The Golden Circle is a must-do day tour out of Reykjavik. It offers you the opportunity to discover some of the highlights of south-west Iceland. It also provides you with a general insight into the Icelandic history, geology, its people and it rich cultural heritage.
After pick-up, we start the tour by driving to Iceland‘s first national park, the Thingvellir National Park. This is the birth place of a nation as well as of the first Icelandic democracy, when the Viking chieftains decided to establish their first parliament (Althingi) or “general assembly“ in 930 AD. Many events took place in the area, including the introduction of Christianity in the year 1000 AD, the declaration of independence from the Danish kings on June 17, 1944.
Besides its historical and cultural importance, the park displays a unique geology and natural landscapes. There, one can learn and understand the tectonic activity or the so-called the continental drift, the boundary between North American and Eurasian plate tectonics. Thingvellir is one of the only sites on Earth where the effects of two major tectonic plates drifting apart can be observed.
Notorious for its outstanding natural beauty, Thingvellir National Park served as one the main filming locations of Game of Thrones in Iceland. There, you can experience the site the same way encountered or seen by the cast of the White Walkers and the trail of the Wildlings from North of the Wall.
After a short walk through the area, we continue towards the Geyser geothermal area. There, you have enough time to discover Strokkur, one of the most active geysers in the world. It spouts hot water and steam at a height of 20 – 25 meters every 5 – 8 minutes.
After lunch break in the area, we head towards Gullfoss “Golden Waterfall”, Europe’s second most powerful waterfall. It is located on the Hvítá, “White River”, one of Iceland’s major glacier rivers.
Back to Reykjavik
Keep in mind
- This tour is operated for Cruise Ship passengers.
- Guaranteed within the time frame of your ship.
- We will have stops for lunch (not included in the price) and refreshments. You can use a credit card to buy lunch.