Golden Circle and Northern Lights Tour in Iceland

ICELAND'S MOST POPULAR NATURAL WONDERS IN ONE DAY.

This tour combines two of our favourite winter time activities. We start the day with the best-selling Golden Circle Tour in the morning and finish it off with a Northern Lights tour in the evening. 

The Golden Circle Tour is a must do while in Iceland where we visit the country's three iconic natural treasures: Þingvellir National Park, where the American and Eurasian plates have been pulling apart; the erupting geyser that sends water and steam spouting skywards; and the spectacular Gullfoss Waterfall where a glacial river thunders 32 meters into a canyon.

When night falls we set off hunting for the magical and elusive Northern Lights.  Keep in mind that the tour is dependant on the weather forecast and visibility conditions as to whether we go. And, don't forget - the Auroras are only visible over the winter months.

During the Northern Lights Tour you will spend much of the time gazing into the arctic sky hoping to witness the magical dance of the Auroras. Since we spend much of the evening standing outside we of course recommend dressing very warmly for the Icelandic winter conditions.

Please Note: We return the Reykjavík after the Golden Circle Tour where you will have a break of 3-6 hours to spend in the city before heading off on the Northern Lights Tour. The length of this break depends on how early you choose to depart for the tour in the morning. Before we pick you up for your Northern Lights Tour you can take some time to grab dinner in the city or perhaps join our Cheers to Reykjavík beer tasting tour!

Highlights

• Þingvellir: the rift valley and the site of the oldest modern parliament.
• Geysir: hot spring & geothermal area and home to Strokkur, the erupting geyser.
• Gullfoss Waterfall: the powerful glacial waterfall known as the 'Golden Waterfall' in English.
• Northern Lights Hunt: In the evening we will head out to hunt for the northern lights.
• GPS synced audio guide: will give you all the information you need for your journey. 

Reykjavik Terminal

Tours depart from the Reykjavik Terminal located at Skógarhlíð 10. Please be sure to arrive 15 minutes prior to departure along with a printed or digital copy of your ticket/voucher.

If you have booked a hotel pickup with SmartBus™, please be at your chosen pickup location 30 minutes before the departure of the tour. Look for the Green SmartBus™ which will be outside your accommodation within 30 minutes of pickup. 

Þingvellir National Park

Located on the northern shores of Þingvallavatn (Iceland's largest lake), Þingvellir (anglicized as 'Thingvellir') is the national pride of Iceland and our first National Park. It is, for one, a key location in Icelandic history as the oldest existing parliament in the world was first assembled there in 930 AD. For this reason, Þingvellir has been designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is, therefore, a protected national park due to its unique geology and natural features. From the viewing area, the Almannagjá canyon between two tectonic plates can be seen, a visual representation of continental drift.

As the first stop along the tour, you will have an opportunity to walk through the park and use the restroom if needed.

Geysir Geothermal Springs

A favorite stop along the Golden Circle is the highly active Geysir Hot Spring Area with boiling mud pits and the lively Strokkur which spouts water 30 meters (100 ft) into the air every few minutes. The area became active more than 1000 years ago and comprises more than a dozen hot spring holes. Although one can only see steam emerging from the surface of Geysir these days, its name was adopted to represent spouting hot springs all over the world.

Along the tour, the newly opened Geysir Center offers guests and travelers a chance to use the restroom and to catch some refreshments as well as lunch.

Gullfoss Waterfall

As one of the most popular attractions in all of Iceland, Gullfoss is a waterfall located in the canyon of Hvítá river in the southwest of the country. The beautiful Hvítá river rushes southward in three steps into a narrow canyon with a breathtaking roar and grandeur. Furthermore, on clear days the magnificent Langjökull glacier, Iceland's second largest glacier, can be seen in the distance.

Guests and Travelers may use the restroom and purchase food and refreshments at this location as well.

Northern Lights Hunt

Starting off in Reykjavik, from our Reykjavik terminal at Skógarhlíð 10, we will head outside the city to get as far from light pollution as possible. On a successful night of northern lights hunting, you will see the dancing display of the aurora borealis. The lights are an unpredictable natural phenomenon and an elusive sight that is truly magnificent when witnessed. 

Important information

• Please show up at our Reykjavik Terminal (located at Skógarhlíð 10) 15 minutes prior to the departure time. We kindly ask you to be ready at your pick-up point with your voucher, either in digital or printed form. 
• If you have booked a hotel pickup with Smartbus™, please be at your chosen pickup location 30 minutes before the departure of the tour. Look for the Green Smartbus™ which will be outside your accommodation within 30 minutes of pickup. 
• You will be traveling in a coach that holds approximately 40-65 people but is very spacious and comfortable. The bus offers free wifi and USB charging ports.
• Lunch is not included, at Geysir & Gullfoss there are shops where you can buy food and drinks. After the Golden Circle tour, we recommend taking the time to grab dinner in Reykjavík before we pick you up for the Northern Lights Tour
• The Northern Lights are only visible over the winter months and departures are highly dependent on weather conditions. 
• Scheduled departures for the Golden Circle portion of the tour are at 08:00, 10:00, or 12:00 daily from August 15th - April 25th. The Northern Lights Tour start times are:
  • August 15th - August 24th at 22:30
  • August 25th - October 15th at 21:30
  • October 16th - March 14th at 20:30
  • March 15th - April 14th  at 21:30
  • April 15th - April 25th at 22:30
• There is no age limit for this tour
• Bring with you: Dress according to the weather. In Iceland it is always smart to dress in warm, waterproof clothes, weather changes can be sudden so expect the unexpected. Bring a waterproof jacket and pants, headwear and gloves. Good outdoor shoes are recommended.
• Duration: Total traveling time is around 10 hours, including a minimum 30-minute stop at Geysir Hot Springs, Gullfoss Waterfall and Þingvellir National Park and an aprox. 3 hour Northern Lights tour. Please note there is a break of 3-6 hours in Reykjavík between the Golden Circle Tour and the Northern Lights Tour.
• In-Bus-Audio-Guide: We recommend that you bring your own headphones, simply because they will fit you best. It is also great for the environment. If you don’t have your headphones, with you or forgot to bring them, no worries we sell earphones on board.
• Please note, that it will not be possible to refund this tour in the event of an unsuccessful northern lights hunt. However, you may re-book the tour and continue coming back on subsequent tours until you have a night of successful northern lights. If during your stay in Iceland the northern lights portion of the tour is canceled due to bad weather and you have no subsequent chance to reschedule, then this portion of the tour will be refunded.