Golden Circle express afternoon tour to the most popular attractions in Iceland, see Strokkur erupting boiling water skywards at Geysir, feel the power of Gullfoss waterfall, be amazed by the beauty of Kerid crater lake, and discover the unique geology and history at Þingvellir.
This minibus tour is an express version of the Golden Circle – giving you a great small-group experience of the three most popular attractions in Iceland.
From
In just a few hours, this tour packs in Iceland’s most stunning sights. You’ll stand at the edge of Gullfoss as glacial water thunders into the canyon, feel the tension before Strokkur erupts, and walk through the rift where continents drift apart. A stop at the Kerid crater adds a splash of color with its deep red slopes and blue-green lake. It’s a fast-track ticket to Iceland’s geological wonders, all in one afternoon!
You travel through beautiful scenery to Þingvellir National Park (Thingvellir). This is one of the most incredible geological wonders of the world and also the place where Icelandic history was made. The Icelandic Parliament, Alþingi, was founded here in 930, making it the oldest continuously existing parliament in the world.
The Eurasian and North American tectonic plates have been slowly edging apart, creating a stunning rift valley that runs right through Þingvellir. The rugged cliff of this valley forms a dramatic and atmospheric backdrop to the place where the Law Speaker, the supreme Icelandic Chieftain, would stand to proclaim the law. A flag marks the law rock (lögberg), where the greatest decisions in the history of the Icelandic people were declared. What an incredible photo opportunity!
Next on the agenda is the Hakadalur Valley, a geothermally active area. Great Geysir, the spouting hot spring whose fame gave us the English word ‘geyser´ to describe this activity, is inactive nowadays. You will see Strokkur, a nearby erupting hot spring that erupts huge volumes of superheated water every 8 to 10 minutes. These boiling water spouts often soar to 25 m, but sometimes the scalding jets will be propelled 40 m skywards. Watching a geyser erupt is always a stunning and incredible moment.
Another attraction is the most famous waterfall in Iceland, the magnificent Gullfoss (the “Golden Falls). The river flowing through Gullfoss is the mighty Hvítá (the White River). This river originates at Langjökull glacier, the 2nd largest glacier in Iceland. Feel the spray in the air as the thundering torrent is forced through the canyon, dropping 32 m in two stages, pivoting as it does so. You will see plenty of golden-hued spray around Gullfoss, the Golden Falls!
The final highlight of the tour is the bright red Kerid crater lake. It's a 3000-year-old spot 55 meters deep and most recognized for its beauty – aquamarine-colored water surrounded by red rocks and greenery. This color scheme is what makes the lake look like a giant eye from above. For this reason, it's called "The Eye of the World."
Pick-up Information: Pick-up is at 12 pm from your hotel or a nearby meeting point in Reykjavík. Picking everyone up can take up to 30 minutes. Your patience is much appreciated.
Available pick-up points: Arctic Adventures’ pick-up list.
Return Time: The tour returns to Reykjavík around 6 pm – please bear in mind that the weather conditions in Iceland can sometimes cause delays.
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 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.
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.
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.
