- Thingvellir National Park - Travel from Reykjavík to Þingvellir National Park (1 hour drive).
Spend about 1 hour at Þingvellir National Park and Rift Valley is where you can witness the Eurasian and The North American tectonic plates moving apart is also where the oldest ongoing parliament in the world was formed in 930 AD. Coming from Reykjavik we first hit the edge of The North American Plate and not far from the parking lot is the law rock where most of the major decisions in the history of Iceland have been taken. The continental crust is quite thin and the earth surface is littered with fissures and rifts created by those two major plates moving apart and the plate boundaries are clearly visible here. The movement is very slow 1-3 cm per year but has been going on for millions of years and the actual width of the rift valley is around 7 km.
- Geysir - Travel from Þingvellir to Geysir Hot Spring (1 hour drive).
Geysir Hot Spring Area in Haukadalur valley is another great destination. The old great Geysir only erupts every now and then in the aftermath of earthquakes, but the very active Strokkur erupts like clockwork every 4-5 minutes and is sure to please any crowd shooting steaming water jets towards the heavens. The area also has various other hot springs and since this is one of those places where the geothermal water is literally boiling on the surface it is well worth a little exploration. Spend about 2 hours at Geysir, grabbing a lunch in the process before continuing to Gullfoss Waterfall.
- Gullfoss Waterfall - We stop about 1 hour to admire Gullfoss Waterfall. Hvítá river flows from Langjökull, the second largest glacier in Iceland, and was formed during a series of floods about 5000 years ago when the country experienced a period of increased volcanic activity. Gullfoss waterfall is by far the biggest waterfall on the south coast and the largest two stepped waterfall in Iceland. The name means Golden Waterfall and there are two stories associated with the name. One says that an old viking threw his treasure into the waterfall and the other says that it is because of the rainbows seen the spray above the waterfall.
Drive back to Reykjavík (approx 2 hours).
- Pick up from Keflavik Airport
- Drop off in Reykjavik or back at the airport
- Private English-speaking driver
- Private vehicle
- Local Driver-Guide
- Food & Beverages
The Golden Circle Tour stands out as Iceland’s premier day excursion, and for good reason. Opting for a private driver ensures a comfortable and personalized exploration of Iceland, allowing you to experience the highlights at your own pace. Embark on a private Golden Circle journey starting from Keflavik airport.
Taking you to Þingvellir National Park and Rift Valley, where the tectonic plates drift apart and the Vikings held their High Counsel Althingi in the middle of a lava field.
Then visit the Geysir Hot Spring area, a geothermal site with Europe’s only erupting geyser, Strokkur, which erupts every 4-5 minutes, spouting steaming hot water jets towards the sky.
Then on to the absolutely beautiful waterfall Gullfoss, Iceland’s biggest two-stepped waterfall situated in the glacial Hvítá river flowing from the massive Langjökull Glacier. During the last part of the tour, we hit the Ring Road, which offers even more options for add-ons if desired.
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
