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Golden Circle & Silfra Snorkeling Tour

About 10 hoursGroup: Small groupEasyMinibus from ReykjavíkAge 12+ (60–69 needs a doctor's note)All year
5.0(6 reviews)
Two snorkellers in SilfraStrokkur geyser eruptingRivers and green plains at Þingvellir from the airÞingvellir church and houses in autumn
Gullfoss waterfall at sunset

A full day combining the Golden Circle with a Silfra snorkel. You visit Þingvellir, Geysir and Gullfoss, and snorkel the Silfra fissure in a drysuit, floating in glacier water between the North American and Eurasian plates.

Þingvellir & Silfra snorkelGeysir geothermal areaGullfoss waterfall
  • The three classic Golden Circle stops in one day
  • A guided Silfra snorkel between two tectonic plates, drysuit included
  • Water filtered through lava with visibility over 100 metres
  • Free GoPro underwater photos, plus hot chocolate after the snorkel
  • Small groups of up to 18 in a minibus with WiFi

Your day, stop by stop

Click a stop for photos and practical tips.
1Pick-up in ReykjavíkBoard the minibus at 8am from central pick-up points.
2Two snorkellers in SilfraÞingvellir & Silfra snorkelSuit up in a drysuit and snorkel the Silfra fissure.
Two snorkellers in SilfraSnorkeller in the clear water of SilfraWalking path at Þingvellir

Silfra is a fissure in Þingvellir where the North American and Eurasian plates are slowly pulling apart. It is filled with glacial meltwater from Langjökull that has been filtered underground through lava for decades, so visibility often exceeds 100 metres, which makes it one of the clearest snorkel and dive sites in the world. The water stays at about 2 to 4°C all year. After the safety briefing and gearing up in a drysuit, you snorkel through the fissure's clear glacial water for around 30–40 minutes.

Time here · around 2–3 hours including gear-upAge · minimum 12, doctor's note needed for ages 60–69Included · GoPro photos, hot chocolate and a chocolate bar after
Read our Silfra guide →
3Geysir geothermal areaGeysir geothermal areaHot springs, with Strokkur erupting every few minutes.
Geysir geothermal areaGeysir geothermal areaGeysir geothermal area

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 →
4GullfossGullfossA two-tier waterfall dropping into a deep canyon.
GullfossGullfossGullfoss

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 path easy; lower path has stairsFacilities · café, shop and toilets
Read our Gullfoss guide →
5Return to ReykjavíkDrop-off around 5pm.

About the Golden Circle snorkeling tour

This is the Golden Circle with the day's best activity built in: instead of just looking at Þingvellir's rift valley from the path, you get into the water that fills it. Pick-up is 8am from central Reykjavík and you're back around 5pm.

At Þingvellir you suit up in a full drysuit and snorkel the Silfra fissure, where the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates are slowly separating. The glacial water, filtered for years through lava rock, is famous for its clarity. From there the day continues to Geysir, where Strokkur erupts every few minutes, and finishes at Gullfoss, the two-tier waterfall on the Hvítá river.

It's an easy day physically: the drysuit floats you in the water, and the walking at Geysir and Gullfoss is on flat, well-used paths. It runs all year, though winter means shorter daylight for the Golden Circle stops and the water stays close to freezing regardless of season. Minimum age for the snorkel is 12, and anyone 60 or older needs a signed doctor's note.

Make it your own

Optional extras, at extra cost
  • Hiking boot rental
  • Waterproof jacket and trousers rental
  • Ice grips for your shoes, to buy (October to April)
  • T-shirt to buy
  • Beanie to buy
  • Gloves to buy

Included

  • Round-trip minibus transport from Reykjavík
  • Drysuit, thermal undersuit and snorkelling gear
  • Hot chocolate and a chocolate bar
  • GoPro underwater photos
  • Certified English-speaking guide

Not included

  • Food (other than the hot chocolate and chocolate bar after the snorkel)

What to bring

  • Thermal underwear (top and bottom)
  • Extra warm socks
  • Contact lenses instead of glasses if possible
  • Warm layered clothing for the Golden Circle stops
  • Hiking boots
  • Remove all jewellery before the snorkel

Good to know

  • About 10 hours, pickup 8am, back around 5pm
  • Minimum age 12 for the snorkel; ages 60–69 need a signed doctor's note; maximum age 69
  • Groups of up to 18 with one guide
  • No pick-up from Keflavík airport or outside the greater capital area
  • Runs all year

Questions people ask

Do I need diving or swimming experience to snorkel Silfra?

No. The drysuit floats you, so it's mostly about staying relaxed rather than swimming ability.

Is it warm enough to enjoy the Golden Circle stops after getting out of the water?

Yes, you change into dry clothes and get a hot drink before continuing to Geysir and Gullfoss.

Can children join?

The minimum age for the snorkel is 12; there's no separate minimum for the sightseeing stops.

What if I don't want to snorkel?

This tour is built around the Silfra snorkel; if you'd rather skip the water, our standard Golden Circle tour is a better fit.

Reviews

Reviews from travellers who took this tour. A local reads every review before it is shown.
5.0Based on 6 reviews
5 stars6
4 stars0
3 stars0
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1 star0
Fantastic tour!

We had the most amazing time on this Golden Circle and snorkeling tour - absolutely fantastic!

Hilder · October 2025
Magnificent

Magnificent experience. Had a great time with my family on this tour and everyone loved both the snorkeling and the sightseeing on this tour! Would recommend this Golden Circle tour to everyone visiting Iceland because it both includes beautiful natural sightings and also the adventurous snorkeling tour in Pingvellir.

Hans · November 2024
Had a blast!

Had a blast on this tour. We were 5 girls who did this tour together and I am writing on behalf of our group. The whole day was great and we keep talking about it. Would love to come back to Iceland for another tour.

Anne C. · November 2024
Recommend

This tour was absolutely great! Recommend it to anyone. The guide was very nice and showed us all the best places. The snorkeling guide was also extremely helpful and we had the best time on the snorkeling part of this tour.
Would do this tour again if I could!

Antonio · November 2024
Amazing day - Snorkeling was the highlight!

I recently went on the Golden Circle & Snorkeling Silfra day tour, and it was amazing. Thingvellir National Park, Geysir, and Gullfoss were breathtaking, with our guide providing fascinating insights at each stop.The highlight was snorkeling in Silfra; floating between tectonic plates in crystal-clear water was a surreal and unforgettable experience. The tour was well-organized, and our guides were professional and friendly.I highly recommend this tour for an incredible mix of adventure and sightseeing in Iceland!

Michael T. · July 2024
Amazing experience

Snorkeling in Silfra is an amazing experience and unique from everything I have ever done. I am used to go snorkeling in warmer countries and love it but this is totally different. The water is so clear and the history of the place is also so interesting. Thingvellir, Geysir and Gullfoss were also very beautiful but snorkeling in Silfra was my favorite part of the tour.

Anna · April 2022
From34,990 ISKPer person

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