THE GOLDEN CIRCLE - TOUR A
Excursions
- 8.5 hours
- Easy/Medium
This is a classic excursion from Reykjavík covering the ‘Big Three’ – Gullfoss, Geysir and Thingvellir. Collectively they are known as the Golden Circle – the fantastic natural wonders for which Iceland is justly renowned.
We leave the pier heading for Thingvellir National Park, approximately 50 kilometres (30 miles) inland. Our visit allows us to experience some of the most outstanding scenery in the country. Thingvellir ranks at the top of Iceland’s tourist attractions, and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The outstanding scenery here is of tremendous geological and historic interest. The area is surrounded by mountains and encompasses a vast lava plain of green moss and wild flowers. The area is covered with typical Icelandic vegetation, low birch and willow trees, blueberry and crowberry bushes.
Our tour continues to the mighty Gullfoss – the ‘Golden Waterfall’ – the most famous of the country’s many waterfalls. Here the Hvita River drops 30 metres (96 feet) in two falls, creating an awesome spectacle.
During our next stop, at the Geysir area, we will be able to see hissing springs and other geothermal activity. The active Strokkur geyser spouts every few minutes. Lunch is served at a restaurant in the Geysir vicinity.
Once back in the capital we visit The Pearl – a dome of glass built on top of hot water storage tanks. The viewing platform affords a lovely panoramic view of Reykjavík and surroundings.
TOUR NOTES: This tour is suitable for guests with limited mobility, and wheelchair users, as most of the sights can be viewed from the coach, however all participants must be able to board the coach unaided and to get the most from this tour some walking is required. Please note that walking will be required at the Geysir area to get to the lunch venue – approximately 100 metres (328 feet) over paved and gravel paths and steps. At the various sights visited there is approximately three hours of walking and standing in total, as well as steps involved. At Thingvellir there is a slow walk of approximately 25 minutes on gravel and rocky paths as well as even wooden walkways, including less than ten steps in total. To fully experience the power and beauty of the cascades of the Gullfoss waterfall, a walk down to the river involves a long flight of wooden steps and an uneven, sloping gravel path is required. This walk should take five to ten minutes. To fully enjoy the hot spring area, and get close to the active Strokkur geyser, walking of 400 metres (1,312 feet) over paved, gravel and mud paths is required. Our time at the Pearl will be our own after a brief introduction. We recommend wearing sensible shoes and warm clothing – layers (including a windproof jacket) that you can remove if necessary are best. Lunch is usually a two course set menu with drink included, and may be served late morning - depending on the tour starting time. Toilet facilities will be available throughout the day, but please bear in mind that this tour is usually very popular so some queuing may occur at busy times. Please note that the coach used may not have air conditioning. Places may be visited in a different order than that described.
DESCRIPTION CORRECT FOR THE 2011 SCANDINAVIA & BALTIC SEASON.
Snack or meal provided
Refreshments available
Free time
Shopping opportunity
Wheelchair access
Swimming opportunity
All prices are based on operating costs, tariffs and rates of exchange and are subject to change without notice.
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