Viking horses and geysers

The Golden Circle Classic is our bestselling day tour, audio guided in 10 languages! You will see the world-famous erupting geyser & hot springs, experience the magnificent Gullfoss Waterfall and follow in the footsteps of the Vikings of old as you walk down the lava canyon where the American and Eurasian continents are literally pulling apart in Þingvellir. The day will end with horse-riding through meadows and lava fields.

The horse riding tour will take us through meadows, lava fields and a small river. We will enjoy the picturesque scenery of volcanic mountains and farmland, passing several farms, giving us an idea of how Icelandic agriculture has developed in the last decades. The trails are good for horse-riding, giving us an opportunity to experience the special gait of the Icelandic horse “tölt”.

Join our tour and step aboard one of our new buses, fully equipped with WiFi-connected computer tablets for each guest. The tablets provide you with a continuous stream of relevant information along the journey with a GPS-synced Audio Guide, available in a choice of 10 languages. Along the tour, our local hosts will make your experience comfortable and are happy to answer any questions you might have about our peculiar country. In each seat, you will also find a USB outlet to charge any of your devices.

Itinerary:

Reykjavík Terminal:

• Tours depart from the Reykjavik Terminal located at Skógarhlíð 10. Please be sure to arrive 15 minutes prior to departure along with a printed or digital copy of your ticket/voucher.
• If you have booked a hotel pickup with Smartbus™, please be at your chosen pickup location 30 minutes before the departure of the tour. Look for the Green Smartbus™ which will be outside your accommodation at within the 30 minutes of pickup.

Þingvellir National Park:

Located on the northern shores of Þingvallavatn (Iceland's largest lake), Þingvellir (anglicized as 'thingvellir') is the national pride of Iceland and our first National Park. It is, for one, a key location in Icelandic history as the oldest existing parliament in the world first assembled there in 930 AD. For this reason, Þingvellir has been designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is, therefore, a protected national park due to its unique geology and natural features. From the viewing area, the Almannagjá canyon between two tectonic plates can be seen, a visual representation of continental drift.

As the first stop along the tour, you will have an opportunity to walk through the park and use the restroom if needed.

Geysir Hot Springs:

A favorite stop along the Golden Circle is the highly active Geysir Hot Spring Area with boiling mud pits and the lively Strokkur which spouts water 30 meters (100 ft) into the air every few minutes.The area became active more than 1000 years ago and comprises more than a dozen hot hot spring holes. Although one can only see steam emerging from the surface of Geysir these days, its name was adopted to represent spouting hot springs all over the world.

Along the tour, the newly opened Geysir Center offers guests and travelers a chance to use the restroom and to catch some refreshments as well as lunch.

Gullfoss waterfall:

As one of the most popular attractions in all of Iceland, Gullfoss is a waterfall located in the canyon of Hvítá river in the southwest of the country. The beautiful Hvítá river rushes southward in three steps into a narrow canyon with a breathtaking roar and grandeur. Furthermore, on clear days the magnificent Langjökull glacier, Iceland's second largest glacier, can be seen in the distance.

Guests and Travelers may use the restroom and purchase food and refreshments at this location as well.

Eldhestar Riding Center:

The last stop along the tour will be at Eldhestar, where you will have the chance to get closer to these majestic animals. Along with getting acquainted with the Icelandic horse, you will also have a taste of the countryside around Hveragerði. Children can be lead by staff at Eldhester if needed. Enjoy the day with Iceland's famous and charming animal. After a 1 hr ride, you will be brought back to Reykjavik by the Eldhestar staff.

Inclusions

• In bus audio guide with a choice of 10 languages (English, French, German, Dutch, Italian, Spanish, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, and Finnish)
• Knowledgeable local guide
• Admission to the sights
• Free Wi-Fi and USB charger for each seat
• 1 hour horse riding tour with a professional guide

Exclusions

Details not provided.

Viking horses and geysers

• The Golden Circle Classic is a bestselling day tour, audio guided in 10 languages.
• Highlights include the erupting geyser & hot springs, Gullfoss Waterfall, and walking through the lava canyon at Þingvellir where two continental plates are separating.
• The tour concludes with horse-riding through meadows and lava fields.
• Participants will cross meadows, lava fields, and a small river, experiencing the Icelandic horse's unique tölt gait.
• The picturesque scenery includes volcanic mountains and farmland, offering insights into Icelandic agriculture's evolution.
• The tour features new buses equipped with WiFi-connected computer tablets for each guest, providing GPS-synced audio guides in 10 languages, information on the sites, and USB outlets for charging devices.
• Local hosts will enhance the experience by answering questions about Iceland.