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Golden Circle & Secret Lagoon Small-Group Tour from Reykjavik

Recommended by 96% of travelers
Badge of Excellence
Reykjavik, Iceland
Popular pick
Booked 10+ times last week!
  • 8 hours (approx.)
  • Pickup offered
  • Mobile ticket
  • Offered in: English

Why travelers loved this

4.8
·
· Sarah_A ·
Nov 2025
Highly recommend Ian as a tour guide. He was knowledgeable about the history, geography, and the sites and worked to personalize the tour for the two families on the trip. We saw the geyser, the amazing Gullfoss falls, Ringvillr, and enjoyed relaxing in the secret lagoon. We even stopped to see bread baking buried in sand heated by geothermal steam.
· Colin_S ·
Jan 2026
Absolutely first class. A superb day with a very knowledgeable guide, Gummi. A lovely small group, and plenty of time to enjoy and absorb the various locations we visited. The culmination of a dip in the secret lagoon was just about the perfect way to finish. Would recommend.

Overview

Enhance your experience of Iceland’s extraordinary Golden Circle on a full-day tour of the country’s natural highlights from Reykjavik. Admire spectacular sights like Thingvellir National Park, Gullfoss waterfall, and the Geysir hot spring. Gain fascinating insight into the geothermic nature of the area at Strokkur, an erupting geyser, and submerge yourself in the healing waters of the Secret Lagoon's natural bath.
  • Enrich your knowledge of geothermic activity at the erupting Strokkur geyser
  • Soak in the warm waters of the Secret Lagoon hot spring bath
  • Enjoy hassle-free pickup from select Reykjavik hotels and meeting points
  • Learn about the Golden Circle from your onboard guide

What's Included

  • Professional and local driver/guide
  • Live commentary on board
  • Pickup and drop-off from designated bus stops, hotels & cruise port
  • Small-group tour (tour operated exclusively on minibuses)
  • Food and drinks (available for purchase during stops)
  • Swimsuits (possible to rent at an extra cost)
  • Towel (possible to rent at an extra cost)

Meeting and Pickup

Pickup points

Select a pickup point

Pickup details

*Please include the name of your ship if you are arriving at Skarfabakki Cruise Port* Some of the center hotels are located in the restricted area where we aren't allowed to drive. Please find your hotel below and meet us at it's designated bus stop. Thank you for understanding. PLEASE NOTE: These bus stops for tour buses are not the same as the bus stops for city buses. The tour bus stops have a blue pillar with pink bus sign at the top and the number and name of the bus stop. The city bus stops have a yellow "S" in a red circle (S as Strætó - city bus). Please do not wait at the city bus stops! Once you submit/confirm with us a specific bus stop, please meet us exactly at that bus stop and not any other. ___________________________ Bus stop 1 – Ráðhúsið – City Hall: Center Hotels Plaza Downtown Hostel Hotel Reykjavik Centrum Iceland Parliament Hotel Kvosin Downtown Hotel ___________________________ Bus stop 3 – Lækjargata (near the Hard Rock Café): Alva Apartments Apotek Hotel City Center hotel Hotel Borg Hotel Reykjavik Saga Radisson Blu 1919 Reykjavik Konsulat Hotel ___________________________ Bus Stop 4 - Miðbakki Black Pearl Apartment Hotel Exeter Hotel ___________________________ Bus stop 6 – Safnahúsið – The Culture House (corner of Ingolfsstraeti and Hverfisgata: 101 Hotel Canopy by Hilton Reykjavik City Centre Center Hotels Arnarhvoll Center Hotels Skjaldbreid Hotel Frón Loft Hostel Thingholt by Center Hotels Vintage Hotel Apartments ___________________________ Hallgrímskirkja (Bus Stop 8) B47 Hostel Baron's Hostel Hotel Holt Hotel Odinsve Leifur Eiriksson Reykjavik Downtown Hotel Sunna Guesthouse ___________________________ Bus stop 9 – Snorrabraut: 100 Iceland Hotel 4th Floor Hotel Alfred's Apartments Center Hotels Laugavegur Hotel Vera Hotel Von Laugavegur Apartments Skuggi Hotel ___________________________ Bus stop 12 – Höfðatorg (in front of Fosshotel Reyjavik): - Storm Hotel - Fosshótel Reykjavík - Tower Suites ___________________________ Bus stop 13 – Rauðarástígur (in front of Centerhotel Miðgarður): - Centerhotel Miðgarður ___________________________ Bus stop 14 - Skúlagata (corner of Skúlagata/Klappastígur) 41 - A Townhouse Hotel Alfred's Studios Ion City Hotel Reykjavik Residence Hotel Reykjavik Residence Suites Sandhotel The Swan House ___________________________ Bus Stop 15, Vesturbugt: - Reykjavík Marina - Berjaya Iceland Hotels - Grandi by Center Hotels ___________________________ BSÍ Bus Terminal: Travel Inn ___________________________ If your accomodation is located more than 10minutes walking from our pick up locations, you can contact us directly though Viator chat or send us an an email. We will try to arrange the best pick up location for you.

Operating hours
.10:00 am

Itinerary

Your day begins with pickup from your Reykjavik hotel. Meet your guide and fellow travelers and settle into the minibus for the drive south.

Your first stop is at the UNESCO-listed Thingvellir National Park where you will see the original site of the world’s oldest parliament, the Althing, which was established in the year 930.

Next stop is the majestic Gullfoss Waterfall where you can walk toward the edge of the falls, which plunge 105 feet (32 meters).

The geothermal area near Haukadalur valley is your next stop where you can watch the regularly erupting geysir, Strokker shoot water up to to 100 feet (30.5 meters) in the air.

Slow down and unwind at your final destination. The Secret Lagoon is filled with water from an adjacent geothermal area, which helps soothe the body.

After the return drive to Reykjavik, your tour ends with a drop-off at your hotel.
1

Golden Circle Route

30 minutesAdmission Ticket Free

2

Thingvellir National Park

45 minutesAdmission Ticket Free

3

Strokkur

30 minutesAdmission Ticket Free

4

Gullfoss Falls

30 minutesAdmission Ticket Free

5

Secret Lagoon - Gamla Laugin

1 hour Admission Ticket Included

Additional Info

  • Confirmation will be received at time of booking
  • Bathing suit required for Secret Lagoon visit
  • Please note: due to the driving restrictions in Reykjavík, we cannot guarantee a hotel pickup from all hotels. In case your hotel is located in the restricted area, we will ask you to meet us at a designated bus stop, which is never more than few minutes walking distance.
  • Not wheelchair accessible
  • Stroller accessible
  • Service animals allowed
  • Near public transportation
  • Infant seats available
  • Most travelers can participate
  • Please notify us in case you need us to provide you a child seat or when you travel with a service animal.
  • The tour operates with minimum 4 adult participants.
  • This tour/activity will have a maximum of 17 travelers

Cancellation Policy

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.

Traveler Photos

Gallery picture 1 (from a traveler's review)
Gallery picture 2 (from a traveler's review)
Gallery picture 3 (from a traveler's review)
Gallery picture 4 (from a traveler's review)
Gallery picture 5 (from a traveler's review)

Featured review

Kelli_C
Rakel was a great tour guide! She was very sweet and knowledgeable. She also took us to two spots that weren’t listed on the tour, which made the tour extra enjoyable. She also set a good pace. I’d recommend her and Gateway to Iceland!

Reviews

4.8
based on 1,914 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor

Wonderful day. Ian was...

Julie_B, Apr 2026
Wonderful day. Ian was very pleasant and knowledgeable! Learned so much about Iceland's past and present. And the waterfall was breathtaking!

What a great day!

Gabrielle_S, Apr 2026
We had a great day with our tour group led by Ian. He was a wonderful and friendly driver and very knowledgable. We had a great time at each stop and had an awesome day.

We had such a great time...

Andrew_S, Mar 2026
We had such a great time despite the weather. Rakel was an amazing guide, kept us engaged and entertained throughout the day with local history and folklore as we went to see some beautiful sites around the golden circle. Included some special things not mentioned in the tour.

Knowledgeable and fun!

Sarah_S, Mar 2026
This experience was absolutely amazing. I traveled in a group of six including myself, and everyone was so warm and friendly. Our guide was one of a kind. His lived experiences and intense knowledge of the history made experiencing the golden circle much more immersive than if I did the drive myself (he was also able to accurately predict when the geyser would go off and the best way to film!) . The secret lagoon of course makes this tour special compared to others. I am so happy I ended up doing a tour. I would recommend any first-time visitors (especially during winter months) to do the circle guided and maybe self-drive next time during better weather.

Absolutely first class

Colin_S, Jan 2026
Absolutely first class. A superb day with a very knowledgeable guide, Gummi. A lovely small group, and plenty of time to enjoy and absorb the various locations we visited. The culmination of a dip in the secret lagoon was just about the perfect way to finish. Would recommend.

Great Day! Extremely nice...

joshzmom, Jan 2026
Great Day! Extremely nice being a small group. You got to enjoy each stop longer because you didn’t have to wait on a lot of people. We were able to really get to know our guide Rakel

Great tour guide and tour

Sarah_A, Nov 2025
Highly recommend Ian as a tour guide. He was knowledgeable about the history, geography, and the sites and worked to personalize the tour for the two families on the trip. We saw the geyser, the amazing Gullfoss falls, Ringvillr, and enjoyed relaxing in the secret lagoon. We even stopped to see bread baking buried in sand heated by geothermal steam.

A must do trip

Emma_G, Nov 2025
Rakal the tour guide is amazingly knowledgeable, makes you feel so welcomed and like you've known her for years. The secret lagoon is the perfect way to end such a fabulous day seeing all of the beauties the Golden Circle tour offers. The small group makes the trip feel personal and intimate rather than being on a full bus load of tourists. Would highly recommend.

Rakel was our guide and...

Sandy_m, Oct 2025
Rakel was our guide and she was amazing Very knowledgeable and helpful I loved the waterfall and geyser

Our guide Rekel made our...

Renee_R, Oct 2025
Our guide Rekel made our day! She was very knowledgable about her country , history and topology and had wonderful magical stories of Iceland elves !

Super tour with Rakel

Joan_S, Oct 2025
Rakel was amazing. So knowledgeable and generous with sharing her insights. We had a perfect day. Especially the waterfalls. And the rift valley.

A must do

Lesley_D, Oct 2025
Seeing all the history was amazing. We had beautiful weather and got to enjoy the sites even more. The waterfalls were breathtaking.

Great Experience

Melissa_L, Sep 2025
A great opportunity to see the golden circle with a knowledgeable guide. Our guide Ian was fantastic!

Gateway to Fun!

Kelli_C, Sep 2025
Rakel was a great tour guide! She was very sweet and knowledgeable. She also took us to two spots that weren’t listed on the tour, which made the tour extra enjoyable. She also set a good pace. I’d recommend her and Gateway to Iceland!

Wonderful day and tour of the Golden Circle

Suzanne_G, Sep 2025
Ivan was a great guide and driver, taking us between multiple locations, giving us hints for the best paths to walk to get the best views and navigating the roads with ever changing conditions. The Golden Circle locations were amazing, and the soak in the Secret Lagoon took away all of my stress!

Absolutely amazing! Had a...

Courtney_C, Aug 2025
Absolutely amazing! Had a great time driving around. Our driver Thor was very informative about Iceland. Wish we had a bit more time at the geysers but all the other places was just the right amount of time. Definitely recommend.

Amazing experience

Mary_C, Aug 2025
It was the best experience. Our guide Guomundur S was very knowledgeable Extremely interesting and took personal Interest in us to learn all about the country, sights and the people.

Wonderful Introduction to Iceland and its Culture

Jay_J, Aug 2025
Our driver/guide Rakel did a wonderful job explaining different aspects of Icelandic culture and history. Her personable and kind demeanor made this a very pleasant tour. Every stop ran like clockwork and this tour gave us an appreciation of the beauty of Iceland. Recommended.

Don't book this trip with Viator book with local agent called Gateway

Mary_T, Aug 2025
Viator handled the booking of this trip but they were totally incompetent at organising it. Viator arranged a pick up at a hotel at the opposite end of Reykjavik to where my hotel was. When is contacted them I was fobbed off with broken promises. I will never book anything with Viator ever again. The trip was very good but this was because it was actually handled, on the day, by a local company called Gateway. Our guide Gummi was excellent so knowledgeable. Visited some very interesting placed too

Iceland

Diane_H, Jul 2025
The tour was super, but the driver/guide was better than excellent. Vehicle was very clean; no one was crowded.

Response from Host, Jul 2025

Super to hear the tour was great, and your driver/guide was "better than excellent"! Thanks for noting the clean vehicle and comfortable space. We hope you made wonderful memories.

Golden Circle

Debra_Y, Jul 2025
Ian was a wonderful tour guide with great information and knowledge about Iceland and its treasures. Enjoyed the small group experience!

Response from Host, Jul 2025

Ian is indeed a wonderful guide with great knowledge! We're delighted you enjoyed the small group experience and his insights into Iceland's treasures. We hope to welcome you back soon.

Must do

Shawn_L, Jul 2025
This tour was very comprehensive and the driver was a wealth of information and extremely personable. Great way to see so much in one day.

Response from Host, Jul 2025

Glad you found the tour comprehensive and our driver/guide a wealth of information and extremely personable! Your feedback about seeing so much in one day is very helpful. We hope you had a fantastic time.

Once in a lifetime experience

P_T, Jul 2025
Great experience. Once in a lifetime experience. Well worth the money. Took the whole family with two kids under the age of 13. They enjoyed it, the rides can be long but you get to see a lot of the natural beauty of Iceland.

Response from Host, Jul 2025

A great, once-in-a-lifetime experience – that's wonderful to hear! We're so pleased your whole family, including the kids, enjoyed seeing Iceland's natural beauty. Thanks for taking the time to share your review!

Barely a Good Visit...

Max_S, Jul 2025
The first 2 places (Thingvellir and Strokkur) did not Wow me and my friends. The Gulfoss Waterfall and warm bath at Secret Lagoon even up the experience. Our guide is a thinskinned proud Icelander who talked proudly about her grandfather. She "elved us to death." Her favorite expression: "You are not listening." Her English is not great.

Response from Host, Jul 2025

We appreciate your honest feedback on your experience. We're sorry that the initial stops didn't meet your expectations and that you had concerns about your guide's communication style. Your detailed comments are very important to us, and we will certainly be looking into this. We're glad the waterfall and Secret Lagoon still provided a positive experience.

Hot Golden Circle Tour

Debbie_O, Jul 2025
The driver/guide was extremely known about the history and places/sites where we stopped. He allowed time at the stops so we could experience them. My booking was this past Monday which was an unusually warm day. Unfortunately the van used for the tour did not have air conditioning and it was an extremely hot and uncomfortable 8 hours sweating inside the vehicle. Although the driver tried to open some vents there was minimal air circulation and it was not an enjoyable trip

Response from Host, Jul 2025

We're glad our guide was knowledgeable and provided ample time at stops. We sincerely apologize for the lack of air conditioning and discomfort experienced on that unusually warm day. Your comfort is paramount, and this feedback is very helpful as we address our vehicle readiness. We hope the beautiful sights still offered some enjoyment.

Well beyond expectations thanks to Rakel

Denise_L, Jul 2025
Rakel made this tour a 5 star exemplary excursion for us, and a perfect introduction to the history, politics , geology, vegetation, folklore, etc. of Iceland. She clearly loves her country as well as her work as a tour guide and Iceland specialist, and her talents as a story teller did not go unnoticed. Not only did she take a personal interest in each one of us in our small group, she was more than happy to answer our questions, even though she had likely been asked the sane ones hundreds of times before. The variety of activities and sights on this Golden Circle tour was a perfect balance of walking, viewing, listening and relaxing. Thanks to Rakel , our short visit to Iceland has confirmed we must return.

Response from Host, Jul 2025

We're delighted Rakel made your tour a 5-star experience and perfect introduction to Iceland! Your incredibly detailed and thoughtful review means the world to us. We truly hope you return to Iceland soon!

Rakel did an amazing job....

Brandy_L, Jul 2025
Rakel did an amazing job. She is gives lots of good information and wants to make the tour a wonderful experience for everyone. She also gives alot of insider information to keep everyone safe during your visit to island. Would do another tour with her.

Response from Host, Jul 2025

Dear Brandy, we are happy that Rakel did an amazing job, providing great information and insider tips. Your feedback is really appreciated. We'd love to welcome you on another tour with her!

Absolutely wonderful

Hannah_B, Jul 2025
This was fabulous! The guide was so lovely and so knowledgeable. She gave us all the information we needed/asked for. Very relaxed day and had plenty of time to see anything. Lovely group size. Would highly recommend

Response from Host, Jul 2025

Fabulous to hear you had a relaxed day with a lovely, knowledgeable guide and group! We're so glad you'd highly recommend us. We hope you'll visit Iceland again soon!

Golden Circle Tour

ARTHUR_A, Jul 2025
Rakal was a phenomenal tour guide for the golden circle tour. Her knowledge was exceptional as well as her personality. For the 9 hours we were together my wife and I throughly enjoyed our tour.

Response from Host, Jul 2025

We're so pleased that you found Rakel to be a phenomenal guide for your Golden Circle tour. Thank you for highlighting her exceptional knowledge and personality. We hope you thoroughly enjoyed your 9 hours with us.

It was a very full day...

Mary_R, Jul 2025
It was a very full day with lots of natural beauty. We finished up at a very rustic and relaxing lagoon. Our guide was fun and knowledgeable about Icelandic history and had fun stories of Iceland’s mythology

Response from Host, Jul 2025

Sounds like you had a lovely day with us. We're delighted that our guide made it fun and informative with stories. We hope you made great memories.

From $168.00

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up to 24 hours before the experience starts (local time)

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On average, this is booked 69 days in advance.

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