Golden Circle & Snorkeling
by Arctic Adventures · Silfra snorkelling & diving · cruise-excursion · Golden Circle
- Fine on your own
- Good with teenagers
Would this be cheaper direct? No — we sell at Arctic Adventures's own price and take our commission from them, not from you. What you get here is one checkout across operators, one confirmation, and one place to change or cancel it. If you ever find it cheaper on their own site, tell us and we will match it or explain why we cannot.
More photos of Golden Circle & Snorkeling
24 photos from Arctic Adventures. Tap any one for the full-size original.
Duration
10 hours
Difficulty
Moderate
Season
All year
Starts in
Reykjavík
Meeting
Hotel pickup available
Languages
EN, DE, IS, FR, DA, ZH, ES
Departs
07:45, 08:30
Minimum age
12
Cancellation
Free until 24h before
About this experience
Combo Tour: Golden Circle Sightseeing & Snorkeling Adventure
Trip difficulty: 3/5, moderate.
Tour Highlights: Thingvellir National Park, Gullfoss waterfall, Erupting Geysir, Snorkeling in the Silfra Fissure, Kerið Crater
Tour Details:
This is a combination tour of two of our bestselling adventures: the Golden Circle Afternoon tour and Snorkeling in the Silfra Fissure, including convenient Reykjavík pickup and drop-off.
The Silfra Fissure is one of Iceland’s most desirable snorkeling spots. On the surface, this narrow channel of blue water meanders through a giant lava field, beneath active volcanoes and sprawling glaciers, next to the founding site of the world's oldest existing parliament. Below, supernatural shades of blue, perfect visibility, and incredible rock formations make up a magical sub-aquatic chasm. From the comfort of a warmly insulated dry suit, enjoy the feeling of ultimate serenity and weightlessness as you drift peacefully along with the lazy current, awe-stricken at the spectacle in the depths below. Frequently rated as one of the worlds top ten dive sites, the Silfra offers up to 100 meters of underwater visibility and is located on top of the separation between Europe and America.
The famous Golden Circle tour takes visitors to some of Iceland’s most famous and exciting sites. The first stop is at the Thingvellir National Park 40 min east of the city. Þingvellir is one of Iceland’s most historic sites as it was here that Iceland’s first parliament was founded in the year 930 AD. From Þingvellir we head along gravel tracks toward the world-renowned geothermal area around the Geysir hot spring where you can witness gurgling bubbling water burst 25 meters high. This is the one spouting hot spring that all such phenomena on Earth are named after. From there we continue on to Gullfoss, “the Golden waterfall”, with practically no limit to how close you can stand next to it. Gullfoss is a great sight with water rushing down three steps of lava layers exhibiting breathtaking power and grandeur.
This trip has it all: stunning natural beauty, historical significance, geological wonders, and a bucket-list snorkelling adventure.
Disclaimer: All trips are undertaken on the responsibility of its participants. Arctic Adventures does not assume any responsibility for accidents that are caused by its customers or can be traced to their own actions. Participants have to sign a waiver before undertaking all trips stating that they realize that all outdoor activities carry an inherent risk.
Description from the operator, Arctic Adventures. Prices and availability in the booking panel are live.
Where you go
- Reykjavík
- Þingvellir National Park
- Silfra Fissure
- Gullfoss Waterfall
- Geysir Hot Springs Area
- Kerið Crater
- Reykjavík
Included
Roundtrip transportation
Snorkeing gear (mask, hood, thermal undersuit, drysuit, flippers, gloves)
Complimentary underwater photos taken by your guide
Cookies & hot chocolate to warm up after snorkeling
Good to know
- Outdoor clothing suitable for the current weather conditions
- Voucher
Snorkeling:
- Thermal base layers in wool, fleece, or synthetic materials
- Warm socks in wool, fleece, or neoprene
- A spare set of clothes and socks for after the activity
- A towel (your face, hair, and hands will get wet)
- If required, a doctor’s letter (please review the Medical Statement page to check whether this applies to you)
- Contact lenses, if needed (glasses cannot be worn under the snorkeling mask)
- Guests must read and sign the medical statement form in our Snorkeling Handbook . If you have a lis ted medical condition, approval from a doctor is required
- Participants need to be comfortable in the water and able to swim
- It is crucial that guests can both understand and communicate in English to participate in the tour
- This tour is not suitable for pregnant people due to the small risk of cold water entering the suit
- Dry suit sizes: Our gear is limited to standard sizes available on the market, and it’s crucial that guests fall within the specified size parameters. This ensures the safety equipment fits properly, keeping you warm and protected in the glacial waters. For your safety and comfort, please confirm that you meet the required sizing guidelines: Weight: 99-265 lbs (45-120 kg) Height: 4'11" - 6'7" (150-200 cm)
- Snorkeling masks cannot accommodate glasses. If you do not have a prescription mask of your own, please arrange to use contact lenses
All participants are required to read our Snorkeling Handbook prior to the tour. In the handbook you will find important information about medical conditions and requirements.
Cancellation for this tour
Free cancellation until 24 hours before departure; no refund after that. If the operator cancels for weather or safety, you get a full refund or a new date.
If the weather cancels this tour
Iceland's weather is real. What usually stops this one is rarely: Silfra is spring-fed and sheltered, but access can close in a storm. Here is exactly what happens to your booking.
- 1Arctic Adventures decides, and tells us. Operators cancel when it is unsafe or pointless, and we back that call every time — we do not ask them to run anyway.
- 2We contact you by email, and by phone if your tour is the same or next day. You choose: another date if there is one you can make, or a full refund. There is no fee and nothing to argue.
- 3The refund goes back to the card you paid with, through Stripe, usually visible within a few working days. If this tour was one of several in your booking, the others are untouched.
What you do not get is the day back. If this is the only free day in your plan, put a spare day next to it — the planner leaves days free with the rest-day option. And if you want out because the forecast looks bad, that is your own cancellation: free until 1 day before departure, the operator's policy after that.
Questions on the day: [email protected] · +354 497 1373. How cancellations work in Iceland →
Why this one and not the cheaper one?
The nearest cheaper Silfra Snorkel tour from Freedive Iceland is €100 — €140 less. Here is every difference we can actually measure.
| Arctic Adventures · €240 | Freedive Iceland · €100 | |
|---|---|---|
| How long it runs | 10 hours | 3 hours |
| Getting there | Picks you up | You make your own way |
| Changing your mind | Free until 24 h before | Not stated |
| How hard it is | Moderate | Very easy |
The €140 buys you 7 more hours out and hotel pickup and free cancellation up to 24 h before. Whether that is worth it is your call — but that is what the difference is.
Sold out on your date?
Seats come back — a cancellation, or the operator adding a vehicle. Tell us the date and we will check once a day and email you if one opens. One email, then we delete the address; nothing else is ever sent to it.
Who this is not for
- Not for families with children under 12 — the operator will not take them, even with a parent.
Read off the operator's own conditions. If none of it applies to you, this is a good one.
Why we list it
Arctic Adventures is one of 154 operators we work with — chosen for reliability, honest descriptions and how they treat guests when weather changes plans. We don't list everything; we list what we'd book ourselves. The six checks every operator passes →
What travellers say about Arctic Adventures
Read all 5,129 reviews on Google →Operator rating 4.6/5 from Google — these are reviews of the company, not this specific tour. Shown as Google returns them, unedited.
★★★★★ · 2 months ago
This was a phenomenal trip with AMAZING sights. Our tour guide was informative, friendly, and easy to listen to. You will learn a lot and see nature at its greatest. We absolutely loved this tour and would recommend it to anyone. The car ride is comfortable and there is wifi as well! Shout out to our tour guide, Magnus (I hope I’m spelling his name correctly), who told us some hilarious stories.
★★★★★ · a month ago
I spent six days on a bus tour around Iceland with a professional guide. It was an excellent opportunity to gain a comprehensive overview of Iceland's breathtaking nature while also learning about the country's history and the everyday lives of its people. Iceland's landscape and animals are truly unique, featuring magnificent waterfalls, geysers, whales, seals, puffins, volcanoes, glaciers, and mountains. Every day brought new and unforgettable experiences. Of course, none of this would have been possible without our guide, Viko. He not only drove the bus safely but also shared fascinating stories about Icelandic history, culture, and way of life. He was willing to tailor the itinerary to our group's interests and wishes, making the experience even more enjoyable. I am very grateful for his professionalism, knowledge, and enthusiasm in interpreting Iceland's natural and cultural heritage. He played a key role in making this tour such a memorable experience.
★★★★★ · 2 months ago
I did the Iceland South Coast Full Day Small-Group Tour from Reykjavik. Such an amazing tour and one of the highlights of my trip to Iceland! Our guide, Erik, was incredibly knowledgeable and shared so much interesting information about Iceland throughout the day. We visited some of the country’s most beautiful sights, including stunning waterfalls, Vik, black sand beaches, and other breathtaking stops along the South Coast. The pickup process was simple and organized, making the day completely stress-free. The scenery was incredible from start to finish, and Erik helped make the experience even better with his knowledge, friendliness, and enthusiasm. If you’re visiting Iceland, the South Coast is a must-do, and I highly recommend taking this tour with Erik as your guide!
★★★★★ · 3 months ago
A Fantastic Trip: Review of 3-Day Golden Circle, Ice Cave and Glacier Lagoon Absolutely incredible experience with Arctic Adventures and the guide Hjalti Bjornsson. The pick up from the bus stop was easy and the instructions were super clear. Be aware that they are extremely punctual at every stop. Do not be late by even a minute. We saw so many sites and the weather was perfect for most of the days. Our guide even took us on some stops that were not in the itinerary, but ones he thought were interesting and on the way, like the power plants and some other glaciers. The bus ride was very smooth with plenty of room and the seats were comfortable. The itinerary was well thought out with a great mix of light walking about 3 - 6 miles per day depending on how much you wanted to walk to each site. Some sites like the glacier Skaftafellsjokull (optional) were further away (4 ish miles), while others were much closer (1000ft). The hotel was situated in a beautiful location with sheep everywhere and interesting rock formations. The hotel was very comfortable with hot water and plenty of space to spread out. Our guide was extremely friendly and knowledgable. I would highly recommend this trip for anyone between the ages 10 - 70. However, this might not be the best experience for those with mobility issues as there is walking to some of the best sites.
Reviews from Google · updated 13 Sept 2026
Read before you book
- Six hours in port is enough for one thing done well, not three done badlyShore excursions for cruise days in Reykjavík, Akureyri and Grundarfjörður — what fits inside a six-hour call and what to leave for another trip.
- Silfra is a snorkel for almost everyone and a dive for a fewSnorkelling vs diving in the Silfra fissure at Þingvellir — certification, the 2°C water, the drysuit, and what you actually see in each.
Reviews from our travellers
Only people who booked this tour through us can write here. We publish every review in full — good or bad.
No reviews yet from our travellers on this one. After your tour we send one email asking how it was, and what you write goes here, unedited.
Silfra snorkelling & diving — questions people ask
How cold is the water at Silfra?
Two to four degrees Celsius, all year. It is glacial meltwater filtered through lava for decades, which is why visibility runs to a hundred metres. You wear a dry suit over a thermal undersuit, so your body stays dry and warm. Your face, lips and hands are the parts that feel it, and after thirty to forty minutes in the water most people are ready to get out. Hot chocolate afterwards is standard.
Do I need to be a strong swimmer to snorkel Silfra?
No, but you must be comfortable in water. The dry suit floats you, so you drift along the fissure with a gentle current doing most of the work. You do need to be able to swim, and operators set minimum age, height and weight limits and ask about medical conditions on a form. Check the tour page for the current limits before booking. Glasses cannot be worn under the mask; contact lenses are fine.
Is Silfra snorkelling worth it in winter?
Yes. The water is the same temperature in January as in July, and the visibility is the same. What changes is the air: getting into and out of the suit at minus five with wind is unpleasant, and daylight limits the departure times. Fewer people snorkel in winter, so the fissure is quieter. If you are here between November and February and want it, book the earliest slot for the best light.
Can I dive Silfra without a dry suit certification?
Not on a standard dive tour. Operators require a dry suit certification or a logged number of dry-suit dives within the last two years, plus an open-water certificate. If you have neither, the two-day PADI dry suit course with a Silfra dive (/experience/19038/) gets you certified and in the fissure. Snorkelling (/experience/208/) has no certification requirement and shows you the same rock walls from the surface. Most people are happy with snorkelling.
One checkout, any number of operators
Rankings are not for sale
153 operators vetted, and not all of them accepted
If it falls short, we fix it
Pairs well with
Everything here goes into the same basket and the same single payment, however many operators it comes from.
2-day packageIceland Adventures ehf
2 Days Golden Circle and South Coast Classic Private Tour
Leaves from Reykjavík
- Hotel pickup
- Family friendly
- Wheelchair access
from
€2,249 per vehicle
3-day packageSep – AprBusTravel Iceland
3 Day Golden Circle, South Coast & Glacier Lagoon Small-Group Tour
Leaves from Reykjavík
- Hotel pickup
- Wi-fi on board
- Admission included
from
€859 per person
5 hours and 30 minutesArctic Adventures
Into the Blue - Silfra Snorkeling from Reykjavík
Leaves from Reykjavík
- Age 12+
- Hotel pickup
- Gear included
from
€183 per person
23% below the €238 typical
10 hoursVAREN Iceland
Golden Circle Private Tour with Silfra Snorkeling from Reykjavik
Leaves from Reykjavík
- Age 12+
- Hotel pickup
- Family friendly
from
€1,289 per vehicle
8 hoursArctic Adventures
Horse Riding & Snorkeling from Reykjavik
Leaves from Reykjavík
- Age 12+
- Hotel pickup
- Gear included
from
€269 per person
13% above the €238 typical
30 minutesIcelimo Luxury Travel
Private Reykjavik intercity transfer
Leaves from Reykjavík
- Hotel pickup
- Private
from
€170 per vehicle