Iceland from Reykjavik: Golden Circle Tour with Local Surprise
Description
Explore Iceland’s iconic Golden Circle, including Þingvellir National Park, the Geysir geothermal area, Gullfoss waterfall, and the colorful Kerið volcanic crater. The regular daily tour runs from 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM, offering a well-paced full-day experience. If you’re visiting Reykjavík on a cruise ship, check the date your ship is in port. On selected days, we operate dedicated departures aligned with cruise port hours, allowing you to enjoy the Golden Circle and return comfortably to your ship on time. Þingvellir National Park (UNESCO World Heritage Site) Geysir geothermal area Gullfoss waterfall Kerið volcanic crater
Tour Options
Itinerary
At Þingvellir National Park, travelers will explore one of Iceland’s most historically and geologically significant sites. Walk between the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates, visit the area where the world’s oldest parliament was founded, and enjoy views of lava fields, cliffs, and clear spring-fed water. The guide will explain the site’s history, geology, and cultural importance during a short walk through the park.
At Gullfoss waterfall, travelers will experience one of Iceland’s most powerful and iconic natural sights. The river Hvítá cascades in two dramatic stages into a deep canyon, creating mist and impressive views from several walking paths. The guide will share insight into the waterfall’s formation, history, and its role in Iceland’s natural heritage.
At the Geysir geothermal area, travelers will explore an active geothermal landscape filled with steaming vents and bubbling hot springs. The highlight is Strokkur geyser, which erupts regularly, sending hot water high into the air every few minutes. The guide will explain the geothermal activity of the area and what causes these natural eruptions.
Kerið is a striking volcanic crater known for its vivid red slopes and turquoise lake at the bottom. Visitors can walk along the rim for panoramic views of the crater and surrounding landscape, or follow a safe path down to the lake itself. The site offers a close look at Iceland’s volcanic geology and is an easy, accessible stop that allows time for photos and short walks.
Highlights
What's included
Pickup Locations & Times
Pickup and meeting time starts at 09:00 and may take up to 30 minutes. If you have selected pickup, please be ready and wait at your chosen pickup location from 09:00. If you do not require pickup, please meet us at: Bus Stop #12 – Höfðatorg Þórunnartún 6, 105 Reykjavík The bus will arrive anytime between 09:00 and 09:30. Important for cruise ship passengers: If you are visiting Reykjavík on a cruise ship, please follow the pickup and meeting time shown on your voucher. On cruise days, we often operate dedicated departures tailored to ship schedules, and the time you selected during booking is the correct one for your tour.
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Reviews(95)
Great day with the kids seeing some incredible sites. Mike and Vik took the best care of us. Nearly everything in Iceland was beyond our budget but this tour was such good value. Highly recommend.
WOW!!! This tour was absolutely fantastic and we really enjoyed the marvels that Iceland has to offer. The tour guide was very informative and we felt that there was plenty of time at each stop. If Viator could control the weather that would be great but even in the pouring rain this was an exceptional tour. We could have spent days just watching the geysers. My experience is that Viator is always a great value, fantastic service and on-time.
Thank you for such a wonderful review! We’re thrilled that you enjoyed discovering the Golden Circle with us, and it’s fantastic to hear that your guide made the experience informative while allowing plenty of time to take in each location. And while we unfortunately haven’t figured out how to order Icelandic sunshine just yet, we’re glad the rain didn’t dampen your adventure! The geysers certainly have a way of stealing the show in any weather. Just a small clarification: Magic Iceland Travel was the tour operator hosting your experience, while Viator is the booking platform. We truly appreciate your kind words about the tour and our team, and we hope to have the pleasure of showing you more of Iceland in the future!
If you've been to Yellowstone in the US, the Geyser Valley isn't all that impressive, but the view of the Ling Glacier, if you get a clear sunny day, is. We also enjoyed the small lical surprise & the waterfall. However, our guide Viktoria was a blast- her stories were funny & informative- and the bus was comfortable. While they didn't hold any of the seats for easy access for handicapped ridrs, we did manage to find a pair by the middle doors after getting in from the front if the bus at the start , so getting in & out at stops from the mud-doors made it eadier on my husband.
Thank you for taking the time to share such a detailed review of your Golden Circle experience. We’re especially happy to hear that Viktoria brought plenty of personality to the day and that her stories made the journey both entertaining and informative. It’s great that you enjoyed the waterfall, the local surprise, and the views when the weather cooperated. Icelandic weather certainly has a way of deciding which landscapes it wants to reveal! We also appreciate your note regarding accessibility and seating. Feedback like this is valuable, and we’ll keep it in mind as we look for ways to make our tours more comfortable and accessible for all our guests. We’ll be sure to pass your kind words on to Viktoria. We hope to welcome you back to Iceland for another adventure with Magic Iceland Travel!
Very informative guide Viktoria but was almost a whistle stop tour, felt rushed at times Golden circle is a must do, visited all the popular sites However bus didn’t turn up at collection point until 45 minutes after allotted time of 9am although the company eventually did message to say bus was on its way Not enough time at the stops to completely appreciate the sights
Thank you for sharing your experience with us. We’re glad to hear that Viktoria made the tour informative and that you enjoyed discovering the highlights of the Golden Circle. We’d also like to clarify the pick-up timing. Our pick-up window begins at 9:00 AM and lasts approximately 30–40 minutes, rather than having a fixed arrival time of 9:00. On the day of your tour, we had an unusually high number of pick-ups and unfortunately arrived around 5 minutes beyond the end of the scheduled pick-up window. We sincerely apologize for the inconvenience and appreciate your patience. We’re also glad that our message helped keep you updated while the bus was on its way. Regarding the pace of the tour, we understand that you would have preferred more time at some of the stops. With a full Golden Circle itinerary, balancing all the main attractions within the available time can be challenging, but your feedback is very helpful and will be shared with our team. Thank you again for choosing Magic Iceland Travel.
Everything was nice. The Geisler was every 5 minutes but if you blink, you miss it!
Thank you for joining us on our Golden Circle adventure! We’re happy to hear you enjoyed the experience and the different stops along the way. And yes, the geyser certainly doesn’t believe in keeping a regular appointment — you have to keep your eyes open! 😄 We’re glad you managed to catch its eruptions and hope they made for a memorable part of your day. Thank you for choosing Magic Iceland Travel, and we hope to see you again on another Icelandic adventure!
This trip was a great introduction to the beauty, extravagance, and variety of Icelandic nature. Also, your trip will be made all the better if Viktoría is your guide. Thank you Viktoría for taking a picture with this old chunk of coal. Takk kærlega.
What a lovely way to remember your time in Iceland! We’re delighted that the tour gave you a taste of the incredible variety of landscapes our country has to offer. And we’ll be sure to pass your kind words along to Viktoría — we have a feeling she’ll get a good laugh out of the “old chunk of coal” comment! 😄 Thank you for spending the day with Magic Iceland Travel and for sharing such a warm review. We hope your Icelandic memories continue to bring a smile long after your trip!
Great tours, super guide Vic. Stops were good, her narrative was excellent..........this rating app sucks. It was a great experience, but don't want to write a book about it. NO MINIMUMS
Thank you for the wonderfully concise review! 😄 We’re delighted that you had a great day and that Vic made the experience even better with her storytelling and knowledge. We’re also glad the itinerary and stops worked well for you. No essay required here, we’re simply happy to know you enjoyed your time exploring the Golden Circle with Magic Iceland Travel! We hope to welcome you back for another adventure in Iceland.
Great experience and a lot of fun. Iceland is amazing and the tour guide Vic is hilarious. We had a great time
Thank you so much for your review! We really appreciate that you enjoyed both the sights of the Golden Circle and your guide. :) Thanks again and have a great day!
Very competent and friendly tour guide Jessica and very good driver Pawel. Good value for money in contrast to the insanely inflated TUI prices on Mein Schiff. Very good tour! New and comfortable coach.
Thank you so much for your wonderful feedback! We’re so happy to hear that you enjoyed the tour and were pleased with the team and our comfortable new coach. We truly appreciate you choosing to travel with us!
Roman our guide was very knowledgeable and made the trip even more enjoyable The booking system is first class even after we had to amend our booking, it was seem less . Great value and a fantastic trip
Thank you so much for your review. We’re delighted to hear how much Roman added to your experience with his knowledge and warm guiding style. It’s also great to know the booking process felt smooth for you, even with the amendment. We’re happy the day delivered such great value and a fantastic adventure. We’d love to welcome you again on another tour.
