Golden Circle & Glacier Drive

by coach, glacier truck & on foot

This full-day experience combines visits to three of Iceland’s most famous landmarks: Þingvellir, Gullfoss Waterfall, and the Strokkur geyser, collectively known as the Golden Circle. This experience also includes a drive onto the Langjökull Glacier.

Departing from the port, your Golden Circle journey begins with a scenic drive past Hellisheiði, an area of ancient lava and geothermal activity, and through villages such as Hveragerði, Selfoss, and Flúðir.

Reaching Gullfoss, you will embark on a glacier truck to continue your journey to Langjökull Glacier, the second-largest ice cap in Ísland, where you will witness an extraordinary wilderness of ice and snow. Your expert driver will bring the truck to a halt from time to time, allowing you to step out onto the ice and claim that you have “walked on a glacier.”

Returning to Gullfoss, you will enjoy some free time to venture along the pathway to the viewing platform overlooking Gullfoss Waterfall. The “Golden Waterfall” is the most famous of the country’s many waterfalls. Here, an immense volume of water rushes down a stone cascade into a deep ravine with incredible force, creating a truly powerful spectacle.

Rejoining your coach, it is just a short drive to your next stop: a visit to the Geysir geothermal area, the place from which the word “geyser” originates. Here you will have time to admire the powerful forces of Strokkur, an explosive geyser that erupts every few minutes, sending a high column of boiling water into the air.

Your final stop will be at Þingvellir National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The area is surrounded by mountains and encompasses a vast lava plain covered in green moss and wildflowers. Þingvellir is situated in a rift valley that offers views of the Reykjanes Ridge. This is the only place in the world where the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, which separates the Eurasian and North American tectonic plates, rises above sea level. In addition to its immense geological importance, Þingvellir is regarded by Íslendingar as a sacred place. It was here that the legislative parliament, the Alþingi, was founded in AD 930. Symbolically, it is considered the birthplace of the Icelandic nation and the setting for many of the country’s most significant historical events.

During the experience, a two-course fixed-menu lunch, including water, coffee, or tea, will be served at a local venue.