Golden Circle – Private Self-Drive Guided Tour

by Volcano Trails · Drive yourself there · Golden Circle

4.5· 11 Google reviews of the operator
  • Couples
Golden Circle – Private Self-Drive Guided Tour — Volcano Trails
Strokkur - Geysir
Gullfoss Summer
Þingvellir
Langjökull
Gullfoss Winter
Strokkur - Geysir
Strokkur - Geysir
Þingvallavatn
Waterfall

1 / 10

  • Duration

    8 hours

  • Difficulty

    Easy

  • Season

    All year

  • Starts in

    Reykjavík

  • Pickup

    Hotel pickup included

  • Starts at

    Apotek Hotel by Keahotels – Please go to Bus Stop #3 (Lækjargata)

    Austurstraeti 16, Austurstræti 16, Reykjavik

  • Guide

    Guided in English

  • Departs

    09:00, 10:00, 11:00

  • Cancellation

    Cancelling costs 20% of the price within 999 days of departure, rising to 50% within 30 days, then 75% within 7 days.

About this experience

Your guide will pick you up from your accommodation or meet you at the Volcano Trails HQ. Today you will be driving one of ISAK´s classic Land Rover Defenders. The Defenders are specially equipped for overland expeditions and will take you to all the some hidden and hard-to-reach places on the famous Golden Circle route. In a short drive, we’ll reach Þingvellir – the national park where the parliament was established in 930 AD. We’ll let you see for yourself but soaking in the history and walking between the North American to the European tectonic plates this place will offer you nothing but spectacular views.

Then it’s time to hit the road again and our next stop is the Geyser. Now, Geysir has been inactive for some time but Strokkur (right next to it) erupts every 5-8 minutes. Here, it’s important to not stand too close to the water – and have your camera ready.

We continue our journey and the next stop is the Golden Waterfall. Located in the canyon of Hvítá, the waterfall plummets down into a 32-meter deep crevice. From the parking area, it's also possible to walk all the way down to the falls. It’s about a 10-minute walk but please be aware the walkway might be closed off in certain weather conditions.

After we’ve witnessed the natural phenomenon the Golden Circle offers in a private group, we’ll make our way to Langjökull Glacier for some little off-road drive and sensational views.

Description from the operator, Volcano Trails. Prices and availability in the booking panel are live.

Where you go

  1. Þingvellir
  2. Geysir
  3. Gullfoss
  4. Langjökull glacier

Good to know

  • The tour is operated in all weather conditions, so please dress according to the weather
  • Good walking shoes
  • Bring your camera

Cancellation for this tour

Cancelling costs 20% of the price within 999 days of departure, rising to 50% within 30 days, then 75% within 7 days. 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. 1Volcano Trails 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 the cutoff shown above, the operator's policy after that.

Questions on the day: [email protected] · +354 497 1373. How cancellations work in Iceland →

Why we list it

Volcano Trails is one of 204 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 Volcano Trails

Read all 11 reviews on Google →

Operator rating 4.5/5 from Google — these are reviews of the company, not this specific tour. Shown as Google returns them, unedited.

  • Michael A

    ★★★★★ · a year ago

    We've booked a Highland bus with Volcano Trails from Hvolsvöllur gas station to Þórsmörk Langidalur in July 2024 for 2 people on their website, a red reykjavik excursions bus arrived, the driver will check your name on his list. Everything went smoothly, the weather was perfect too. We spent a total of 4 hour in the area of Thorsmork, hiking up to the vantage point of Thorsmork and down, then we had enough time to wait for the bus.

  • Dirk Van Nieuwenhove

    ★★★★★ · 9 years ago

    As a first time visitor of the magnificent country that Iceland is, I couldn’t have come across a better travel agency to arrange the week long holiday that we undertook just recently. From the planning stages of this trip I felt part of an experience rather than just a customer. The frequent updates, personalized approach and rapid responses made booking and planning this trip of a lifetime like a walk in the park. Fantastic team, great accommodation arrangements. I would definitely recommend Isafold Travel to anyone thinking of visiting Iceland! I for one can hardly wait to book my next holiday!

  • Emma Clift

    ★★★★★ · 2 years ago

    We visited Iceland a year ago and did the Reykjavik 4x4 Tour. It was fantastic! We were the only people on the excursion so it was just us in a Defender following the guide car. Our guide Bjarni was amazing, so knowledgable and lovely to chat to you at the end of the tour. Would highly recommend!

  • Anne L.

    ★★★★★ · 9 years ago

    We just returned from a trip to Iceland. We were on a tight schedule as we only had 4 days. Many of the tour companies we contacted had fixed schedules that did not work with our's. I came across Isafold Travel through a blog. Our Travel Consultant was Edda S. Edda was consistently responsive, patient with our requests/questions, and put together an amazing package for us. The tour included the Northern Lights, a private driver for 2 days to transport us to activities such as the ice caves, snowmobiling on a glacier, and, of course, the sights along the Golden Circle. Our guide also took us to some off-the-beaten-path sights. On the morning before our flight, Edda also booked a horse riding tour. We were very happy with Isafold Travel and will definitely use their services again when we return to Iceland.

Reviews from Google · updated 21 Oct 2026

Read before you book

Reviews from our travellers

Only people who booked this tour through us can write here. We publish every review in full — good or bad.

Reviews arrive the day after each trip — none yet for this one. After your tour we send one email asking how it was, and what you write goes here, unedited.

Hotels

Where to stay for this tour

From the cheapest to the top end of what is near Reykjavík, from our hotel partners. Rooms are booked on our hotels site.

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Pairs well with

Add any of these to this tour and 3 % comes off both at checkout. One basket, one payment, however many operators they come from.

Superjeep.is

DT 01 Golden Circle & Langjökull Glacier

from €366 per person4.80· 241 Google reviews of the operator

69% above the €216 typical for glacier hikes

pickup included

8 h · from Reykjavík

  • Family friendly
  • Free cancellation 2 days ahead
  • Book the night before
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