Golden Circle & Kerið Volcanic Crater Small-Group Day Tour from Reykjavik
A full-day small-group tour of Iceland’s Golden Circle with the addition of Kerið Volcanic Crater — the striking 3,000-year-old caldera that most standard Golden Circle tours skip. Stops at Thingvellir National Park (UNESCO World Heritage Site, tectonic plates), the Geysir geothermal area (Strokkur erupts every 7–10 minutes), Gullfoss waterfall, and Kerið Crater (55 meters deep, vivid teal lake). Hotel pickup included. 4.8/5 across 902 reviews. From $119 per person.
About This Activity
Up to 24h, full refund
Book today, pay nothing until later
Starts 9:00 AM, most hotels in Reykjavik
3,000-year-old volcanic caldera not on standard tours
UNESCO World Heritage Site, tectonic plates visible
Erupts every 7–10 minutes — reliable and spectacular
The Golden Circle with Kerið — What Makes This the Right Tour
The Golden Circle is Iceland’s most popular day trip from Reykjavik — a 300km route connecting Thingvellir National Park, the Geysir geothermal area, and Gullfoss waterfall. If you have one day in Iceland and no interest in the Blue Lagoon spa experience, this is the tour.
The addition of Kerið Volcanic Crater is the reason to choose this specific version over the standard three-stop Golden Circle. Kerið is a 3,000-year-old volcanic caldera — 55 meters deep, 170 meters wide, with a vivid teal-green lake at the bottom surrounded by deep red volcanic rock and black lava. A path rings the entire rim; the walk takes about 20 minutes. The color contrast here is some of the most distinctly Icelandic scenery you’ll see in a day: fire-red volcanic soil, black lava, turquoise water. Many standard Golden Circle tours charge separately or skip Kerið entirely because the admission fee isn’t included. Here it is.
This tour is run by Nicetravel ehf and has 902 reviews at 4.8/5 — guides Mika, Monika, Pawel, Nikhola, Guli, and others are consistently praised. Morgan P. (March 2026): “Everything was well organized and the sites were absolutely beautiful. Mika was very communicative about pickup and kept everyone informed. As we traveled from site to site, he shared great information and made the experience even more enjoyable.”
At $119 per person, this is also the most affordable tour in this Iceland guide — less than half the price of the Golden Circle + Blue Lagoon combination. If you’ve already visited the Blue Lagoon, or want to book a separate lagoon day, this is the logical choice.
The Seven Stops on the Golden Circle & Kerið Tour
Thingvellir National Park
45 min · Free admission (UNESCO World Heritage Site)
Your day begins at Þingvellir — one of the most historically and geologically significant sites in Iceland and the world. Here the Alþingi (Iceland’s parliament) was founded in 930 AD, making it the world’s oldest active parliament and the birthplace of the world’s first democratic assembly. The site was chosen deliberately: at the dramatic rift where the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates visibly diverge. You can walk along Almannagjá — the rift valley gorge — and see the actual physical gap between two continental plates, growing by about 2.5cm per year. The lake Þingvallavatn (Iceland’s largest natural lake) stretches to the south. UNESCO listed it in 2004 for both its historical and geological significance.
Laugarvatn — Pass By
Pass by · No stop
On the drive from Thingvellir to Geysir, you pass Laugarvatn — a small town on the lake of the same name in a geothermally active area. Super-heated steam billows from the ground here and is used by locals to bake rye bread underground. The guide covers this tradition — bread baked in geothermal ground for 24 hours — en route. Some tours include an optional geothermal park stop here with bread tasting.
Geysir Geothermal Area — Strokkur
1 hr 20 min · Free admission · Food available
The Geysir geothermal area is where the word ‘geyser’ comes from — the original Geysir gave its name to every hot spring that periodically erupts water worldwide. The original Geysir itself is no longer reliably active, but its smaller neighbor Strokkur erupts every 7–10 minutes, shooting water 15–30 meters into the air. The key is patience and positioning — stand upwind and wait for multiple eruptions to get the right angle for a photo. The area is surrounded by bubbling hot springs in vivid colors (the blue of silica-rich water, the orange of iron deposits, the white of silica terraces). Food is available to purchase here — this is the main lunch opportunity of the day.
Gullfoss Waterfall
40 min · Free admission
Gullfoss — the Golden Waterfall — is one of Europe’s most powerful waterfalls, with two tiers of 11 and 21 meters dropping 32 meters total into a narrow canyon of the Hvítá river. Over 100 cubic meters of water pass through every second. On sunny days the mist creates spectacular rainbows; in winter the falls partially freeze. The walk to the viewing platforms involves stairs and slopes. Monika’s group (August 2025) got bonus stops including Icelandic horses and farm ice cream — guides sometimes add small extras when time allows.
Reykholt — Pass By
Pass by · No stop
A small town surrounded by greenhouses powered by geothermal energy. The guide covers Iceland’s extraordinary geothermal heating system — nearly all of Iceland’s hot water and much of its electricity comes from geothermal and hydroelectric sources.
Kerið Volcanic Crater
30 min · Admission included
The highlight that separates this tour from standard Golden Circle options. Kerið is a volcanic caldera approximately 3,000 years old — 55 meters deep, 170 meters wide, with a striking teal-green lake at the bottom. The crater walls are deep red volcanic soil and black lava rock, creating a color palette unlike anything else on the Golden Circle route. A path circles the entire rim — the walk takes about 20–25 minutes. You can also walk down to the lake itself via a separate path. Ian T. (September 2025): “Could have done with more time at Kerid, but other than that, times were spot on.”
Hveragerdi — Pass By on Return
Pass by
On the return to Reykjavik, the route passes through the Hveragerdi geothermal area — famous for its greenhouses, horse farms, and the Hellisheiði Geothermal Power Plant visible from the road. The guide covers Iceland’s energy independence through geothermal and hydroelectric power.
What’s Included
- Driver/guide — knowledgeable commentary throughout the day
- Hotel pickup and drop-off in Reykjavik — free pickup from hotels within Reykjavik (may be from nearest bus stop in restricted areas)
- Kerið Crater admission — typically an extra cost on standard Golden Circle tours
- Optional: visit to Geothermal Park with bread tasting and second geyser visit — available as an add-on
Not included: Food and drinks — purchase at the Geysir area restaurant. Gratuities. Only small luggage (small backpack) can be taken. Free cancellation up to 24 hours before.
How the Day Unfolds
| Season | Upsides | Downsides | Book Ahead |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jun–Aug (Summer) | Longest days, Kerið lake most vivid, geysers highly active | Most popular — book well ahead | 3–5 weeks |
| Sept–Oct (Autumn) | Golden autumn colors at Thingvellir, dramatic skies | Days shortening but still plenty of light | 2–3 weeks |
| Nov–Feb (Winter) | Snow transforms Thingvellir and Gullfoss, possible northern lights | Very cold, short days, dress in serious layers | 1–2 weeks |
| Mar–May (Spring) | Waterfalls at high flow, early green at Thingvellir | Unpredictable weather — bring layers | 2–3 weeks |
Important Information
Pickup is from hotels within Reykjavik — not private apartments or Airbnbs. The bus cannot access all parts of the city center; your pickup may be from the nearest bus stop. Instructions are sent after booking.
Be ready at your pickup location from 8:30 AM. Pickup window is 8:30–9:00 AM. Megan B.’s review describes arriving at 8:40 and finding the pickup point had changed — read your pickup instructions carefully after booking.
Expect lots of walking. Tina L. (August 2025): “Lots of walking! Wear sturdy shoes and be prepared to hike. Some optional walking involves stairs and slopes.” Hiking boots or sturdy waterproof shoes are recommended.
Weather changes constantly. Dress in layers — waterproof outer layer, warm mid-layer, base layer. Dennis A. (August 2025) had “a beautiful waterfall, spewing geyser, views of glacier and walk around the volcano rim” even in rain.
Maximum 19 travelers. Small group for more personalized commentary and access to viewpoints.
Minimum age: 5 years old. Children must be accompanied by an adult.
Know Before You Go
The Geysir area is your main food stop — plan to eat here or bring snacks for the morning. The guide sometimes adds small bonus stops (Icelandic horses, farm ice cream, an extra geyser at the geothermal park) when the group keeps to schedule — staying punctual at each stop literally pays off in extra experiences. If you have your heart set on seeing specific things at each stop, tell the guide at pickup — they accommodate questions and preferences throughout the day.
What Travelers Said
⭐ 4.8/5 based on 902 reviews, recommended by 96% of travelers — Read all reviews on Viator
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Morgan P, United States — March 2026
We had an amazing time on the Golden Circle and Kerid Volcanic Crater tour. Everything was well organized and the sites were absolutely beautiful. A special thank you to our guide Mika — very communicative about pickup and kept everyone informed. As we traveled from site to site, he shared great information and made the experience even more enjoyable. I would love to do this tour again in summer to see everything in a different season.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Diane B, United States — January 2026
A great way to see the Golden Circle. Our guide Pawel was great — picked up right on time, pointed out locations of interest, gave historical background of Iceland. Fun and engaging. Doing a small group tour is always my preference. We had plenty of time at each stop. We even had a bonus stop for local ice cream that was well worth it — Icelandic ice cream is really good!
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Mary E, United States — August 2025
Monika our driver/guide was outstanding — full of knowledge, interesting, and with a great sense of humour. The popular stops were crowded but she arranged the route to avoid the crowds as much as possible. Also included were some extra stops: a chance to meet some beautiful Icelandic horses and have some farm fresh ice cream. It was a great experience!
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ anmsyk, United States — August 2025
Absolutely wonderful! Our guide was so knowledgeable — a geologist by schooling. Provided us with so much information about the geyser, craters, waterfall, and national park. Spectacular. The geothermal add-on was well worth it.
⭐⭐⭐ Megan B, United States — October 2025
It was a bumpy start — we arrived at 8:40 and found the pickup point had changed from what Viator listed. The driver proceeded to complain about how we had to rush. Over the next 8 hours we saw beautiful scenery and were regaled with the driver’s personal (mostly fishing) stories. I would’ve loved more information about Iceland and the sights. All in all glad we took the tour but I know it could have been better. Read pickup instructions carefully.
Book the Golden Circle & Kerið Volcanic Crater Tour
Thingvellir National Park, Strokkur geyser, Gullfoss waterfall, and Kerið Volcanic Crater — all in one 8-hour small-group day trip from Reykjavik. The most affordable complete Golden Circle experience. From $119 per person with free cancellation.
Looking for more Iceland experiences? Browse all tours on Iceland Volcano Tour or check out the Golden Circle + Blue Lagoon combination, the South Coast full day tour, and the Katla Ice Cave Super Jeep tour from Vík.