Golden Circle and Kerid Volcanic Crater Small-Group Day Tour
Recommended by 97% of travelers
Badge of Excellence
Reykjavik, Iceland
- 8 hours (approx.)
- Pickup offered
- Mobile ticket
- Offered in: English
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Overview
If you only have time for one excursion while in Reykjavik, make it a journey around the Golden Circle. This full-day tour checks off all the famous highlights of the area, including the UNESCO World Heritage–listed Thingvellir National Park, the Geysir geothermal area, and Gullfoss Waterfall, as well as the spectacular Kerid Crater Lake, which is not typically included on standard Golden Circle tours.
- Discover the best of the popular Golden Circle, all in one day
- Leave all the navigation and driving to your guide
- Great-value tour includes pick-up service and round-trip transportation
- Go beyond the guidebooks with insights from your guide
What's Included
- Driver/guide
- Hotel pickup and drop-off in Reykjavík
- Food and drinks
- Gratuities
- (OPTIONAL) Visit to the Geothermal Park with bread tasting and second geyser visit
Meeting and Pickup
Pickup points
Select a pickup point
Pickup details
Please note that Nicetravel offers free pickup and drop off from hotels within Reykjavik. As buses are not allowed to drive in certain areas of Reykjavik centre, your pick up may be from the nearest bus stop. After receiving your pickup information, we will notify you of your exact pick up location. If you do not require hotel pickup, you can meet the tour at Nicetravel office in Fiskislóð 45M, 101 Reykjavik. Please notify Nicetravel directly if you intend to use this option and be there before 08:20. Pickup takes place between 08:30 - 09:00, so please be ready from 8:30 at your pickup location and look out for a bus with red NICE Travel logos.
Start time.9:00 am
Itinerary
After morning pickup from your Reykjavik hotel, meet your guide and fellow passengers and head east to explore the popular Golden Circle sightseeing route.
Your tour begins at the UNESCO-listed Thingvellir National Park, where you’ll get the rare opportunity to see the meeting point of the American and Eurasian tectonic plates. Learn about the shifting of the plates and their influence on Iceland’s volatile volcanic landscapes from your guide as you admire the views, and hear more about Iceland’s history as you visit the site of the world’s first parliament.
The photo-worthy landscapes continue, as you stop by the Geysir geothermal area to see active geysers, including Strokkur. Stick around long enough to watch it erupt (about every 10 minutes), spurting a column of water up to 98 feet (30 meters) in the air.
Stop for a lunch break near the hot springs (own expense) and then continue to the mighty Gullfoss waterfall, one of Iceland’s most-visited sights.
Your final stop of the day is the magnificent Kerid Crater Lake. Gaze out over the dramatic volcanic crater, which measures an impressive 886 feet (270 meters) wide and 180 feet (55 meters) deep, and marvel at the glittering crater lake at its heart.
Finally, relax on the ride back to Reykjavik, where your tour ends with drop-off at your hotel or nearest meeting point.
Your tour begins at the UNESCO-listed Thingvellir National Park, where you’ll get the rare opportunity to see the meeting point of the American and Eurasian tectonic plates. Learn about the shifting of the plates and their influence on Iceland’s volatile volcanic landscapes from your guide as you admire the views, and hear more about Iceland’s history as you visit the site of the world’s first parliament.
The photo-worthy landscapes continue, as you stop by the Geysir geothermal area to see active geysers, including Strokkur. Stick around long enough to watch it erupt (about every 10 minutes), spurting a column of water up to 98 feet (30 meters) in the air.
Stop for a lunch break near the hot springs (own expense) and then continue to the mighty Gullfoss waterfall, one of Iceland’s most-visited sights.
Your final stop of the day is the magnificent Kerid Crater Lake. Gaze out over the dramatic volcanic crater, which measures an impressive 886 feet (270 meters) wide and 180 feet (55 meters) deep, and marvel at the glittering crater lake at its heart.
Finally, relax on the ride back to Reykjavik, where your tour ends with drop-off at your hotel or nearest meeting point.
1
Thingvellir National Park
45 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
Laugarvatn (Pass By)
2
Geysir
1 hour 20 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
3
Gullfoss Falls
40 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
Reykholt (Pass By)
4
Kerid Crater
30 minutes • Admission Ticket Included
Hveragerdi (Pass By)
Additional Info
- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
- Children must be accompanied by an adult. Minimum age is 5 years old.
- Only small luggage like a small backpack can be taken on this tour
- Not wheelchair accessible
- Operates in all weather conditions, please dress appropriately
- Stroller accessible
- Near public transportation
- Most travelers can participate
- This tour/activity will have a maximum of 19 travelers
Supplied by
Cancellation Policy
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.
Traveler Photos
Featured review
Morgan_P
We had an amazing time on the Golden Circle and Kerid Volcanic Crater small-group tour. Everything was well organized and the sites were absolutely beautiful. A special thank you to our tour guide, Mika. He was very communicative about pick up and kept everyone informed throughout the day. As we traveled from site to site, he shared great information and made the experience even more enjoyable. Overall, the day was seamless and we had a fantastic time. I would love to do this tour again during the summer months to see everything in a different season. Highly recommend.
Reviews
4.8
based on 954 reviews
Sort by: Most insightful
Arshi_P, Aug 2026
Look forward to it a get ready to have a great experience! We were very fortunate to have perfect weather.
Jim_S, Aug 2026
This tour is highly recommended no matter the weather, but we were especially lucky to go on an incredibly clear day. Our guide Maria was the best, taking advantage of all things that the day’s magnificent weather offered.
Jonathan_M, Aug 2026
We did the Geothermal Wonderland tour with the Geothermal Bakery option and very much enjoyed it. Gulli was an excellent tour guide, the hard boiled eggs cooked in a geothermal pool that we ate at the bakery were great fun. All other stops along the way were equally enjoyable and we had plenty of time to see everything that we wanted to see without stretching the length of the tour too long.
Response from Host, Aug 2026
Behalf of Gulli, thank you
Joe_K, Aug 2026
Itinerary was very good, the tour guide Christine was excellent, maybe the best I have ever had on almost a hundred tours. The weather did not cooperate, but Christine made the best of what she could. I especially liked that at two stops she dropped us off at the top, and picked us up at the bottom.
Response from Host, Aug 2026
Behalf of Christina, thank you
Cathy_D, Jul 2026
The tour was great. Our guide, Joanas was wonderful, and the buses were nice. We had 3 generations on this tour and they accommodated each level of activity well.
Response from Host, Aug 2026
Thank you! We’re glad you loved the guide!
VirginiaAnn_B, Jul 2026
Full day tour. Very organized. Addi, our guide was very good. Amazing scenery and sites. Would recommend this small group tour.
Response from Host, Aug 2026
Great! Your happiness is our biggest reward! Thank you
Susan_H, Jun 2026
Filip our driver/guide was friendly, informative, entertaining and knowledgeable about Iceland history, geography and landscape.
We would certainly travel with Nice travel again and endorse him as a very capable tour guide.
Touring as a small group is perfect. Thank you Filip and Nice Travel
Response from Host, Jun 2026
Behalf of Filip,
thank you
Jennifer_L, Jun 2026
My kids (15 and 19) stayed engaged throughout the entire excursion. Our guide kept us entertained and educated between stops with some great stories and context to enjoy the sites. Loved the unexpected detours to pet Icelandic horses and enjoy ice cream on a dairy farm. We took 3 tours during our weeklong visit and all agreed this was the best. Thank you Halltor!
Response from Host, Jun 2026
We really appreciate these nice words. We are also very happy that you enjoyed our tour :)
All the best,
Nicetravel Team
Michael_B, May 2026
Tour guide was great, bus was clean, and pickup / dropoff was easy. Stops were worth the visit and great use of time.
Response from Host, May 2026
Thank you so much for your kind review! We’re very happy to hear you enjoyed the tour, found the stops worthwhile, and had a smooth pickup and drop-off experience. We’ll also make sure to pass your lovely comments on to the guide. Hope to see you again in Iceland!
Robert_H, May 2026
The guide is a great guide. He is patient., knowledgeable, and a safe driver. The places visited are good.
Response from Host, May 2026
Thanks for trusting us with your adventure!
Madhuleena_B, Apr 2026
Great experience. Absolutely loved it. I was travelling with my 11 year old and even she enjoyed it. Thank you
Response from Host, Apr 2026
So glad you both enjoyed the tour!
Laura_D, Mar 2026
Great tour - our tour guide Monika was brilliant and very knowledgeable. Saw a lot in a short space of time and she went above and beyond. And wow is stunning! This won’t disappoint. Would recommend to all.
Response from Host, Apr 2026
Great to hear you enjoyed the tour and thank you for your nice words for Monika.
All the best
Nicetravel Team
Morgan_P, Mar 2026
We had an amazing time on the Golden Circle and Kerid Volcanic Crater small-group tour. Everything was well organized and the sites were absolutely beautiful. A special thank you to our tour guide, Mika. He was very communicative about pick up and kept everyone informed throughout the day. As we traveled from site to site, he shared great information and made the experience even more enjoyable. Overall, the day was seamless and we had a fantastic time. I would love to do this tour again during the summer months to see everything in a different season. Highly recommend.
Response from Host, Mar 2026
Ohhh, thank you for the nice words!
Diane_B, Jan 2026
This tour was a great way to see the Golden Circle and our guide, Pawel, was great. We were picked up right on time from our designated bus stop in a nice, warm, minibus. Pawel pointed out locations of interest and gave us some historical background of Iceland as a whole. He was fun and very engaging. Doing a small group tour is always my preference as it's much easier to keep things on time when you are only managing 18 people. We had plenty of time at each stop to explore and get all the pictures we wanted. We even had a bonus stop for local ice cream that was well worth it. (Icelanding ice cream is really good!) Overall we liked not having to worry about driving as the winds were pretty significant in some areas. I would definitely recommend this trip and Pawel as your guide!
Response from Host, Mar 2026
Such nice words! Thanks for them 😊 We are happy that you are satisfied with the tour and our guide.
All the best,
Nicetravel Team
Sarah_P, Dec 2025
A great day out, seeing lots of sights. Walter was very enthusiastic (whoop whoop!), although possibly told us more about his life and family than Iceland! He looked after us though and we did have a lovely day.
Hayley_W, Nov 2025
We traveled with our small group and the lovely Nikhola, our guide for the tour. She was brilliant and very knowledgeable and educated about the local geology. It was our favourite tour that we took on holiday.
Response from Host, Nov 2025
Hi Hayley, thank you so much for your nice review!
We're so glad to hear that you had a great day with our tour and that our Nikola made it even better :)
We hope to welcome you on another adventure in another direction!
Lauren_Y, Nov 2025
Iceland is hands down one of the best countries i have ever been to and this trip completed the experience. Years later i still think this was one of the most memorable days of my life! Stunning sights
Response from Host, Nov 2025
Thank you! I hope you will choose us on your next visit as well :)
All the best,
Nicetravel Team
Kay_B, Nov 2025
You see a good number of different natural wonders that Iceland has to offer in a single day. The transport is comfortable and a small groups allows for a more personal experience. Our driver was Icelandic and gave in depth information on the history of Iceland and sights we were visiting.
Response from Host, Nov 2025
Thanks for such a nice review :) We really appreciate that!
All the best,
Nicetravel Team
Megan_B, Oct 2025
It was a bumpy start when we’re arrived at 8:40 for the 9am tour and received a call asking where we were. I told them we were at the pickup location listed in Viator and they said no that was not the location and we had to be somewhere else. We were 10 people (over half the tour) so we asked if they could meet us at the location listed - they said no and then gave us no directions to the actual location (“it’s bus stop #1, no I don’t know how to get there it’s just bus stop #1, and we need to leave on time”). Ok so we figured it out, but because we drove everyone to the bustop we had to go find parking for our two vehicles. I arrived at 9:04, my entire group was seated and ready and we departed at 9:05. The driver proceeded to complain about how we had to rush because we had another group to pick up. We had to stop to pick up 2 more people who were only 2 minutes away from our first stop. It seemed odd, was that the real rush - that they were fitting in a second tour with this one? Over the next 8 hours we saw beautiful scenery, had a chance to take very quick hikes around some important sights, and were regaled with the drivers… personal (mostly about fishing) stories. I would’ve loved either peace and quiet or more information about Iceland and the sights we were traveling to and from. All in all I’m glad we took the tour but I know it could’ve been better and it started very stressfully.
Response from Host, Oct 2025
Hi Megan, thank you for sharing your experience.
We are very sorry if you missed the pick up instruction mentioned in the tour description and in the message we sent you, that the pick up time is between 8:30 and 9:00 and customers need to be ready at their location from 8:30.
You did ask the day before, if it was possible to pick you up directly from your accommodation (which was not the same one as listed in your booking) we explained that it was not possible due to restricted areas for bus traffic in the city center and instructed you to go to Bus Stop 1 for the pick up. The reason for the rush to the next pick up point was that other customers., even though they were only 2, had already been waiting since 8:30.
All the best
Nicetravel Team
Gunar_M, Oct 2025
I can't think of a better way to get a one day (7 hr) overview of Iceland than this small group bus tour. Our guide, David, made this trip memorable. He gave a great overview of our tour and lots of interesting facts and trivia about specific sites. Would highly recommend this tour.
RandallS_F, Oct 2025
Great tour with Mika as our tour guide. Saw many beautiful places on the Golden Circle tour. Times at each place was just enough. Weather was rainy. Then sunny, then cloudy, then rainy, but that is how weather in Iceland is. Still had a great time.
Tiffany_W, Sep 2025
This is no one’s fault, but our ship hit rough seas coming into port because of this, some ports were cancelled. We didn’t make it to Reykjavik for this tour until after the tour was complete. I did notify the tour operator the night before when I learned of this. Obviously, it was not a full 24 hours but it was 15 hours in advance of knowing we would not make it. I understand that I gamble by not doing excursions with the ship line I am traveling on. But I do usually use viator and private tours in several destinations when traveling. I’m very disappointed that I didn’t get at least a partial refund back. I have been using viator for 10+ years and have never missed an excursion. Viator did request a refund for me but the tour operator didn’t support. I’m sharing because I will most likely not use viator anymore when on a cruise ship. I would also not use this specific tour group ever again based on their inability to understand Icelandic weather does happen and they should be more supportive with their tourism travelers that are paying good morning to support the local areas.
Response from Host, Sep 2025
HI Tiffany,
We are sorry to hear about this situation, but we need to have some policy regarding refunds.
We are also tied to refund policy of our business partners, and we cannot get money back for tickets which we book for our customers going on our tours if we cancel them in the last few hours before the tour. This is the reason we have 24-hour cancelation policy and also for this reason we clearly recommend on our website having travel insurance.
We are trying to be help always, but not always this is possible.
Sidney_G, Sep 2025
Great tour! Small group and our tour guide "Sammy" explained everything. Saw a lovely crater, two lovely geysers and a wonderful waterfall.
Marilyn_F, Sep 2025
Guli was great! Definitely worth every penny. Very informative and fun. Wish the weather would have been better. A few side trips made it even more special. Would highly recommend this tour.
Angela_B, Sep 2025
Great tour with a very knowledgeable guide. Each stop was very interesting and we had enough time at each location. Highly recommend this tour and kudos to our guide, CD.
Rochelle_W, Sep 2025
An amazing your that highlights several places around Reykjavik. Beautiful scenery, great views of waterfalls and geysers.
Peter_J, Sep 2025
Expect lots of weather changes during the 8 hr tour
It can be frustrating that there is no preview or map of the route and the expected stops. You have to "go with the flow* of the driver/guide. The van is very tight for 18 passengers
Ian_T, Sep 2025
Guide was slightly mad, but that made for a more enjoyable trip. We had no problems with finding our drop off location. Driver/guide was canny about the order of sites and we mostly avoided the worst of the crowds. Could have done with more time at Kerid, but other than that, times were spot on. Recommended.
Tina_L, Aug 2025
The tour was informative and fun. Lots of walking! Wear sturdy shoes and be prepared to hike. Some optional walking involves stairs and slopes
Response from Host, Sep 2025
Dear guest, great to hear you had a fun and informative time on your tour with us exploring the magic of the Golden Circle
Donna_R, Aug 2025
Great tour and great driver! She loved her job and wasn't in any hurry for time.bus was a great size
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Golden Circle and Kerid Volcanic Crater Small-Group Day Tour
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