iceland, around 93 kilometres (56 miles) from Reykjavk. Your email address will not be published. We are all connected. Laugarvatn Fontana Geothermal Baths: Blue Lagoon or Fontana? Its a popular place for salmon fishing, so expect to see fishermen during the fishing season. ta.queueForLoad : function(f, g){document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', f);})(function(){ta.trackEventOnPage('postLinkInline', 'impression', 'postLinks-86410848', '');}, 'log_autolink_impression');Blue Lagoon? Please contact us at fontana@fontana.is or speak to a member of staff upon arrival. It was odd to walk across a black warm beach before plunging into a freezing lake. So why is it so popular? It's fun and unusual but not necessarily relaxing as there is too much going on, people drinking, chatting and a constsnt stream of people. When you visit Iceland, the chances are high that you will want to take a soak in some sort of geothermal spring. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Weve stayed at a few properties on the Golden Circle itself, as well as in Reykjavik, and wanted to share some options to help you plan. Copyright 2015 - 2023 | All rights reserved. At the Fontana spa at Laugarvatn you can relax in the excellent geothermal swimming pool and the three steam rooms which sit directly over bubbling hot pots and have near 100 percent humidity. We went to both the Secret Lagoon and Myvatn Baths and don't regret skipping the (ta && ta.queueForLoad ? Keen to see the Golden Circle, our first 2.5 days will be staying to the south west of the circle at the Fire and Ice Hotel. The Golden Circle gets its name from Gullfoss, one of the major waterfalls on the route. Boats and gear for watersport can be rented at Laugarvatn in summer when the weather is clear. Having already visited the Blue Lagoon I was preparing myself for long lines and rubbing elbows with scantily clad German men. A beautiful little Spa and Pool. A bonus? See further information here below: We recommend that our guests book tickets in advance, but tickets can also be purchased at Fontana's reception for walk-in guests subject to availability. Edit: Better yet, once the business of heating homes is taken care of there is still plenty of hot water left over to play! From Faxi, continue on Route 35 for around half an hour until you come to Kerid Crater. Laugarvatn has a boarding school that functions as a popular hotel, Hotel Edda, in the summer. Really enjoyed a visit here. Another reason to visit Laugarvatn Fontana, even if you arent planning on using their spa facilities, is for their famous lava bread. Christina Tkacik Published 3/16/2023 5:30 a.m. EDT When you travel to Iceland, skip the Blue Lagoon. This was around fifty years after Iceland was first settled. Expect to spend around 30 minutes 45 minutes on site. more, Northern Lights & Geothermal Baths Adventure, This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. The falls are impressive due to their large volume of water, with approximately 4,900 cubic feet of water passing over the falls each second in summer. Is it all doable in the time we have? For your third day you could do the highlights around Gulfoss, including Faxi and Geysir. Secret Lagoon is tempting, and maybe I'll change my mind later, but for now I want some simple facilities like sauna and restaurant on site, and Laugarvatn is a little bit closer. The spa also features a Finnish-style sauna and three interconnected mineral baths. ta.queueForLoad : function(f, g){document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', f);})(function(){ta.trackEventOnPage('postLinkInline', 'impression', 'postLinks-86433166', '');}, 'log_autolink_impression');Blue Lagoon. The plan looks great. For individuals and small groups, please click Book Now, Price is 2.990 ISK pr. Theres also a hot tub and sauna. Yes, depending on the hot spring activity. Book your complete trip with the best companies only, Hot Springs, Geysers, Cultural attractions, Beach, Lakes, Forests, Geothermal areas, Golden Circle with Northern Lights, Fontana Spa & Traditional Cuisine. We arrive at 1:00 pm and depart the next day at 5:00 pm. Discover Cars compare a number of providers in the country so you can find the best price for you. Let me know if you have any more questions! This helps us to continue doing what we do: giving you valuable stories and travel guides on this blog. The Secret Lagoon can be visited on a self-drive trip. Secret Lagoon which claims to be Iceland's oldest swimming pool dating back to 1891. Want to keep up to date with us and our latest travel tips? It could also be used as the starting point for a longer trip in Iceland, and for some inspiration in that department, see our itineraries for 3 days in Iceland, 7 days in Iceland, and the Iceland ring road. Many thanks! The Falls have a visitor centre, shop, and cafe on site. Plan your visit accordingly and you could have the place blissfully to yourself! Thank you! However, it fell into disuse until around 2005, when the present owner started to use it himself as a private pool, and hence it got its name. The last of the three major highlights of the Golden Circle is Gullfoss waterfall. The drive there was beautiful. To help you save money, we put together a guide to visiting, If youre lucky, you might see the northern lights in Iceland if visiting in winter. Read our, Ways to Experience Laugarvatn Fontana Geothermal Baths. 75 reviews 141 helpful votes 1. (Yes I spent most of my time in Iceland in spas lol.) Phone +354 464 4411. We topped the visit off with a post-soak snack of fresh trout on some of Fontanas signature rye bread, baked underground in their geothermal bakery. They bake their own bread using geothermal heat (a process that takes around 24 hours) and the end result is delicious. Those of you with an interest in chess will likely be interested in visiting the Bobby Fischer Center, one of the few museums in the world dedicated to a world champion chess player! Lather up with copious amounts of conditioner (provided in the showers) and leave it in while bathing in the lagoon and you are sure to leave with luscious locks. If you have more time in Iceland, you can easily split it up into 2 much more manageable days and have more time to explore this route, with plenty of time for side attractions, day-hikes and thermal baths! If you are planning on hiring a car and driving the Golden Circle, weve put together this quick suggested 1 day Golden Circle itinerary that departs from Reykjavik in the morning and returns to Reykjavik in the afternoon / evening. Theres also a gift shop, cafe and restrooms here. Our first suggested stop on your Golden Circle trip is rufoss. If you look at pictures of the (ta && ta.queueForLoad ? Its about an hours walk each way from the start point, plus however long you choose to stay, so this could easily take up most of that afternoon if you choose. I hope it helps! Here are 3 places to go instead. It's only 20 minutes drive from Keflavik Airport but it's a whole 45 minute drive from Reykjavik (I'm European, to me 45 minutes is far). Its part of a larger geothermal area, so you can also see a baby geyser (Litli Geysir) as well as boiling pools. The environment of Laugarvatn is very pleasant, as the town is surrounded by hills, lava fields, fertile countryside, and a forest has been planted and is ever growing. The facility was clean, and we were able to walk in with no reservation (in 2018), but this could change. See the next section for some of the tours and companies we suggest you look into for touring the Golden Circle, which includes both group and private tours. - If you cancel with more than 48 hours notice, you get a full refund- If you cancel with 24 - 48 hours notice, we charge 50% and refund 50%- If you cancel with less then 24 hours notice, we charge 100%. Any opinions on these two? This isnt time sensitive and doesnt need a booking, so you dont need to feel rushed about getting here should you have a flight delay. Laugarvatn Fontana Geothermal Baths: The blue lagoon is better - See 2,000 traveler reviews, 963 candid photos, and great deals for Laugarvatn, Iceland, at Tripadvisor. Our suggestion for lunch is the restaurants and farm shop at Efstidalur II, which is around a 40 minute drive from Thingvellir. From Iceland Fontana And The Hot Springs Of Laugarvatn Some half-day tours also depart in the afternoon, between midday and 2pm. Some of them do require taking a small detour from the main Golden Circle route. Thanks for following along keep in touch and happy travels! The Golden Circle has three major highlights that you should visit, as well as a number of other attractions. They were not overly bothersome but definitely detracted a bit from the experience. As you can see, there is plenty to see and do at Thingvellir, so expect to spend at least an hour to 90 minutes here. Your beautiful pictures and blog should inspire more people to strive to be a Wannabe Wanderer. Thank you for input, everyone.An actual quiet and relaxing experience is what I'm after, and it sounds like Blue Lagoon is a bit more touristy than I would prefer. But if by chance you have to miss out fear not! Also three different steam rooms and a sauna. In winter, due to the reduced hours of daylight, these locations will likely be busy from 10am until around 4pm. Experience Iceland's Golden Circle sights and bathe in thermal lakeside pools on this private, 10-hour tour from Reykjavik. [Note: this blog post was updated on the 12th of May, 2023.]. But different trips offer very different experiences; here are 6 Iceland itineraries to help you have the perfect trip tailored to you. The latter is home to the geysers of Geysir and Strokkur, as well as dozens of other hot springs and fumaroles. If you want to see geothermal activity in Iceland, then the Haukadalur Geothermal field is a must-stop on the Golden Circle. Almost all Golden Circle day tours will include all three of these sites. Laugarvatn Fontana Geothermal Baths: Blue Lagoon or Fontana? Its a pretty waterfall and its not usually too crowded. Not overly crowded, very enjoyable and fun to go from the geothermal spas out to the freezing cold lake. This is a wonderfully photogenic location and is a lot of fun to visit. This would be fine but it's not a case of simply washing under the bikini, you're required to strip off completely. Most of the time, we have fresh tastings and whole pieces for sale. | Travelling Weasels. Last, but by no means least, on our list of attractions near the Golden Circle, is the Reykjadalur Hot Spring.
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