
Golden Circle Cruise Arrival: Exclusive Small Group Tour
Traveler rating
5.0/5
Based on 102 traveler reviews. Ratings and reviews provided by Viator and Tripadvisor.
Quick answer
Is Golden Circle Cruise Arrival: Exclusive Small Group Tour worth booking?
Golden Circle Cruise Arrival: Exclusive Small Group Tour is a 6-hour experience in Reykjavik, Iceland, from $166 per person. It scores 82 out of 100 on the Outty Ranking, which we label “Exceptional”, based on a 5/5 rating across 102 reviews. Cancellation is free up to 24 hours before the start time. Same-day spots are currently showing.
- Outty Ranking
- 82 / 100
- Rating
- 5/5 (102)
- Duration
- 6 hours
- From
- $166 per person
Explore Iceland's breathtaking nature on a Golden Circle tour departing from Skarfabakki port. Unlike traditional tours, we don't have a set departure time. We wait for your cruise to dock before beginning, allowing up to 2 hours after arrival. Our small group approach ensures a more personal experience, allowing our knowledgeable guides to provide exceptional service and share Iceland's fascinating history, culture, and geology. The Golden Circle is Iceland's most famous sightseeing route, combining stunning landscapes with stories that span from the settlement era to the present day. Highlights include the powerful Gullfoss Waterfall, the erupting hot springs of Geysir, Thingvellir National Park and the beautiful Öxarárfoss waterfall. We also visit the striking Kerið volcanic crater, where colorful red slopes surround a tranquil blue lake, creating one of Iceland's most picturesque natural landmarks.
What you get
About this experience
Explore Iceland's breathtaking nature on a Golden Circle tour departing from Skarfabakki port. Unlike traditional tours, we don't have a set departure time. We wait for your cruise to dock before beginning, allowing up to 2 hours after arrival. Our small group approach ensures a more personal experience, allowing our knowledgeable guides to provide exceptional service and share Iceland's fascinating history, culture, and geology. The Golden Circle is Iceland's most famous sightseeing route, combining stunning landscapes with stories that span from the settlement era to the present day. Highlights include the powerful Gullfoss Waterfall, the erupting hot springs of Geysir, Thingvellir National Park and the beautiful Öxarárfoss waterfall. We also visit the striking Kerið volcanic crater, where colorful red slopes surround a tranquil blue lake, creating one of Iceland's most picturesque natural landmarks.
What's included
Included
- On-board WiFi
Not included
- Lunch
- Snacks
What you'll see and do
Gullfoss Falls
We head towards the thundering Gullfoss waterfall, which tops many lists as a powerful and hypnotizing natural phenomenon. There is a spot at Gullfoss where you are able to buy yourself a lunch.
45 minutes here
Geysir
Geysir geothermal area is quite stunning where we can witness the geyser Strokkur erupt every five minutes. There is a spot in Geysir where you are able to buy yourself a lunch.
55 minutes here
Thingvellir National Park
Thingvellir National Park, a jewel with both historical and geological value. This is the place where Iceland’s parliament was founded in 930 A.D; every year, and until the Danish colonialism, around 30 ruling chiefs met to discuss the law on the island. It also holds the meeting of the North-American and Eurasian tectonic plates, and that’s the reason why we say that we can walk between continents at this specific location. To top it off we take an easy hike to the beautiful Öxararfoss waterfall, one of the very few human-made waterfalls in Iceland. The channel of the river Öxará was moved in the 10th century in order to provide water for all the parliament assistants.
55 minutes here
Kerid Crater
We continue to the striking Kerið volcanic crater, where vivid red volcanic slopes surround a tranquil turquoise lake, creating one of Iceland’s most colorful and captivating natural landmarks.
30 minutes here · Admission included
Where it starts and ends
Meeting point
Reykjavik
Disembarkation Instructions: Exit through the security gate. Turn right and follow the "Pick up for tours" sign. Locating Us: Look for our guide/driver by the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter with the EastWest logo in the bus parking lot.
Hotel pickup
No pickup: everyone meets at the start point.
Ends at
Disembarkation Instructions: Exit through the security gate. Turn right and follow the "Pick up for tours" sign. Locating Us: Look for our guide/driver by the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter with the EastWest logo in the bus parking lot.
Before you book
- Cancellation
- For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
- Languages
- en
- Ticket
- Mobile Only
- Runs on
- Every day
- Group size
- Up to 15 travelers per booking
- Operated by
- EastWest
Know before you go
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- The tour will take approximately 6 to 7 hours in total. It will take around 1 hour and 47 minutes to reach our first stop, "Gullfoss," from Reykjavik, where we start. The travel time in total should be approximately 3 hours and 30 minutes, and we will also spend additional time at each location, which adds up to a total of about 6 to 7 hours.
- Please be aware that we do not offer luggage storage.
- Please note that not all cruises are included. Always check with us to confirm if we have a departure available for your cruise.
- Infants and children under 4 years old are not permitted on this tour. For safety and operational reasons, they cannot be accommodated, and boarding will be denied if a booking is made with a child under the minimum age.
- Passengers must fit safely and comfortably within their allocated seat or arrange additional seating in advance. Guests must be able to board, disembark and walk independently.
Photos






What travelers are saying
Outty’s summary of the themes that recur across 101 traveler reviews. Written by us, not quoted from reviewers.
The guide
7 mentionsTravelers single out the guide as the reason the experience works.
Knowledge and storytelling
4 mentionsReviewers describe the commentary as informative rather than scripted.
Traveler reviews
101 verified traveler reviews for Golden Circle Cruise Arrival: Exclusive Small Group Tour. Ratings and reviews provided by Viator and Tripadvisor.
Great tour!
Great tour with Eduard. Would recommend East West
via Tripadvisor
Our wonderful experience
Everything ran like clockwork. Diego was informative and charming. with him we would like to stay in touch with him. Please pass my email along to him. MD2 th@comcast.net. Thank you, Brian Willetts.
via Tripadvisor
Great Iceland tour
Great trip! Really enjoyed our tour guide!
Response from the operator: Dear Guest, Thank you so much for your lovely review! We are delighted to hear that you enjoyed your Golden Circle Cruise tour and had such a great experience with your guide. Thank you for choosing EastWest, and we hope to welcome you back to Iceland again in the future! Kind Regards, Clare EastWest Team Member
via Tripadvisor
Amazing tour!
Martin guided us today, and even with the occasional heavy rain it was an amazing experience. Extra plus for the good playlist in the bus!! Recommend!
Response from the operator: Dear guest, Thank you so much for your lovely review! We are delighted to hear that you had such an enjoyable Golden Circle tour with Martin, even despite the occasional heavy rain. It's wonderful to know that his guiding and playlist helped make the day even more memorable. We will be sure to pass along your kind words to Martin. Thank you for your recommendation, and we hope to welcome you back to Iceland again in the future! Kind Regards, Clare EastWest Team Member
via Tripadvisor
Best experience
Excellent tour! Ewrduard is the best tour guide, he is fun, he explains things very well and made our day awesome. I highly recommend him. Thanks Eduardo 🤗
Response from the operator: Dear Caterina, Thank you so much for your wonderful review! We are delighted to hear that you had such an excellent Golden Circle Cruise tour with Eduard. It's fantastic to know that his friendly personality, engaging guiding, and clear explanations helped make your day so memorable. We will be sure to pass along your lovely comments to Eduard. Thank you for your recommendation, and we hope to welcome you back to Iceland again in the future! Kind Regards, Clare EastWest Team Member
via Tripadvisor
Good to know
- Duration
- 6 hours
- Free cancellation
- Up to 24h before
- Minimum age to book
- All ages
- Availability
- Bookable today
- Runs on
- Every day
- Hotel pickup
- No pickup, meet at start point
- Booked in 30 days
- 36
- Verdict
- Exceptional
Who runs this experience
Operated by EastWest, who run 4 experiences we rank across 1 city, with an average Outty Ranking of 78.8 and 1 in the 90+ Club.
See everything EastWest runsWhy this scores 82
The Outty Ranking is a weighted composite. Here is how this experience performed on each component.
Golden Circle Cruise Arrival: Exclusive Small Group Tour: questions travelers ask
Practical detail on this experience, plus the wider planning questions for Reykjavik.
How much does Golden Circle Cruise Arrival: Exclusive Small Group Tour cost?
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Prices start at $166 per person. The final price depends on the date, the time slot and the number of travelers, and peak weekends in Reykjavik usually price higher than midweek mornings. Live pricing and remaining availability are confirmed on the booking screen before you pay.
How long does Golden Circle Cruise Arrival: Exclusive Small Group Tour take?
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Plan for about 6 hours from start to finish, not counting travel to the meeting point. Most travelers leave another 30 minutes on either side so the rest of the day in Reykjavik is not rushed.
Is Golden Circle Cruise Arrival: Exclusive Small Group Tour worth it?
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It holds an Outty Ranking of 82 out of 100, which we label "Exceptional". That score blends traveler sentiment (5/5 across 102 reviews), the depth of that review evidence, recent booking momentum, value for money against comparable last minute in Reykjavik, and how flexible the cancellation terms are.
Can I cancel or reschedule Golden Circle Cruise Arrival: Exclusive Small Group Tour?
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Yes. Cancel free up to 24 hours before the start time for a full refund. Inside that window the booking is non-refundable, and no-shows are not refunded.
Is Golden Circle Cruise Arrival: Exclusive Small Group Tour suitable for kids and families?
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Yes, all ages are welcome. Families should still weigh the 6-hour running time, and strollers are easier on the earlier, quieter departures.
How far in advance should I book Golden Circle Cruise Arrival: Exclusive Small Group Tour?
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Around 36 people booked this in the last 30 days, so popular slots go early. Two to three weeks ahead is comfortable in shoulder season, while summer weekends and holidays in Reykjavik can sell out a month out. Same-day spots do open up when other travelers cancel, so it is worth checking if you are already in town.
What should I bring or wear?
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Bring photo ID, your booking confirmation on your phone, a refillable water bottle and comfortable shoes. Dress for the weather in Reykjavik and add a light layer if any part of the 6-hour experience runs outdoors or after sunset.
Where does Golden Circle Cruise Arrival: Exclusive Small Group Tour start and how do I get there?
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The exact meeting point and directions are on your voucher once you book, and they sit in central Reykjavik within reach of public transport. Arrive 15 minutes early: late arrivals are treated as no-shows by most operators.
What are the best things to do in Reykjavik?
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On Outty we rank every Reykjavik experience on the same 0 to 100 scale, and alongside this one the highest scorers right now include Reykjavik Food Walk - Local Foodie Adventure in Iceland, Silfra Snorkeling Between Continents Photos Included- Self Drive, Small-Group Golden Circle, Blue Lagoon with Ticket & Kerid Crater. The city page groups everything into most popular, highest reviewed, last minute and family-friendly so you can build a day around what actually delivers.
When is the best time to visit Reykjavik?
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Booking patterns follow the same curve: prices and queues climb in peak weeks, while shoulder season gives you better availability on the top-ranked experiences and more room to change plans.
How many days do you need in Reykjavik?
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Three full days covers the headline sights without sprinting. A workable rhythm is one anchor experience each morning, such as this one, an unhurried afternoon in a single neighborhood, then a food or nightlife booking in the evening. Five days lets you add a day trip outside the city.
Do I book through Outty or through the operator?
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Outty ranks and explains the experiences, then hands you to Viator to complete the booking with the operator directly. The price is the same as booking on Viator yourself, and Outty earns an affiliate commission on the referral, which is how the rankings stay free to read.
What is included in Golden Circle Cruise Arrival: Exclusive Small Group Tour?
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Included: On-board WiFi. Not included: Lunch; and Snacks. Always check the voucher for the final list before you travel.
Where is the meeting point for Golden Circle Cruise Arrival: Exclusive Small Group Tour?
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Disembarkation Instructions: Exit through the security gate. Turn right and follow the "Pick up for tours" sign. Locatin. Hotel pickup is not included, so plan your own transport and arrive 15 minutes early.
What languages is Golden Circle Cruise Arrival: Exclusive Small Group Tour offered in?
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It runs in English. Pick your language when choosing a date and time, as not every departure runs in every language.
Will I get instant confirmation and a mobile ticket for Golden Circle Cruise Arrival: Exclusive Small Group Tour?
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Confirmation is sent by the operator after booking, usually within 48 hours; if it is not confirmed you are not charged. Mobile tickets are accepted, so you can show the voucher on your phone.
Is Golden Circle Cruise Arrival: Exclusive Small Group Tour wheelchair or stroller accessible?
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The operator notes: Infants and children under 4 years old are not permitted on this tour. For safety and oper. If accessibility is critical, contact the operator after booking to confirm arrangements for your date.
What happens to Golden Circle Cruise Arrival: Exclusive Small Group Tour if the weather is bad?
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This experience depends on good weather. If it is canceled because of poor weather, you are offered a different date or a full refund.
What do travelers say about Golden Circle Cruise Arrival: Exclusive Small Group Tour?
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Across 102 reviews averaging 5.0 out of 5, recurring themes include the guide, knowledge and storytelling. Travelers single out the guide as the reason the experience works.
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