How to visit the Great Geyser in Iceland from Reykjavik

Iceland's most popular natural attractions are undoubtedly the geysers. The Great Geyser or Geysir (derived from an Icelandic word meaning "gushing") is the one that made this hydrothermal spectacle famous.

Although currently there is very little activity, there is a very active and much visited one a few metres away: Strokkur. These geysers, along with other natural beauties, are part of the route known as the Golden Circle in the south of Iceland.

In this post I include different tours that will take you to the Great Geyser area from Reykjavík. These tours usually include other Golden Circle attractions such as hydrothermal baths, waterfalls, and craters, as well as whale watching, glaciers and tours to discover all that the city of Reykjavík has to offer. Don't think twice about discovering this beautiful island!

This tour departs from the city of Reykjavík and the route to the geysers is to the northeast, starting in Thingvellir National Park.

This is the first of Iceland's national parks and, because of its importance to the island' s culture and geological knowledge, it has also been designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Less than an hour later, you reach the Haukadalur Geothermal Valley, with its bizarre landscape of mud pools, fumaroles and hot springs.

The main attraction of this geothermal area are its two famous geysers: Strokkur and Geysir (or Great Geyser). While the Geysir rarely shows activity, fortunately the Strokkur can surprise you several times an hour. Be sure to bring your camera for the show!

Another site usually included in this tour is the Gullfoss Waterfall, one of Iceland's best waterfalls, which you can only see from above, as the water flows into deep gorges.

The word Gullfoss literally means Golden Waterfall. It is precisely because of this monumental waterfall and the circular route to the various attractions that the area is known as the Golden Circle.

Details of interest

• Price: From 55 euros.

• Duration: This tour has a duration of 7 hours.

• Means of transport: The tour takes place in a comfortable bus with a professional guide.

• Advantages of this option: You are picked up and dropped off at the hotel. Most travellers have the physical condition to enjoy this experience. It is a very classic ecotourism route to see Iceland's landscapes at an affordable price. If the tour is cancelled due to unfavourable weather conditions, you will be offered another date or a full refund.

• Disadvantages of this option: The guide is transmitted in two languages, it is not specified which, but English is likely to be one of these.

This is another excellent way to see the Great Geyser area from Reykjavík.

In addition to the geothermal Haukadalur Valley and its geysers (Geysir and the restless Strokkur), as well as the majestic Gullfoss waterfall, this tour usually includes a couple of other Golden Circle attractions: Kerid Crater and the Secret Lagoon.

Kerid Crater is a spectacular lake inside a volcano crater. Unlike others in the area, the contrasting reds of the volcanic rocks, combined with the aquamarine blue of its waters and the green of the vegetation that thrives there, make the "Eye of the World," as it is also known, a popular attraction for visitors to the Golden Circle.

The Secret Lagoon is a body of hydrothermal water with waters that naturally range from 38°C to 40°C all year round. Taking a warm, relaxing bath is one of the most popular tourist attractions in this place, where cold and windy weather lurk for much of the year. So, don't forget your towel, eh?!

Interesting details

• Price: From 86 euros.

• Duration: The circuit lasts 10 hours.

• Means of transport: The tour takes place in a comfortable bus and is accompanied by an expert guide.

• Advantages of this option: You will be able to live the experience of bathing in Iceland's hot springs. If the weather makes it impossible to do the tour, the tour is cancelled and you will be offered another date. The second option is a full refund.

• Disadvantages of this option: You will not be picked up/dropped off at your hotel. However, this is not an absolute disadvantage, as there are several pick-up points around the city. The language of the guide is not specified (probably English).

I have chosen this tour especially if you like speedy adventures on snow. On board a snowmobile, you will be able to tour the Langjökull, Iceland's second largest glacier and accessible all year round.

For the sake of this post, this circuit will obviously also take you to the area where the famous geysers are located, being a very popular destination in many of the Golden Circle tours

Also included in the tour are the Gullfoss Waterfall and Thingvellir National Park, which by the way, has a very rugged terrain due to the tectonic plates that here gradually move freely, creating watery trenches between two continents where you can snorkel and scuba dive.

Interesting details

• Price: From 210 euros.
• Duration: This excursion lasts 10 hours.
• Means of transport: The tour takes place in a well-equipped bus accompanied by a guide. The tour also includes access to a snowmobile (two people per vehicle) for a one-hour ride on the white cap of the glacier.
• Advantages of this option: 3 hours of snowmobiling on a glacier! If the tour is cancelled due to bad weather, you will be offered a change to another date or a full refund.
• Disadvantages of this option: English speaking guide only. The departure/arrival point is only one. Due to unexpected weather changes, the snowmobile tour to the glacier may be cancelled.

As you may have seen in the title, on this tour you will be able to see the Northern Lights! Yes, you should know that due to its latitude (far north), Iceland is one of the privileged places in the world to see this wonderful phenomenon between the months of September and March.

If your visit takes place during the best months to see the Northern Lights from Reykjavik, don't hesitate to do this activity. It really is a unique experience.

The Northern Lights appear at night, but what are you going to do during the day? This tour takes you to Thingvellir National Park which, as I have been telling you, is an obligatory stop on the way to the Golden Circle from Reykjavík and has interesting attractions and sightseeing tours.

In the northern lights season (the coldest of the year) here you can connect with the landscapes of one of the most successful fantasy TV series: Game of Thrones.

Gullfoss waterfall and of course, Geysir and Strokkur geysers will be part of the usual itinerary.

Details of interest

• Price: From 179 euros.

• Duration: The itinerary has a duration of 10 hours.

• Means of transport: The tour takes place on board an SUV, accompanied by a professional guide.

• Advantages of this option: Northern Lights! Due to the location and conditions in Iceland, the chance of seeing them in the 7 month window (September to March) is very high. Hotel pick up/drop off.

• Disadvantages of this option: There is a specific season to make the most of it. If you are keen to visit the Northern Lights, do not choose to travel in the months of April to August.

This tour is special, not only because of what you will see, but also because it lasts three days. Yes, three days where you will see the must-see attractions of the Golden Circle, such as Geysir and Gullfoss Waterfall, but also tours of the south coast, with its attractions that will impress you, such as the pieces of icebergs stranded in the water, waterfalls, translucent caves and lava fields. Here are some more details.

On the first day of the tour, you usually visit the classic sites of the Golden Circle: Thingvellir National Park, the geothermal area where Geysir and Strokkur are located, and the famous Gullfoss Waterfall, which usually tops the list of the best waterfalls in Iceland.

On the second day you will visit the south coast of the island. Here, the usual sights are the glacial lagoon of Jokulsarlon, which is a common destination for lagoon tours on the island, and Diamond Beach. The drifting ice slowly drifting into the sea is a magical scene that you will not forget.

Normally, the same day you head for Skaftafell National Park, where more ice and cold temperatures await you. After a walk on a glacier, you usually enter a cave of frozen water. The play of light through the thick blocks of ice will allow you to capture unique photographs of this journey.

On the last day, the return journey to Reykjavík begins. On the way, weather permitting, there are several stops, such as the curious lava field of Eldhraun, the black beach of Reynisfjara, the Hekla volcano and a couple of waterfalls: Skogafoss and Seljalandsfoss. The latter, with the particularity that you can cross it from behind especially in the summer.

Undoubtedly, a very complete tour to make the most of your stay in Iceland.

Interesting details

• Price: From 660 euros.
• Duration: This tour takes place over 3 days.
• Means of transport: The tour takes place in a well-equipped minibus with an expert guide.
• Advantages of this option: The price includes two nights' accommodation. A very complete tour with a variety of attractions and landscapes of Iceland. The tour may be cancelled due to changeable weather. In this case, you may be offered another date or a refund.
• Disadvantages of this option: The cold you are exposed to can be very extreme/intolerable for some people and especially in the winter. You are not picked up/dropped off at your accommodation. However, this is not exactly a drawback, as they have several pick-up points around the city.

This tour starts in the morning with a few stops in the city of Reykjavík. You will get a taste of Icelandic architecture, with its Scandinavian designs, very much linked to functionality in this often inhospitable environment.

A famous concert hall, the residence of the nation's president, the city hall and the parliament are the usual stops.

In the afternoon, the destination is the Golden Circle. Getting here is very easy from Reykjavík. The first stop is Thingvellir National Park and the geothermal area that you want to see so much, with Geysir and, above all, Strokkur making their outrageous and wet show.

And to close the Golden Circle classics, a visit to the famous Gullfoss Waterfall is a must.

I highly recommend this tour if you want a tour that will guide you through the city and its history and, at the same time, you don't want to miss out on the island's ecotourism must-sees: the attractions of the Golden Circle.

Interesting details

• Price: From 100 euros.
• Duration: The excursion lasts 10 hours.
• Means of transport: The tour takes place in an air-conditioned vehicle accompanied by a professional guide.
• Advantages of this option: Pick-up and drop-off points at the hotel and various points in the city.
• Disadvantages of this option: Language of the guide in English. Not specified if any other.

Iceland's cold, nutrient-rich marine waters are the perfect place for whale and other marine mammal watching. Especially between the months of April to September, the coastal areas of the island are frequented by these majestic creatures.

Tourism takes advantage of this unique opportunity to observe the animals in their natural habitat, with many whale watching tours being organised throughout the island.

The most common species that can be seen along these shores include: dwarf whale, humpback whale, killer whale, sperm whale and the largest animal on Earth: the blue whale.

Apart from whale watching, this tour will also take you through the Golden Circle, so your experience will not miss the Haukadalur Valley with the Great Geyser and Strokkur, as well as the Gullfoss Waterfall.

Interesting details

• Price: From 148 euros.
• Duration: This tour lasts 10 hours.
• Means of transport: Boat for whale watching. On the land section, a comfortable bus. In both cases, a professional guide.
• Advantages of this option: The experience of sighting several species of whales within the same circuit. You are picked up/dropped off at the point of your choice in the city. If the tour is cancelled due to limiting weather, you will be offered a change of date or a full refund.
• Disadvantages of this option: Being animals in their natural habitat, they have cycles and behaviours that are impossible to control, so you may experience few, if any, sightings. It is more convenient to do the tour during the season (April to September) to have a better chance. The language of the guide narration is not specified (possibly English).

I think it is important to make it clear that, although the itineraries usually include everything I have mentioned, they may change. For this reason, I recommend that at the time of booking, you check the stops and times you are going to do.

Even doing this, I will also tell you that being a country with a climate that can be very harsh, it is not uncommon for some tours to be cancelled or modified during your stay. Safety first, and icy roads, active volcanoes and erratic blizzards may not be the best part of a holiday. Just take this into consideration, it's not the most common but it's always worth bearing in mind.

Some say that in Iceland there are two seasons: winter and mild winter. With this, you can imagine...the weather in Iceland can be a challenge, especially if you are not used to or prepared for the cold and strong winds.

Therefore, you need to be well prepared. Coats, more coats, shoes with good grip and rain gear are the main things to bring.

Also, on all tours you should fully respect all safety and environmental rules for tourism. Iceland is one of the most sustainable countries in the world, and tourism should contribute to this.