The famous Golden Circle with a twist: a relaxing bath in the cozy Secret Lagoon.
Tour Operator: Your Day Tours
Combine the popular Golden Circle sightseeing tour with a relaxing trip to the phenomenal Secret Lagoon natural hot springs. Soak in the unique and natural waters of the hot springs and enjoy all the wonders of the attractions that make up the famous Golden Circle - on this 9 hour, small group tour directly from Reykjavik that ensures a more personal experience. Thingvellir National Park, Geysir hot spring area and Gullfoss waterfall are three of the most popular attractions in Iceland and together they combine some of the most iconic landmarks of Iceland.
Trip difficulty: 1 out of 5 possible. Rated: Easy.
Trip Highlights:
- Thingvellir
- Gullfoss
- Geysir
- Secret Lagoon
Thingvellir
Þingvellir (Thingvellir) National Park, where nature's wonders intertwine with rich history, creating one of Iceland's most captivating attractions. As you step into Þingvellir, you'll immediately notice its unique setting in a rift valley—a powerful reminder that our planet's crust is in constant motion. The striking landscape, marked by the pulling apart of the Eurasian and North American tectonic plates, tells a story millions of years in the making.
But that's not all! Here, you'll also discover Althing, Iceland's very first national parliament, along with the mesmerizing Silfra Fissure, the dramatic Almannagjá rift, and breathtaking views of Þingvallavatn lake. Get ready to immerse yourself in nature's wonders and uncover the secrets of this extraordinary place.
Gullfoss
Our adventure will then lead us to the breathtaking Gullfoss, aptly named the "golden waterfall," situated at the very edge of the Icelandic Highlands. Cascading gracefully within the canyon of the Hvíta River, Gullfoss is fed by the Langjökull glacier to the north, lending it a majestic aura.
As a two-tiered waterfall, Gullfoss seems to vanish into the depths below, with its waters plunging an impressive 32 meters. The waterfall offers a mesmerizing display of nature's power, showcasing the raw forces of Icelandic landscapes.
Regardless of the season, Gullfoss captivates with its awe-inspiring beauty, making it a must-see destination on our journey through Iceland's natural wonders.
Geysir
Our next destination is the Geysir geothermal field, home to one of the world's most renowned geysers—the very namesake of these incredible natural wonders! Here, you'll have the chance to wander amidst bubbling water pools, crystal-clear geothermal springs, and steam vents. Keep your eyes peeled for the spectacular sight of a geyser erupting before you.
Although now dormant, Geysir once held the title of the tallest geyser in history, towering an impressive 122 meters (400 ft) into the sky. But fear not, for Geysir's little brother, Strokkur, has stepped into the limelight. As the most active geyser in Iceland, Strokkur puts on a mesmerizing show, erupting every 4 to 10 minutes, ensuring you'll have plenty of opportunities to witness its breath-taking eruptions.
Secret lagoon
We'll make a final stop at the Secret Lagoon, Iceland's oldest pool. Nestled amidst natural surroundings, this man-made pool harnesses the Earth's geothermal warmth, maintaining a soothing temperature of 38-40° Celsius (100° Fahrenheit) throughout the year.
Surrounded by moss-covered lava fields and geothermal hotspots, the Secret Lagoon offers a serene escape. Keep an eye out for a small geyser that erupts every 5 minutes or so. A convenient pathway around the pool allows for easy exploration of the area.
Make sure to pack your swim gear, as you'll have the chance to immerse yourself in the rejuvenating hot waters of the Secret Lagoon—a perfect finale to our unforgettable journey through Iceland's natural wonders.
We pick you up at your hotel, guesthouse or at one of the bus stops downtown Reykjavík in the morning (click here to see list of bus stops). The pickup is always between 8:00 and 8:30, but you have to be ready at 8 o'clock. After the pick up we head out of town and the guide introduce him/her self.
The last stop of the day is the national park Þingvellir, which is full of history and natural beauty. It has a special place in the hearts of all Icelanders, all the way back to the Viking time when they founded here the first parliament in the world.
We will have enough time to walk around and explore this wonderful place. We will have the opportunity to walk in the rift valley, where the tectonic plates are pulling apart. This is the closest you can get to being in two continents at the same time, since under the national park the eurasian plate and the american plate are separating by 2 cm every year.
Þingvellir was designated as a World Heritage of UNESCO in 2004.
In the area there are restrooms and coffee shops for visitors.
The wonderful Gullfoss is in our opinion one of the most beautiful waterfalls on earth. It is one of the biggest waterfalls in Iceland and there is a beautiful story about the waterfall which your guide will tell you.
When Canadians and Americans go there they call it "the mini-version of Niagara falls", we don't know if we agree on that though, if you ask us it's even prettier. The waterfall is located close to the second biggest glacier in Iceland, Langjökull, and you will see the fresh glacier water falling down 32 meters total into the canyon.
Gullfoss is beautiful from all angles, from above it looks perfect with the Icelandic nature around. In the summertime it is possible to walk all the way down to Gullfoss and feel it's power and spraying water in the air.
Geysir is the most famous hot spring in the world, no doubt. It's that famous that people from other countries talk about "Geyser" when talking about erupting hot springs. Geysir is located only 8 minutes drive from Gullfoss and is our third big attraction of the day.
Geysir is the father of all the hot springs in the area, and first erupted hundreds of years ago. The "golden age" for Geysir was in the beginning of last century when it erupted up to 80 meters every half an hour. Geysir fell asleep late last century but woke up again after the earthquakes in Haukadalur area in the year 2000. It was erupting for 4 months, with a little help from the locals who put soap in it to make it erupt. They stopped doing that due to environmental reasons, of course. Geysir has been sleeping since the fall of the year 2000.
The only active erupting hot spring in the area is "the son of Geysir", called Strokkur. Strokkur erupts every 3 to 8 minutes and goes as high as 35 meters. Strokkur is a spectacular hot spring, seeing this active hot spring erupt just a few kilometers from the glacier is a once in a lifetime experience.
This is our lunch stop. There are restaurants at the Geysir area where you can have burgers, salads, traditional Icelandic meat soup (our favorite) and much more. If you want to bring your own lunch with you, we let our customers eat in the bus, especially if the weather is bad.
We will have time to check out the hot springs (no bathing allowed!) and also time to have lunch.
The last stop of the day is the Secret Lagoon known in Iceland as the "Old pool" since it is the oldest geothermal pool on the island, founded in 1891.
It is nothing more relaxing after a day out in the icelandic nature then end the day in a geothermal pool. In Iceland we do have more then 100 geothermal pools all over the country and it is a big part of the icelandic culture to go there to relax. The Secret Lagoon is different from the pools in Reykjavik for example, the area is all covered in mossy lava fields and many hot springs all around. There is a little hot spring there which erupts every 4-6 minutes.
If you feel to hot it is nice to stand up and walk around the area on the walking paths around the pool.
The water is about 38°-40°celcius.
Before you enter the pool the staff will tell you the rules and what should be kept in mind when visit the pool.
Remember to bring towels and swimsuits with you, but they can be rented by extra cost at the lagoon.
We stop in the pool for about 90 minutes.