Golden Circle & Snorkeling Tour

The tour begins with a thrilling snorkeling adventure at Silfra Fissure. The fissure is located in Thingvellir National Park on a rift valley between the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates. Silfra was formed by a powerful earthquake in 1789, and the tectonic plates continue to drift apart at a yearly rate of about 0.79 in (2 cm). So when you go snorkeling you will actually be swimming between two continents!

To get to your Silfra snorkeling location you can either choose to be picked up from Reykjavik or meet us on-location at Thingvellir, where our friendly guides will be waiting for you.

Once you're onsite you'll be given all the necessary snorkeling gear and drysuit. Don't have any prior snorkeling experience? No worries. Our knowledgeable guides will walk you through everything you need to know. The only requirements are that you are able to swim, are in good health, and have an adventurous spirit.

For the tour, you'll swim in the "lazy current," a glacial water stream that flows calmly in the fissure. The crystal water has been filtered for decades by lava rock and is so pure you can drink it. Marvel at the vibrant blue and green water shades, orange seaweed, and spectacular rock formations. The water at Silfra boasts 100-meter (328 ft) visibility, so you'll have the perfect conditions for exploring the geological wonders below.

• Silfra Big Crack is the narrowest and deepest section of the fissure at 394-ft (120 m) long and 147ft (45 m) deep. Along the passage are various caverns and swim-through holes.
• Silfra Hall is where the fissure widens out and leads into a 26 ft (8 m) wide and 46 ft (14 m) deep area. The bottom of this 'hall' is covered with giant rocks, some half the size of a car!
• Silfra Cathedral is 328-ft (100 m) long and 75-ft (23 m) deep. The area has such a strong current it almost feels like you are flying.
• Silfra Lagoon is 16ft (5 m) deep and offers the best visibility. Here you’ll find the most dramatic views of the fissure floor and turquoise blue water.

After you dry off and change, enjoy a treat of hot cocoa and cookies.

At 12:00 pm we will end our underwater adventure and begin exploring the surrounding Thingvellir National Park. Thingvellir is Iceland's oldest national park and is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site for its historic and geological value. Besides the tectonic rift in its valley, it is where the world’s oldest parliament (the Alþingi)  was founded in 930 AD. The park limits contain dramatic landscapes, forests, and cliffs.

After Thingvellir, we’ll head to the Geysir hot spring area for a geothermal show. Witness the active Strokkur Geyser, which spouts scorching water every 8-10 minutes, followed by the now dormant Great Geysir. The impressive geyser eruptions are truly a feat of nature, shooting up to 130 ft (40 meters) in the air!

We finish up our Golden Circle experience with a stop at the thundering Gullfoss Waterfall, or “The Golden Waterfall. The attraction is the largest falls by volume in Europe, so you will hear it before you see it!

Gullfoss has an impressive two-tiered cascade with a 32-meter drop that plunges into a deep gorge below. Unlike most waterfalls, you view the cascade from the top, so it is an extraordinary sight to behold. The perfect end to your all-day adventure.

Pick up will start at 08:30 am from your Reykjavik pick up point. Please note that pick up can take up to 30 minutes so your patience is appreciated.

Check out our list of designated pick-up points.

Return time: You will return to Reykjavik around approximately 18:00 pm.

Participants need to be comfortable in the water and able to swim. You are unable to participate if you are pregnant due to the small risk of cold water entering the suit.

To participate in the tour, you must read and sign the medical statement form in our Snorkeling Handbook before booking. If you have any medical conditions, medical approval from a doctor is required.

Weight limit: 45-120 kg

Height limit: 150 cm -200 cm

Age Limit: 12 years old minimum. Participants under the age of 18 must be accompanied by a parent or adult guardian booked on the same tour.

English: It is important that you can both understand and communicate in English in order to participate in the tour.

This is a combination of two separate tours. If one of the tours is canceled, you will still be able to join the other part.