Golden Circle & Whale Watching Tour

Combo Deal

Family friendly

Golden Circle & Whale Watching Tour

Name: Golden Circle & Whale Watching Day Tour from Reykjavík
Brand: Experiences
SKU: IS-AA-WWG
Price: 28480 ISK
Rating: 5 (4 reviews)

Combo Deal

Family friendly

A thrilling Whale Watching trip and famous Golden Circle attractions

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Thingvellir national park three small white houses in spring

Woman standing watching geysir erupting, next to small crowd viewing

Arctic Adventures white tour van driving through scenic route in golden circle in spring

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About tour

This unforgettable small-group day tour from Reykjavík combines two of Iceland’s top experiences: whale watching and the iconic Golden Circle. Spot humpbacks and dolphins on a thrilling boat trip, then explore natural wonders like Þingvellir National Park, Gullfoss waterfall, erupting geysers at Geysir, and the colorful volcanic crater of Kerið.

A perfect mix of sea and land adventure—guided by local experts and packed with unmissable sights!

Lowest price guarantee

• See a lower price? We’ll refund the difference

Free cancellation

• Up to 24 hours in advance

Highlights

Þingvellir National Park (Thingvellir)
Gullfoss Waterfall
Geysir Hot Springs
Kerið Volcanic Crater Lake
Whale Watching Boat Tour

Included

Pick-up and drop-off in Reykjavik
Certified English-speaking guides
Whale watching boat tour
Golden Circle tour
Warm overalls for whale watching

What to bring

Warm layers
Weatherproof top layer
Headwear
Gloves
Scarves
Hiking shoes
Shoe Spike Grips (Oct-Apr)

Tour Snapshot

Availability Mar - Nov

Duration 11 hours

Departs From Reykjavik

Level Easy Suitable for most people in fair condition.

Minimum age 6 years

Meet on Location No

Pickup Yes

Small Group Experience

• More attention from your guide

Expert Guides

• Deep local knowledge

From

207

Per

Adult

Get the best value for money by booking a combo tour for up to 10% less!

No Booking Fees
Fast & Secure Payment

Curious about whales? Explore the Whale Museum!

From 236 USD

207

Per Adult

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Itinerary

In the morning, you’ll head out from Reykjavík on a whale watching boat tour across Faxaflói Bay. With luck, you’ll spot humpbacks, minke whales, dolphins, or porpoises alongside the expert crew! After returning to shore, you’ll be picked up for the Golden Circle leg of the day—visiting geysers, Gullfoss waterfall, and Þingvellir National Park. The final stop is Kerið Crater, where you can walk the rim or head down to the water before heading back to Reykjavík in the evening.

Whale Watching

Our specialist whale-watching guides provide a lot of information so you can learn all about whales and other abundant marine wildlife as you travel across Faxaflói Bay. Weather and sea conditions play a significant role in what you will see – you will always go to the best place to see whales. Usually, this will be within 15 km of the harbor.

The friendly and knowledgeable crew do their very best, and whales are spotted on at least 90% of boat tours. The moment you spot that whale is absolutely magical – you feel like the cat which got the cream! Minke and humpback whales are most often seen, and sightings of dolphins, porpoises, and other sea life are also very common.

On very rare occasions, when the weather or our quest for whales demands it, the boat may even depart from another harbor such as Keflavík, Hafnarfjörður, Sandgerðir, or Grindavík. It is important for us to give you the best chance possible. Insulated suits and ample seating are provided, along with hot drinks and refreshments available from the onboard café.

Golden Circle

After your whale watching trip, you will be picked up for the Golden Circle part of the tour from the Special Tours Ticket Office.

The Golden Circle is the most famous route in Iceland, with three fabulous natural attractions. Geysir is home to Great Geysir, the erupting hot spring, which gave us the English word ‘geyser’ to describe this natural phenomenon. Great Geysir is not active nowadays, but a nearby erupting hot spring, Strokkur, is erupting a great volume of hot water and steam up to 25 m high every 5 to 10 minutes. Gullfoss is the most often visited waterfall in Iceland. The name means ‘Golden Falls,’ and you will see the golden-hued spray as the roaring torrent crashes through the canyon. The cascade drops 32 m in two stages, dramatically pivoting as it does so. The glacial Hvítá (the White River) flows very powerfully through Gullfoss. You will feel the spray in the air quite some distance away.

Þingvellir National Park is a geological and historical wonder, listed by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site. Alþingi, the Icelandic Parliament was founded here in 930, making it the oldest still operating parliament in the world. It was where the greatest decisions directing the fate of the Icelandic nation were made. You can stand in the spot where the Law Speaker, the supreme Chieftain of Iceland, recited the law and delivered dramatic verdicts. A rugged rift valley runs through Þingvellir. This was formed by the Eurasian and North American tectonic plates slowly moving apart, which is still happening. Where else in the world can you stand between two continents?

The final stop of the day is Kerið, a striking red volcanic crater filled with vivid blue-green water. You’ll have time to walk around the rim and take in the views from above or descend the path down to the water’s edge for a closer look at this 3,000-year-old caldera—an unusual and peaceful end to a day of powerful landscapes!

Pick up & Return Information

Pick-up for this adventure comes with an additional cost of 2800kr per adult and 1400kr per child. Please be ready for pick up at 8:00 am and look out for a Special Tours company minibus. If you prefer to meet on location, please arrive at Special Tours, Geirsgata 11, 101 Reykjavík at 8:30 am.

Available pick-up points: Arctic Adventures’s pick-up list.

Return time: The tour returns to Reykjavík around 7:00 p.m. – in Iceland, the weather can influence schedules.

Please note

These are two separate tours and if one of the tours gets canceled, the other will still be available for you to join.

Interactive Map

FAQ

How is it best to be ready for a pick-up for a tour with Arctic Adventures?

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.

Can I drink alcohol before or during Arctic Adventures tours?

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.

Do you offer any family friendly tours, for younger children?

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.

Can the itinerary for the tour change?

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.

Is there a guide on each Arctic Adventures tour?

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.

Can the guide advise if I am eligible for rescheduling the tour and/or a refund?

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.

What type of power outlets are used in Iceland? Do I need to bring an adapter?

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.

How are the tours rated in terms of difficulty?

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.

How does carbon offsetting work?

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.

Do you offer a tour that is solely the Golden Circle?

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.

I want to book the Golden Circle in combination to another tour, what are my options?

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:

What sights will I see on the Golden Circle?

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.

Do I need crampons for this tour?

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.