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Golden Circle and Secret Lagoon Tour

Name: Golden Circle and Secret Lagoon Tour
Brand: Iceland Travel Guide
SKU: 91450
Price: 20300 ISK
Availability: InStock
Rating: 5.0 (1 reviews)

About 8 hoursGroup: Small group, up to 19 peopleEasySmall-group minibus, pick-up in ReykjavíkNo minimum age, babies welcomeAll year

5.0(1 review)

Bathers in the steam of the Secret Lagoon

A Golden Circle and Secret Lagoon tour with no minimum age, so the whole family can come, babies included, and child seats are free. It combines the three classic stops with a soak in one of Iceland's oldest geothermal pools, with pick-up in Reykjavík included.

Þingvellir National ParkGeysir geothermal areaGullfoss waterfallSecret Lagoon

No minimum age: babies and young children are welcome
Free child seats: just tick "Child seat" under Extras when you book
The three classic Golden Circle stops in one day
A soak in the Secret Lagoon, one of Iceland's oldest pools
Pick-up and drop-off in Reykjavík included
Small-group minibus rather than a big coach
A later start than most Golden Circle tours

Your day, stop by stop

Click a stop for photos and practical tips.

1Pick-up in ReykjavíkPick-up from your accommodation, mid-morning.

Þingvellir National ParkWhere the tectonic plates meet and the Vikings held their parliament.

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. You walk through the Almannagjá rift.

Walking · easy paths, about 1–2 kmFacilities · visitor centre and toilets

Read our Þingvellir National Park guide →

Geysir geothermal areaHot springs and the Strokkur geyser erupting every few minutes.

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 · visitor centre, café and toilets

Read our Geysir guide →

Gullfoss waterfallA two-tier waterfall dropping into a deep canyon.

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.

Walking · upper viewpoint easy; lower path has stairsFacilities · café, shop and toilets

Read our Gullfoss guide →

Secret LagoonA soak in one of Iceland's oldest geothermal pools.

The Secret Lagoon, also called Gamla Laugin, 'the old pool', in Flúðir, was built in 1891 and is Iceland's oldest swimming pool, restored and reopened to visitors in 2014. It keeps a natural feel: a stone-edged pool set into a geothermal field, with steam drifting off water that stays at 38 to 40°C all year. A small geyser, Litli Geysir, erupts beside the pool about every 5 minutes.

Facilities · changing rooms and showersBring · swimwear and a towel

Read our The Secret Lagoon guide →

6Return to ReykjavíkDrop-off back at your accommodation.

About the Golden Circle and Secret Lagoon tour

This tour covers the Golden Circle, the most popular day trip from Reykjavík, and adds a stop at the Secret Lagoon in Flúðir, a simple, naturally heated pool that has been used for bathing since the early 1900s. It's a good option if you want the classic sights plus some time to relax in warm water, without arranging a separate lagoon visit yourself.

The day runs in a small-group minibus with pick-up from your accommodation in Reykjavík, a bit later than some competing tours, which suits anyone who doesn't want an early start. The route takes in Þingvellir, where the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates meet, the geothermal area at Geysir where Strokkur erupts every few minutes, and Gullfoss, the great two-tier waterfall on the Hvítá river.

This tour has no minimum age, which is rare for a Golden Circle day, so it works well for families with babies and small children. Child seats are free: tick "Child seat" under Extras when you book and we will have one ready. Walking at each of the sightseeing stops is short and easy, so the tour suits most ages and fitness levels. The Secret Lagoon itself is simple rather than a resort spa, with changing rooms and showers on site; bring swimwear and a towel.

Included

Pick-up and drop-off in Reykjavík
Guide
Secret Lagoon admission
Minibus transport

Not included

Food and drinks
Swimsuit and towel (can be rented on site)

What to bring

Swimwear and towel
Warm, waterproof clothing
Comfortable walking shoes

Good to know

Duration is about 8 hours including the lagoon stop
No minimum age: suitable for all ages, babies included. Walking at each stop is short and easy
Runs all year; the lower path at Gullfoss can close in winter due to ice
Free cancellation is usually available up to 24 hours before the tour
Pick-up between 10:00 and 10:30 from hotels and bus stops in Reykjavík
Needs at least 4 adults to run; minibus of up to 19 passengers
Child seats are free of charge. Tick "Child seat" under Extras when you book, so we know how many to bring

Questions people ask

Is there a minimum age for this tour?

No. There is no minimum age, so babies and young children can join. Children from 0 to 5 years pay the children's price, and ages 6 to 12 pay the youth price.

Do you provide child seats, and do they cost extra?

Yes, child seats are free. When you book, tick "Child seat" under Extras and choose how many you need, so we have them in the minibus.

Is the Secret Lagoon like the Blue Lagoon?

No, it's simpler and smaller, a natural geothermal pool rather than a large spa resort, but it has changing rooms and showers.

Do I need my own towel?

Yes, bring your own swimsuit and towel, or rent them at the Secret Lagoon.

How much walking is there at the Golden Circle stops?

Not much. Paths at Þingvellir, Geysir and Gullfoss are short and easy.

Can I cancel for free?

Free cancellation is usually available up to 24 hours before the tour starts; confirm this at booking.

Reviews

Reviews from travellers who took this tour. A local reads every review before it is shown.

5.0Based on 1 review

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1 star0

We loved this tour!

Our family loved this tour! The Golden Circle stops were amazing, and finishing the day with a relaxing soak in the Secret Lagoon was perfect. The guide was great with the kids, making it fun and easy for all of us!

The F. · October 2024

From20,300 ISKPer person