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Travel bucket list idea:

Last updated: 26 June, 2023
Expert travel writer: Oliver Berry

40km from Reykjavik, this landscape of lake, lava and rock is a geological wonder. It sits astride the divide between the North American and European tectonic plates, and in many places you’ll be able to see the geological stress at work in the form of steaming fissures, hot water spouts and cracks. If you feel up to it, you can even snorkel or dive down into the Silfra divide.

It also provided the backdrop for one of Iceland’s most important historical events. A thousand years ago, Icelanders gathered here to found the Althingi, the world’s first democratically elected parliament. You can still see the Logberg (Law Rock), where the parliament gathered and the lawspeaker recounted the agreed rules.

Diving & snorkelling in the Silfra Rift

Iceland

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Bucket List Experience
Underwater view of divers in the clear water between the tetonic plates of the Silfa Rift

Dive or snorkel between two continental plates in this strikingly unique gorge, filled with pure and crystal-clear glacial meltwater.

Adult price: £80

Min age 6

Best for ages 6+

Duration: 4-8 hours

Price: Free
Minimum age: Any
Age suitable: 13+
Frequency: monthly
When: All year around
Duration: 1 night

Getting there & doing it

Thingvellir is about 40km east of Reykjavik. There’s no public transport, but most tour buses on the Golden Circle stop here. The easiest way to reach the park is to drive yourself: there is an informative visitor centre next to the main car park which gives background on the history of the site, including a bird’s–eye scale model of the entire park.

From here, various trails lead out across the park: the main one to the Althing and the Oxara waterfall is well signed and easy to follow. For the others, you can pick up trail maps from the visitor centre.

If you want to dive or snorkel in the Silfra rift, you need a permit, so it’s best to do this with an accredited operator.

When to do it

As elsewhere in Iceland, summer is busiest, and it’s the most practical time for diving and snorkelling in the Silfra Rift (most operators don’t offer tours in winter). Spring and autumn are also good times to visit, especially if you’re keen to avoid crowds.

Thingvellir remains open year-round, however, and winter can be a magical time to explore the craggy Althing amphitheatre – it looks like a set from Game of Thrones.

Our selection of the best Viator tours of this attraction or activity

Golden Circle Afternoon Tour from Reykjavik

Reykjavik

Golden Circle Afternoon Tour from Reykjavik
Explore the unique volcanic and arctic nature of Iceland. This Golden Circle Afternoon tour is a later version of the Grand Golden Circle tour and a great way to get out of the city for an afternoon or if you just want to sleep in a bit.

Price: $66

Min age: 2

Rating 4.77 / 5 [258 ratings]

Tour supplied by:

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Golden Circle Classic Day Trip from Reykjavik

Reykjavik

Golden Circle Classic Day Trip from Reykjavik
Discover some of the best sites in Iceland on the the Golden Circle Tour, in the company of a professional guide who will tell you all you need to know about the area's history, culture and nature. Leave the city behind and get into the history of Iceland at Thingvellir National Park, witness the powerful beauty of a multi-tiered waterfall at Gullfoss and walk among bubbling geothermal pools at Geysir Geothermal Area.

Price: €70

Min age: 0

Rating 4.51 / 5 [3911 ratings]

Tour supplied by:

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Golden Circle Day Trip with Kerid Volcanic Crater from Reykjavik

Reykjavik

Golden Circle Day Trip with Kerid Volcanic Crater from Reykjavik
This grand Golden Circle tour takes you to the most popular sights where you can experience the three highlights of the South West of Iceland: Geysir, Gulfoss Waterfall and Þingvellir National Park. Plus you will visit the volcanic crater lake Kerið.

Price: $73

Min age: 2

Rating 4.66 / 5 [1590 ratings]

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Golden Circle Tour Including Gullfoss and Geysir from Reykjavik

Reykjavik

Golden Circle Tour Including Gullfoss and Geysir from Reykjavik
Join an expertly guided tour from Reykjavik to experience geysers, waterfalls and some of the most exciting natural phenomena Iceland has to offer. In just 6-7 hours you'll visit the country's best known historical sites and natural wonders - making this excursion a perfect opportunity to see as much as possible without spending too much time.

Price: €81

Min age: 0

Rating 4.51 / 5 [455 ratings]

Tour supplied by:

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Golden Circle Full Day Tour from Reykjavik by Minibus

Reykjavik

Golden Circle Full Day Tour from Reykjavik by Minibus
Visit the popular sights of the Golden Circle on this 8-hour tour from Reykjavik. Ride through the Icelandic countryside in a minibus to Thingvellir National Park, Gulfoss Waterfall, Geysir, and Faxi Waterfall. On-board WiFi is included.

Price: $94

Min age: 5

Rating 4.87 / 5 [1127 ratings]

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Small-Group Golden Circle and Kerid Volcanic Crater Day Trip from Reykjavik

Reykjavik

Small-Group Golden Circle and Kerid Volcanic Crater Day Trip from Reykjavik
The Golden Circle is the most visited and popular day trip in Iceland. It includes some of the most spectacular attractions in Iceland, including Thingvellir, Geysir, Gullfoss and the Kerid Volcanic Crater. Kerid crater is 270m wide and more than 55m deep, there is also a 14m deep lake at the bottom of the crater which makes the whole scene look really magical. This is an 8-hour small-group making it a more intimate experience.

Price: $104

Min age: 5

Rating 4.82 / 5 [520 ratings]

Tour supplied by:

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Golden Circle and Secret Lagoon Day Tour with Kerid Crater from Reykjavik

Reykjavik

Golden Circle and Secret Lagoon Day Tour with Kerid Crater from Reykjavik
On your Golden Circle & Secret Lagoon Tour, you will experience a series of remarkable and diverse sites in the Southwest of Iceland. Enjoy a warm and relaxing bath in the natural thermal waters of the Secret Lagoon. This landmark is a natural hot spring and the oldest swimming pool in Iceland. Followed by a visit to remarkable sites in Golden Circle - hot spring "Geysir", “Golden Waterfall” of Gullfoss, beautiful national park of Þingvellir and the amazing volcanic crater Kerið.

Price: $106

Min age: 2

Rating 4.79 / 5 [654 ratings]

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Golden Circle & Kerið Day Tour by Minibus from Reykjavik

Reykjavik

Golden Circle & Kerið Day Tour by Minibus from Reykjavik
Set off on the amazing Golden Circle experience with many interesting stops for people of different ages and cultures. Not only we will visit the most famous Geysir, Gulfoss and Thingvellir Nacional park, but we will make a few amazing stops along the way. Firstly Kerið - a unique volcanic crater filled with water. Then famous Fridheimar greenhouse. We do not forget to stop along the way to get acquainted with horses or to taste homemade ice cream in the Efstidalur II farm. This will be a day to remember, packed with attractions, stories and good vibes! Our guides are really knowledgable and simply nice people. They will take care of you so you can get the best out of this tour.

Price: $125

Min age: 3

Rating 4.92 / 5 [214 ratings]

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Golden Circle, Kerid Volcanic Crater, and Blue Lagoon Day Trip from Reykjavik

Reykjavik

Golden Circle, Kerid Volcanic Crater, and Blue Lagoon Day Trip from Reykjavik
The Golden Circle and the Blue Lagoon are two of the most famous attractions in Iceland.  Join this tour to discover both in a unique one day adventure.  During the tour you will visit Thingvellir National Park, Geysir and Gullfoss waterfall as well as the volcanic crater Kerid (entrance fee included).     After exploring the amazing Icelandic nature, you end the journey by soaking in the extraordinary Blue Lagoon.  You arrive before 17:00 (5:00pm) and enjoy a relaxing time there for about 2 hours before heading back to Reykjavik (entrance fee to the Blue Lagoon is not included and must be booked in advance at own expense).

Price: $129

Min age: 5

Rating 4.84 / 5 [1387 ratings]

Tour supplied by:

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Golden Circle and Secret Lagoon Full Day Tour from Reykjavik by Minibus

Reykjavik

Golden Circle and Secret Lagoon Full Day Tour from Reykjavik by Minibus
This tour goes earlier then any other tour to the Secret lagoon, which means that we are in the Secret Lagoon before the big busses arrive. More cozy and less crowded.

Price: $130

Min age: 5

Rating 4.90 / 5 [853 ratings]

Tour supplied by:

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Small-Group Golden Circle Tour and Secret Lagoon Visit from Reykjavik

Reykjavik

Small-Group Golden Circle Tour and Secret Lagoon Visit from Reykjavik
Indulge in a tour of the Golden Circle - the relaxing way, and explore some of Iceland's most famous sights, including Thingvellir National Park, Gullfoss waterfall and the Geysir hot spring. Plus, see the erupting geyser Strokkur in Haukadalur geothermal area and visit the Secret Lagoon hot spring bath. Your tour begins with a mid-morning pickup. Board a climate-controlled minivan destined for the Golden Circle route. Over the course of the morning, stop at Gullfoss Waterfall, the Geysir Geyser, and Thingvellir National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, where the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates collide. On this tour, you will also spend free time soaking in the Secret Lagoon hot spring pool.

Price: $145

Min age: 0

Rating 4.79 / 5 [1591 ratings]

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Golden Circle, Volcano Crater & Blue Lagoon Small Group Tour

Reykjavik

Golden Circle, Volcano Crater & Blue Lagoon Small Group Tour
Experience the best of Iceland's natural wonders on this one day mini bus tour. Join us for this magnificent combination of of Iceland, we will take you to the Golden Circle pearls and finish the day off in the Blue Lagoon. Book now to begin your journey!

Price: $211

Min age: 14

Rating 4.68 / 5 [868 ratings]

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Golden Circle, Blue Lagoon Including Admission & Kerid Volcanic Crater

Reykjavik

Golden Circle, Blue Lagoon Including Admission & Kerid Volcanic Crater
The Golden Circle and the Blue Lagoon are the two most popular sights to visit in Iceland. Book this small group day tour and enjoy visiting both the Golden Circle and the Blue Lagoon in a relaxing fun filled day. Admission to all sights, also the Blue Lagoon, is included in the tour price so as soon as you have booked you can relax and start looking forward to your adventure. Your first stop is at the Thingvellir National Park, the UNESCO listed World Heritage Site. This is where the American and Eurasian tectonic plates meet, which allows you the unique feeling of having one foot in each world. Next destination is the famous Geysir Hot Spring. Watch Strokkur erupt every few minutes up to 30 meters high. Here you can buy a lunch during the stop. Gullfoss the Golden Waterfall is next and will amaze you with its beauty and raw power. Adding even more, you will visit the Kerid Volcanic Crater before heading off the Blue Lagoon for a relaxing end to a great day.

Price: $219

Min age: 5

Rating 4.88 / 5 [2594 ratings]

Tour supplied by:

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Golden Circle & Glacier Snowmobiling Day Trip from Reykjavik

Reykjavik

Golden Circle & Glacier Snowmobiling Day Trip from Reykjavik
This tour combines the very popular Golden Circle tour with the adventure of a lifetime - a one-hour snowmobile ride on Langjökull glacier, Iceland's second largest ice cap.

Price: $255

Min age: 6

Rating 4.44 / 5 [439 ratings]

Tour supplied by:

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Golden Circle & Snorkeling in Silfra From Reykjavík with Free Photos

Reykjavik

Golden Circle & Snorkeling in Silfra From Reykjavík with Free Photos
Snorkeling in Silfra is truly once in a lifetime experience! National Geographic describes Silfra as one of the top dive sites in the world. Combine that with the amazing Golden Circle tour from Reykjavík which includes Geysir, Gullfoss and Silfra in Thingvellir National Park.

Price: €259

Min age: 12

Rating 4.91 / 5 [404 ratings]

Tour supplied by:

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Golden Circle Super-Jeep Tour and Snowmobiling

Reykjavik

Golden Circle Super-Jeep Tour and Snowmobiling
This tour allows visitors to get in touch with some of Iceland’s most famous and exciting natural phenomena, such as Þingvellir National Park, the highly active Geysir Hot Spring Area and one of Iceland's most powerfull waterfalls, Gullfoss. To top it off, we head to Langjökull glacier where we will dash across the snowfields on a snowmobile while gazing at the peaks and ice surrounding us.

Price: €338

Min age: 6

Rating 4.72 / 5 [197 ratings]

Tour supplied by:

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Private Tour: Golden Circle Tour by Luxury SUV from Reykjavik

Reykjavik

Private Tour: Golden Circle Tour by Luxury SUV from Reykjavik
Small tour operator with personal service. All ours tours are flexible. Private tour of the Golden Circle offers the opportunity to see a meeting-point of the continental plates and site of the ancient Icelandic parliament, a spouting hot spring and a roaring waterfall, all in one doable-in-a-day loop. Visiting under your own steam allows you to visit at off-hours and explore exciting attractions further afield. Must see on all tours: • Thingvellir Nationalpark • Geysir area and Strokkur • Golden Waterfall // Gullfoss Optional stops: • Lunch at Fridheimar tomato farm • Efsti Dalur - Dary farm with delicious home made ice cream • Faxi Waterfalls • Laugavatn Fontana - SPA • Secret Lagoon - Pool For small private tours we use luxury SUV For larger group of 6-14, we have very comfortable 2018 Mercedes Sprinter Van with extra leg room.

Price: $700

Min age: 1

Rating 4.96 / 5 [28 ratings]

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3-Day Tour: Golden Circle, Blue Ice Cave, Jokulsarlon, and Waterfalls

Reykjavik

3-Day Tour: Golden Circle, Blue Ice Cave, Jokulsarlon, and Waterfalls
Join this 3 day group tour to the Golden Circle and along Iceland's south coast to discover the stunning unique natural Blue Ice cave, glaciers, lava fields, hot springs, volcanoes, strong rivers and magic waterfalls. After being picked up in Reykjavik in the morning in a Wi-Fi-enabled minibus, your next three days will be spent exploring the many natural wonders of the South Coast of Iceland with your English-speaking guide. Breakfast will be included in the cost on this trip.

Price: $909

Min age: 8

Rating 4.85 / 5 [42 ratings]

Tour supplied by:

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Destination guides including or relevant to this experience

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