Join us on a private bespoke Golden Circle tour in a luxury vehicle!
The Golden Circle includes some of Iceland's most popular tourist sightseeing spots. It's not only because they are close to the country's capital area, but also because they are stunningly beautiful, full of history and fantastic geology.
The traditional Golden Circle includes Þingvellir National Park, Geysir Geothermal Area, and Gullfoss Waterfall, but we also add several food stops, snacks, and more on this bespoke tour, so it's also a food journey and not just the beautiful sights. The places we visit on our food journey depend on the season & time of day, but we always include a great lunch, farm-made Ice cream, and more. There is also the possibility of adjusting the food stops based on dietary restrictions & needs. Please get in touch if you have larger groups wishing to enjoy this experience with us! Usually, the plan is like this: 🍽️ Gourmet Golden Circle Tour – A Culinary Adventure Through Iceland 🍽️
🕘 Pickup: 09:00 AM
Your adventure begins as we pick you up from your accommodation in Reykjavik. Get ready for a day filled with breathtaking landscapes and delicious Icelandic flavors!
🚶♂️ Stop 1: Hveragerði Geothermal Park (09:40 AM – 10:10 AM)
Our first stop is the geothermal town of Hveragerði, where we experience Iceland’s natural cooking methods. Here, you’ll:
✅ Boil an egg in a steaming geyser 🌋🥚
✅ Enjoy fresh Icelandic rye bread, baked overnight in the hot soil 🍞
🥛 Stop 2: Skyrland (10:40 AM – 11:40 AM)
Step into the world of Skyr, Iceland’s beloved dairy product, at Skyrland!
✅ Learn about Skyr’s 1000-year journey from Viking dairy to a global superfood 📜
✅ Sample delicious Skyr varieties, packed with flavor and Icelandic tradition 🍓🥄
🇮🇸 Stop 3: Made in Iceland (11:45 AM – 12:00 AM)
A quick stop at Made in Iceland to explore and taste unique Icelandic specialties.
✅ Try some traditional Icelandic foods and candy 🍬🧀
🍅 Stop 4: Friðheimar Geothermal Tomato Farm (12:40 PM – 1:40 PM)
Welcome to Friðheimar, Iceland’s famous geothermal greenhouse restaurant!
✅ Enjoy freshly made tomato soup and warm homemade bread 🥣🍞
✅ See how tomatoes are grown year-round using geothermal energy 🌱☀️
💦 Stop 5: Gullfoss Waterfall (2:10 PM – 2:50 PM)
Time for some sightseeing magic!
✅ Marvel at the majestic Gullfoss, the Golden Waterfall, one of Iceland’s most iconic sights 🌊🏔️
🌋 Stop 6: Geysir Geothermal Area (3:00 PM – 4:10 PM)
Experience Iceland’s raw geothermal power at Geysir!
✅ Watch Strokkur, the famous geyser, erupt every few minutes 🌋💨
✅ Enjoy a delicious grilled leg of lamb 🍽️
🐄 Stop 7: Efstidalur Farm (4:25 PM – 5:10 PM)
A visit to an authentic Icelandic dairy farm!
✅ Taste freshly made Icelandic ice cream, homemade skyr, whey, and salad cheese 🍦🥛🧀
✅ Meet the friendly farm animals and experience Icelandic farm life 🐮
🏞️ Stop 8: Þingvellir National Park (5:40 PM – 6:25 PM)
Our final stop is the historic Þingvellir National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage site.
✅ Stand between two continents at the Mid-Atlantic Ridge 🌍
✅ Discover the site of Iceland’s first parliament, established in 930 AD 📜
🕖 Drop-off: 7:10 PM
After a full day of sightseeing and gourmet Icelandic treats, we drop you off at your hotel—just in time for dinner! 🍽️
Join us on this unforgettable journey where food, nature, and history come together in perfect harmony! 🌿🔥 We will adjust our tour to your wishes as well as we can. For further information, please get in touch with us at info@yourfriendinreykjavik.com. The stops can include but are not limited to:
Þingvellir National Park
The historical site of Þingvellir is vital to Icelanders. It is where Alþingi, the world's oldest Parliament, was founded in 930. It is also one of few places in Iceland (and the world) you can see the mid-Atlantic ridge above ground.
Walk through the Almannagjá tectonic rift, pass the site of the first parliament, Althing, and enjoy Öxaráfoss waterfall, take in the beautiful scenery, see where Game of Thrones was shot, visit Iceland's largest lake Þingvallavatn Lake and even dive between the continents in the Silfra River.
Þingvellir National Park is also where Icelanders converted to Christianity. Members of Parliament met to discuss the possibility of converting. Ultimately, it was decided it would be in our best interest to do so. People who believed in the old Æsir were still allowed to do so, but mostly in secret. They could not make sacrifices anymore, but other customs, such as eating horse meat, were allowed.
In 2004, Þingvellir became a UNESCO World Heritage Site. That means it has cultural, historical, scientific, or other forms of significance, which Þingvellir indeed has.
Gullfoss Waterfall
Gullfoss is one of Iceland's most famous and spectacular waterfalls. It is far from the largest, but it is a three-step waterfall that falls into a 64-meter-deep canyon. Due to the curve of the canyon right where it falls down and the spray from the waterfall, it can be nearly impossible to see the bottom. It thus sometimes looks as if it falls into an abyss.
Early in the 20th century, there were ideas about harnessing the waterfall's power to generate electricity. The landowner's daughter, Sólveig Tómasdóttir, was fiercely against it and a pioneer environmentalist. She threatened to throw herself into the waterfall if the plans went ahead, and in the end, her father listened to her, and we are ever so grateful for her!
Geysir Geothermal Area
Bubbling hot water and erupting geysers are what to expect in the Geysir geothermal area. The word "geyser" comes from the now mostly dormant Geysir, but the site is also named after it. Geysir would hurl boiling water and erupt almost 70 m (230 ft) into the air, but it has been years since it erupted last. It used to erupt regularly but stopped after a series of earthquakes.
Instead, you can see its brother Strokkur erupt every few minutes. It isn't as large as Geysir, but its eruptions can reach up to 30 m (98 ft).
Friðheimar Tomato Farm
Have you ever been out for a meal in a greenhouse? Enjoy a unique food experience at Friðheimar Greenhouse restaurant, with tomatoes growing all around! Tomato soup, fresh-baked bread, and other goodies in a charming environment among the plants.
As the name suggests, tomatoes are grown all year round, despite Iceland's long dark winters. They use artificial lighting in greenhouses to do that. Visitors can enjoy a taste of their crop; many agree you will get the best tomato soup you will ever taste there!
The farm grows about 370 tonnes of vegetables yearly (primarily tomatoes and cucumbers).
