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Golden Circle Superior - Small Group Tour

Icelandic Hot spring, waterfalls, horses, Dairy farm, Ice cream, Kerið crater & more

Golden Circle is a must do in Iceland

The Golden Circle small group tour has all the highlights of the famous Golden Circle route with a more personal touch.

Geysir Sightseeing Tours
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4.7 rating based on 23 ratings
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This is the optimal Golden Circle tour – Thingvellir national park, Gullfoss waterfall and Geysir hot spring area in a small group setting with some added flare. This is the perfect way to spend a day in Iceland as your will be exploring some of the most beautiful sites the country has to offer. We will also stop at some more “off the beaten track” spots, for example, the Hellisheiðarvirkjun Power Plant, Efsti-dalur farm, the stunning Faxi waterfall and the crater Kerið and we’ll even stop and say hi to some horses on the way!

Be amazed by gushing geysers, powerful waterfalls, and historical sites. Visit a World UNESCO Heritage site where the tectonic plates meet and explore the best Iceland has to offer.

  • Availability

    All year

  • Duration

    9 hours

  • Duration Overwrite

  • Level

    Easy

  • Pickup

    Yes

  • Meet on location

    No

  • Min. Age

    6 years

  • Ratio

    1:19

  • Departs from

    Reykjavik

  • Departs from Overwrite

  • Price from

    11.990 ISK

Tour highlights
Small Group Experience
The Golden Circle Sightseeing
Þingvellir National Park (Thingvellir)
Geysir Hot Spring Area
Gullfoss Waterfall
Hellisheidarvirkjun Power Plant
Faxi Waterfall
Efstidalur - Icelandic Farm
Kerið Volcanic Crater
Laugarvatn Geothermal Area
Icelandic Horses
Skálholt Historical Site
Included
Transfer to/from Reykjavik
A Guided Tour of the Golden Circle
A Certified Guide
Entrance Fee to Kerið Crater
Entrance Fee to Hellisheidarvirkjun Power Plant
Free WiFi on the Bus

From Reykjavik you will drive towards Iceland’s three most famous attractions that make up the popular Golden Circle; Thingvellir National Park, Geysir hot spring area and Gullfoss Waterfall.

The Golden Circle is one of the most popular routes visitors take in Iceland. The circle consists of three major attractions; Thingvellir National Park, Geysir hot spring area and Gullfoss waterfall. We make sure that you get enough time to take in the magnificent landscape and the rich history that is found at every footstep.

Þingvellir e. Thingvellir national park is strongly rooted in the Icelandic history and is famous for numerous reasons. It’s a UNESCO heritage site, it’s where Iceland’s first Althing (e. parliament) was founded in the year 930 and it’s where the tectonic plates drift apart. It’s the home to the magical Silfra and this place is simply stunning. The waters, pond, and fissures are extraordinarily clear and the history of the place is endless.
This UNESCO world heritage site is a place that should not be missed.

Geysir hot spring area is located in Haukadalur valley. It’s where the Geysir which all other geysers are named after is located and the area is filled with steam and magical geothermal phenomena. This most active geyser at the moment is Strokkur, it goes off every 4-10 minutes and treats us to a show that gives you that tingly feeling in your stomach.

Gullfoss or the Golden Falls are next up on the itinerary. It’s one of the most powerful waterfalls in Iceland. It drops little over 30 meters and has two drops. It has been a local’s favorite since the Viking times and now it’s your time to explore it.

The extra stops will be at:

Hellisheiðarvirkjun Power Plant will be the first stop that will be made on this tour. It is the largest geothermal power station in Iceland and the largest single-site geothermal power plant in the world. There they have an exhibition that recently opened and houses an interactive exhibition centering on the development of geothermal energy in Iceland. This part will give you a better look into the geothermal energy of Iceland, how we make and use the energy. This is all presented in an accessible and fun way through informative and entertaining multimedia exhibits.

Kerið is a volcanic crater lake. Craters are usually formed by volcanic explosions but researched has shown that this might not have been the case for Kerið. It formed when a cone volcano erupted and emptied its magma reserve. The cone has since then collapsed into its magma chamber and by that created a crater. Due to the formation, the colors are very different and unique.

Skálholt is one of Iceland’s most historical sites, located on the South Coast. It was the epicenter of culture, politics and learning in Iceland for over 700 years. Explore the replica turf house, which was Iceland’s heritage building style.

Faxi waterfall is next up. This beautiful blue fall is a quite hidden and for that wonderful reason, not a busy site. This stunning location is covered with birch and has a sweet charm about it. This is one of those waterfalls you would stare at all day and actually a popular kayaking spot for many of our guides.

Efstidalur farm is a perfect stop after the Golden Circle.  Efstidalur is a family farm located close to Laugarvatn lake. There‘s an ice cream barn at the farm and the concept is really alluring, you can enjoy different flavors of ice cream produced from the milk of the cows living at the farm. It really doesn’t get more local than this and the taste of the ice cream is otherworldly!

Laugarvatn is a small village with a population of only about 200 people. It’s known for its natural warmth and hot springs. It’s also home to the stunning lake Laugarvatn which many of the hot springs are connected to. One of which is the Vígðalaug which was used as a baptism pool when the Icelandic nation became Christian.

Pick-up Information

Pick-up: Your Golden Circle small group sightseeing tour starts with pick up from your selected location in Reykjavik. Please note, that the pick up can take up to 30 min.
Available pick-up points: Arctic Adventures’s pick-up list.

Practical Information

Remember to bring: Warm and waterproof outdoor clothing, headwear, gloves and sturdy shoes.

What if I don’t own all of these clothing necessaries?
Don’t worry, you can always rent the necessary clothing in the booking process.

 

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

This is a great question. We would like to ask all participants to be ready from the start of the pick-up time as you could be our first pick-up.
Please be at your assigned pick-up location from the start time of your pick-up and wait for your guide to arrive.

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 Special Tours, has been a favorite with families traveling with young children, these guys have a great success rate in seeing whales (upwards of 98% in the summer time). 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 (the hot spring part is particularly popular with the kids:)). 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.

Do I need an insurance before going on an Arctic Adventures trip?

We recommend that you have personal health insurance coverage when participating in any adventure activities in Iceland, we actually recommend that whenever and whereever you travel you take out a good travel insurance, as world travelers ourselves it has saved us money and aggravation many times.

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.

How do I get to Reykjavik from Keflavík International Airport?

The drive from KEF airport to Reykjavik takes around 45 minutes. If your flight is delayed, please call our customer service team to go over what options you may have.

These are the two most common ways to get from the airport to Reykjavik city:

Airport Shuttle

The cheapest and most convenient way of getting to and from Keflavik International Airport. The shuttle drops you off at the BSI Bus Terminal downtown or takes you all the way to your hotel or the closest drop off location. If you’re arriving on the same day as your tour departures we highly recommend to pick BSI Bus terminal as your pick up location.

Book your airport transfer in Iceland.

Taxi

The quickest way to get to Reykjavik city is by a taxi. The taxis can drop you off at any of our pick-up locations. Taking a taxi is tho always more expensive than the airport shuttle.  


For further information about getting to and from Keflavík International Airport.

How is the weather/climate in Iceland?

There is a saying in Iceland, if you don’t like the weather just wait 5 minutes. This might sound like a joke but is strangely true! Thanks to the beloved Gulf Stream, our country enjoys a cool, temperate maritime climate, this means refreshing summers and fairly mild winters. So basically, Iceland maintains a surprisingly moderate temperature all year around. For further information about the weather in Iceland and how to dress for it.

If your tour includes a glacier activity it’s very important to dress appropriately. Dress in 3 or 4 upper layers such as a light t-shirt (preferably wool) next to the skin, then a fleece or heavy wool garment, topped off with a waterproof windbreaker. Jeans are not recommended for our trips as they become very heavy, cold and uncomfortable to wear when they get wet. Lightweight hiking pants, track pants or long cotton pants are best and then wind/waterproof pants over. We also recommend using sunglasses and sunscreen even if it is cloudy due to the high UV and sunlight reflection from the glacier.

You will need sturdy hiking boots that fit crampons for the glacier hiking tours.

What is tipping like in Iceland?

Tipping is not a requirement in Iceland although it is permitted and is well received in most cases.

How is internet access like in Iceland?

Iceland is a very high-tech country and we actually have one of the highest rates of Internet usage in the world. Many restaurants and cafés, especially in Reykjavik, have free Wi-Fi access, so if you have a laptop, a tablet or a smartphone you can get Internet access almost anywhere. All of our vehicles have free Wi-Fi.

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.

Should I bring mosquito repellent when traveling to Iceland?

Here is the plus side to a cold country like Iceland. No dangerous insects survive here! Iceland has about three areas where some mosquitoes have now settled but nothing you will have to worry about on our tours. So, to sum it up, no you will not need any repellant.

What is the Golden Circle tour in Iceland?

The Golden Circle is a name for the very popular sightseeing route that connects Reykjavík with Þingvellir National Park (Thingvellir), Geysir Hot Springs and Gullfoss Waterfall. We offer several Golden Circle trips that combine sightseeing with some of our adventure tours.

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 to make the most of your day. Here is a list of all of some great tours.

All year around options:

Golden Circle, Super Truck and Snowmobiling
Golden Circle Small group tour
Golden Circle and Snorkeling
Golden Circle Food Tour
Golden Circle and Secret Lagoon
Golden Circle and Super Jeep tour

Winter season:

Golden Circle and Caving

Summer season:

Golden Circle and Rafting

Disclaimer
All our tours are undertaken on the responsibility of its participants. Arctic Adventures does not assume any responsibility for accidents that are caused by its customers or can be traced to their own actions. Participants have to sign a waiver before undertaking all trips stating that they realize that all outdoor activities carry an inherent risk.

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Price from: 11.990 ISK

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If you are staying downtown Reykjavik please read this information about pickup.

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Golden Circle Superior - Small Group Tour | Average rating: 4.7/5 based on 23 customer reviews


"Great Tour! Great Guide!" | 5 stars By Paul 16/07/2018
Hey all, We went on several tours in our week at Iceland, and the tour guide for this particular one was really great! Passionate, enthusiastic, and stuck out to us after the trip.
"Golden Circle Small Group" | 4 stars By Amber 13/07/2018
I thoroughly enjoyed the trip we had. We saw the golden circle as well as other sites like a church, ponies, the volcanic crater (my favorite), dairy farm, etc. I would definitely go on it again but I wish we had sliiiightly more time at each stop. It's not horribly short (like 20-40 min each stop) but 10 min longer at each location would have been nicer. Overall it was a REALLY great tour with a nice tour guide.
"We enjoyed all the stops on our tour" | 5 stars By Stephanie South 05/07/2018
We enjoyed all the stops on our tour. Loved the ice cream place!
"Artic adventures Golden Circle Tour superior" | 5 stars By Vicki Taylor 05/07/2018
This was definitely a great tour - we really enjoyed the visit to the geothermal power station and this is what made this trip stand out for us. We would have liked to arrive at some of the more 'busy' sites outside of the busiest times but appreciate that can't be helped :) Taxi waterfall was a nice addition as was the Kerio crater and Gulfoss is just stunning. Thoroughly recommend this tour and our driver Solly (?)
"It was a good tour" | 4 stars By Ed Boyer 27/06/2018
It was a good tour. My buddy said we could have covered the major stops on our own by car rental. But, we would have missed the special stops at the horse farm, th story about building the road, the geothermal plant, etc. I would recommend the guided tour, but maybe try for in smaller groups. Ed
"Great Tour in a small group" | 5 stars By Henrik Mulvad Hansen 24/06/2018
We had a very good experience with the Golden circle Tour at arctic Adventures. The guide, Aron, was very good at informing us of the different sights, but also had many fun facts about Iceland in general. There was good time at the stops and the small group was much better than a regular bus trip. Thank you for a good experience.
"Awesome Tour" | 5 stars By James Schultz 24/06/2018
Fabulous tour to see a variety of sites. A bit disappointing at the Power Plant because their guide spoke limited English and could not thoroughly explain the process at the plant. This had nothing to do with Arctic Tours. Great use of time spread across many beautiful sights.
"Golden Circle Tour" | 5 stars By Charlenne 16/06/2018
My boyfriend and I really enjoyed the Golden Circle tour you offer. We took the private one, that takes you there along with a small group. I believe this is an amazing and more personalized way of doing it. The places we went to were really breathtaking. I would also like to take this chance to thank Andrea for being such a wonderful and fun guide. :)
"The guide was excellent in his knowledge..." | 5 stars By Yuko Nishida 10/06/2018
The guide was excellent in his knowledge, helpfulness and sense of humor. The course was great. It was good that the day started with geothermal power facility -it was very informative and helpful in getting to know about Iceland. All the scenic locations are beautiful. I will definitely recommend it to friends.thank you!
"Wow!!!!!!!" | 5 stars By Cindy Tackett 06/06/2018
This Golden Circle Tour made the trip to Iceland worth it! Our guide was so friendly and enthusiastic and even shared personal family history stories with us. Will DEFINITELY book another tour when I come back!
"Great time!" | 5 stars By Marlenie 04/06/2018
Had an awesome time on our tour. We were lucky with sunny weather and out tour guide made extra stops for us. Very friendly and funny. Would definitely recommend this tour
"Golden circle tour" | 5 stars By Julie Mercer 05/02/2018
What started as a dull dark cold & very windy snowy day turned out to be a great day! Due to weather conditions the tour had to change, the mountain road was closed we waited (to long really) before the guide took a different direction (this could have been gone sooner) but nevertheless we enjoyed our tour, got to see everything, other ppl from our hotel missed a lot out, due to bad weather, so we were very lucky. It’s a long tour but very interesting I’d recommend Artic Tours.
"Golden Circle Tour" | 5 stars By James 08/02/2018
This was a first class tour with an excellent and knowledgeable tour guide in Thomas. I'd recommend this tour to anyone as the smaller group means you get much more time at each stop and have the ability to ask more questions and learn more about each of the things you're seeing. The mini bus was very comfortable and whilst the back seats on the bus are small, if you're sitting anywhere else there is plenty of room to get a great view of each of the sights. The stops are just the right amount of time, some around 15-20 minutes with the longer stops around an hour. One of the final stops gives you the change to walk around and meet the bus further up the trail which is a great touch. All in all very good and would both do this tour again and do others with Arctic Adventures.
"Small-Group Golden Circle Plus Tour" | 5 stars By Family Baron 08/02/2018
Weather has been against us all week. Tour was delayed by 2.5hrs due to a storm but we were notified and kept up to date. Johannes picked us up at the new time, collected a few others and off we set. Unfortunately some roads were still closed, due to the weather, so we waited a little while longer and were off again. The mountain road was still closed but Johannes took this in his stride and took us a different way. Rain, hail and wind plagued us on and off all day but gave us a few breaks while we stopped at the various locations (Gullfoss, geysir, Þingvellir national park, farm with ice-cream, Kerio volcanic crater, waterfall, Icelandic horses etc). Food at the Geysir was extremely expensive (£50 for 4 soup and bread) so take a picnic. The (very old and battered) mini-bus broke down on us at our last stop but while we were in the National Park a replacement (new, comfy and shiny) minibus was brought to us - so timing was perfect as it didn't affect our schedule. It would have been nice to have had the nice minibus the whole day however. Johannes was a lovely guy and very knowledgeable. All locations were amazing to see so I'd definitely recommend this tour.
"Nicola King" | 5 stars By Nicola King 22/03/2018
We were lucky to take two Arctic Adventures trips last week; one for the Golden Circle and one for the South Coast. Both were the small group tours. Our guide for both trips was Bjord, hope I spelt the name right. She was very friendly, chatty, informative and happy to answer any questions we had. A great driver especially when we had a bit of a snow shower. Bjord always explained where we were going, what was next and where we needed to meet. The tours were so much fun and we got to see some of the amazing sights of Iceland. The golden circle tour was our favourite as it included a few extra special stops too. Would definitely book again with Arctic Adventures and recommend to friends. Kind Regards Mr and Mrs King
"Golden Circle Tour" | 5 stars By fergal seeballuck 25/03/2018
I really enjoyed this tour - I know that every tour more or less goes to the same stops, so you will see the same sites, but I was very satisfied with the organisation, efficiency and comfort of our tour. I felt that I had enough time and freedom at each stop to enjoy everything without feeling rushed, the group was small enough to keep the 'convenience' stops short and sweet. Our guide was 100% Icelandic -surprisingly rare, I discovered on my tours - and he was really helpful and informative. I felt like a guest rather than a tourist. As with the other Arctic Adventures tours, we were able to grab lunch on the go and avoid expensive, time consuming sit-down lunches - in Iceland this is very much appreciated. If I needed to take a tour, I would not hesitate to pick this one - but I think the beauty of Iceland would be best appreciated with a camper van:-)
"Golden Circle Complete" | 4 stars By W. Tugby 19/03/2018
1) The guide/driver, Jason, was very good; he was polite and informative, and is a good driver. He instills confidence in people. 2) Some people were usually from 5 to 15 minutes late returning to the bus at each stop. I think that more emphasis should be made as to the importance of returning on time. I had to get back to the ship by 6:30; arrival was actually about 6:15. If people were made more aware of importance of time at each stop, it would be better. I was worried that I might miss the ship! 3) Communication with your office could use some improvement; sometimes it took a long time to get a reply. 4) The tour itself was very interesting. I enjoyed seeing many places which were included.
"Small-Group Golden Circle Plus Tour" | 5 stars By Family Baron 28/02/2018
Weather has been against us all week. Tour was delayed by 2.5hrs due to a storm but we were notified and kept up to date. Johannes picked us up at the new time, collected a few others and off we set. Unfortunately some roads were still closed, due to the weather, so we waited a little while longer and were off again. The mountain road was still closed but Johannes took this in his stride and took us a different way. Rain, hail and wind plagued us on and off all day but gave us a few breaks while we stopped at the various locations (Gullfoss, geysir, Þingvellir national park, farm with ice-cream, Kerio volcanic crater, waterfall, Icelandic horses etc). Food at the Geysir was extremely expensive (£50 for 4 soup and bread) so take a picnic. The (very old and battered) mini-bus broke down on us at our last stop but while we were in the National Park a replacement (new, comfy and shiny) minibus was brought to us - so timing was perfect as it didn't affect our schedule. It would have been nice to have had the nice minibus the whole day however. Johannes was a lovely guy and very knowledgeable. All locations were amazing to see so I'd definitely recommend this tour.
"Highlight of our Iceland trip" | 4 stars By Jorge 05/04/2018
The Golden Circle (complete) tour was just incredible! The 9 hours went so fast that we didn’t even notice. We started with a very efficient and on time pick up and then we switched to our mini bus where we’ve started the tour. Our first stop was very interesting as it was in a geothermal plant where we’ve been explained about the importance of the thermal waters in Reykjavik and in Iceland. Then the rest of the tour was some of the natural wonders that Iceland has to offer: waterfalls, geysers, little hot springs, the National Park and even a stop for a delicious ice cream in a very local farm (where you can find a homemade skyr just in case you’re interested in) and ending up with an express visit to the Icelandic Horses before checking out the tectonic plates and the parliament in the National Park. So, thanks Artic Adventures for having such a nice tour for the ones that didn’t rented a car like us, you’ve allowed us to see and interact a bit with the gifts of Mother Nature. Greetings, JS
"Nice package" | 5 stars By RV 18/04/2018
Enjoyed the tour.
"Tour review 16.04" | 5 stars By Matias Kruse 23/04/2018
Tour was good, guide was great. Favorite stopp was the huge waterfall,geiseer and Cow farm that made their own icecream also stopp to pet horses.
"The stops on the tour were fantastic" | 3 stars By stacey soll 08/02/2018
The stops on the tour were fantastic. I was disappointed that we were unable to see the thermal power plant but that was nobody's fault. The tour guide, Thomas, seemed knowledgable but it was very difficult to understand him. I did not learn as much about the area as I would have liked to because of this misunderstanding. Also, I paid for 2 pair of water proof pants but did not receive them.
"We thoroughly enjoyed our tour with Sarah" | 5 stars By lorna 28/03/2018
We thoroughly enjoyed our tour with Sarah - and the horses were the icing on the cake! Thanks very much
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