Within The Golden Circle
Gallerí Guesthouse is surrounded by famous attractions
T
he small but lively town of Laugarvatn lies within the Golden Circle, created by Thingvellir, Geysir, and Gulfoss. The centrally located Gallerí Bed & Breakfast was begun by owners Thuríður and Joel after their children had f lown the nest; the three extra bedrooms now filled with tourists wanting more than the normal day trip to Iceland’s most famous attractions. From an enclosed patio, that will soon fe at u re a f i replac e, t wo of Ic ela nd ’s
active volcanoes, Eyja f ja llajökull and Hekla are clearly visible. Gallerí’s knack for handicrafts is apparent in light fixtures made by Thuríður and small decorations scattered throughout the rooms. The Gallerí gift shop is where Thuríður and Joel’s artistry shines, allowing travellers to take home a small piece of Icelandic design. Joel a nd Thuriður extend a n invitation to their guests to come along and f ind out the secret to their tast y
bread, baked in a natural hotspring close to Geysir. The bread is served along with slices of salmon each day at Gallerí’s café. Gallerí Guesthouse is open year round. –
Gallerí Laugarvatn
KB
Háholti 1 • 840 Laugarvatni
+354 486 1016 galleri@simnet.is www.gallerilaugarvatn.is
Down Into the Depths Caving with Laugarvatn Adventure
T
he mouth of Gjábakkahellir cave leads down to rocky paths hollowed out by lava f lows that pushed through earth, forming the cave’s smooth and polished walls near Laugarvatn, the town within the Golden Circle. All Laugarvatn Adventure guides have had over a decade of experience in caving and can navigate through almost any of these caves. Tours vary in difficulty from Gjábakkahellir’s relatively gentle descent,
to Tintron’s vertical drop accessible only by abseiling down a rope. Lauagarvatn ‘Litli Björn’ cave. Tours are offered daily Adventure’s three cave tours let visitors from May through August with a two safely delve into the depths with the help person minimum necessary for departure. of guides who are professional cavers and Laugarvatn Adventure – KB are active members of the Icelandic Search and Rescue Team. Children over five can Háholti 2c • 840 Laugarvatni go on some of the easier tours, while adults +354 862 5614 smari@caving.is tackle the challenge of rock climbing on www.caving.is Thing vellir’s cragg y cliffs or crawling through a small hole at the opening of
367