Grand Golden Circle Tour

by BusTravel Iceland · Sightseeing day tours · Golden Circle

4.66(158) · tour · Bókun4.70(2,918) · operator on Google
Grand Golden Circle Tour — BusTravel Iceland

Would this be cheaper direct? No — we sell at BusTravel Iceland'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 Grand Golden Circle Tour

Red volcanic rock at Kerid Crater LakeIcelandic horsesGullfoss - the Golden WaterfallKerid crater at winter sunsetGrand Golden Circle Tour, photo 10Grand Golden Circle Tour, photo 11Grand Golden Circle Tour, photo 12Grand Golden Circle Tour, photo 13Grand Golden Circle Tour, photo 14Öxará River in Almannagjá fissure, Thingvellir National ParkThe Bustravel busGuide giving a geology lesson at Thingvellir National Park

17 photos from BusTravel Iceland. Tap any one for the full-size original.

  • Duration

    8 hours and 30 minutes

  • Difficulty

    Easy

  • Season

    All year

  • Starts in

    Reykjavík

  • Languages

    EN, DE, IS, FR, DA, ZH

  • Departs

    07:00, 07:30, 08:00, 09:00 …

  • Minimum age

    2

  • Cancellation

    Free until 24h before

Our take on this one

This is the Golden Circle done the ordinary way, and ordinary is not an insult here. Eight and a half hours, a full-size coach, and the three sights everyone comes for: Þingvellir, the Geysir area with Strokkur, and Gullfoss. BusTravel adds Kerið crater, and the crater entry is in the price — but not on the 12:00 departure or later, so take a morning bus if you want it. There are eleven start times from 07:00, which is the real reason to book this one: you can fit it around a late flight or an early check-out. Lunch is your own, bought at Geysir, where the stop is long enough to eat properly. At €86 it is one of the cheaper ways to see all three.

Book it if
First-timers with one day near Reykjavík who want the three headline sights without hiring a car.
Skip it if
You will share the day with a coachload and every stop is on a schedule — if you want to linger at Gullfoss or photograph Strokkur for an hour, drive yourself.

Written by us, from the operator's own details and what we know of the route. We don't take a fee for a good word.

About this experience

The Golden Circle is not only the most popular day tour we run here at BusTravel Iceland but perhaps also the most popular trip that leaves Reykjavik.

We will combine all of the famous sights with a few extra stops to make your day as special as we possibly can, this means you will get to see Þingvellir national park, the geothermal wonders of Geysir, and the golden waterfall Gullfoss. At BusTravel Iceland though our motto is “More nature, more fun” so we also make an additional stop at Kerið volcanic crater (please note we do not visit Kerið on the 12:00 departure). You should expect a packed day full of adventure.

Description from the operator, BusTravel Iceland. Prices and availability in the booking panel are live.

Included

  • Professional guide
  • Entrance fees to Kerið Volcanic Crater (we do not visit Kerið on the 12:00 and later departures)
  • Free WiFi

Not included

  • Pickup and drop off
  • Food and drinks

Good to know

  • Warm, water- and windproof clothing are always useful in Iceland.
  • All tickets are e-tickets so there is no need to print them out.
  • Duration of tour is 8,5 hrs
  • The tour allows for lunch time at the Geysir area

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.

  1. 1BusTravel Iceland 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.
  2. 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.
  3. 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 Golden Ride – Day tour in Golden Circle area from Íslandshestar is €0 — €86 less. Here is every difference we can actually measure.

BusTravel Iceland · €86Íslandshestar · €0
How long it runs8.5 hours1 hour
Changing your mindFree until 24 h beforeNo free cancellation

The €86 buys you 7.5 more hours out 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 2 cannot join this one.
  • Not for late risers on your first morning — the earliest departure is 07:00, and Reykjavík pickups start before that.

Read off the operator's own conditions. If none of it applies to you, this is a good one.

Why we list it

BusTravel Iceland 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 BusTravel Iceland

Read all 2,918 reviews on Google →

Operator rating 4.7/5 from Google — these are reviews of the company, not this specific tour. Shown as Google returns them, unedited.

  • Frank Robards

    ★★★★★ · 2 months ago

    We had a wonderful tour to the Snaefellsnes Peninsula today. It was amazing!! Our guide, Vjeran, was exceptional. His knowledge and experience made our tour even more memorable. He even worked in a couple of additional stops to our itinerary which further enhanced our experience. I highly recommend this tour to anyone interested in experiencing the majesty of nature in Iceland.

  • Topha

    ★★★★★ · a month ago

    An amazing experience! It was our first time in Iceland, and we couldn’t have asked for a better trip. For six unforgettable days, we travelled along the famous Ring Road with our guide, Vjeran, who was friendly, knowledgeable, and highly professional throughout the entire journey. He made every day enjoyable while showing us Iceland’s most spectacular attractions. The trip was truly unforgettable. Some of the accommodations were also lovely, with welcoming and helpful staff that made us feel at home. There is so much to see in Iceland, and six days go by very quickly, so the itinerary was quite busy. Even so, we had the opportunity to enjoy every activity and appreciate the incredible landscapes along the way. Overall, the experience exceeded all our expectations, helped even more by the fantastic weather we were lucky enough to enjoy throughout the trip. I would definitely recommend this tour to anyone visiting Iceland!

  • Tatiana

    ★★★★★ · a month ago

    We had an amazing Golden Circle tour with Darren and Mikki! Darren is a fantastic guide — knowledgeable, friendly, and with a great sense of humor. He told us so many fascinating things about Iceland along the way, but in such a natural and entertaining way that it never felt like a lecture. Darren and Mikki also showed us some wonderful places and made the whole day feel special. The atmosphere was relaxed, fun, and very personal. You can really feel that they love Iceland and enjoy sharing it with people. Highly recommend this tour! If you get the chance to explore Iceland with Darren and Mikki, take it — you won’t regret it! ❤️🇮🇸

  • Andrea Di Nardo

    ★★★★★ · a month ago

    During our Iceland vacation, we took two tours with Bus Travel Iceland: the Golden Circle and the Blue Lagoon; and the Snæfellsnes Peninsula. On the exceptional Golden Circle tour with a relaxing conclusion at the enchanting Blue Lagoon, we visited the iconic sites along the way, following a fairly packed itinerary but with adequate time for each stop. The guide was knowledgeable in driving the bus and engaging in providing information and telling stories about the places we visited. Higly recommended the fascinating tour to discover the Snæfellsnes Peninsula. Departing from Reykjavik, we visited the main towns and iconic sites from the north to the south coast of the peninsula. The excellent Axel guided us, providing interesting details about the places to visit. His expert bus driving skills and precise planning allowed us to see everything in the allotted time, without excessive pressure or fatigue.

Reviews from Google · updated 13 Sept 2026

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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.

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Pairs well with

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from

€86 per person

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