Small Group Golden Circle Tour

Itinerary

Our Small Group Golden Circle Tour begins with our fast and efficient pickup service. You simply need to wait at your hotel or at one of the designated pick-up points and let us take care of the rest. Once we have all our guests we will set off from the city and journey to our first major destination.

Kerid Crater

Kerið volcanic crater will be the first stop we make. Kerid was formed during a volcanic eruption some 6500 years. kerið Crater Iceland is one of many crater lakes located in this area. Its vivid colors and stunning landscape have made it a popular place to visit. Rough walking paths on the crater rim and down to the crater lake itself allow you to explore this stunning phenomenon.

Fridheimar Farm

Our next stop after Kerid is a family-run farm called Friðheimar. Located near the geothermal town of Flúðir (home of the secret lagoon ), the unique farm Fridheimar is known for its greenhouses and the pure breed Icelandic horses. The owners have combined their compassion for Horticulture with active breeding programs for the Icelandic horse. The pure breed Icelandic horse is known for its diversity of gaits, coat colors, strength, health, and good spirit. You will be invited to the stable where you get a presentation about the horse and a one-horse show of the gaits. Coffee and tea is included while you enjoy the experience.

At Friðheimar greenhouse you will get a guided tour to get an insight into the processes of greenhouse horticulture in Iceland to get a better understanding of how we manage to grow vegetables in cold climates by creating Mediterranean conditions all year around. The Atrium also includes an exhibition about the use of geothermal heating in Icelandic horticulture. The tour ends with a taste of some greenhouse-grown fresh tomatoes and a reserved table for a true food experience for the ones that want to enjoy a good organic lunch straight from the farm, in a unique environment.

Gullfoss Waterfall

Our next stop is the breathtaking Gullfoss Waterfall, meaning the Golden Waterfall. Gullfoss is a grandiose waterfall that drops a stunning 32m over two stages into a 70 m deep canyon. It’s alimented by glacial waters coming from the nearby icecap Langjökull. The river has worked its way through the earth’s layers and sculpted the impressive canyon and the drops of the falls. Hiking paths take you to the waterfall on two levels so you both get a great overview of the whole area and get up close and personal and feel the power of the water on your own skin.

Geysir Geothermal Area

After the waterfall, we will make our way to the Geysir Geothermal area. The area gets its name from one of its hot springs called “Great Geysir” which used to be extremely active and did lend its name to hot springs all over the world. Geysir itself is no longer able to erupt without assistance, but his younger partner, Strokkur has taken over the show and spouts hot water and steam some 20 meters up in the air every 5 to 10 minutes. The process of the eruption is simply spectacular! Walking paths keep you safe exploring the area so you are good with taking in all the wonderful geothermal features; the steam vents, hot pools, bright and variated colors, and bubbling pits while you breathe the unique sulphuric smell.

Thingvellir National Park

The last stop on our tour is Þingvellir (Thingvellir) National Park where you walk in the footsteps of the Vikings, between the two continents. Thingvellir is not only Iceland’s first National park but has also been declared a UNESCO World Heritage for its great historical and geological importance. This is where the history of the nation truly began when they established their first parliament which now is the oldest running parliament in the world. Thousands of people gathered at Althingi (an open-air assembly) once a year to speak of affairs, strike, deals, settle disputes, form alliances, make and amend laws and have a good time. It was a true center of life in Golden Circle Iceland from its establishment in 930 and until it was moved to Reykjavík in 1798.

Thingvellir is not less appreciated for it’s geological importance where as it sits in a so-called rift valley that marks the crest of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge and the boundary between the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates. The tectonic plates are drifting in opposite directions at the average rate of 2 cm per year creating a dramatic landscape of big open crevasses and land subsidence.

After a good walk in the National Park we head back to Reykjavik.