25 Feb Iceland Golden Circle Tour: The 7 Best Tours Available

I am going to help you find the BEST Iceland Golden Circle tour for YOU so that your next trip to Iceland is as amazing and adventure-filled as possible. If you did not already know, the Golden Circle is arguably the most popular region in all of Iceland. Why is that? First, it holds a variety of beautiful attractions. These include, but are not limited to, Thingvellir National Park, Geysir Hot Springs, Gullfoss waterfall, Kerid Crater, and more. Second, it is located only approximately one hour northeast of the capital city of Reykjavík or just one hour and 15 minutes northeast of Keflavík International Airport. When I was planning my Iceland trip, I knew without a doubt that I needed to spend at least one full day exploring the Golden Circle.

Each of the tour options below are slightly different so that you can find the tour that best suits your needs. For example, maybe you want a full day tour vs. an afternoon tour. Furthermore, maybe you want a tour dedicated to a specific attraction in the Golden Circle vs. multiple attractions. Whatever you desire, you can find it below!

While you are in the Golden Circle area, might I recommend that you look into the best hotels in the Golden Circle as well as the most romantic hotels to turn your trip into a romantic getaway?

Contents:

1) Best Full Day Golden Circle Tour

2) Best Half Day Golden Circle Tour

3) Best Multiple Day Golden Circle Tour

4) Best Private Golden Circle Tour

5) Best Singular Attraction in the Golden Circle Tour

6) Best Golden Circle + Northern Lights Tour

7) Most Unique Golden Circle Tour

8) BONUS: Best Golden Circle Attractions

 

1) Best Full Day Golden Circle Tour in Iceland

First up on the list of the best Iceland Golden Circle tour options is the Golden Circle, Blue Lagoon, and Kerid Volcanic Crater Tour. It stops at all of the main attractions within the Golden Circle as well as the Blue Lagoon. You can thus enjoy a soak in the geothermal spa at the end of the day as you let all your worries wash away.

While many people refer to the Blue Lagoon as a tourist trap, I believe that it is well worth your time and money to visit. I visited the Blue Lagoon on my last full day in Iceland, and I picked the 9am time slot. Moreover, I was actually the first one in the lagoon that morning. I will not soon forget the memory of being the first person to enter the Blue Lagoon that morning and feeling an overwhelming sense of peace and calmness as I let the warm water rejuvenate my body.

Price, Time, and Pickup

You need to budget around $229 per person for the tour. Additionally, be prepared to be out and about all day, for the tour lasts around 11 hours. The tour company does offer pickup from hotels within the capital city of Reykjavík. However, be aware that buses cannot drive on all roads within the city. If your hotel is on a road they cannot access, they can pick you up at the bus stop closest to your hotel.

The tour price includes the entrance fee to Kerid Crater and Thingvellir National Park as well as a comfort admission ticket to the Blue Lagoon. The Blue Lagoon ticket itself normally costs around $90 to $110, so you are getting a good deal! On the other hand, no food or drinks are included in the tour price.

Itinerary

First, the tour stops at Thingvellir National Park for 45 minutes. You have enough time to walk around and appreciate attractions such as the Almannagjá Trail (aka the trail between tectonic plates) and Öxarárfoss waterfall. Second, continue on to Geysir Hot Springs for one hour and 20 minutes. My favorite geyser there is Strokkur, which is the largest geyser currently erupting in the area.

Third, there is a stop at Gullfoss waterfall for 40 minutes. I recommend you walk the entire path to the falls, for I was able to see a rainbow over the falls while on the path. Moreover, I could appreciate the waterfall from various angles (and of course snap a bunch of photographs). Fourth, enjoy a stop at Kerid Crater for 30 minutes. Kerid Crater is a volcanic crater that formed thousands of years ago, and you can even walk down into it. Fifth, the tour’s last stop is at the Blue Lagoon for two hours. Sit back and relax as the geothermal waters work their magic. Oh, and did I mention the ticket provided through the tour includes one free face mask and one free drink?!

Link to tour booking: Golden Circle, Blue Lagoon, and Kerid Volcanic Crater Tour.

 

2) Best Half Day Golden Circle Tour in Iceland

Second, the Golden Circle Classic Day Trip from Reykjavík takes its passengers to the three most popular attractions within the Golden Circle. The tour is a bit shorter than the one mentioned above, so you will still have time left in the day to explore elsewhere if you wish.

Price, Time, and Pickup

The tour costs approximately $77 per person and lasts around seven hours. The tour company does offer pickup from some hotels within Reykjavík. However, be aware that buses cannot drive on all roads within the city. If your hotel is on a road they cannot access, they can pick you up at the bus stop closest to your hotel.

The cost of the tour also includes the entrance fee to Thingvellir National Park. On the other hand, they do not provide any food or drink.

Itinerary

First, the tour stops at Thingvellir for one hour. This is a great amount of time to check out the Silfra fissure, Almannagjá Trail, and Öxarárfoss waterfall. You can walk between the tectonic plates on the Almannagjá Trail and see the crevice between the plates at the Silfra fissure. I even booked a snorkeling tour in the Silfra fissure so I can now say that I have snorkeled between tectonic plates. If you have extra time in the Golden Circle, I highly recommend the snorkeling tour. It was one of my favorite things I did in all of Iceland.

Second, enjoy a two hour stop at Geysir Hot Springs. This offers you enough time to grab food as well as to walk the path around all of the geysers, boiling mud pits, and fumaroles. Additionally, be sure to stop by Strokkur. It is currently the largest erupting geyser in the area, and it erupts over 100 feet (~31 meters) in the air every five to 15 minutes. I made sure to stop at Strokkur for one of its eruptions, though it got quite crowded by the time the eruption occurred. Therefore, I recommend you get there a bit before the eruption is planned to occur so that you can secure a good view.

Third, the tour has its last stop at Gullfoss waterfall for 60 minutes. Be sure to walk along the entire path to the waterfall. Although, be aware that I got a misty shower from the falls when walking along the path.

Link to tour booking: Golden Circle Classic Day Trip from Reykjavík.

 

3) Best Multiple Day Golden Circle Tour in Iceland

Third on the list of the best Iceland Golden Circle tour options is the 3-Day Golden Circle, South Coast, and Glacier Tour. Not only do you travel to the Golden Circle on this tour, but you also travel along the south coast, hike on a glacier, and enjoy a boat ride on the famous Glacier Lagoon. If you do not have a car to drive yourself around, then I highly recommend you consider this tour as it hits a lot of my favorite regions in Iceland. For example, the southern coast of Iceland was my favorite coast. Moreover, the Glacier Lagoon was one of my favorite locations, and I even booked a glacier kayaking tour for my visit there.

Furthermore, I recommend you check out additional south coast tour options in Iceland, for there is so much to see and do in the area.

Price, Time, and Pickup

Let me warn you that the price is somewhat high. However, that is normal for a tour that lasts three days AND includes multiple activities/excursions as well as lodging. Booking everything yourself would probably come out to around the same price. The tour total is approximately $830 per person. Moreover, the tour lasts a full three days.

They do offer pickup from some hotels within Reykjavík. However, be aware that buses cannot drive on all roads within the city. If your hotel is on a road they cannot access, they can pick you up at the bus stop closest to your hotel.

The price of the tour includes a lot of things. For example, the tour covers lodging for the first and second night, all breakfasts, a boat tour on the Glacier lagoon, the entrance fee to Kerid Crater and Thingvellir, and a guided ice hiking tour. On the other hand, lunches and dinners are not covered.

Itinerary

During the tour, you stop at all of the main attractions within the Golden Circle and along the southern coast as well as a few attractions on the eastern coast. Additionally, you engage in a few unique excursions.

First, stops within the Golden Circle include: Thingvellir National Park, Gullfoss waterfall, Geysir Hot Springs, and Kerid Crater. Out of these attractions, Thingvellir National Park was my favorite as it is hard to beat seeing the rift between tectonic plates.

Second, stops in southern Iceland include: Seljalandsfoss, Gljúfrabúi, Skógafoss, Sólheimajökull Glacier, and Reynisfjara Black Sand Beach. The ice hike occurs at Sólheimajökull Glacier. The south coast has so many amazing attractions. It is hard for me to choose just one favorite. But if I absolutely must, then I would say Skógafoss is the most impressive attraction along the southern coast.

Third, stops in eastern Iceland include: Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon, Diamond Beach, Hofskirkja, and Fjaðrárgljúfur Canyon. The boat tour on the glacier lagoon occurs at Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon. I LOVED the Glacier Lagoon. Honestly, I could have spent an entire day just watching pieces of the glacier break off and float around the lagoon and then out into the ocean.

Link to tour booking: 3-Day Golden Circle, South Coast, and Glacier Tour.

 

4) Best Private Golden Circle Tour in Iceland

Maybe you prefer a bit of privacy and want to enjoy a tour with only people you know. Then I recommend the Golden Circle Private Tour with Secret Stops. You can still enjoy all of the main attractions within the Golden Circle, but now you will do so in a small group of up to four people. This might be the best Iceland Golden Circle tour option if you are traveling with family or a small group of friends.

Price, Time, and Pickup

Before I tell you the price of the tour, let me explain it a little bit. The price for the tour is per group of up to four people. Therefore, the price is the total amount that all four people will pay together. The tour price is approximately $1,880. If you book the tour with four people, then the cost comes out to around $470 per person. In all honesty, that is a pretty good price for a private tour. A lot of private tours can be $600+ per person.

The tour lasts around eight hours. Furthermore, they offer hotel pickup for all passengers. If they are not able to pick you up at your hotel, then they can offer a secondary pickup location.

Additionally, the tour includes a local guide and the entrance fee for Thingvellir National Park. On the other hand, no food or drink is covered. Moreover, you need to cover the entrance fee to Kerid Crater as well as Faxi (Vatnsleysufoss) waterfall yourself. The entrance fees are not too expensive, just around $10 total for both attractions.

Itinerary

First, the tour stops at Thingvellir National Park for 50 minutes. When I visited, I prioritized seeing the former site of the Icelandic parliament, the waterfall, and the rift between the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates. Second, enjoy a stop at the Geysir Hot Springs and Strokkur for 50 minutes. Strokkur is the largest active geyser in the area, so make sure you plan time to see it erupt.

Third, marvel at the Gullfoss waterfall for 40 minutes. I was lucky enough to see a rainbow over the falls, and I also had enough time to walk along the path on the side of the falls. Fourth, the tour stops at Kerid Crater. Kerid Crater is a volcanic crater that supposedly formed when a cone shaped volcano collapsed in upon itself. Fifth, the last stop of the tour is at the Faxi (Vatnsleysufoss) Waterfall for 15 minutes. There is a path down to the edge of the falls, so you can truly get up close and personal with Faxi.

Link to tour booking: Golden Circle Private Tour with Secret Stops.

 

5) Best Singular Attraction in the Golden Circle Tour in Iceland

The first thing I did after arriving in Iceland was snorkeling in the Silfra fissure. Therefore, the next tour on the list of the best Iceland Golden Circle tour options is of course the Silfra: Snorkeling Between Tectonic Plates Tour. The Silfra fissure is a rift between the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates. What does this mean? You will technically be snorkeling in between the tectonic plates! 

I promise I will not lead you astray. Snorkeling in the Silfra fissure was an amazing experience, and it was worth every penny I paid for it. Was the water cold? Absolutely. However, the water temperature was in the back of my mind as I marveled at just how clear the water was and the life present in the fissure.

Price, Time, and Pickup

The snorkeling tour costs approximately $120 per person and lasts around two and a half hours. No pickup is included on this tour, so you will need to meet on location. For reference, the Silfra fissure is located within Thingvellir National Park in the Golden Circle.

The price of the tour includes a guided snorkeling experience, all snorkeling equipment, the entrance fee for the Silfra fissure, and some delicious hot chocolate and cookies for afterwards. On the other hand, photos are not included. Instead, you can purchase photos for an additional cost.

Itinerary

Once you check in with the tour company, they provide you with all of the necessary snorkeling equipment. It will take a good couple of minutes for you to put everything on, especially if you have never worn a drysuit before. Do not fear, however, for the guide can assist you (I may know from personal experience). Additionally, the guide goes over a few safety points as well as a bit of history on the Silfra fissure. This portion of the tour lasts approximately one hour.

Then the guide leads everyone to the Silfra fissure, where you snorkel in the water for around 45 minutes. Take full advantage of your time in the water, for it is incredibly clear due to the fact it flows from a glacier. I only ever brought my head out of the water to make sure that I was still following the guide. Otherwise, my head was in the water as I tried to savor every moment.

After snorkeling is over, the guide leads everyone back to the area where you got ready. You remove all of your equipment and then enjoy some hot chocolate and cookies. Trust me, nothing will warm you up faster than a nice cup of hot chocolate.

Link to tour booking: Silfra: Snorkeling Between Tectonic Plates Tour.

 

6) Best Golden Circle + Northern Lights Tour in Iceland

Sixth up on the list of the best Iceland Golden Circle tour options is the Golden Circle Afternoon and Northern Lights Tour from Reykjavík. The Northern Lights attract thousands upon thousands of visitors to Iceland every single year. If you want to increase your chances of seeing them during your travels, then be sure to check out this tour. In addition to the Northern Lights, you still get to enjoy the main Golden Circle attractions on this tour!

I visited Iceland in the summer, which unfortunately meant that I did not have a chance of seeing the Northern Lights. However, you have to pick the time of year you want to visit based on your priorities. I wanted extensive daylight hours and the ability to travel around the entire country without having to worry about hazardous weather due to snow. Nevertheless, the Northern Lights are still on my bucket list and I WILL see them one day.

Price, Time, and Pickup

You need to budget approximately $210 per person for the tour. Furthermore, the tour lasts around 10 hours. The company does offer pickup from some hotels within Reykjavík as well as a few general pickup points. However, be aware that buses cannot drive on all roads within the city. If your hotel is on a road they cannot access, they can pick you up at the bus stop closest to your hotel.

The price of the tour includes a Northern Lights guide, the entrance fee for Thingvellir National Park, and hot drinks in the car. On the other hand, meals are not included.

Itinerary

First, the tour stops at Thingvellir National Park. Be sure to stop by the Silfra fissure and Almannagjá, where you can snorkel and walk in between tectonic plates, respectively. Second, enjoy some time at Geysir Hot Springs. Walk on the path around the area, inspecting all of the geysers, boiling mud pits, and fumaroles. Additionally, watch Strokkur, the largest active geyser in the area, erupt over 100 feet (~31 meters) in the air.

Third, continue on to Gullfoss waterfall. I was lucky enough to see a rainbow over the falls as the water cascades down in the canyon. Fourth, hunt for the Northern Lights on the last phase of the tour. A guide is also with you to offer some interesting facts and to increase your chances of seeing the Northern Lights.

Link to tour booking: Golden Circle Afternoon and Northern Lights Tour from Reykjavík.

 

7) Most Unique Golden Circle Tour in Iceland

Of course we have to end the list of the best Iceland Golden Circle tour options with a tour that is a bit more unique. The Laugarvatn Fontana: Geothermal Bread-Baking Experience Tour allows you the opportunity to not only taste but also bake traditional Icelandic lava bread.

Iceland is not generally known for its amazing food (sorry, Iceland). However, this tour is an exception. Bread baked in the ground?! You do not want to miss out on this.

Price, Time, and Pickup

This is the cheapest tour on the list, for it only costs $20 per person. Moreover, the tour is about 30 minutes long. Due to the nature of the tour, no hotel pickup is offered. Instead, you must meet on site at Laugarvatn Fontana.

The tour includes the entrance fee for the bakery tour, a live demonstration of how to bake traditional Icelandic lava bread, a bread tasting, and a piece of smoked trout. On the other hand, the tour does not include any drinks or entrance to the geothermal bath. You can instead purchase tickets for the bath separately.

Itinerary

During the tour, you learn a bit about how traditional Icelandic lava bread is made. Moreover, you even witness a live bread-baking demonstration where they bury the bread in the ground. The best part of the tour, however, might be when you are able to sample some fresh lava bread. The sample you receive is from bread that was cooked in the ground the day before.

Link to tour booking: Laugarvatn Fontana: Geothermal Bread-Baking Experience Tour.

 

8) BONUS: Best Golden Circle Attractions

A lot of Golden Circle attractions were mentioned in the various tours above, but I have to offer my own personal list of the best Golden Circle attractions so that you do not miss out. For example, none of the tours above include the Flúðir Tarn. Why is that? Well, the Flúðir Tarn is a bit of a hidden gem. I didn’t even know it existed until I arrived at my first night of lodging at Skyggnir Bed and Breakfast. They had a guidebook that recommended the Flúðir Tarn as one of the best places to visit in the area. I trusted in their advice and set out. I can now confidently say they were right! The Flúðir Tarn was beautiful, and I even had the mountain all to myself.

• Thingvellir National Park: park that contains a rift between tectonic plates (and a snorkeling opportunity)
• Geysir Hot Springs: fumaroles, geysirs, boiling mud pits, and more!
• Gullfoss: waterfall with a trail alongside it (if you are lucky, you might also catch a rainbow)
• Flúðir Tarn: lake on top of a mountain
• Kerid Crater: volcanic crater with a small lake at the bottom

Best Southern Coast Attractions 

While the following attractions are not within the Golden Circle, a good number of them are not too far away. Moreover, some of the best Iceland Golden Circle tours mentioned above include stops at a few southern coast attractions. But why am I telling you all of this? The southern coast was my favorite coast in Iceland. It has waterfalls galore, black sand beaches for miles, and a cave that even looks like Yoda. Moreover, one of my favorite waterfalls, Skógafoss, is along the southern coast. I stood in awe at the base of Skógafoss and then hiked on Fimmvorduhals Pass (or Waterfall Way) for a bit past the top of Skógafoss.

• Gljúfrabúi and Seljalandsfoss: waterfall within a gorge and waterfall with a path behind it
• Skógafoss: one of the most majestic waterfalls in all of Iceland
• Seljavallalaug Pool: geothermal pool alongside a river
• DC-3 Plane Wreck: remnants of a navy plane wreckage on the beach
• Reynisfjara Black Sand Beach: black sand beach with basalt rock columns caves and sea stacks
• Vík: coastal town with black sand beaches
• Yoda Cave: shaped like Yoda the cave is
• Laufskálavarða: lava ridge with stone cairns

 

PIN IT to save it for later!

 

 

Check out my Iceland itinerary: 9 Day Road Trip Itinerary for Iceland.

Put some of my favorite attractions on your itinerary: Top 10 Things to Do in Iceland.