Golden Circle Day Tour: Gullfoss, Geysir & Thingvellir
Three of Iceland's most powerful places in one routed day
A nine-hour guided tour of Iceland's Golden Circle departing from Reykjavik with hotel pickup and small-group minibus transport. You visit Thingvellir National Park, where the North American and Eurasian plates meet; the Geysir geothermal area in Haukadalur valley; Gullfoss waterfall in the Hvítá river canyon; and Kerid volcanic crater. The guide is live and speaks English, and the group stays small. Children from age 3 are welcome with an adult.
Step-by-step itinerary
Golden Circle tour from Reykjavik
- Pickup from Reykjavik hotel or busstop
- Visit Thingvellir National Park
- Explore Geysir hot spring area and lunch stop
- See Gullfoss waterfall
- Visit Kerid volcanic crater
- Visit Horse Farm and admire Icelandic horses
- Thingvellir National Park 1h
- Gullfoss 40m
What’s included
- Hotel or nearby bus stop pickup in Reykjavik.
- fully guided tour in English with a live guide.
- minibus transport in a small group.
- entry to Thingvellir National Park, Geysir geothermal area, Gullfoss waterfall and Kerid volcanic crater.
- a lunch break in the Geysir area (food and drink are your own cost).
Times
- Every day 09:00
Before you book
Operated by GeoIceland
Prices and times updated 6 days ago
Need assistance?Message us on WhatsApp or by emailTraveler reviews
The experience
The day starts with pickup at your hotel or a nearby bus stop in Reykjavik, then heads east into the highlands. Thingvellir National Park is the first stop: a UNESCO World Heritage Site where you can see the rift valley between two continental plates and walk the ground where they diverge. The landscape here is stark and geological, not forested or soft. The scale of the place makes the tectonic movement visible.
From there the route moves to the Geysir hot spring area in Haukadalur valley, where the earth steams and boils. This is also where the group breaks for lunch at a local restaurant or café. You'll have time to eat and move around the geothermal zone. Gullfoss waterfall comes next, one of Iceland's largest and most photographed falls, dropping into a narrow canyon carved by glacial melt. The Hvítá river that feeds it runs milky with sediment from the highlands.
The final stop is Kerid, a volcanic crater in the Grímsnes area south of the main route. The minibus holds the group small, and the guide narrates the geology and history throughout. The tour runs in all weather (rain, wind and snow are normal here), so layered, waterproof clothing matters. If conditions become too severe, the itinerary can shift or the tour can be rescheduled with a full refund.
Is this one for you?Hotel pickup in Reykjavik means you don't need a rental car or navigate Icelandic roads yourself. The minibus collects you and returns you at the end of the day, so the route and timing are settled before you book. This works for anyone staying in the city without a vehicle.
Compare the 12 alternatives
Top questions
Can children come?
Yes. Ticket types: Child (3 to 12 years). Children under 3 can't be included in the booking.
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 is Thingvellir National Park and why is it on the Golden Circle?
Thingvellir is a UNESCO World Heritage Site where the North American and Eurasian continental plates meet and visibly diverge. The rift valley and the geological drama of the place make it one of Iceland's most significant landscapes, and it is a core stop on every Golden Circle route.
Does the tour include lunch, and where do we eat?
The tour includes a lunch break at a local restaurant or café in the Geysir geothermal area. Lunch itself is not included in the price, so you'll order and pay for your meal there.
How long does the Golden Circle tour take, and when does it start?
The tour runs nine hours total from pickup at your hotel or nearby bus stop in Reykjavik. A specific start time is set when you book. The route covers four major stops and includes travel time between them.
What should I wear for this tour?
Dress in waterproof, layered clothing: the tour operates in all weather, and conditions in the highlands change fast. Wind, rain and sometimes snow are normal, even in summer, so bring a good jacket and sturdy shoes.
What happens if the weather is too bad to run the tour?
If poor weather forces a cancellation, you'll be offered either an alternative date or a full refund. The tour operates in rain and wind, but severe conditions that make travel unsafe can close it.
Golden Circle Day Tour: Gullfoss, Geysir & Thingvellir
8h · EN · at your hotel
from US$ 171 per person
Next, you choose your date and number of travelers and see the final price.