This classic sightseeing tour, known as the ‘Golden Circle’, showcases the most spectacular scenery in Iceland as well as important historic sites.
Admire Gullfoss, the queen of Iceland’s waterfalls, as it tumbles down a deep gorge. Discover lovely Þingvellir National Park – full of natural beauty and historic interest. See the places where Iceland is being pulled apart by massive forces within Earth’s crust.
Visit the birth-place of the Icelandic parliament (the world’s oldest) and view the jets of water at Geysir – the spouting springs that have lent their name to all the hot springs of the world. The stop at Geysir will be around 30 minutes.
Drive through the craggy landscape to the town where thermal energy – clean, safe and efficient – is powering a thriving horticultural industry.
- Tour information
- Activity schedule
- Itinerary
When does it run?
English speaking Tour: Daily
German speaking Tour: Saturday
Scandinavian speaking Tour: Friday
Duration
8 hours 30 minutes
Start time
0830h (08:30am), You will be picked up at your hotel 30 minutes prior to tour departure.
Meeting point
Pick-up from your hotel or guest-house in Reykjavik (Please mention your hotel/guest-house details at the time of booking. If you do not have this information now, please contact the local activity operator 24 hours prior to the start of the tour with these details.)
See on map
Ending point
At the end of the tour you will be dropped off at your hotel/guest-house in Reykjavik
- Tour information
- Activity schedule
- Itinerary
The Golden Circle Tour from Reykjavik takes you to some of the best known historical sites and natural phenomena in Iceland. At the start of the tour you will be picked up from your hotel/guest-house at around 0830h (08:30am).
You will start by visiting Nesjavellir, a high temperature geothermal area in the scenic landscape of Lake Þingvallavatn. From there you will go on to the Þingvellir National Park, a place of fascinating geology and exceptional natural beauty. The Mid - Atlantic Ridge – the boundary between the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates is clearly visible here. Gaze with awe at the line where Iceland is slowly being pulled apart as North America moves slowly westward and Eurasia moves equally slowly eastward.
Þingvellir is also of great historic interest, being the site where the Icelandic parliament Alþingi was founded in the year 930 AD.
Continue to the beautiful waterfall Gullfoss ('Golden Waterfall' in English), where you can walk so close to the edge you feel the mist of the glacial water on your face.
The lunch stop is usually at the Gullfoss Cafe but sometimes the tour stops at the Information Center at the geothermal area around Geysir instead. You can purchase lunch at either of these two places or bring a packed lunch along with you.
You will visit the geothermal area around the incredible spouting hot springs of Geysir and Strokkur before going on to Skálholt Church, the ancient seat of the Icelandic bishops.
From there you will travel on to Hveragerði. This small town is famous for its greenhouses heated by water from volcanic hot springs.
Due to weather and road conditions the tour operator cannot guarantee visits to Nesjavellir in the winter season. Instead you will visit Hellisheidi power plant.
At the end of the trip you will be dropped off at your accommodation in Reykjavik.
See the list of Reykjavik hotels with pickup