Our team are destination specialists with many years experience in creating holidays and can tailor make to suit you.
| Mon-Fri | 8am-6pm |
| Saturday | 9am-5pm |
| Sunday | Closed |
Our team are destination specialists with many years experience in creating holidays and can tailor make to suit you.
| Mon-Fri | 8am-6pm |
| Saturday | 9am-5pm |
| Sunday | Closed |
Whenever you hear about the magical locations of Iceland, the Golden Circle is probably one of the phrases you will come across. The Golden Circle is made up of three unique locations: Thingvellir National Park, the Geysir Geothermal Area, and the Gullfoss waterfall.
Travelling the Golden Circle is often a must-do for visitors to Iceland as it encompasses some of the country’s most interesting natural features – waterfalls, geysers, and geology. In this guide, we will look to answer some of the questions asked about the Golden Circle and how it can be a wonderful entry point for your continued discovery of Iceland.
The early bird catches the waterfall. In the busier summer months, get up with the birds and head to Skogafoss without the crowds. If you're lucky, you'll catch the sun rising behind the waterfall and can take advantage of photo opportunities minus any photo bombers!
The Golden Circle is located in south west Iceland and spans around 300kms. It extends round from Reykjavik to the uplands and back again, and is well-known for being home to many of Iceland’s most famous tourist locations.
Named after Gullfoss waterfall (gullfoss literally translates to ‘golden falls’), the Golden Circle has three primary stops, but there are numerous other places of interest to explore, including the Kerid Crater and Fludir’s secret lagoon.
The three main stops are Thingvellir National Park, the geothermal area in Haukadalur (where you can find the geysers Geysir and Strokkur), and Gullfoss waterfall.
Thingvellir National Park is of huge historical importance to Iceland, having been the hub of parliament from the 10th to 18th centuries. Now, it is a place that perfectly exemplifies Iceland’s incredible natural beauty. Its geological traits include canyons, fissures and lakes. Most significantly the Mid-Atlantic Ridge runs through marking the point where the North American and Eurasion tectonic plates meet. Walking, hiking, and – thanks to the advancements in drysuit technology – even snorkelling and diving are all popular activities in the park.
Sitting in Haukadalur Valley is the Geysir Geothermal Area. The two geysers that make this area famous are the Great Geysir (which is where the word geyser derives from the Old Norse ‘to gush’) and Strokkur. The Great Geysir very rarely erupts, but Stokkur more than makes up for it erupts every 10 minutes or so, shooting an enormous water cannon up to 40m into the air. A testament to Iceland’s close relationship with volcanic activity, the geysers are rare and awe-inspiring reminders of the immensity of nature.
Gullfoss waterfall is the final stop on the Golden Circle, and it is a sight to behold. Iceland is well-known for its waterfalls and when you see Gullfoss, it’s not hard to see why so many people visit every year. Gullfoss is iconic. The Hvita river stretches from the Langjökull glacier and cascades more than 140 cubic metres of water down a 32m drop in two tiers.
Yes you can, and it’s a great way to take it all in. When you travel with Discover the World, you get a choice of rental vehicles thanks to our close relationship with Europcar. You can also get exclusive access to the iDiscover app, which is a digital travel guide designed to help you make the most of your trip. It’s one of the best ways to explore as you can go at your own pace.
The Golden Circle is Iceland’s iconic day trip. Plan for a full day to cover the distances between sites and allowing time to enjoy each. However, in order to take in all the highlights of a south west, we would recommend 4 or 5 days. Our Golden Circle Self Drive Holiday is a 5-day trip, starting in Reykjavik. You’ll take in all the sights of the Golden Circle, as well as exploring the south coast and the capital city’s vibrant culture.
Even though there’s so much to see, you can do the Golden Circle tour in a single day. The whole journey is around 150 miles – but it depends on which route you take. Although it can be done in around three hours it’s best to take your time at each location, enjoying all the area has to offer.
Stop and take pictures, sit and enjoy the scenery, or take a few detours along the way. You can easily spend between 6-8 hours exploring the three main stops, so make sure you allocate enough time. If you are visiting Iceland for just a couple of days, the Golden Circle is a great way to cram in some of Iceland’s most popular areas in one go, or venture further east along the south coast.
Discover the World’s Golden Circle Self Drive holiday is a great way to explore the south west at your own pace. Explore Reykjavik, visit a host of natural wonders, and enjoy accommodation and a daily breakfast, as well as unlimited mileage.
There are also Superjeep day excursions, which include transport to the three main sites plus Kerid Crater and Hveragerdi hot springs village with knowledgeable driver/guide. Chat to our experts on on 01737 214250 to talk through your options.
You can do the Golden Circle tour as a guided tour, or you can work your way round the sights by yourself and in your own time. There are a number of detours you can enjoy during your trip round the Golden Circle, including:
Explore one of the lesser-known parts of Iceland - the remote West Fjords - on this winter tour offering great chances to see the northern lights.
From £2458 Excluding Flights
Explore Iceland's Snaefellsnes Peninsula on this compact self drive based at boutique Hotel Budir surrounded by open sky offering an ideal location for viewing the aurora.
From £712 Excluding Flights
Join a group of like-minded enthusiasts on our new, small-group photography tour capturing the dramatic landscapes of South Iceland, accompanied by award-winning photographer William Gray.
From £5989
Explore Thorsmork on this small group trek.
From £1690 Excluding Flights
This 5-night break combines a stay at three locations, each perfect for observing the northern lights.
From £1330 Excluding Flights
Combine the buzz of Iceland's capital city with a stay at a remote highland retreat on this short break.
From £936 Excluding Flights
Experience the highlights of Iceland in the winter on this compact escorted tour.
From £1161 Excluding Flights
Explore the Westman Islands and South Iceland in this short escorted tour
From £2176 Excluding Flights
Fly from London to Akureyri for a short break in Iceland's second city, the capital of the north, including a visit to the Forest Lagoon geothermal spa.
From £414 Excluding Flights
This escorted tour takes you on a grand tour of Iceland including all the classic sights
From £5312 Excluding Flights
With 2025 on the horizon and new adventures pending, we’ve delved into the data to see what’s trending when it comes to destinations and experiences.
Celebrating its 35th anniversary this year, Icehotel 35 opened its doors on 13 December 2024 revealing a collection of magnificent new Art Suites created around the iconic main hall.
With 5% of the world's biodiversity found in Costa Rica, it is a wildlife lovers dream destination. Travel writer, photographer and zoologist, William Gray picks five of his top wildlife destinations in Costa Rica…
Among the most bio-diverse counties on the planet, Costa Rica is a heady mix of weird and wonderful wildlife, luscious landscapes and colourful culture. As we launch our collection of holidays, we've put a few of the most asked questions to our Costa Rica specialists. Read what they had to say...
Australia is a land of contrasts and pairing two or three states is a great way to experience its diversity. That's just what Travel Specialist, Phoebe, did on her recent visit Down Under combining northern Queensland with the Red Centre. Read highlights of her reef and rock adventure...
Having put the finishing touches on the latest destination to join the Discover the World growing collection - Costa Rica - we've taken a behind the scenes peak at what goes in to launching a new holiday programme.
From wilderness escapes to adventurous self drives, ways to catch the start of aurora and polar bears watching in Canada, we name our top trips to take in autumn.
So prevalent and conspicuous are the birds that live in these remote and extreme locations that you simply fall under an avian spell.
Iconic moments come thick and fast in New Zealand. This was certainly the experience of Travel Specialist, Trudy’s, recent trip. As one icon followed another, she recalls her highlights...
Bathing culture runs deep in Iceland’s national psyche. Swimming pools, or Sundlaugar as they are called in Icelandic, are an inherent part of local life. Find out as we take a deep dive into swimming pool culture.
