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Explore Iceland’s most popular travel route in a cozy minibus group from Reykjavík and relax in the 2026 renovated Laugarvatn Fontana geothermal spa.
Visit lake-filled Kerið volcanic crater, two-tiered Gullfoss waterfall, the Great Geysir, active Strokkur, and historic Þingvellir National Park with a certified local guide. Walk between two tectonic plates, see a geyser erupt every few minutes, and unwind in geothermal pools and steam baths by Lake Laugarvatn.
Availability
All Year
Duration
9 hours
Departs From
Reykjavik
Level
Easy
Suitable for most people in fair condition.
From
We’ll pick you up around 9:00 a.m. from your accommodation or a designated meeting point in Reykjavík in a comfortable minibus with free WiFi. Enjoy scenic views of open fields, lava plains, and distant mountains as we drive to Kerið crater, where you’ll explore the volcanic aftermath up close.
Then, we’ll continue to Gullfoss waterfall, followed by a visit to the Haukadalur geothermal valley to see the Great Geysir and erupting Strokkur. You’ll relax at Laugarvatn Fontana spa for 1.5 hours before heading to Þingvellir National Park.
After the final stop, we’ll head back to Reykjavík, arriving at around 5:00 p.m.
The first stop is Kerið, a volcanic crater formed by a major eruption around 6,500 years ago. In summer, you’ll see its vivid red slopes surrounding a serene blue lake at the bottom. From above, the crater resembles an eye—earning it the nickname "Eye of the World." In winter, the lake often freezes, turning aquamarine against snow-covered crater walls. You’ll walk along the rim and take the stairs down to the lake itself.
Next up is Gullfoss, one of Iceland’s most powerful waterfalls. Here, glacial water from the Hvítá river crashes 32 m (105 ft) in two stages into a canyon below. In summer, the falls create mist and rainbows, and in winter, the partially frozen cascade looks like a sculpture. The lower and upper viewing platforms bring you close to the action, letting you see the waterfall's scale from different angles.
You’ll find restrooms, a café, and a gift shop at the visitor center near the upper parking lot.
In the heart of the Haukadalur geothermal valley, you’ll see the ground come alive. As we walk through the area, you’ll pass bubbling springs, mud pools, steam vents, and other signs of the earth’s geothermal activity. You’ll meet the Great Geysir, one of the oldest geysers in the world, and its active brother, Strokkur. Every 4–10 minutes, it erupts with a sudden burst of energy, shooting a column of hot water up to 131 ft (40 m) into the air.
This stop includes a short break, during which you can enjoy your packed lunch.
For a well-earned break between sightseeing stops, you’ll visit a newly renovated geothermal spa powered by natural hot springs. Enjoy steam rooms and soak in outdoor hot and cold mineral-rich pools with panoramic views over Lake Laugarvatn. Warm up in a Finnish-style sauna with the option of a refreshing dip in the lake.
The facility has an on-site restaurant serving light meals. You’ll spend 1.5 hours enjoying the spa experience.
Refreshed and energized, you’ll continue to Þingvellir National Park, protected as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This is where Iceland’s first national parliament, Alþingi, was established in 930 AD.
The park sits on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, where the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates slowly move apart. You’ll walk through the rugged Almannagjá Gorge, which widens by about 2 cm (0.78 in) each year.
After this memorable final stop, you’ll return to Reykjavík and be dropped off at your original pick-up point at around 5 p.m.
Pick-up starts at 09:00 a.m. from your accommodation or a nearby authorized meeting point in Reykjavik. Everyone's pick-up can take up to 30 minutes. Your patience is much appreciated.
Available pick-up points: Arctic Adventures’ pick-up list.
This is a great question. We ask all participants to be ready from the start of the pickup time indicated. This is because you may well be the first pick up of the day. Please be at your assigned location at the start time that you chose when booking the tour.
Here you should wait for your guide.
Have your email and phone number listed with us so we can contact you if we run into any trouble finding you.
View our pick-up locations in Reykjavík.
Before and during activities on the multi-day tours consumption of alcohol is prohibited. If we suspect that a participant is intoxicated, we will prohibit them from joining the activity.
After the activities of the day are finished, you are welcome to have a drink and relax.
Yes, we do. Langjökull Ice Cave is a magical experience, the tour has no minimum age and is a wonderful option for the whole family. Whale Watching with our partner company Elding has been a favourite with families traveling with young children, these guys have a great success rate in seeing whales (upwards of 98% in the summertime).
Another option would be the Landmannalaugar Safari on this tour you get to explore parts of the Icelandic highlands and bathe in natural hot springs. Most of our super jeep tours are also suitable for children over the age of 6 years old. If you would like a nice and relaxing experience we would also recommend the Golden Circle & Secret Lagoon tour.
Your safety is our number one priority! Keeping this in mind, Arctic Adventures reserves the right to adjust the itinerary and/or take different routes depending on conditions. Please read more information in our cancellation policy.
Yes, there is a specially trained and certified guide on each of our tours. The only exception to this is for our self-drive tours.
All of our tours are guided in English.
No, our guides are not able to provide information on these matters, but our team will be happy to assist you. We kindly ask that you reach out to our customer care team regarding any questions or concerns.
If you're visiting during winter, typically from mid-October to mid-April, we highly recommend using lightweight crampons (also called ice spikes) for added safety on icy paths while sightseeing. You can purchase them during the booking process to ensure a more secure and comfortable experience.
Find more details about crampons and ice spikes in this guide.
The standard in Iceland is 230V and 50Hz and we use F-type power sockets and plugs, so you might have to bring an adaptor if you are visiting from UK, USA, Canada or other countries using a different voltage, Hz or plugs.
Our tours are split into four different categories that help participants to understand what to expect from the tour. The categories are Easy, Moderate, Challenging and Demanding. Each tour is rated making it easier to find tours that suit you.
For further information about the difficulty ratings and descriptions.
We’ve partnered with the Kolviður Fund in a new carbon offsetting program, which passengers can select to participate in at the time of booking.
The Kolviður Fund is the oldest, most respected carbon offsetting program in Iceland. With your support, one tree will be planted in special Kolviður forests in Iceland to carbon offset your tour with us.
Kolviður forests are strategically planted to absorb the maximum amount of CO2 and the forests are protected for a minimum of 60 years. During their lifetime the trees absorb carbon and store it in their root system, trunk, and branches. Trees also prevent soil erosion and maintain storage of carbon in the soil.
Yes, we offer the tour Golden Circle small group tour which is basically the Golden Circle with some extra stops. This tour is focusing on sightseeing and the history of Iceland. Our stops are Gullfoss waterfall, Þingvellir national park (home to one of the first parliaments of the world), Geysir hot spring area and the historic Skálholt cathedral. View Golden Circle Tours.
We offer numerous options to spice up your Golden Circle tour and make the most of your day. Here is a list of some great tours.
All year-around options:
Summer season:
Winter season:
The tour is based around the three most popular attractions in Iceland Thingvellir National Park, Gullfoss Waterfall and The Great Geysir. We offer several Golden Circle trips that combine sightseeing with some of our adventure tours.
