Reykjavik: Golden Circle, Kerid, and Fridheimar Minibus Tour

Iceland’s Golden Circle gets a clever local twist here: alongside Gullfoss, Geysir, and Thingvellir, you visit Kerid crater and Fridheimar Farm, where tomatoes grow in a warm greenhouse and Icelandic horses perform their unusual gaits. I especially like the small minibus, which makes loading up faster than a big coach, and the mix of geology, food, and farm life.

I also like that lunch is built into the Fridheimar stop rather than treated as an afterthought. Guides such as Tony, Siggi, Steinar, and Dooley have earned strong praise for lively stories and clear explanations. The main tradeoff is the schedule: nine hours covers a lot, but Thingvellir and some other stops can feel a little short, and lunch is not included in the $129 price.

Key points to know before booking

• Five major stops in one day: See Kerid crater, Fridheimar, Geysir, Gullfoss, and Thingvellir on a roughly 300-kilometer circuit.
• A small minibus matters: Smaller vehicles can spend less time gathering passengers and may reach parking areas that are awkward for large coaches.
• Fridheimar is more than a photo stop: Your visit includes tomato tasting, access to the farm setting, Icelandic horses, and a horse show.
• Lunch costs extra: The farm reserves tables for the group, but you buy your own meal from the greenhouse restaurant.
• Guiding is a major part of the value: English-speaking guides including Tony, Siggi, Steinar, Omar, and Linda are praised for history, geology, humor, and Icelandic culture.
• Bring serious rain gear: Waterproof shoes and clothing suited to wind, rain, and changing temperatures are essential.

Why this Golden Circle tour feels different

Most Golden Circle outings focus on the same famous trio: the rift valley at Thingvellir, the geyser area, and Gullfoss waterfall. This tour adds Kerid’s red and black volcanic bowl and a stop at Fridheimar Farm, giving you a better sense of how Iceland combines raw geology with practical, modern farming.

That variety matters on a long sightseeing day. You are not simply stepping off a bus at one waterfall after another. You move from a volcanic crater to a heated greenhouse, then to steaming ground, a huge waterfall, and a historic national park. I find that mix easier to remember, and it gives the day some welcome rhythm.

The tour lasts about nine hours and uses a minibus rather than a full-size coach. Exact group size is not specified, but repeated praise for the smaller vehicle is easy to understand. A minibus usually means quicker boarding, less time waiting for a large group, and a more personal setting for questions.

The guide can shape the mood of the day. Tony is repeatedly described as funny and informative, while Siggi is praised for cultural stories and a warm presentation. Other named guides include Steinar, Omar, Dooley, Linda, Addi, Monica, and Andy. Since guide assignments vary, book this for the route and format first, not for one particular person.

Reykjavik pickup and the long road south

Pickup is available from many central Reykjavik bus stops, hotels, the BSÍ terminal, Hallgrimskirkja, Harpa, Perlan, the Maritime Museum, and the Skarfabakki cruise terminal. Your voucher gives the assigned time, but the pickup process can take up to 30 minutes, so I would not plan a last-minute coffee run or tight connection around it.

The first drive lasts about an hour. This is useful time for the guide to explain Iceland’s geology, culture, and daily life, though the amount of commentary depends on the person leading your minibus. Some guides fill the road time with stories, while one past account found the commentary less chatty. That is a minor but real variation on any guided outing.

A small minibus is especially helpful on a day with five major stops. You still spend a fair amount of time on the road, but the route is broken up often enough that the day does not become one long ride. The Mercedes Sprinter vehicle received specific praise for comfort and a smooth ride on winding roads.

Kerid crater: a quick look into Iceland’s volcanic past

Kerid is the first listed sightseeing stop, reached after about an hour on the road. You get around 25 minutes here for photographs and views of the crater lake, whose milky blue-green water sits below striking red and black slopes.

The color contrast is the attraction. The crater is not just a hole in the ground. Its rust-colored sides and dark volcanic rock frame the pale water in a way that looks almost arranged, although it is entirely geological.

Admission to Kerid is included, which is useful because some Icelandic sites charge a small access fee. Twenty-five minutes is enough for a look and photos, but not a leisurely exploration. Wear shoes with good grip, especially if the ground is wet or icy, and stay aware of the time.

Fridheimar Farm: tomatoes, horses, and lunch

After roughly 25 minutes of driving, the minibus reaches Fridheimar Farm for about 90 minutes. This is the tour’s most distinctive stop and, for many people, the best reason to choose it over a standard Golden Circle route.

The family has grown tomatoes and cucumbers here since 1995. Inside the greenhouse, you can taste local tomatoes and buy lunch at your own cost. The setting gives you a useful glimpse of how produce is grown in Iceland despite the country’s cool climate and limited daylight.

Do not assume the meal is included. The provider reserves tables for the tour group, but you pay for whatever you order. Tomato soup is a popular choice, though not everyone finds it equally impressive. Pasta and cheese plates have also been singled out as good options, so check the menu rather than ordering automatically.

The 90-minute stop gives you time to eat without turning lunch into a rushed snack. It also means the farm is a genuine part of the day, not a ten-minute commercial stop. The greenhouse atmosphere is unusual, and several people have described the meal and setting as a highlight.

You then visit the stables to meet Icelandic horses. The tour includes the chance to pet them and watch a show demonstrating their distinctive gaits. The horse display adds a cultural and agricultural side to the day that you will not get from a purely geological itinerary.

This stop is also where the tour’s value becomes easier to judge. If you only want waterfalls and geysers, you may see the farm as time taken from Thingvellir. If you enjoy food, animals, and local working life, the stop makes the day far more varied.

Geysir: steaming ground and the famous name

The next drive lasts about 20 minutes, followed by around 40 minutes at the Geysir area. This is the geothermal heart of the route, with steaming vents and erupting hot springs creating the strange, sulfur-scented atmosphere Iceland is famous for.

The name Geysir gave the world the word geyser, but the active hot spring most people watch is Strokkur. The tour information promises sightseeing and walking time rather than a guaranteed eruption schedule, so allow the guide to manage the timing and keep a safe distance from the hot water.

Forty minutes gives you room to walk, take photos, and watch the geothermal activity. Paths can be wet, slick, or muddy, so waterproof shoes are more useful here than fashionable trainers. Stay on marked routes because the ground around hot springs can be dangerous.

Gullfoss: the visual high point of the route

After only about ten minutes on the minibus, you reach Gullfoss for approximately 45 minutes. The river plunges in two main steps into the Gullfossgjúfur canyon, producing the force and sound that make this one of Iceland’s essential sights.

I would treat Gullfoss as the day’s visual centerpiece. The waterfall is broad, powerful, and constantly changing with weather and light. In winter, ice can frame the falls, while summer brings fuller access to walking paths and longer daylight.

Forty-five minutes is enough for the main viewpoints and photographs, though you will want to keep moving if wind and rain arrive. The mist can soak clothing near the viewpoints, which is why waterproof outer layers are not optional advice.

The short walk from the parking area is manageable for most people, but this is an outdoor sightseeing stop, not a polished attraction. Surfaces can be uneven and slippery. Take care with your footing and do not focus so hard on your camera that you miss the conditions around you.

Thingvellir National Park and the tectonic rift

The route then spends about 50 minutes on the road before reaching Thingvellir National Park. You have around 45 minutes for walking, photographs, and views across the area where the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates are pulling apart.

Thingvellir is special because geology and Icelandic history meet in the same place. The visible rift gives you a direct sense of the forces shaping Iceland, while the national park also carries major importance in the country’s political past. A good guide can make the stop much more meaningful by explaining both sides.

This is the stop where time feels tightest. One past experience specifically wished for longer at Thingvellir, even though the guide helped find Oxarafoss. If you want long walks, quiet reflection, or extensive photography, this itinerary may not provide enough time. If you mainly want the key viewpoint and a clear explanation of the rift, 45 minutes should work.

The order of stops also makes a difference. Seeing Thingvellir later gives you a chance to finish with one of Iceland’s most important places, but the park may be less visually dramatic than Gullfoss or Kerid. I like the route because it ends with context after the big natural spectacles.

What the guide adds to the scenery

The road between stops is not dead time. Guides have explained Icelandic folklore, history, geology, farming, and present-day culture, with some adding bonus stops when timing and group interest allow. Extra sightings have included a dairy farm with homemade ice cream, a hydroelectric plant, a gorge, and scenic pullouts.

Those extras are not guaranteed, so do not book expecting them. Think of them as a possible benefit of a flexible minibus format rather than part of the promised route.

A strong guide also helps with practical matters. Guests have praised guides for getting close to attractions, keeping the day on schedule, sharing photographs, and making the long ride entertaining. Monica was specifically praised for helping a passenger who had no phone, while Andy was noted for careful driving and clear explanations.

The occasional downside is too much talking. Some people enjoy constant stories, while others prefer quiet stretches to watch the countryside. This is a small-group guided tour, not a silent transfer, so choose it if you want regular commentary.

Is $129 a fair price?

At $129 per person, this is not the cheapest way to see the Golden Circle. You are paying for transport from Reykjavik, an English-speaking guide, admission to Kerid, tomato tasting, access to the horse visit, and the horse show.

You still need to budget for lunch at Fridheimar. That extra cost is important because the farm stop is long enough that most people will want a proper meal rather than only the included tasting.

I think the price is fair if you value convenience and a smaller vehicle. Driving yourself can offer more freedom, especially at Thingvellir, but it puts navigation, road conditions, parking, and timing on you. This tour removes those chores and gives you a guide who can explain what you are seeing.

The value is weaker if you dislike set schedules or want to spend half a day at one site. You will see a lot, but the route is designed for breadth rather than slow exploration.

Practical advice for a comfortable day

Wear layers, a waterproof jacket, and waterproof shoes. Icelandic weather can shift quickly, and exposed viewpoints at Gullfoss and Thingvellir can feel much colder than Reykjavik.

Bring a small day bag with room for gloves, a hat, water, and any purchases from Fridheimar. Keep your camera protected from spray at Gullfoss and rain at the outdoor stops.

Children under eight cannot join this activity. The tour is also not a good match for anyone who wants a completely private or highly flexible day, since pickup locations, stop lengths, and the overall route are fixed.

Free cancellation is available up to 24 hours before departure, and you can reserve now and pay later. Those terms help if your Iceland plans are still shifting, but you should still check the voucher carefully for your pickup point and start time.

Who should book this Golden Circle outing?

I would choose this tour if you have one open day in Reykjavik and want the classic sights without driving. It is particularly good for first-time visitors who want clear explanations, a comfortable vehicle, and a route that adds food and horses to the standard circuit.

Families with children eight and older may enjoy the variety, especially the horses and greenhouse. Couples and solo visitors also benefit from the easy group format, since the day has plenty of built-in structure without requiring self-drive planning.

I would look elsewhere if your priority is hiking, photography at one site, or a private pace. Thingvellir receives limited time, and lunch is extra. But for a broad introduction to southern Iceland, the combination of Kerid, Fridheimar, Geysir, Gullfoss, and Thingvellir is hard to fault.

Should you book it?

Yes, if you want the Golden Circle’s main sights plus two worthwhile extras. Fridheimar’s greenhouse and horse show give the day a human touch, while the small minibus and strong guide lineup make a busy route easier to manage.

Book it with realistic expectations: this is a full sightseeing circuit, not a slow rural outing. Bring waterproof clothing, allow extra money for lunch, and accept that Thingvellir may leave you wishing for more time. If that balance suits you, $129 is a sensible price for a well-filled day from Reykjavik.

FAQ

How long is the Golden Circle minibus tour?

The tour lasts approximately nine hours, including transport between the stops and the return to Reykjavik.

What places does the tour visit?

The route includes Kerid crater, Fridheimar Farm, the Geysir geothermal area, Gullfoss waterfall, and Thingvellir National Park.

Is transportation included?

Yes. Bus fare and transportation by bus or minibus are included.

Is lunch included in the price?

No. Lunch at Fridheimar is purchased separately, although the provider reserves tables for the tour group.

What food is included?

Tomato tasting at Fridheimar Farm is included. Other food and drinks, including lunch, cost extra.

Can I meet Icelandic horses?

Yes. The tour includes a visit to the stables where you can meet and pet Icelandic horses.

Is there a horse show?

Yes. Fridheimar includes a show demonstrating the different gaits of Icelandic horses.

What language is the tour conducted in?

The live guided tour is conducted in English.

Where does pickup take place?

Pickup is available from many Reykjavik locations, including selected bus stops, hotels, the BSÍ Bus Terminal, Hallgrimskirkja, Perlan, Harpa, the Maritime Museum, and the Skarfabakki cruise terminal. Your voucher specifies the assigned location.

Can children join the tour?

Children under eight years old are not permitted to take part.

What should I bring?

Bring clothing suited to changing weather and waterproof shoes. These are especially useful at the outdoor stops near Gullfoss, Geysir, Kerid, and Thingvellir.

Can I cancel the booking?

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund. The tour also offers a reserve-now, pay-later option.