Golden Circle, Bruarfoss & Kerid Crater from Reykjavik
Two tectonic plates, three waterfalls, one crater: the Golden Circle in a single day
You get picked up from a designated Reykjavik bus stop and spend the day in a small minibus with an English-speaking guide visiting four major Golden Circle sites plus two waterfalls most tours skip. The route includes entry to Þingvellir National Park, stops at Gullfoss and Bruarfoss waterfalls, the geothermal area around Geysir, and Kerid volcanic crater. Wi-Fi and Icelandic music are on the bus. You return to downtown by early evening.
Step-by-step itinerary
Golden Circle and volcanic crater tour
- Pick up from Reykjavik by minibus
- Visit Thingvellir National Park
- See Bruarfoss waterfall
- Explore Gullfoss waterfall
- Walk around Kerid volcanic crater
- Return to Reykjavik downtown
- Thingvellir National Park Entry included 40m
- Gullfoss 30m
What’s included
Your day includes minibus pickup from a designated Reykjavik bus stop (check the official website for your location), professional English-speaking guide, entry to Þingvellir National Park, stops at Gullfoss and Bruarfoss waterfalls, time in the Geysir geothermal area, and a full walk around Kerid volcanic crater. Wi-Fi and Icelandic music play on the bus throughout the day, and you're dropped off back in downtown Reykjavik around 5 p.m.
Times
- Every day 09:00
Before you book
Operated by Troll Expeditions
Prices and times updated today
Need assistance?Message us on WhatsApp or by emailTraveler reviews
The experience
The minibus pulls away from downtown Reykjavik in the early morning, and within an hour you're standing at the edge of Þingvellir National Park, looking down into the rift where the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates are visibly pulling apart. Your guide walks you through what you're seeing (the fractured rock, the lake below, the history of Iceland's first parliament meeting here in 930 AD), and it stops being a geography lesson and becomes something you can actually touch. The park is vast enough that you feel alone even in a small group, and the light at this latitude does something to the landscape that photographs never quite capture.
After Þingvellir, the route takes you to Bruarfoss, a waterfall most visitors miss because it's not on the main road. The water is so blue it looks unreal (sapphire against dark lava rock and bright green moss), and the walk down is short enough that you're not exhausted when you arrive. Then comes Gullfoss, the Golden Waterfall itself, where meltwater from Langjökull glacier drops into a canyon in two stages and the mist rises up so thick you can't see the bottom. On clear days the glacier is visible in the distance, and if the light is right, there's a rainbow in the spray. Your guide will tell you the best angle for photos, but honestly you'll take fifty anyway.
The final stop is Kerid, a volcanic crater that's 6,500 years old and still intact enough that you can walk the rim. The crater is ringed with red volcanic rock and filled with a shallow lake so blue it looks dyed, surrounded by moss so green it almost glows. It's smaller than Gullfoss or Þingvellir, but it's the one that stays with you. Something about standing above a crater and seeing the whole thing at once. The minibus heads back to Reykjavik around 5 p.m., though the exact return time shifts with the weather and road conditions, which is just how things work in Iceland.
Is this one for you?Book this if you want the main Golden Circle sights plus two waterfalls most tours skip, without arranging your own transport or timing the stops yourself: the small minibus and fixed schedule handle all of that, and the guide knows where the light hits best.
More experiences you might like
Top questions
Can children come?
Yes. Ticket types: Child (under 13).
What happens if it rains?
It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.
What's included in the Golden Circle tour from Reykjavik?
Hotel or bus stop pickup, minibus transport, professional English-speaking guide, entry to Þingvellir National Park, stops at Gullfoss, Bruarfoss, Geysir geothermal area, and Kerid crater, plus Wi-Fi and Icelandic music on the bus.
How long is the Golden Circle tour?
Approximately 8 hours from pickup to return, departing in the morning and returning to Reykjavik around 5 p.m.
Can I book pickup from Keflavík airport?
No. Pickup is only available from designated bus stops in central Reykjavik and some hotels. Check the official website or ask your hotel's front desk for your nearest pickup location.
What if the weather is bad?
The tour operates in all weather conditions. Dress appropriately for wind, rain, and cold. The order of stops and return time may change depending on road and weather conditions.
Do I need to be fit for this tour?
The tour is suitable for all physical fitness levels. Walking is minimal: mostly short walks to viewpoints and around crater rims.
Can I see the Northern Lights on this tour?
No. This is a daytime Golden Circle tour. Northern Lights tours operate separately in the evening during winter months.
What should I wear?
Dress warmly in layers, waterproof jacket, sturdy walking shoes, and a hat. Weather in Iceland changes quickly, even in summer.
Golden Circle, Bruarfoss & Kerid Crater from Reykjavik
8h · EN · at your hotel
from US$ 108 per person
Next, you choose your date and number of travelers and see the final price.