Golden Circle & Laugarvatn Fontana Small Group Day Tour
by Arctic Adventures · Lagoons & spas · Golden Circle
- Fine on your own
- Self-guided
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 & Laugarvatn Fontana Small Group Day Tour
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Duration
8 hours and 30 minutes
Difficulty
Easy
Season
All year
Starts in
Reykjavík
Meeting
Hotel pickup available
Languages
EN, DE, IS, FR, DA, ZH, ES
Departs
09:00
Minimum age
6
Cancellation
Free until 24h before
About this experience
Discover Iceland's most iconic natural wonders in the comfort of a small group minibus exploring the sights of the Golden Circle; Thingvellir, Gullfoss, Geysir & Kerið. Then, unwind in the newly renovated and reopened Laugarvatn Fontana spa, located on the shores of lake Laugarvatn including geothermally heated pools, steam baths, sauna and a swim up bar.
Highlights
- Relax in Laugarvatn Fontana Geothermal Pools & Steam Baths
- Witness the raw power of Gullfoss waterfall
- Watch Strokkur geyser erupt every few minutes
- Walk between the tectonic plates at Thingvellir
- Enjoy a cozy small group experience by minibus
- Visit Kerið volcanic crater
Kerið
Start your journey with a pickup from your accommodation or a nearby authorized meeting point in Reykjavik. head to the Kerið volcanic crater, a striking crater filled with a vivid blue lake and framed by steep slopes. Take an easy walk around the rim, where every angle offers a new view of the surrounding landscape and the water below.
Gullfoss
Continue to Gullfoss, one of Iceland’s most iconic waterfalls. Watch as glacial waters from Langjökull, Iceland’s second-largest glacier, plummet into the depths below. Whether you visit in summer, winter, spring, or fall, Gullfoss never fails to be mesmerizing.
Geysir
Next, visit the Geysir Geothermal Area, home to Iceland’s most famous geysers. Watch Strokkur erupt every few minutes, shooting boiling water high into the air. Stroll among bubbling water pools, clear geothermal springs, and steam vents.
Laugarvatn Fontana
relax in the warm waters of the newly renovated Laugarvatn Fontana baths, just on the edge of the lake Laugarvatn. Enjoy the healing powers of the natural steam baths and outdoor geothermally heated swimming baths.
Thingvellir National park
Head to Thingvellir National Park, where you’ll walk between the Eurasian and North American tectonic plates. Learn about the park’s history and take in the stunning landscapes.
Description from the operator, Arctic Adventures. Prices and availability in the booking panel are live.
Where you go
- Kerið Volcanic Crater
- Gullfoss Waterfall
- Geysir Geothermal Area
- Laugarvatn Fontana Baths
- Þingvellir National Park
Included
Included
- Small group guaranteed (max. 19 passengers)
- Transfer to/from Reykjavík by comfortable minibus
- Guided sightseeing tour of the Golden Circle
- Entrance to Laugarvatn Fontana
- Free Wi-Fi on board
Good to know
What to bring
- Warm, waterproof clothing
- Hat & gloves
- Sturdy shoes
- Ice spikes (Oct–Apr)
- Packed lunch
- Bathing suit and towel
- Not wheelchair accessible
- Children must be accompanied by an adult
- Operates in all weather conditions, please dress appropriately
- Not suitable for pets
- Infants must not sit on laps
- We pickup from all hotels and guesthouses in Reykjavík between 9:00 and 9:30. Please be at your designated pick up location at 9:00am, however, it may take your guide up to 30 minutes to collect you depending on your location and traffic.
- We do pickup at hotels, guesthouses and bus stops in Reykjavík. If your hotel is located in the restricted area for busses you would need to walk to the closest bus stop. See the Bus stop website for further details.
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 forecast the operator judges unsafe. 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 Secret Lagoon Experience Ticket from VAREN Iceland is €43 — €129 less. Here is every difference we can actually measure.
| Arctic Adventures · €172 | VAREN Iceland · €43 | |
|---|---|---|
| How long it runs | 8.5 hours | 3 hours |
| Getting there | Picks you up | You make your own way |
The €129 buys you 5.5 more hours out and hotel pickup. 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.
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
- Bolt the Secret Lagoon onto the Golden Circle, not the Blue LagoonSecret Lagoon, Blue Lagoon or Fontana as the hot-water finish to a Golden Circle day. Which is on the route, which fits the budget, which to book separately.
- Hot springs beyond the Blue Lagoon — Secret Lagoon, Fontana, Mývatn and KraumaFour geothermal pools that aren't the Blue Lagoon, which tour gets you to each, and which one we'd actually pick for a Golden Circle or North Iceland day.
- Blue Lagoon, Sky Lagoon or Secret Lagoon — pick by what your day looks likeThree hot lagoons near Reykjavík, three very different days. We say which one fits an airport day, a city evening and a Golden Circle loop.
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.
Lagoons & spas — questions people ask
Is the Blue Lagoon worth it or is it too touristy?
It is busy and it is worth it, once. The water is milky blue from silica, the setting in the Reykjanes lava is unlike anywhere else, and it sits twenty minutes from Keflavík Airport, so it fits an arrival or departure day. Book a time slot in advance; it sells out. If crowds bother you, go early morning or after 20:00. The Secret Lagoon or Fontana on the Golden Circle are calmer and cheaper alternatives.
Can I do the Blue Lagoon on the way to or from the airport?
Yes, and it is the best way to use it. Transfers like IceTransfer's Keflavík to Blue Lagoon to Reykjavík (/experience/1036423/) or the reverse (/experience/1036419/) stop at the lagoon for a few hours with your luggage stored. Allow at least three hours at the lagoon and check that your slot lines up with your flight. Note that the Reykjanes eruptions have closed the lagoon at short notice; check its status before travelling.
What is the difference between the Secret Lagoon and the Blue Lagoon?
The Secret Lagoon at Flúðir is a simple, warm geothermal pool with a bubbling hot spring beside it and basic changing rooms. It is on the Golden Circle, so it slots into a sightseeing day (/experience/17050/, /experience/624446/). The Blue Lagoon is a spa: silica masks, swim-up bar, saunas and a price to match. If you want a soak after a day of waterfalls, Secret Lagoon. If you want the spa day, Blue Lagoon.
Do I have to shower naked before a pool in Iceland?
Yes, at every public pool and most lagoons. Swimwear off, wash thoroughly with soap, swimwear on, then into the water. It is a hygiene rule because Icelandic pools use very little chlorine, and it is taken seriously. Changing rooms are single-sex with open showers; some larger lagoons have a few private cubicles. Nobody looks. It feels odd for thirty seconds and then it does not.
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