Golden Circle Tour

The Golden Circle is Iceland’s most popular route and it is not by any coincidence. The route lies not so far from the capital and easily offers a variety of natural scenery to explore as well as many stories from the settlement to our times.

First, we take the chance to feast on scenic stops at Thingvellir National Park, a jewel with both historical and geological value.

This is the place where Iceland’s parliament was founded in 930 A.D; every year, and until the Danish colonialism, around 30 ruling chiefs met to discuss the law on the island.

It also holds the meeting of the North-American and Eurasian tectonic plates, and that’s the reason why we say that we can walk between continents at this specific location.

To top it off we take an easy hike to the beautiful Öxararfoss waterfall, one of the very few human-made waterfalls in Iceland. The channel of the river Öxará was moved in the 10th century in order to provide water for all the parliament assistants.

Furthermore, we visit Efstidalur dairy farm, where we are always very enthusiastic to taste their organic and homemade ice creams. The amazing views of Mount Hekla and the possibility of interacting with Icelandic cows, horses and dogs make this family farm a great place to stop. Very family-friendly and breathtaking scenery!

Geysir geothermal area is a stunning natural wonder, home to bubbling hot springs, steaming vents, and the famous Strokkur geyser, which erupts dramatically every five to ten minutes, sending a powerful jet of hot water up to 20–30 meters into the air. This dynamic geothermal landscape offers an awe-inspiring display of Iceland’s volcanic activity, with the original Great Geysir—after which all geysers are named—also located here, though it is now mostly dormant. Walking through the area, you can feel the heat rising from the earth and witness the vibrant mineral-rich pools that paint the ground in shades of blue, yellow, and orange.

Next, we head to the thundering Gullfoss waterfall, one of Iceland’s most iconic natural wonders. Fed by the Hvítá River, this two-tiered cascade plunges a total of 32 meters into a rugged canyon, creating a powerful display of nature’s force. On sunny days, you might even catch a rainbow in the mist rising from the falls. Well-maintained viewing platforms allow you to experience the waterfall from different angles, whether from above or up close, where you can feel the spray of the water.

A delicious lunch stop at Friðheimar tomato farm will replenish us before we head out again to keep on exploring the surroundings.

To finish our day, we visit Kerið Crater Lake, a striking volcanic caldera formed around 3,000 years ago. The crater is approximately 55 meters deep, 170 meters wide, and 270 meters across, with a unique oval shape. Its steep slopes, covered in red and black volcanic rock, contrast beautifully with the vivid blue-green water at the bottom. A walking path around the rim offers great views, while a trail down to the water’s edge lets visitors experience the crater up close. Kerið is a great example of Iceland’s volcanic history and a perfect final stop on our journey.

We put full emphasis on nature and culture as we tell stories when we ease through the surroundings in a small group. The tour is operated in a minibus and does not exceed more than 19 people. This way the guide can connect to all passengers and a much nicer vibe is created during the day.