The Golden Circle tour is a must-see for anyone visiting Iceland for the first time.
The Golden Circle is the most popular day tour from Reykjavik. This tour combines historical and geological sites and is recommended for an initial introduction to the country. During the trip, we visit the Thingvellir National Park, the geothermally active Haukadalur Valley with the Geysir and Strokkur geysers, and one of the symbols of Iceland – the Gullfoss waterfall. Other attractions along the way include Fridheimar’s tomato greenhouse and Kerid Crater.
Highlights
- A perfect introduction for first-time visitors
- Explore Iceland on a privately guided tour
- Visit some of Iceland’s most popular destinations in one day
Visited Places
- Thingvellir National Park
- Efsti Dalur farm (for ice cream)
- Haukadalur Geyser Valley
- Gullfoss Waterfall
- Fridheimar Greenhouse (for lunch)
- Kerid Crater
The tour can be tailored according to your wishes. Please let us know if you would like to visit other places or add activities to your trip.
| Travel Style | Private Day Tour |
| Availability | All Seasons, Daily |
| Group Size | Up to 5 people |
| Tour Duration | 8 hours. Travel distance 250 km/160 mi |
| Pickup Time | 9:00 AM (or 8:30, 9:30) |
| Transportation | SUV or Minivan |
- Pickup and drop off in Reykjavik
- Driver/guide services during the trip
- Private transportation for your group
- Food and drinks
Additional pickup details
We will pick you up from your Reykjavik accommodation or the cruise ship terminal. Pickup and drop-off outside the capital are possible for an additional fee.
To know before booking
- Most travelers can participate.
- Infant seats are available.
- For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the tour starts.
- If the operator cancels the tour due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund.
Tour Pricing
Tour availability and price depend on your group size, as the booking form below indicates.
Our tour starts from Reykjavik, where we head to Thingvellir National Park. Thingvellir served as a legislative base for centuries, from the first Viking settlers until the late 18th century. We will walk along the Almannagja fissure in the park, where the American and Eurasian tectonic plates diverge.
We then head to Haukadalur, the Valley of Geysers, where Strokkur, the largest active geyser in the country, spews a mixture of hot water and steam to a height of 20–30 meters (65–100 ft) every 5–10 minutes, while other hot springs in the area are calm but colorful.
One of the main attractions of the route is the Gullfoss waterfall, consisting of two cascades 11 and 22 meters (36 and 72 ft) high, cascading into a long canyon. From Gullfoss, we drive to Fridheimar, a tomato greenhouse and an excellent example of Icelandic farming. Here, we can enjoy unique dishes in the restaurant inside the greenhouse.
Another stop we will make along the way is the Kerid Crater. The steep slopes of the crater, about 55 meters (180 ft) deep, resemble an ancient theater, and the crater floor is filled with water, forming a small lake. On the way to Reykjavik, we will drive through the Hellisheidi mountain pass and take you back to Reykjavik to your hotel or guesthouse.
Please note: the route is subject to change depending on weather and road conditions.
We assume that you may have questions while preparing for your trip. We want to answer some of them in advance to provide you with complete information about our tours and make them as comfortable as possible. Below, you can find the most frequently asked questions.
Payments for day tours are collected online while booking. We accept major credit cards such as Visa, MasterCard, and American Express. If you have any problems with using American Express, please contact us. If another way of payment is preferable, please contact us through email at info@topicelandtours.com.
Pickup is included in the tour price and arranged from your lodging places or designated bus stops in Reykjavik. Please be ready outside or in the lobby; the tour description mentions the pickup time. Please get in touch with us if you want to change the place of pick up.
Suppose your group is bigger than five people and a minibus is used for tour transportation. In that case, we have limited possibility for pickups in downtown Reykjavík due to driving/parking restrictions in the area. Then, we shall pick you up from designated bus stops or ask to meet a driver-guide nearby, where we can pick you up. Please email us at info@topicelandtours.com, and we’ll determine the best pickup location.
Drop-offs are provided at the same pickup as pickup unless otherwise arranged with the driver/guides.
We arrange refreshment stops at cafés or restaurants on daily tours, where you can purchase your lunch and snacks. Therefore, you are not required to bring your food for the tour; however, if you prefer to bring some snacks or drinks, that is acceptable. Please note that food and beverages are not included in the tour price.
Nearly all restaurants in Iceland offer vegetarian food. There is no problem with purchasing vegetarian meals on tours.
The bathrooms are available at visitor centers at many stops on popular routes such as Golden Circle and South Coast. Some bathroom stops are available on the Snaefellsnes Peninsula tour. Your driver-guide will inform you about available places for bathroom stops on the route.
Flexible Policy for Cancellations and Refunds
All Top Iceland day tours are fully refundable until the day of tour delivery. You will receive a full refund of the tour price:
- If you cancel a booking 24 hours before the start of the tour for any reason. Please note you will not receive any refund if you do not cancel the tour and do not show up. Also, timing is calculated following the time zone of the tour
- If Top Iceland cancels the tour
- If You cannot take the tour because of an unforeseeable event that is out of your control (“Unforeseeable Events”).
Refunds will be sent back to the original payment method used in making the booking. Depending on the bank’s processing time, the repayments can take seven business days to reflect in your account or card balance.
All cancellations must be initiated by contacting Top-Iceland:
- Emailing info@topicelandtours.com
- Sending a Message through the website topicelandtours.com
- Telephone: +354 626 9000
Top-Iceland is not responsible for any incidental expenses you and/or any other participant may have directly or indirectly incurred due to a tour booking. These expenses include, but are not limited to, the cost of visas, accommodation, vehicle rental, vaccinations, flights, and loss of enjoyment.
In any cancellation event, you may reschedule the tour or take a credit towards a future booking instead of receiving a refund. You can find more details for cancellation policies on the Terms & Conditions page.
Please contact us if you have any questions about our cancellation policy.
Solid, warm & waterproof shoes and warm rain & windproof outdoor clothing are recommended for all the tours. (Please see the question below about weather and temperature).
Here below is a table with average temperatures, precipitation, and daylights by month in Iceland:
| Month | Avg. High | Avg. Low | Avg. Rainfall | Avg. Sunlight |
| January | 36°F (2°C) | 28°F (-2°C) | 4 inches | 5 hours |
| February | 36°F (2°C) | 28°F (-2°C) | 4.3 inches | 8 hours |
| March | 38°F (3°C) | 30°F (-1°C) | 3.7 inches | 12 hours |
| April | 43°F (6°C) | 34°F (1°C) | 2.9 inches | 16 hours |
| May | 48°F (9°C) | 40°F (4°C) | 2.3 inches | 18 hours |
| June | 54°F (12°C) | 46°F (8°C) | 2.1 inches | 21 hours |
| July | 57°F (14°C) | 49°F (9°C) | 2.7 inches | 19 hours |
| August | 55°F (13°C) | 47°F (8°C) | 3.5 inches | 16 hours |
| September | 50°F (10°C) | 42°F (6°C) | 4.6 inches | 13 hours |
| October | 44°F (7°C) | 36°F (2°C) | 4.5 inches | 9 hours |
| November | 39°F (4°C) | 30°F (-1°C) | 4.2 inches | 6 hours |
| December | 36°F (2°C) | 29°F (-2°C) | 4.1 inches | 4 hours |
Please remember that the weather in Iceland changes rapidly, and you cannot count on long-term forecasts. The two most reliable sources of the weather forecast are https://www.vedur.is/ and https://www.yr.no/
Fortunately not, even on the shortest days of the year, there are several hours of daylight every day – between 11:00 am and 4:00 pm. If you wish to check a specific time of the year, we recommend using https://www.timeanddate.com/sun/iceland/reykjavik
In general – the earlier, the better. Consider that most of our tours are privately guided, so availability on certain dates might be limited.
Tipping in Iceland is not required but is always appreciated.
Yes, it is requested by Icelandic law to have child seats/boosters. Some families are already traveling with one, but if you want us to provide child seats and boosters on tour, please email an email.
