Golden Circle & Kerið tour from Reykjavik: Small group, all stops

Five stops on Iceland's most famous route, from tectonic plates to erupting geysers to a crater lake

A full-day Golden Circle and Kerið tour from Reykjavik visits Þingvellir National Park, Bruarfoss Waterfall, Strokkur Geysir, Gullfoss Waterfall and Kerið Crater with a local English-speaking guide in a climate-controlled minibus limited to 16 people. Hotel pickup is included. The tour runs subject to favorable weather, and meals are available for purchase at stops along the route.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time at each

1. Thingvellir National Park40m
2. Strokkur30m
3. Gullfoss1h

Explore Golden Circle and Kerið Crater

• Visit Þingvellir National Park
• Discover Bruarfoss Waterfall
• Watch Strokkur Geysir erupt
• See Gullfoss Waterfall and have lunch
• Walk around Kerið Crater

The experience

If you land in Reykjavik with a full day ahead or you're staying nearby and want to see the Golden Circle without renting a car, this tour picks you up at your hotel or a central bus stop and handles the driving and the route. The minibus holds a maximum of 16 people, which means the group stays small enough to move through each site without the crowds that come with larger tours. An English-speaking driver and guide leads the day and manages the timing, so you're not navigating between stops or working out how long to spend at each one.

The route starts at Þingvellir National Park, where you walk through a canyon carved by two tectonic plates: the European and American plates meet here, and the ground beneath your feet is the visible edge of that geological boundary. From there the tour moves to Bruarfoss, a waterfall with turquoise water that flows over dark lava rock and moss, quieter than the more famous falls and often called Iceland's bluest. Next is Strokkur, a geyser that erupts roughly every few minutes, shooting hot water nearly 20 meters into the air. The whole area steams from geothermal activity. Gullfoss comes next: a massive waterfall with multiple cascades dropping into a canyon, often producing rainbows when the light hits the mist. The day finishes at Kerið, a volcanic crater lake where you can walk the ridges or descend to the water's edge. A stop at Gullfoss includes time for lunch. The tour recommends the traditional Icelandic soup available at the on-site restaurant, though you can also bring a packed lunch or buy other options at stops.

The tour runs for eight hours total. Free WiFi and USB charging are available on the minibus. Weather in Iceland is unpredictable, so bring a warm waterproof jacket and walking shoes. If the tour is canceled due to poor weather, you'll be offered an alternative date or a full refund. Children from age 3 can join, and child seats or boosters are available if you request them at booking. Cruise ship passengers need to provide their ship name, docking time, disembarkation time and re-boarding time at checkout so the guide can time the return accordingly.

What’s included

• Hotel or bus stop pickup in Reykjavik.
• transport in a climate-controlled Mercedes minibus with a maximum of 16 passengers.
• English-speaking driver and guide for the full day.
• free WiFi and USB charging on board.
• entry to all five sites (Þingvellir, Bruarfoss, Strokkur, Gullfoss and Kerið).
• and a lunch stop at Gullfoss where traditional Icelandic soup and other meals are available for purchase.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 09:00

AgesAdult (18 and older) · Youth (13 to 17 years) · Child (3 to 12 years) · Under 3: can't be included in the booking

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

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 levelStroller friendlyNot for pregnant travelersNot for heart conditionsNot for back problems

Operated by Back to Iceland travel

Is this one for you?Book this tour if you're arriving in Reykjavik without a rental car or prefer not to drive: the pickup, the route and the timing are all arranged, so you move through five major sites in one day without navigating between them yourself. The small group size (maximum 16) keeps the experience less crowded than larger coach tours while still sharing the cost across multiple people.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Youth (13 to 17 years); Child (3 to 12 years). Under 3: they 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 24h before the start.

What exactly happens when you visit Þingvellir National Park on this tour?

At Þingvellir you walk through a canyon where the walls are formed by two tectonic plates: the European and American plates meet visibly here. The site is also the location of the world's oldest working parliament and ancient Viking battlegrounds, so the guide explains both the geology and the history as you move through the canyon.

How often does Strokkur actually erupt, and what is it like to watch?

Strokkur erupts roughly every few minutes, shooting hot water almost 20 meters into the air. The whole geothermal area is covered in steam from the constant activity, and you stand close enough to see and feel the heat from the eruptions.

Is there time to eat lunch, and what are the options?

Yes, a lunch stop is built into the tour at Gullfoss. The on-site restaurant serves traditional Icelandic soup (with vegetarian options available), and there is also a grocery shop at the stop if you prefer to buy something else or bring your own packed lunch.

Do I need to be fit or experienced to do this tour?

The tour is suitable for all physical fitness levels. You walk around each site at a normal pace: around the ridges at Kerið crater, through the canyon at Þingvellir, and along the viewing areas at the waterfalls and geyser. The guide manages the timing and the group moves together.

What if the weather is bad on the day of my tour?

The tour is subject to favorable weather conditions. If it's canceled due to poor weather, you'll be offered either an alternative date or a full refund. Iceland's weather is unpredictable, so bring a warm waterproof jacket and walking shoes regardless of the forecast.

Can I book this tour if I'm arriving on a cruise ship?

Yes, cruise ship passengers can book this tour. At checkout you'll need to provide your ship name, docking time, disembarkation time and re-boarding time so the guide can plan the return to the port in time for your ship to depart.