Reykjavik: Golden Circle & Kerið Crater with Strokkur Geyser

Four stops, one unforgettable loop through Iceland's volcanic heart

You get picked up in Reykjavik and driven to four of Iceland's most-visited sights in one day: the active Strokkur geyser with a lunch break, the massive Gullfoss waterfall, Thingvellir National Park where continental plates meet, and the crater lake at Kerið. A professional guide handles the route and timing, so you just show up and experience it. Morning tours include all four stops. Afternoon departures skip Kerið to keep the day manageable.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time at each

1. Golden Circle1h
2. Strokkur1h 30m · entry included
3. Gullfoss40m
4. Thingvellir National Park40m · entry included

Golden Circle tour with volcanic crater

• Pick-up in Reykjavík
• Drive to Golden Circle route
• Visit Strokkur geyser and lunch
• See Gullfoss waterfall
• Explore Thingvellir National Park
• Visit Kerið volcanic crater
• Drive back to Reykjavík

The experience

So you're standing there watching Strokkur blow water thirty meters into the air every seven to ten minutes, and you realize the old Geysir next to it hasn't erupted in decades, but this one, the little brother, just keeps going. That's the rhythm of the Golden Circle from Reykjavik: you roll up, the guide points out what's happening, and you get maybe forty minutes to walk around, grab lunch if you want it, and let your brain catch up to what you're seeing. The geothermal area smells like sulfur and steam, and the ground is warm under your feet in a way that feels both wrong and exactly right for Iceland.

After Strokkur, you drive to Gullfoss, and that's when the scale hits different. Two drops (eleven meters, then twenty-one), and over a hundred cubic meters of water per second pouring through. The mist reaches you from fifty meters away, and the sound is just constant. Your guide will tell you this is the White River Hvítá, and you'll understand why people fought to keep it from being dammed. Then comes Thingvellir National Park, where you're literally standing between the Eurasian and North American continental plates. The rift is visible, the ground drops away, and your guide explains how Iceland's first parliament met here in the late 900s. It's history and geology at once, which is kind of Iceland's whole thing.

The last stop is Kerið, a volcanic crater fifty-five meters deep with a lake inside that shifts color depending on the light and the minerals in the water. It's quieter than the other stops, more contemplative. You walk down into it, circle the rim, and it's just you and the crater and whatever weather Iceland is throwing at you that day. One thing to know: if your tour departs at noon or later, Kerið gets skipped to keep the day to seven hours instead of the full loop. Morning departures get all four, so book early if the crater matters to you. The drive back to Reykjavik takes a couple of hours, and by then you've seen enough volcanic drama and water power to last a while.

What’s included

• Professional guide, hotel pickup and drop-off in Reykjavik, guided stops at Strokkur geyser, Gullfoss waterfall, Thingvellir National Park and Kerið volcanic crater (on morning departures), and forty minutes at Geysir for lunch.
• Travel time is included in the total duration.
• Public transport options are available nearby if you prefer to meet the group at a central point instead of hotel pickup.

Options for this experience

4 options

Pickup at Bus Stop twelve, HöfðatorgGuide in English · 5 departure times: the first at 08:00, the last at 14:00Pickup is included at Tour Bus Stop twelve, Höfðatorg, but tours departing at twelve noon or later skip Kerið.

Pickup from designated central locationsGuide in English · 5 departure times: the first at 08:00, the last at 14:00

German tour meeting at Skarfabakki harborGuide in English · Available from 28 Jan 2027Meet at the Skarfabakki Cruise Ship Terminal, with a German-speaking guide.

German tour with hotel pickupGuide in English · Available from 9 Apr 2027Pickup from designated hotels, guesthouses and stops across central Reykjavik is included.

You see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates & prices

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day5 departure times: the first at 08:00, the last at 14:00

AgesAdult (16 and older) · Youth (12 to 15 years) · Child (2 to 11 years)

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup is optional; you can also go straight to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.You can choose from 37 pickup points.Operator's directions: “Tour Bus Stop 12, Höfðatorg, Þórunnartún 1 (64.144389,-21.910327)”

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather or if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated yesterday

Good to know

Easy physical levelPublic transport nearby

Operated by BusTravel Iceland

Is this one for you?Right for travelers based in Reykjavik without a rental car who want the four main Golden Circle sights in one day without arranging transport or timing themselves. Book a morning departure if Kerið crater matters to you: afternoon tours skip it to keep the day to seven hours, which is still the full Golden Circle loop but without the volcanic crater.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Youth (12 to 15 years); Child (2 to 11 years).

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 24h before the start.

How long is the Golden Circle tour from Reykjavik?

Full-day tours with all four stops (including Kerið) run the full day with travel time included. Afternoon departures are seven hours and skip Kerið.

Is lunch included?

No, but there's a forty-minute lunch stop at the Geysir geothermal area where you can buy food, or bring your own.

What time does Strokkur erupt?

Strokkur erupts every seven to ten minutes, so you'll see multiple eruptions during your stop.

Is hotel pickup included?

Yes, pickup in Reykjavik and guided transfer to the first stop are included, with drop-off back in the city at the end.

Can cruise passengers book this tour?

Yes. At booking, provide your ship name, docking time, disembarkation time and re-boarding time so the tour can be timed to your schedule.

Is Kerið always included?

No. Tours departing at noon or later skip Kerið to keep the day to seven hours. Morning departures include all four stops.

How difficult is the walking?

The tour is suitable for all fitness levels. You'll walk around each site, but there's no strenuous climbing required.

What should I bring?

Warm, waterproof clothing is essential: Iceland's weather changes fast, and you'll be near waterfalls and geysers where mist and wind are constant.