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Golden Circle (Gullni Hringurinn) Tours
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Day Trips
416 Tours & Activities

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650 Tours & Activities
9 hours (Approx.)
Hotel pickup offered
Mobile ticket
Offered in: English
Good for avoiding crowds
Keeping you safe during COVID-19
What you can expect during your visit
Hand sanitizer available to travelers and staff
Social distancing enforced throughout experience
Regularly sanitized high-traffic areas
Gear/equipment sanitized between use
Transportation vehicles regularly sanitized
Guides required to regularly wash hands
Paid stay-at-home policy for staff with symptoms
Contactless payments for gratuities and add-ons
Overview
For a day out with horses and hot springs, look no further than this full-day tour from Reykjavik. After a horseback ride on a unique Icelandic horse, take an express tour of some key Golden Circle sights: Gullfoss waterfall, the Geysir hot spring area, UNESCO-listed Thingvellir, and the village of Hveragerdi. The ride is suitable for all levels of experience, and takes in the rugged countryside on the capital’s outskirts.
- Combined Viking horse ride and afternoon Gulfoss and Geysir Express tour
- Ride on an Icelandic horse, a breed unchanged since the 9th century and known for its docile nature
- Thingvellir, the oldest functioning parliament in the world
- Geysir and Strokkur hot springs
- Pickup and drop-off from Reykjavik area hotels and guesthouses
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After pickup from your Reykjavik hotel or other designated pickup point, head to a ranch on the city outskirts to meet your trusty steed. A breed that dates back to Viking days, the Icelandic horse is known for being gentle and steady-footed—a perfect ride for both first-timers and pros alike. Mount your horse and head out for your horseback ride around the quiet countryside that skirts Reykjavik.
When your ride ends, return to your coach for the journey to Gullfoss and the Geysir hot water springs. On the way, enjoy a stop at UNESCO-listed Thingvellir, a national park that’s home to the so-called ‘rift valley’—where the continental tectonic plates meet—and the ancient site of the Icelandic parliament.
After a stroll around Thingvellir, continue to the waterfall of Gullfoss. Set in a canyon on the Hvítá River, the falls are said to be the most impressive in Iceland, with cascading flumes of water flanked by magnificent scenery. Pose for photos, and then resume your tour with a visit to the nearby hot springs of Geysir and Strokkur.
Your day trip then ends with a hotel drop-off back in Reykjavik.
When your ride ends, return to your coach for the journey to Gullfoss and the Geysir hot water springs. On the way, enjoy a stop at UNESCO-listed Thingvellir, a national park that’s home to the so-called ‘rift valley’—where the continental tectonic plates meet—and the ancient site of the Icelandic parliament.
After a stroll around Thingvellir, continue to the waterfall of Gullfoss. Set in a canyon on the Hvítá River, the falls are said to be the most impressive in Iceland, with cascading flumes of water flanked by magnificent scenery. Pose for photos, and then resume your tour with a visit to the nearby hot springs of Geysir and Strokkur.
Your day trip then ends with a hotel drop-off back in Reykjavik.
Itinerary
Known for their small yet robust statures, gentle temperments and unique fifth gait (tölt), the Icelandic horse as a breed has remained virtually the same since it was first brought to Iceland at the peak of the Viking Age in the 9th century. You’ll ride out into the picturesque Icelandic landscape of Laxnes just outside of the city of Reykjavik and experience the land in the manner similar to that of the early settlers. Whether you are a beginner or an experienced rider, this tour is wonderful way to enjoy roaming the Icelandic countryside
Duration: 2 hours
Admission Ticket Included
Iceland's most popular sightseeing route. The first stop on this tour is Thingvellir National Park, a designated UNESCO world heritage site. This is where Icelandic democracy began more than 1,000 years ago on the fields of parliament (Thingvellir) and it’s also where two tectonic plates are gradually separating creating a gorgeous landscape of steep cliffs and broad fields featuring Thingvallavatn, the largest natural lake in Iceland. Next up, you will see one of the most popular and powerful waterfalls in Iceland is Gullfoss (golden falls). The roar of the Hvita River falling over two tiers into the gorge below is exhilarating and on sunny days creates rainbow upon rainbow. With your camera and a good raincoat, you’ll be able to capture the beauty of the waterfall and its rainbows from several angels by way of the paths available around the waterfall, including one that leads to its bottom. From Gullfoss you’ll continue on to Geysir geothermal area with its boiling mud pits, steam vents, Geysir, the namesake of all geysers, and Strokkur a geyser that erupts on a regular basis to the delight, and sometimes surprise, of onlookers.
Duration: 6 hours
Admission Ticket Included
Visit Thingvellir National Park, a designated UNESCO world heritage site. This is where Icelandic democracy began more than 1,000 years ago on the fields of parliament (Thingvellir) and it’s also where two tectonic plates are gradually separating creating a gorgeous landscape of steep cliffs and broad fields featuring Thingvallavatn, the largest natural lake in Iceland.
Duration: 45 minutes
Admission Ticket Included
Next up, you will see one of the most popular and powerful waterfalls in Iceland is Gullfoss (golden falls). The roar of the Hvita River falling over two tiers into the gorge below is exhilarating and on sunny days creates rainbow upon rainbow. With your camera and a good raincoat, you’ll be able to capture the beauty of the waterfall and its rainbows from several angels by way of the paths available around the waterfall, including one that leads to its bottom.
Duration: 1 hour
Admission Ticket Free
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Traveler Tips
- "Also, remember to grab gloves or your hands will be very cold by the end of the ride." See review
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Product code: 2970AH27
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