What You Will Do
Purchase one tour per car, not per person. Everyone listens together!
Take a self-guided tour through the most breathtaking landscapes Iceland has to offer. Start in Reykjavik and drive the famous Golden Circle, home to astonishing vistas, sparkling waterfalls, and historic structures dating back to the Viking age. As you drive, learn the history of this fascinating nation, including legends of Vikings, elves, and magic! If you want to truly experience Iceland, there’s no better place to start than here.
After booking, check your email to download the separate Audio Tour Guide App by Action, enter your unique password, and access your tour. These steps require good internet/Wi-Fi access. From there, follow the audio instructions and the route.
Buy once, use for one year! Ideal for extended visits and return trips over the next 12 months.
This isn't an entrance ticket. Check opening hours before your visit.
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Itinerary
Meeting Point
After booking the tour, search your emails for "self-guided tour." Your tour is VALID FOR ONE YEAR so follow these instructions NOW to finish setting up the tour while you have Wi-Fi/data. Do NOT wait until you are onsite.
1
What's On in Reykjavík - Tourist Information Centre
10 minutes
Your tour of Iceland's famous Golden Circle begins in picturesque Reykjavik. From here, you'll drive out into the stunning Icelandic wilderness toward the island nation's most beautiful sights. As you drive, you'll also hear tons of history and mythology, including the settlement of Iceland, Viking traditions, and Norse myths of Loki, Odin, Thor, and more!
Note: This 153-mile-long tour covers the essentials of Iceland in 3-6 hours.
Buy once, use for one year! Ideal for extended visits and return trips over the next 12 months.
2
Iceland Settlement Tours ehf
10 minutes
The settlement of Iceland is generally believed to have begun in the second half of the ninth century, when Norse settlers migrated across the North
3
Helgufoss
10 minutes
The first major landmark you'll see is Helgufoss, a serene and sparkling waterfall at the end of a quick hiking trail. It's just far enough from major tourist destinations to offer not just some great scenery, but also a bit of peace and quiet. Afterward, you'll hear more about Viking traditions like music, dances, and poetry.
4
Thingvellir National Park
10 minutes
Then you'll have the chance to visit Thingvellir, a historic site and national park boasting some of Iceland's most incredible landmarks. The park occupies a rift valley created by the separation of tectonic plates, giving it a dramatic geology like nowhere else on earth. Here, you'll be able to hop out of the car and walk through the park, admiring its many wonders.
5
Oxararfoss
10 minutes
Next, you'll reach one of Thingvellir's main attractions: Öxarárfoss. This pristine waterfall flows from the river Öxará over the Almannagjá. The pool at its base is as clear as the river which feed it, but legend has it that the waterfall turns red on New Year's Eve every year.
6
Silfra Fissure Arctic Adventures
10 minutes
Then there's the Silfra Dive Site, a phenomenal spot for underwater adventures. Here, you can dive and snorkel right where the Eurasian and North American tectonic plates meet. Once you continue beyond the park, you'll hear all about the Aurora Borealis and the ancient legends people created to explain those northern lights. You'll also get to know some of Iceland's most famous mythical creatures, such as trolls and the Hidden People.
7
Laugarvatn Fontana Geothermal Baths
10 minutes
Up next is an essential Iceland experience: the Geothermal Baths. These natural steam baths, fed by hot springs, aren't just soothing. They're also packed with minerals that the locals swear carry healing properties. Past these, you'll hear how Vikings kept themselves squeaky clean. Then you'll get to know Egil, a viking folk hero (or anti-hero, depending on who you ask) whose fascinating tale blends history and mythology together into an iconic Viking saga.
8
Geysir
10 minutes
Your route takes you next to Geysir, sometimes known as The Great Geysir. As one might guess from its name, this is a geyser which has been known to send eruptions of hot water and steam over 200 feet into the air! It's been dormant for a while, but could become active again at any time. Its neighbor, Strokkur, is much more predictable, erupting every 5-10 minutes!
9
Geysir Hot Springs
10 minutes
Much-visited geothermal geyser that erupts every 8–10 minutes & reaches heights of 20 meters.
10
Gullfoss Falls
10 minutes
After that is one of the Golden Circle's most popular attractions: Gullfoss. This 100-foot waterfall really earns its name, which means "Golden Falls" in English. Once you're done admiring this impressive waterfall, you'll hear about the important role of magic in ancient Viking mythology and culture. Then you'll find out what ultimately became of Egil the folk hero and learn the truth behind a couple stereotypes about Vikings.
11
Secret Lagoon Iceland
10 minutes
As you drive, you'll next have the chance to visit the Secret Lagoon. This is one of the best geothermal pools in Iceland and is absolutely beloved by locals. Whether or not you opt for a soak, your tour will introduce you next to a particularly bizarre Icelandic folk tale, then explain the importance of greenhouses on this remote, rocky island.
12
Fridheimar
10 minutes
Getting hungry? Friðheimar is your next stop. This country-style, family-run restaurant offers tomato-based dishes from onsite greenhouses. If you plan to stop by, however, you should call in advance, as this little establishment is remarkably popular.
13
Skalholt
10 minutes
Your route brings you next to Skálholt Cathedral, one of the most important historic sites in Iceland. This church dates all the way back to 1106! The current structure isn't that old, but the land and its history most certainly are. Continuing past the cathedral, you'll hear lots more about the role of religion in Iceland and the sometimes bloody conflicts it created during the Viking Age.
14
Sólheimar
10 minutes
Sólheimar is an eco-village in Iceland and is renowned for its ecological, artistic, and international community ethics. Its current population size is about 100 people. The village of Sólheimar locates in the south-western part of Iceland, the municipality of Grímsnes- og Grafningshreppur.
15
Kerid Crater
10 minutes
Finally, you'll reach Kerid Crater. 3,000 years ago, a huge volcano collapsed, leaving behind this impressive crater. It's a must-see spot, and a great location for photos! After visiting the crater, you'll head back toward Reykjavik. Along the way, you'll get acquainted with modern day Iceland, some more recent history, and what the future might look like for this unique nation. Your tour will conclude just outside Reyjavik.
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