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Highlands of IcelandUNESCO sites

Our most recommended Highlands of Iceland UNESCO sites

From Reykjavik: Golden Circle and Glacier Snowmobiling

1. From Reykjavik: Golden Circle and Glacier Snowmobiling

Discover the rugged beauty of Iceland's Golden Circle aboard a climate-controlled bus with this tour from Reykjavik. Visit sights like Þingvellir National Park, the Geysir area, and Gullfoss Waterfall. Feel the thrill of riding a snowmobile over the Langjökull glacier.   Board the bus at the BSI Bus Terminal and drive off to experience the different geothermal landscapes of Iceland's legendary Golden Circle. Stop at Þingvellir National Park, known for its exceptional beauty and historical importance as the site of the world's first parliaments. Continue into the hot springs area of Geysir, before driving to Langjökull to take part in a once-in-a-lifetime adventure activity. Take control of a snowmobile or travel as a passenger to explore the vast white ice cap of Langjökull. Stay warm protective clothing during your trip. Make your way back to Reykjavík via the spectacular Gullfoss Waterfall and gaze in wonder as the Hvítá River thunders into a 32-meter deep canyon.

From Reykjavik: Golden Circle and Glacier Snowmobile Tour

2. From Reykjavik: Golden Circle and Glacier Snowmobile Tour

Explore the Golden Circle on this day trip from Reykjavik. Learn facinating information from your audio guide as you visit sites like Þingvellir National Park, Strokkur geyser, and Gullfoss Waterfall. Ride on the ice fields of Langjökull Glacier on a snowmobile tour. Depart Reykjavík early to catch the morning sun in a new bus equipped with computer tablets in each seat. Use the GPS-sensitive, in-bus audio guide, available in 10 languages, to learn more about the sights you will see, and stay connected with the on-board USB chargers and free Wi-Fi. Visit the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Þingvellir National Park, the birthplace of the longest-running parliament in the world. Discover where the great continental plates of America and Eurasia have dramatically pulled apart to create a rift valley, clearly visible on the shores of Iceland´s biggest lake. Continue to Geysir Hot Springs to discover the home of the original geyser. Experience the trembling ground and see the super-heated water erupt skywards from the spouting Strokkur geyser every few minutes. Take a leisurely walk down to Gullfoss Waterfall. Hear the thundering roar of the glacial Hvítá River as it cascades down 32 meters on 2 levels into a narrow canyon. Marvel at the pristine nature of the central highlands aboard a custom-made super truck. They can drive across the rough, snowy terrain thanks to their enormous tires. Drive to the snowmobile base camp at the foot of Langjökull Glacier. Then, ride across the eternally-frozen snow and ice fields of one of the biggest glaciers in the world on a guided snowmobile tour.

From Reykjavik: Golden Circle and Glacier Ice Cave Tour

3. From Reykjavik: Golden Circle and Glacier Ice Cave Tour

Your day starts early in Reykjavik, where you board a comfortable bus to the top attractions in Iceland. Enjoy a day of adventure led by a personal host and detailed audio guide in ten languages. Your first stop is Thingvellir National Park, where the oldest parliament in the world was founded and the tectonic plates are pulling apart every day. From Thingvellir, drive through lush lava fields and farmlands until steam rises from the ground at Geysir Geothermal Area. You will have around one hour to take in the beautiful scenery and witness Strokkur erupting a few times. Then, continue to Gullfoss Waterfall, the queen of Icelandic waterfalls. Complete your day with a truck ride up to Langjökull Glacier, the second largest glacier in Europe. Rush off for an unforgettable snowmobile ride on top of the glacier and visit a man-made glacier ice cave.   After walking under the glacier, you will ride your snowmobile back to the warm glacier hut and be taken back to Gullfoss, where you’ll board the bus again and ride back to Reykjavik after a day of amazing adventures.

Reykjavik: Golden Circle Day Trip with Snowmobile Adventure

4. Reykjavik: Golden Circle Day Trip with Snowmobile Adventure

Hop aboard a spacious bus and sit back and enjoy the scenic route with stops at Þingvellir National Park. Explore the active geothermal area of Haukadalur which contains the geysers Geysir and Strokkur. Stop at the most beautiful waterfall in the country Gullfoss - the Golden falls. Tackle the next part of your trip in a modified super-truck that can handle the rough terrain with ease. After arriving at the glacier base camp, put on the provided snowmobile suit, gloves, balaclava and helmet for your snowmobile ride. Be shown by your guide how to safely operate a snowmobile before your one-hour excursion officially starts. Climb on the snowmobile with the second rider. Explore Langjökull glacier which is home to several enormous ice-filled volcanic craters, rimmed in by imposing volcanoes and set in the breathtaking Icelandic interior. Expereince the views from the flanks of Langjökull which are quite incredible. Gaze off into the distance where Eiríksjökull glacier looms, the highest mountain in west Iceland. Admire the dome-shaped Hofsjökull glacier and the Kerlingafjöll Mountain range. Return to your accommodation and take home memories home from your exhilarating adventure.

Reykjavik: Golden Circle, Friðheimar, & Sky Lagoon Day Trip

5. Reykjavik: Golden Circle, Friðheimar, & Sky Lagoon Day Trip

This tour begins with our free pickup service in central Reykjavík. The first stop of the day is to Kerið, a volcanic crater formed after an enormous eruption over 1000 years ago. Enjoy the view along the crater top walkway or descend the steps to the lake below. Great photo opportunities are to be found from each vantage point. The next stop is to Friðheimar farm which has a greenhouse, horse farm and restaurant. Here you will meet the tiny icelandic horse and see a horse show demonstration of their unique gaits. Next up you will be taken on a tour of the greenhouse where tomatoes and cucumbers are produced to an impressive scale. Here you will also have a table reservation for lunch though please note that lunch itself is not included in your ticket price. Later you come to Geysir geothermal park, home of the eponymous Geysir, though it is its younger sister Strokkur that now erupts regularly. You will have time to witness several eruptions as it erupts every 7-10 minutes or so. Take a leisurely walk around an see other bubbling pools with the distinctive sulfur smell lingering heavily in the air. Just a short drive from Geysir, lies the immensely powerful waterfall, Gullfoss. This waterfall lies on the Hvitá river which itself is fed by meltwater from Langjökull glacier to the north. Here you are met first by the water mist from the falls before you even see them. Take the walking path down to the falls or stay to the higher path for a bird´s eye view. There is no wrong choice here. The final sightseeing stop of the day is to Thingvellir National Park. Here Icelanders met in an ancient parliament assembly, the longest continuous assembly is the world, though now located in Reykjavík. But perhaps more significantly here one can visibly see the continental rift between the american and euroasian tectonic plates, a rift increasing in size by the year. Walk between the continents! The final part of this fantastic day will be spent at Sky Lagoon where your Pure Pass tickets gives you access to both the lagoon itself with it´s awe-inspiring infinity affect sea view as well as the 7-step Ritual Experience. This includes one of the world´s most stunning sauna with floor to ceiling sea view, body scrub, cold plunge pool and steam bath. After a couple of hours here, you will be dropped back to your respective pickup locations in the downtown area.

From Reykjavik: Golden Circle, Thingvelli & Tomato Farm Tour

6. From Reykjavik: Golden Circle, Thingvelli & Tomato Farm Tour

Get back to nature and discover the icons of the Golden Circle on a full-day tour from Reykjavik. Enter historic Thingcelli National Park, where the national parliament was founded in 930 A.D. Discover where the tectonic plates of two continents are in constant movement.  Make a quick stop at Laugarvatn village and at Efstidalur farm to get a glimpse of the local life of the area. Then, head to the Strokkur geyser which erupts every five minutes at Geysir geothermal area. Feel the power of Gullfoss waterfalls where the water coming from the Langjökull glacier flows incessantly in all its glory. Stop for lunch at the Friðheimar tomato farm. After lunch, admire the astonishing Kerið crater which is over three thousand years old. Hear amazing stories from the centuries, and discover a variety of geothermal landscapes along the way. 

Pearl Tour Golden Circle Super Jeep Tour & Snowmobiling

7. Pearl Tour Golden Circle Super Jeep Tour & Snowmobiling

Begin your tour at Thingvellir National Park, one of Iceland‘s most significant historical sites. It‘s the home of the country's first parliament which was founded in 930 AD and is the oldest extant parliamentary institution in the world. From Thingvellir, head inland towards the highly active Geysir hot spring area, with it's boiling mud pits and spouting hot springs. Continue on to Gullfoss, one of Iceland's most powerful waterfalls. Located on the Hvítá river, the waterfall is fed by the Langjökull glacier and plummets down 32 meters in two stages into a rugged canyon. Top your day off with a drive towards Langjökull glacier, where you will drive a snowmobile and dash across the snowfields while gazing at the peaks and ice surrounding you. 

Golden Circle and Secret Lagoon Small Group Tour

8. Golden Circle and Secret Lagoon Small Group Tour

Benefit from pickup at your hotel, and then travel in a small group to marvel at the geothermal landscapes of Iceland's Golden Circle. Go for a nature walk in Þingvellir National Park, where the American and Eurasian tectonic plates are pulling apart.  Continue to the spectacular Gullfoss Waterfall on the Hvítá River, fed by the Langjökull glacier. Move on to the hot springs areas of Geysir and gaze in wonder as the Strokkur geyser erupts every 3 to 8 minutes. Break for lunch at one of the many restaurants in the area.  Take breathtaking photos of the small waterfall of Faxi on the Tungufljót River, and then relax in the healing waters of the Secret Lagoon, the oldest geothermal pool in Iceland.

From Reykjavík: Golden Circle and Dairy Farm Visit

9. From Reykjavík: Golden Circle and Dairy Farm Visit

On this tour, you'll have plenty of time to enjoy the stunning sites of the iconic Golden Circle Route while breathing in the nature and learning about history. Visit Thingvellir National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage site as well as a site of cultural, historical and geological significance. The name Þingvellir translates to "Parliament Plains" and is where Icelanders founded their parliament in 930 AD. Walk between the two tectonic plates of North America and Eurasia that are slowly moving away from each other and see the country's biggest natural lake as well as beautiful fissures and other landmarks. Then, see one of the most iconic waterfalls called Gullfoss, where the glacial river drops 32 meters in two majestic sections. Rainbows often occur in the mists of the powerful waterfall, and Langjökull glacier can be seen in the background. Continue on to the Geysir Hot Spring Area, where the colorful hot spring Strokkur erupts 30 meters every few minutes. Stop at the dairy farm Efsti Dalur where they make ice cream from their cows' milk and fresh ingredients. Enjoy an ice cream of your choice while you watch the animals in the stables.

From Reykjavík: Golden Circle and Secret Lagoon Day Trip

10. From Reykjavík: Golden Circle and Secret Lagoon Day Trip

Marvel at Strokkur geyser, Thingvellir National Park, and Gullfoss Waterfall on a day trip from Reykjavík. Visit a local farm and soak in the Secret Lagoon hot spring, entry tickets included. Experience all the natural phenomena of the golden circle in one day. The first stop is Thingvellir National Park, where the parliament was established in 930 A.D. Soak in the history and unique views as you walk between North American and European tectonic plates. Then it’s time to hit the road again to the Langjökull Geyser. This geyser has been inactive for some time, but Strokkur (right next to it) erupts every 5-8 minutes, so be camera-ready. Continue the journey to the Golden Waterfall. Located in the canyon of Hvítá, the waterfall plummets down into a 32-meter-deep crevice. From the parking area, it's also possible to walk all the way down to the falls (10-minute walk). Later, head to Friðheimar Tomato Farm for lunch (costs not included). It has ample supplies of geothermal water that provide heat to the greenhouses where they grow tomatoes. Walk around the greenhouse and taste their famous tomato soup. The last stop is the Secret Lagoon, the oldest natural swimming pool in Iceland. Heated with geothermal energy, the pool is a natural resource of warm water coming from the hot springs. It’s a perfect way to end this tour, relaxing in warm water while enjoying the endless nature views.

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What people are saying about Highlands of Iceland

Overall rating

4.7 / 5

based on 6 reviews

The tour was fun but difficult due to the limited daylight in January! Additionally, trying to figure out which bus to board was a nightmare. The tour guide Christina originally told us we were not on her tour bus and directed us away quite rudely. We had to go back again and check her list ourselves! We arrived at the first stop in thingvellir national park and it was pitch black. We didn't get to see anything as we arrived there quite early and only had a 30 minute stop. The rest of the golden circle tour was okay but I would highly recommend hiring a car and doing it yourself. Snowmobiling on the other hand was absolutely amazing! Super well organised and the views were insane. We had a good 1 hour on the snowmobile which I think was perfect. Anymore than that and my fingers would have dropped off! Overall I think the tour was great. Best option would be to drive golden circle and just join this experience for Snowmobiling if that's possible.

I really enjoyed this activity. In the beginning I thought it's too expensive but during the activity I felt it is worthy to do. Therefore all the staffs are very kind and helpful. I highly recommend snowmobile activity.

A great trip and day out, the guide was fantastic, very informative and enjoyable to have as a guide!

The highlight of the tour was definitely the snowmobiling. I would do this every day if possible.

Great views and experience would be good if we had more stops but overall really nice experience