Golden Circle with Kerið Crater

Start early and add a fourth wonder to Iceland's most famous day trip. This Golden Circle tour leaves Reykjavík at 8 AM and pairs the classic trio: Þingvellir National Park, the Geysir geothermal area and Gullfoss waterfall with an added stop at Kerið, a 3,000-year-old volcanic crater ringed by red slopes above a turquoise lake. It runs about seven hours, roughly thirty minutes longer than the standard Golden Circle Direct, and admission to Kerið is included.

Ask a local which day trip to take near Reykjavík and the answer is almost always the Golden Circle. This version keeps the three landmarks that made the route famous: Þingvellir, Geysir and Gullfoss and adds a fourth stop at the Kerið crater. With an early 8 AM departure and a route about thirty minutes longer than the standard Golden Circle Direct, you reach the sights ahead of the busiest part of the day and still fit in an extra wonder.

Þingvellir National Park

A UNESCO World Heritage Site, Þingvellir is where Iceland's parliament, the Alþingi, was founded in 930. It is also one of the few places on earth where you can walk between two continents, as the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates drift apart and leave dramatic rifts across the valley floor.

The Geysir geothermal area

Iceland's geothermal energy is on full display at Geysir, the field that gave every geyser in the world its name. The original Geysir mostly rests today, but its neighbour Strokkur is reliable company, sending a column of boiling water skyward every few minutes.

Gullfoss waterfall

Gullfoss, the “golden falls”, is fed by the glacial river Hvítá and drops in two tiers into a canyon more than 60 metres deep. It has a special place in the heart of every Icelander. A short walk brings you close enough to feel the spray, and on bright days a rainbow often hangs over the gorge.

Kerið crater

The stop that sets this tour apart. Kerið is a volcanic crater formed around 3,000 years ago, its steep red and black slopes falling roughly 55 metres to a still, turquoise lake. An easy path runs around the rim for panoramic views, and admission to Kerið is included in your ticket.

Good to know

• This is a direct, efficient version of the Golden Circle, so time at each stop is focused rather than leisurely.
• Optional hotel pick-up is available at extra cost and begins 30 minutes before the selected departure time.
• Prefer longer stops? The Golden Circle & Friðheimar Greenhouse (RE04) allows more time at Geysir, Gullfoss and Þingvellir and adds a visit to the Friðheimar tomato greenhouse.