Reykjavik: Golden Circle tour, Crater & Icelandic Horses

The most appealing part of this Golden Circle tour is its mix of Iceland’s famous sights with two smaller touches: Kerid Crater and a stop to see Icelandic horses. You get the big geothermal and waterfall highlights, but the day is not limited to the standard three-stop circuit.

I like the small-minibus format, which makes the long driving sections more comfortable and helps the group move efficiently. I also like the well-spaced stops, with enough time at each main sight to walk, take photos, and listen without racing from one place to the next. The tradeoff is a full seven-and-a-half-hour day with several hours on the road, and it is not suitable for children under six, wheelchair users, or people with mobility impairments.

Key points to know before booking

• Kerid Crater adds a striking volcanic stop that many basic Golden Circle outings skip.
• Strokkur provides the geothermal action at Geysir, while the original Geysir gives the area its name.
• Gullfoss is given a full hour, enough time to walk to viewpoints and feel the force of the falls.
• Thingvellir brings history and geology together, with 45 minutes to explore.
• An Icelandic horse photo stop adds a quieter, more local-feeling pause to the day.
• Six Reykjavik pickup points make the tour useful for cruise passengers and hotel-based visitors.

A Golden Circle day with more than the standard three stops

The Golden Circle is Iceland’s most popular day trip for a good reason. It packs geothermal activity, a major waterfall, volcanic scenery, and one of the country’s most important historic sites into a route that can be reached from Reykjavik in a single day.

This tour follows that classic route but adds Kerid Crater and a horse stop. That matters because the main Golden Circle sights can feel like a checklist if you see them one after another. The extra stops break up the day and give you more variety: red volcanic earth at Kerid, steam and boiling water at Geysir, spray and power at Gullfoss, then history and open scenery at Thingvellir.

You pay $76 per person, with entrance to Kerid included. For a 7.5-hour guided outing that also includes transport, commentary, and the principal Golden Circle sights, that is a fair price. Food and drinks are not included, so plan to buy or carry your own refreshments.

The strongest part of the experience is the practical organization. The transport received a 94 percent perfect score, and the tour has a 4.9 rating from 28 reviews. More important than the numbers, the repeated praise focuses on the guide’s clear explanations, accurate pickup arrangements, small group size, and sensible timing.

Reykjavik pickup: six useful meeting points

Pickup begins 45 minutes before departure, so do not wait until the last minute to leave your hotel. Look for the Soleil de Minuit bus and a guide or driver wearing a green jacket.

You can meet the bus at six locations:

• Bus Stop 1 at Ráðhúsið, Reykjavik City Hall
• Bus Stop 6 at Safnahúsið, the Culture House
• Bus Stop 15 at Vesturbugt near the Old Harbour
• Bus Stop 12 at Höfðatorg near the Storm Hotel
• Hotel Cabin
• Skarfabakki 312 Cruise Terminal

This selection is especially helpful if you are arriving by cruise ship. It also avoids the common problem of needing to cross Reykjavik to reach one central departure point. Check your exact pickup time carefully, since the bus collects people at different stops before heading south.

The bus ride begins with about 40 minutes on the road. That first stretch is useful for settling in, hearing the day’s plan, and watching Reykjavik give way to open Icelandic scenery.

The horse photo stop adds a quieter Icelandic moment

An early stop in southern Iceland gives you about 20 minutes for a break and photos, including a chance to see Icelandic horses. This is not presented as a long riding experience or a farm activity, so book it for the animals and the photo opportunity rather than for horseback riding.

I like this addition because it gives the day a change of pace. Geysir, Gullfoss, and Thingvellir are major attractions with plenty of people and movement. Horses offer a calmer subject, and their compact build and thick coats are a familiar part of Iceland’s rural identity.

You should keep expectations in proportion. Twenty minutes is enough for a short look and some pictures, not a full farm visit. Dress for wind and cold, since outdoor stops can feel sharper than the temperature suggests.

Kerid Crater: a colorful volcanic bowl

The tour gives Kerid Crater 25 minutes. That is a worthwhile amount of time for a compact stop, especially since entrance is included in the price.

Kerid is a volcanic crater with a lake in its bowl. The red and orange tones of the volcanic rock make it visually different from the black lava and greenish moss you see elsewhere in Iceland. Its shape is easy to understand from the rim, making it a good place for photographs even if you do not take a longer walk.

The crater is also one of the tour’s best value additions. Many Golden Circle routes focus only on Geysir, Gullfoss, and Thingvellir. Here, you get another geological feature without arranging a separate visit or paying an extra entrance fee.

Twenty-five minutes will not allow for a slow circuit or extended exploration. If you have limited mobility, the tour is not suitable, and the general guidance calls for hiking shoes. That is sensible advice even for short walks, since outdoor ground can be uneven and conditions may be wet or cold.

Geysir and Strokkur: Iceland’s famous geothermal theater

The bus continues for about 30 minutes to the Geysir area, where you have one hour to walk, take photographs, and see the geothermal activity.

The English word geyser comes from Geysir, the original hot spring that gave all geysers their name. Today, Strokkur is usually the main attraction in the Haukadalur geothermal area. It sits about 50 meters south of Geysir and is the active feature most people wait to see.

This is a stop where patience helps. Geothermal activity is not a timed stage show, even if Strokkur can erupt repeatedly. Keep your distance from marked areas, watch where you step, and expect steam, hot ground, and the sharp smell that comes with geothermal water.

An hour is generous enough to see the main area without turning the stop into a long hike. You can walk among the steaming vents, wait for an eruption, and take in the setting around the Laugarfjall lava dome.

The guide’s role is valuable here. Without context, the stop can become a quick sequence of photos. With an explanation of Geysir’s name, Strokkur’s activity, and Iceland’s geothermal forces, the place makes more sense.

Gullfoss: a full hour beside a powerful waterfall

After roughly 15 minutes on the bus, you reach Gullfoss for another one-hour stop.

Gullfoss is one of Iceland’s great visual moments. The Hvítá River drops in two stages through a steep gorge, creating a broad rush of water, spray, and noise. The viewpoints let you see the falls from different angles, and the changing weather can alter the mood from minute to minute.

You should bring a waterproof outer layer, even if rain is not forecast. Spray from the falls and sudden Icelandic weather can leave you damp, and wet ground makes sturdy footwear more useful than ordinary sneakers.

The one-hour visit is well judged. You have time to walk to the viewing areas, stop for photos, and simply watch the river without feeling that the bus is leaving in five minutes. At the same time, this is not an extended hike or a long independent exploration. The stop focuses on the main viewpoints.

Gullfoss can be windy and slippery. Stay on marked paths and take care near edges. The tour is a good fit for people who can walk outdoors over uneven surfaces, but not for wheelchair users or anyone who needs fully accessible routes.

Thingvellir: where geology and Icelandic history meet

The final major stop is Thingvellir National Park, reached after about 45 minutes on the bus. You get 45 minutes to walk, see the views, and learn about the area’s past.

Thingvellir matters for two reasons. It is tied to Iceland’s parliamentary history, and it sits in a dramatic geological setting shaped by the separation of tectonic plates. The result is a place where the land itself helps explain the country’s story.

This stop is less about one single view than about connecting several ideas. You see open Icelandic scenery, lava fields, and geological features while hearing why the site has such importance in Icelandic history.

Forty-five minutes gives you time to walk and take photographs, though you will not cover every path in the park. That is a good limit on a day tour. A longer visit would be useful for hikers, but it would also push the return to Reykjavik later.

The final drive back takes about an hour. By then, you will have spent much of the day outdoors, so use the ride to rest and sort through your photos.

What the guide and minibus add to the day

The guide speaks English and drives the group between stops. The strongest value here is not simply getting from Reykjavik to the Golden Circle. It is having someone explain what you are seeing while you travel through southern Iceland.

The guide commentary includes facts about the places along the route and life in Iceland. That kind of explanation is especially useful on the driving sections, which take several hours in total. You are not left to guess why a geothermal field matters or how a historic park fits into Iceland’s past.

The small minibus also helps. A smaller group can board and leave more quickly, and it is easier to stay together at short stops. Several of the highest marks focus on the friendly guide, the comfortable group size, and the way the schedule avoids both boredom and frantic rushing.

No individual guide’s name is provided, so do not book this expecting a named host. The available information points instead to a guide-driver in a green jacket working for Soleil de Minuit.

Timing, food, clothing, and mobility

The full day lasts 7.5 hours, including drives and visits. The scheduled stops add up to several hours outdoors, while the bus sections total roughly four hours. That balance is normal for a Golden Circle tour, but you should know what you are buying: this is a scenic day in a vehicle with active walking stops, not a short city excursion.

Food and drinks are not included. Bring water and snacks, since the tour information does not promise a meal stop. Warm clothing, outdoor clothing, and hiking shoes are listed as essentials. Pack layers rather than relying on one heavy coat, since wind, rain, spray, and sun can all change how a stop feels.

Pets are not allowed. The tour is not suitable for children under six, people with mobility impairments, or wheelchair users. Those limits are important because the route includes outdoor paths, uneven ground, and natural sites that are not presented as fully accessible.

You can cancel up to 24 hours before departure for a full refund, and you can reserve now and pay later. Those terms are useful if your Iceland plans are still shifting, but the main practical task is choosing the right pickup point and arriving early.

Who should book this Golden Circle tour?

I would choose this tour if you have one free day from Reykjavik and want the main Golden Circle sights without arranging a rental car. It is also a good choice if you want more than the basic three stops, especially the Kerid Crater and Icelandic horses.

It suits first-time visitors who want clear explanations, a structured schedule, and a guide who can put the scenery into context. Cruise passengers will find the Skarfabakki pickup especially useful, provided the timing fits the ship’s schedule.

I would think twice if you want a very slow day, extensive hiking, or complete control over how long you spend at each place. The schedule is sensible, but it is still a group tour. The main attractions receive good stop times, yet you must leave when the bus leaves.

Should you book it?

Book this tour if you want a well-organized Golden Circle day with Kerid Crater, Icelandic horses, and the three headline sights included. At $76, the combination of transport, English guidance, and Kerid admission makes it a strong value for a first visit.

Skip it if you need wheelchair access, are traveling with a child under six, or prefer a private, unhurried itinerary. For most able-bodied visitors who want a full but manageable day from Reykjavik, the small minibus, friendly guide style, and varied stops make this a practical choice.

FAQ

How long is the Golden Circle tour from Reykjavik?

The tour lasts 7.5 hours, including transportation between Reykjavik and the stops.

Which sights are included?

The tour visits Kerid Crater, Geysir, Gullfoss Waterfall, and Thingvellir National Park. It also includes a photo stop to see Icelandic horses.

Is transportation included?

Yes. The activity includes guided bus or minibus transportation from Reykjavik and return drop-off at the available locations.

Where can I meet the tour?

Pickup is available at six locations: City Hall, the Culture House, Vesturbugt near the Old Harbour, Höfðatorg near the Storm Hotel, Hotel Cabin, and Skarfabakki 312 Cruise Terminal.

What should I bring?

Bring warm clothing, outdoor clothing, and hiking shoes. Food and drinks are not included, so you should arrange your own refreshments.

Is the tour suitable for wheelchair users?

No. The tour is not suitable for wheelchair users or people with mobility impairments.

What language is the tour conducted in?

The live tour guide speaks English.