Private Tour: Golden Circle Essentials in minivan

Golden Circle Essentials

This private tour of the Golden Circle is designed to show you the three famous sites of the most popular route in Iceland.

This is a short itinerary that should take around 6 hours from pickup to dropoff including driving time and visits.

Our tour is ideal on a day when you also have other plans, or to combine with an airport pickup/dropoff (Please contact us for this option)

WiFi on board
Private transportation
Parking Fees

No public transportation nearby
Infants must not sit on laps
Not wheelchair accessible
Wheelchair accessible
Tour duration is 5 to 7 hours including driving times between visits

Thingvellir National Park (Þingvellir)
Thingvellir is a site that presents both a historical and a natural interest.

History

This is where the very first parliament of Europe was founded over 1000 years ago, in the year 930. This is the site where Icelandic laws were debated and voted on until the 18th century.

Nature

The tectonic fissure that runs through Iceland, and separates the North American plate from the Eurasian plate is visible here in Thingvellir. This is the only place in the world where the North Atlantic ridge is visible above sea level.
Geysir
In the area of Geysir, we can actually find two huge geysers:

The first one, called Geysir, is currently clogged and no longer erupts. It does not mean that it will never erupt, but it is at the moment considered dormant.

This is the one after which all geysers in the world have been named. The word “geyser” therefore comes from Iceland.

There is another big geyser called Strokkur, which is not dormant at all!

You will see Strokkur erupting every 5-10 minutes, sometimes bursting water up to 30 meters high!
Gullfoss
Gullfoss is an impressive waterfall, coming from a glacial river from the glacier of Langjökull.

The name Gullfoss translates to “Golden Waterfall”, some say that it is because of the color that the waterfall takes when the sun is setting, some say that it is related to the story of a grumpy farmer who threw his gold in the waterfall. Ask your guide about the story to hear what he thinks!

One would think that coming to Iceland in the winter or in the summer requires bringing completely different outfits.

This is both true and untrue. Let's say that it is very unlikely to be warm in winter and unlikely to be very cold in summer.

This said: Always, always be ready for rain and wind. The weather is highly unpredictable in Iceland and is famous for turning from an one extreme to another in an instant.

What does it mean?

It means that no matter how many layers you are wearing in regards to the temperature, you should always have a windproof/rainproof jacket and pair of pants, either to wear or at least with you in your backpack.

Historical and natural place of interest

The mighty geyser of Strokkur

The amazing waterfall of Gullfoss, The Golden Waterfall