Golden Circle Small Group Tour with Kerid Crater

A Classic Icelandic Day Trip Done Right

The Golden Circle is Iceland's most popular sightseeing route for good reason. This small group tour from Troll Expeditions covers all three major stops — Thingvellir National Park, the Geysir geothermal area, and Gullfoss waterfall — plus an added bonus visit to Kerid Crater that many larger tours skip entirely.

Departing from Reykjavik in the morning, the minibus keeps things intimate with a maximum of 19 passengers. Your guide provides running commentary on Icelandic geology, history, and culture throughout the drive, turning the transit time into an education rather than dead air.

Thingvellir, Geysir, and Gullfoss

The first stop at Thingvellir National Park is where the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates pull apart, creating a dramatic rift valley. This UNESCO World Heritage Site also served as the meeting place for Iceland's parliament from 930 AD, making it one of the oldest parliamentary sites in the world. You get roughly 45 minutes to walk the trails along the canyon rim and down to the valley floor.

At the Geysir geothermal area, the star attraction is Strokkur, which erupts every five to ten minutes and shoots boiling water up to 30 meters into the air. The surrounding mud pots and fumaroles steam constantly, giving the whole area an otherworldly feel. The stop here usually includes time for lunch at the on-site cafe.

Gullfoss — the "Golden Waterfall" — is arguably the most spectacular of the three stops. The Hvita river plunges 32 meters in two dramatic stages into a narrow canyon. In summer, you can walk right up to the edge. In winter, the mist freezes on every surface, creating an ice sculpture garden around the falls.

The Kerid Crater Bonus

What sets this tour apart from standard Golden Circle trips is the included stop at Kerid Crater. This 3,000-year-old volcanic crater lake sits about 15 minutes off the main route and features striking red and black volcanic rock surrounding an impossibly blue pool of water. The walk around the rim takes about 20 minutes and offers excellent photo opportunities. The entrance fee is included in your tour price.

Practical Details

The full tour runs approximately 10 hours door to door. The pace is comfortable without feeling rushed — you get enough time at each location to explore properly and take photos without a guide herding you back to the bus. The pickup and drop-off service from central Reykjavik hotels makes logistics effortless. For first-time visitors to Iceland, this tour is an essential starting point that showcases the country's geological diversity in a single well-organized day.