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Golden Circle & Northern Lights Tour from Reykjavík

About 12.5 hoursGroup: Larger group, by coachEasyCoach from ReykjavíkAge 8+August–April
5.0(1 review)
Gullfoss waterfallNorthern Lights over a snowy landscapeStrokkur geyser erupting at sunriseNorthern Lights above a boardwalk
Kerið crater lake

This Golden Circle and Northern Lights tour combines Iceland's classic day trip with an evening aurora hunt. You see Þingvellir, Geysir, Gullfoss and Kerið crater by day, then head out of the city lights after dinner to look for the Northern Lights.

Þingvellir National ParkGeysir and StrokkurGullfoss waterfallKerið craterNorthern Lights hunt
  • The three classic Golden Circle stops in one day
  • Kerið crater, with the entrance ticket included
  • An evening Northern Lights hunt at 2 or 3 viewing spots
  • Hot chocolate while you watch the sky
  • Free rebooking of the Northern Lights part if the lights don't appear

Your day, stop by stop

Click a stop for photos and practical tips.
1Pick-up in ReykjavíkPick-up in central Reykjavík, or meet at the bus terminal.
2Þingvellir National ParkÞingvellir National ParkWalk between the tectonic plates where Iceland's parliament began.
Þingvellir National ParkÞingvellir National ParkÞingvellir National Park

Þingvellir is where Iceland's parliament, the Alþingi, first met in 930, and it lies in a rift valley where the North American and Eurasian plates are pulling apart. Chieftains gathered here every summer, laws were recited from the Lögberg (Law Rock), and the plain below still shows where the assembly booths stood. The lake beside it, Þingvallavatn, is the largest natural lake in Iceland. The park is free to enter and open all year. A UNESCO World Heritage Site where you can walk through Almannagjá, a rift at the edge of the North American plate.

Walking · easy paths, icy in winterFacilities · visitor centre and toilets
Read our Þingvellir National Park guide →
3GeysirGeysirStrokkur erupts every few minutes.
GeysirGeysirStrokkur geyser erupting at sunrise

Geysir gave every geyser in the world its name. The original Great Geysir now erupts only rarely, sometimes after earthquakes, so the show is Strokkur, a short walk away. It throws boiling water 15 to 20 metres into the air every 5 to 10 minutes, and sometimes a good deal higher, so you will see several eruptions while you are here. Keep to the paths between the pools and stay behind the ropes, as the water is very hot.

Walking · short, flat pathsFacilities · café, restaurant and toilets
Read our Geysir guide →
4Gullfoss waterfallGullfossThe great two-step waterfall in its canyon.
Gullfoss waterfallGullfossGullfoss

Gullfoss, the Golden Falls, drops about 32 metres in two steps into a narrow canyon roughly 70 metres deep and 2.5 kilometres long. The water comes from the Hvítá river, which is fed by the glacier Langjökull. Glacial water often turns golden-brown in sunlight, and rainbows hang in the spray on bright days. A path with stairs leads down to a lower level, closer to the water.

Winter · lower path can close because of iceFacilities · café and toilets
Read our Gullfoss guide →
5Kerið crater lakeKerið craterA red volcanic crater with a lake at the bottom.
Kerið crater lakeKerið craterKerið crater

Kerið is a volcanic crater about 270 metres long, 170 metres wide and 55 metres deep, with a blue-green lake at the bottom. Unlike the black basalt found almost everywhere nearby, its walls are deep red, from oxidised volcanic rock. It is thought to have formed when a magma chamber emptied and the ground above collapsed, rather than in a violent explosion. You can walk the rim and, where allowed, down to the water. There is a small entry fee. You can walk around the rim. The entrance ticket is included.

Entry fee · includedWalking · rim path, slippery when icy
Read our Kerið guide →
6Dinner break in ReykjavíkBack to the city for a break before the evening tour (dinner not included).

After the day tour the coach returns to Reykjavík for a break before the evening Northern Lights tour. Dinner is not included, so this is the time to eat and to put on warm layers for the night.

Read our Reykjavík guide →
7Northern Lights huntNorthern Lights huntOut of the city lights to look for the aurora.
Northern Lights huntNorthern Lights huntNorthern Lights hunt

The guides follow the forecast and usually try two or three viewing spots away from the city lights. Hot chocolate is served while you wait. If the lights don't appear, you can rebook this part for free.

Rebooking · free if no lights are seenTip · dress for standing outside in the cold
8Back to ReykjavíkDrop-off late in the evening.

About the Golden Circle and Northern Lights tour

This is a long day that covers the two things most winter visitors want to see: the Golden Circle and the Northern Lights. The day tour runs by coach with a guide, and after a dinner break back in Reykjavík, the evening tour drives out of the city to look for the aurora.

The Golden Circle part visits Þingvellir National Park, the Geysir area where Strokkur erupts every few minutes, Gullfoss waterfall and the red volcanic crater of Kerið. Walks at each stop are short and easy, but paths can be icy in winter, so shoes with good grip help.

Northern Lights are never guaranteed. They need dark, clear skies and solar activity, so the guides choose viewing spots based on the forecast and usually stop at two or three places. If the lights don't show, you can rebook the Northern Lights part for free.

The tour runs from August to April, when the nights are dark enough for the aurora. Dress for standing outside at night: it is often well below freezing and windy.

Make it your own

Optional extras, at extra cost
  • Entry to the Aurora Reykjavík Northern Lights centre

Included

  • Guide on the day tour and the Northern Lights tour
  • Travel by coach with Wi-Fi
  • Kerið crater entrance ticket
  • Hot chocolate on the Northern Lights tour
  • Free rebooking of the Northern Lights tour if the lights are not seen

Not included

  • Food and drinks (other than hot chocolate)
  • Hotel pick-up and drop-off (available at extra cost, or meet at the terminal)

What to bring

  • Warm, windproof and waterproof clothing
  • Hat, gloves and a warm layer for the evening
  • Shoes with good grip for icy paths
  • Camera or phone with a charged battery

Good to know

  • Duration: about 12.5 hours on the same day: the Golden Circle (about 8.5 hours), a dinner break, then the Northern Lights tour (about 4 hours)
  • Minimum age 8
  • Runs August to April
  • Northern Lights are never guaranteed; free rebooking if they are not seen
  • Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the tour

Questions people ask

What happens if we don't see the Northern Lights?

You can rebook the Northern Lights part of the tour for free. The lights depend on clear, dark skies and solar activity, so they are never guaranteed.

Is dinner included?

No. There is a dinner break in Reykjavík between the day tour and the evening tour.

How cold is it at night?

In winter it is usually below freezing, and it can be windy. Wear warm layers, a hat and gloves.

Can children join?

Yes, from age 8. It is a long day, so it suits children who are happy with a lot of time on a coach.

Reviews

Reviews from travellers who took this tour. A local reads every review before it is shown.
5.0Based on 1 review
5 stars1
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1 star0
Nice tour

Very good tour, saw many great locations and the northern lights in the evening. We did go back to Reykjavik for dinner before we went out to see the northern lights which was very nice.

Nicola · December 2024
From17,990 ISKPer person

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