Golden Circle & Northern Lights by Boat Combo Tour
by Arctic Adventures · Northern lights · Boat tours · cruise-excursion · Golden Circle
- Fine on your own
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.
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Duration
13 hours
Difficulty
Easy
Season
Sep – Apr
Starts in
Reykjavík
Meeting
Hotel pickup available
Languages
EN, DE, IS, FR, DA, ZH, ES
Departs
12:00
Minimum age
6
Cancellation
Free until 24h before
About this experience
Join our Minibus Golden Circle tour to explore Iceland’s top sights — Gullfoss waterfall, Thingvellir National Park, and the erupting geysers of Haukadalur Valley — then, as night falls, set sail to hunt the glittering Northern Lights by boat.
Highlights- Þingvellir National Park (Thingvellir)
- Gullfoss Waterfall
- Geysir Hot Spring Area
- Kerid Crater
- Northern Lights Hunt by Boat
- Warm overalls (overalls also available in children’s sizes.)
- Wifi on board Minibus & Boat tour
Itinerary
In just a few hours, this tour packs in Iceland’s most stunning sights. Stand at the edge of Gullfoss as glacial water thunders into the canyon, feel the tension before Strokkur erupts, and walk through the rift where continents drift apart. A stop at Kerid crater adds a splash of color with its red slopes and blue-green lake. Then, as night falls, set sail on a boat to chase the glittering Northern Lights, making it a full-day Icelandic adventure from land to sea.
Þingvellir National Park
We'll begin the day with a convenient and swift pick up in designated areas in Reykjavík. We will then travel through stunning landscapes to Þingvellir National Park, a place of both natural beauty and Icelandic history. Here, we’ll walk between the slowly drifting Eurasian and North American tectonic plates and explore the rift valley where the Alþingi, the world’s oldest parliament, was founded in 930. We’ll stop at the Law Rock (lögberg), where laws were once proclaimed, for an unforgettable photo opportunity.
Geysir Geothermal Area
Next, we will head to Haukadalur Valley, a geothermally active area. While the famous Great Geysir is now dormant, we’ll see Strokkur erupt every 8–10 minutes, sending superheated water up to 25–40 meters into the air. Witnessing these powerful eruptions is always an unforgettable experience.
Gullfoss Waterfall
We will then visit Gullfoss, Iceland’s most famous waterfall, where the glacial Hvítá River plunges 32 meters in two stages through a dramatic canyon. Feel the spray on your face and marvel at the golden-hued mist that gives the “Golden Falls” their name—truly a breathtaking sight.
Kerið Volcanic Crater
The final highlight of the tour is the bright red Kerid crater lake. It's a 3000-year-old spot 55 meters deep and most recognized for its beauty – aquamarine-colored water surrounded by red rocks and greenery. This color scheme is what makes the lake look like a giant eye from above. For this reason, it's called "The Eye of the World." After exploring the Golden Circle, we will return to Reykjavík, giving you time to grab dinner before setting sail on the Northern Lights boat tour.
Northern Lights by Boat
We will then board our Northern Lights boat at Reykjavík’s charming Old Harbor. After a 15–20 minute cruise away from the city lights, we’ll take you to the best spot to hunt the aurora. While we can’t guarantee a sighting, our expert guide will share the science and folklore behind the Northern Lights, and you can enjoy our onboard video, cozy café, and souvenir shop while waiting. Overalls are provided to stay warm on deck, and as soon as the colors appear, we’ll bring you outside for the perfect view.
Description from the operator, Arctic Adventures. Prices and availability in the booking panel are live.
Where you go
- Reykjavík
- Þingvellir National Park
- Gullfoss Waterfall
- Geysir Geothermal Area & Hot Springs
- Kerið Volcanic Crater
- Northern Lights Hunt by Boat
Included
- Pick-up & Drop off
- Minibus Transport
- Golden Circle Tour
- English Speaking Tour Guide
- Free WiFi on Board Your Bus & Boat
- Northern Lights Boat Tour
- Northern Lights Video
- English Language Guide
- Warm Overalls on Northern Lights Tour
- Café/bar and souvenir shop on Boat
Good to know
- Warm layers
- Weatherproof top layer
- Headwear
- Gloves
- Scarves
- Hiking shoes
- Shoe Spike Grips (Oct-Apr)
These are two separate tours and if one of the tours gets canceled, the other will still be available for you to join.
Pick Up
Pick up for the Golden Circle portion of the tour is at 12:00 pm from your hotel or a nearby meeting point in Reykjavík. Picking everyone up can take up to 30 minutes, your patience is much appreciated. Available pick-up points: Arctic Adventures’s pick-up list.
The meeting point for the Northern Lights by Boat tour is Geirsgata 11, 101 Reykjavík.
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 a solid cloud forecast — most operators call it by late afternoon and let you rebook on a clearer night free of charge. 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 Northern Lights at Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon from Blue Iceland is €56 — €116 less. Here is every difference we can actually measure.
| Arctic Adventures · €172 | Blue Iceland · €56 | |
|---|---|---|
| How long it runs | 13 hours | 3 hours |
| Getting there | Picks you up | You make your own way |
| Changing your mind | Free until 24 h before | Free until departure |
The €116 buys you 10 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
- Children under 6 cannot join this one.
- Not a good fit if you want a relaxed day: 13 hours is a long time on the road, most of it spent getting there and back.
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.
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.
Northern lights — questions people ask
When is the best time to see the northern lights in Iceland?
September to April, when the nights are dark enough. Within that, late September to March gives the longest dark hours, and the equinox months, September and March, often have active skies. There are no lights in June or July; the sky never gets dark. Anyone selling you a June lights tour is selling you a bus ride. Give yourself at least three nights, because clouds, not the aurora, are the usual reason people miss them.
Are the northern lights guaranteed on a tour?
No. Nobody can promise them, and we will not. Two things have to line up: a clear sky and solar activity. Guides check the cloud forecast at vedur.is and drive to gaps, which is the real value of a tour over standing outside your hotel. What most operators do promise is a free second attempt if the lights do not show. Check the exact retry policy on the tour page, because the number of retries and the validity period vary.
Is a northern lights bus tour or a boat tour better?
Bus, if you want the best odds. A minibus can drive an hour inland to find a clear patch; a boat stays in Faxaflói and sees whatever sky is over Reykjavík. Boats are shorter, about two hours, and pleasant with hot chocolate, and Reykjavik Sailors' cruise (/experience/6637/) includes a free retry. For a serious hunt, a small-group minibus like BusTravel's (/experience/150646/) or a 4x4 tour (/experience/1088067/) is the better bet.
Can I see the northern lights from Reykjavík itself?
Yes, on strong nights. The city is small and the sky over the sea to the north is fairly dark. Grótta lighthouse at the western tip and the Ægisíða shoreline are the usual spots, twenty minutes' walk from the centre. On average nights the street lights drown out a faint aurora, which is why tours drive out. If the forecast shows high activity and clear sky, walk to Grótta first and save the tour money.
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