Golden Circle & Secret Lagoon Tour: Small Group, 9 Hours

Strokkur erupts every 4 to 10 minutes, and you're standing right there when it does.

A 9-hour guided tour from Reykjavik combining the Golden Circle's three signature stops (Thingvellir National Park, Gullfoss waterfall, and the Geysir geothermal area) with a soak in Secret Lagoon's natural hot springs. The small-group format keeps the minibus under a dozen travelers, and pickup from your Reykjavik location is included. The itinerary can shift due to weather, and Secret Lagoon closes May 13–23 (Fontana Spa substitutes those dates).

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time spent at each

1. Gullfoss40m
2. Secret Lagoon1h 30m · entry included

Golden Circle and Secret Lagoon Tour

• Pick up from Reykjavik location
• Drive to Þingvellir National Park
• Explore Althing and Silfra Fissure
• Visit Gullfoss waterfall
• Explore Geysir Geothermal Area
• Relax at Secret Lagoon hot springs
• Visit Kerið volcanic crater
• Return to Reykjavik drop-off

The experience

How do you fit Iceland's most famous sights into a single day without renting a car or navigating on your own? This tour leaves Reykjavik in the morning and drives the Golden Circle route in a minibus, stopping at three landmarks most visitors come to Iceland to see. A live English-speaking guide handles the route and the timing, so you step out at each stop knowing what you're looking at and why it matters.

The day starts with a 40-minute drive to Thingvellir National Park, where the Eurasian and North American tectonic plates are visibly drifting apart in a rift valley. You walk the Silfra Fissure and Almannagjá rift, and the views across Þingvallavatn lake stretch out from the rim. From there, the minibus heads to Gullfoss, a two-tiered waterfall that drops 32 meters into the canyon of the Hvíta River, fed by the Langjökull glacier. The water volume changes with the season, but the scale of it (the roar, the mist) doesn't diminish. Next is the Geysir geothermal area, where Strokkur erupts every 4 to 10 minutes, shooting boiling water 15 to 20 meters into the air. You can watch it happen multiple times and feel the heat from where you stand.

The tour then moves to Secret Lagoon, Iceland's oldest geothermal pool, where the water holds steady at 38–40°C year-round. It sits in mossy lava fields with a small geyser nearby, and you can soak in it for as long as the schedule allows. Bring a swimsuit or rent one on-site. The final stop is Kerið Crater, a volcanic crater 270 meters wide with a bright blue-green lake and red volcanic rock walls. A 20-minute walk circles the rim. The minibus then returns you to your starting location in Reykjavik. The whole day runs about 9 hours including drive time, and the small-group guarantee means you're not on a coach with 50 people.

What’s included

• Reykjavik pickup and drop-off from your selected location.
• small-group minibus tour with a live English-speaking guide.
• entry to Thingvellir National Park, Gullfoss, Geysir geothermal area, and Secret Lagoon.
• free Wi-Fi onboard the minibus.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 09:00

Book up to1h before

AgesAdult (13 and older) · Child (6 to 12 years) · Under 6: can't be booked

GroupUp to 19

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.You can choose from 23 pickup points.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated yesterday

Good to know

Low physical effort

Operated by Arctic Adventures

Is this one for you?If you're based in Reykjavik and want to see the Golden Circle's three main sights plus soak in a geothermal pool without organizing transport or timing yourself, the small-group format and included pickup mean the day holds together without you building it. You just show up and the minibus does the rest.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (6 to 12 years). Children under 6 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 Strokkur and how often does it actually erupt?

Strokkur is the most active geyser in the Geysir geothermal area, erupting every 4 to 10 minutes and shooting boiling water 15 to 20 meters into the air. You'll see it happen multiple times during the tour's stop there.

Can I swim in Secret Lagoon, and do I need to bring my own swimsuit?

Yes, you can soak in Secret Lagoon's geothermal pool, which stays 38–40°C year-round. You can bring your own swimsuit or rent one on-site. Towels are not included.

What makes Thingvellir National Park different from other places in Iceland?

Thingvellir is a rift valley where you can see the Eurasian and North American tectonic plates drifting apart visibly in the landscape. You walk the Silfra Fissure and Almannagjá rift and see views across Þingvallavatn lake from the rim.

How long is the drive from Reykjavik to the first stop?

The drive to Thingvellir National Park takes about 40 minutes from Reykjavik, where you'll be picked up from your selected location in the city.

What happens if the weather is bad or Secret Lagoon is closed?

The operator reserves the right to change the order of attractions due to weather. Secret Lagoon closes May 13–23 each year, and Fontana Spa is visited instead on those dates.