Your Friend In Reykjavik

History of "The Private Gourmet Golden Circle Tour"

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Version 18 – May 03, 2024 15:25

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Timezone
  • Etc/UTC
  • Europe/London

Version 18 – May 03, 2024 15:25

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Timezone
  • Europe/London

Version 16 – December 23, 2023 15:56

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Included
  • expert fun-loving guide from your friend in reykjavik, lunch stops across the way!, stunning views all day long
  • lunch stops across the way!

Version 15 – December 23, 2023 15:55

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Included
  • lunch stops across the way!
Excluded
  • tips or gratuity (not required in iceland)

Version 14 – December 23, 2023 15:54

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Highlights
  • adjustable food stops for dietary needs, luxury vehicle and stunning sights, private bespoke golden circle tour, taste farm-made ice cream

Version 13 – December 23, 2023 15:54

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Description Summary
  • Experience the stunning beauty of Iceland's Golden Circle on a private bespoke tour. Explore historic sites, breathtaking waterfalls, and indulge in delicious food stops along the way.
  • Experience the stunning beauty of Iceland's Golden Circle on a private bespoke tour. Explore historic sites, breathtaking waterfalls, and indulge in delicious food stops along the way.
Currency
  • USD

Version 12 – December 23, 2023 15:53

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Description Summary
  • Experience the stunning beauty of Iceland's Golden Circle on a private bespoke tour. Explore historic sites, breathtaking waterfalls, and indulge in delicious food stops along the way.
  • This is a Private Gourmet Golden Circle Tour

Version 9 – December 23, 2023 15:50

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Guide type
  • Tour Guide
Trip difficulty
  • Easy

Version 8 – December 23, 2023 15:50

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Pickup
  • strict
  • none
Timezone
  • Europe/London
Instant confirmation
  • true
  • false
Location
  • Name: Reykjavik, Iceland
  • Search name: Reykjavik, Iceland

Version 6 – December 23, 2023 15:49

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Know Before You Book
  • if you have any dietary restrictions, contact us and we try to accommodate!, if you wish to be guided in a specific language, please let us know!, this tour is not wheelchair accessible
  • if you wish to be guided in a specific language, please let us know!
Terms and conditions
  • Liability
  • By accepting these terms you agree to participate in the activities offered on tour at your own risk and that you take responsibility for your own safety.
  • Your Friend in Reykjavik does not assume any responsibility for accidents that are caused by its customers, which can be traced to their own actions or are caused by factors outside of human control (Force majeure).
Address
  • Address:
  • Address: Your Friend In Reykjavik, Kambsvegur, Reykjavík, Iceland,

Version 5 – December 23, 2023 15:47

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Know Before You Go
  • be ready for pickup outside your hotel ca.10 minutes before departure, food is included in this tour , please wear weather appropriate clothing
  • be ready for pickup outside your hotel ca.10 minutes before departure, please wear weather appropriate clothing
Know Before You Book
  • if you wish to be guided in a specific language, please let us know!
  • if you want to be guided in a different language please contact us and we will

Version 4 – December 19, 2023 09:53

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Booking cutoff
  • 1
Valid type
  • only_date_reservation
  • from_date_booked
Know Before You Book
  • if you want to be guided in a different language please contact us and we will
  • if you want to be guided in a different language p

Version 3 – December 19, 2023 09:52

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Previous Version
Know Before You Go
  • be ready for pickup outside your hotel ca.10 minutes before departure, please wear weather appropriate clothing
Know Before You Book
  • if you want to be guided in a different language p

Version 2 – December 19, 2023 09:50

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Description Summary
  • This is a Private Gourmet Golden Circle Tour
Description
  • Join us on a private bespoke Golden Circle tour in a luxury vehicle!
  • The Golden Circle includes some of Iceland's most popular tourist sightseeing spots. It's not only because they are close to the country's capital area, but also because they are stunningly beautiful, full of history and fantastic geology.
  • The traditional Golden Circle includes Þingvellir National Park, Geysir Geothermal Area, and Gullfoss Waterfall, but we also add several food stops, snacks, and more on this bespoke tour, so it's also a food journey and not just the beautiful sights.
  • The places we visit on our food journey depend on the season & time of day, but we always include a great lunch, farm-made Ice cream, and more.  There is also the possibility of adjusting the food stops based on dietary restrictions & needs.
  • Please get in touch if you have larger groups wishing to enjoy this experience with us!
  • Usually, the plan is like this:
  • Pickup at 9 am
  • Stop at a local bakery at 9:30 am for delicious Icelandic pastry.
  • Þingvellir at 10:15 am (45 - 60 minute) stop
  • Stop For the Icelandic Rye bread making & Tasting at Laugarvatn.
  • 11:45 am - 12:15 am
  • Drive to Friðheimar restaurant for a delicious Lunch.
  • 1 pm Friðheimar restaurant (1 hour stop)
  • 2:30 pm: Geysir (45-minute visit)
  • 3:30 pm: Gullfoss (30- 45 minute stop)
  • 4:45 pm: Stop at Efstidalur farm for delicious Icecream with some unique Icelandic flavors
  • 6:30 pm drop off at the hotel
  • We will adjust our tour to your wishes as well as we can. For further information, please get in touch with us at [email protected].
  • The stops can include but are not limited to:
  • Þingvellir National Park
  • The historical site of Þingvellir is vital to Icelanders. It is where Alþingi, the world's oldest Parliament, was founded in 930. It is also one of few places in Iceland (and the world) you can see the mid-Atlantic ridge above ground.
  • Walk through the Almannagjá tectonic rift, pass the site of the first parliament, Althing, and enjoy Öxaráfoss waterfall, take in the beautiful scenery, see where Game of Thrones was shot, visit Iceland's largest lake Þingvallavatn Lake and even dive between the continents in the Silfra River.
  • Þingvellir National Park is also where Icelanders converted to Christianity. Members of Parliament met to discuss the possibility of converting. Ultimately, it was decided it would be in our best interest to do so. People who believed in the old Æsir were still allowed to do so, but mostly in secret. They could not make sacrifices anymore, but other customs, such as eating horse meat, were allowed.
  • In 2004, Þingvellir became a UNESCO World Heritage Site. That means it has cultural, historical, scientific, or other forms of significance, which Þingvellir indeed has.
  • Gullfoss Waterfall
  • Gullfoss is one of Iceland's most famous and spectacular waterfalls. It is far from the largest, but it is a three-step waterfall that falls into a 64-meter-deep canyon. Due to the curve of the canyon right where it falls down and the spray from the waterfall, it can be nearly impossible to see the bottom. It thus sometimes looks as if it falls into an abyss.
  • Early in the 20th century, there were ideas about harnessing the waterfall's power to generate electricity. The landowner's daughter, Sólveig Tómasdóttir, was fiercely against it and a pioneer environmentalist. She threatened to throw herself into the waterfall if the plans went ahead, and in the end, her father listened to her, and we are ever so grateful for her!
  • Geysir Geothermal Area
  • Bubbling hot water and erupting geysers are what to expect in the Geysir geothermal area. The word "geyser" comes from the now mostly dormant Geysir, but the site is also named after it. Geysir would hurl boiling water and erupt almost 70 m (230 ft) into the air, but it has been years since it erupted last. It used to erupt regularly but stopped after a series of earthquakes.
  • Instead, you can see its brother Strokkur erupt every few minutes. It isn't as large as Geysir, but its eruptions can reach up to 30 m (98 ft).
  • Kerið Crater Lake
  • This beautiful crater lake is in the Grímsnes area, south of Gullfoss and Geysir. It is about 55 m (180 ft) deep, 170 m (560 ft) wide, and 270 m (890 ft) across. There are quite a few crater lakes in the area, but it is called Iceland's Western Volcanic Zone. The sand around the crater is not black but red due to its high iron content. It is, in fact, rust you are seeing and contrasted with the blue lake water, making for a spectacular sight.
  • Other stops you can add on for your bespoke private Golden Circle Tour (for an additional fee):
  • Snorkel between the continents in Silfra
  • Silfra is a fissure between the North American and Eurasian continental plates. Silfra constantly fills with glacial melt water from Langjökull, trickling through underground lava rock for 30 years. This remarkable crack between two tectonic plates is filled with the clearest water on our planet, allowing for over 100 meters of visibility.
  • On the snorkeling tour, we will dress you in a dry suit and guide you through the four parts of the Silfra fissure. Floating through Silfra's crystal-clear water is an otherworldly experience. The near-freezing water, stunning colors, and flying sensations provide a unique environment for liquid meditation that you will never forget.
  • Laugarvatn Fontana
  • In Fontana Spa, you can enjoy relaxing in geothermal hot pools. Soak in a natural pool, listen to the bubbling hot spring in the steam rooms, or take a dip in the refreshing lake for the more venturesome.
  • Lauga, Sæla, and Viska are connected outdoor mineral baths that vary in depth, size, and temperature. The pools and hot tub are perfect for both relaxation and recreation, featuring playful artwork in stone made by Icelandic artist Erla Thorarinsdottir.
  • Viska, the hot tub, is built at a slightly higher level, providing a panoramic view of the beautiful surroundings. Since 1929, locals have been enjoying the healing powers of the natural steam baths by Lake Laugarvatn. Hot, healing steam simmers directly from the ground through grids in the cabin floors of the three traditional steam rooms.
  • The temperature of the steam varies depending on the temperature of the hot spring and the weather. It is usually between 40°C (104°F) and 50°C (122°F). Humidity is very high in the steam room cabins. Grids in the floor of the steam rooms allow guests to hear and smell the boiling natural hot spring right underneath, creating a natural and unique experience.
  • Completing the ensemble is the lake itself and the beach. Bathers can walk from a pier to the calm lake or on the warm black sand beach. A cool dip between the hot steam rooms and sauna is a refreshing temperature shift for a healthy heart. Cold bathing is believed to have beneficial health effects, such as improving blood circulation and speeding up muscle soreness and recovery. It has also benefited those with arthritis and other joint illnesses.
  • Secret Lagoon
  • The Secret Lagoon, known locally as Gamla laugin (the Old Pool), is the oldest swimming pool in Iceland. It was made in 1891 at Hverahólmur, a geothermal area near Flúðir.
  • What makes the place unique is the rich natural resources of warm water coming from hot springs. Vaðmálahver, Básahver, or Litli Geysir (active geyser which spouts every few minutes, showing off for the guests), provide 100% of the water supply in the lagoon.
  • The pool water flows continuously, and it takes only 24 hours for its complete replacement. Warm, clean, and rich in sulfur, it stays at 38-40 degrees Celsius all year round.
  • Centuries ago, people used the hot springs of Hverahólmur to wash their clothes and bathe. The Old Pool was where people were taught how to swim between 1909 and 1947. However, after that, the pool fell into disrepair, and people slowly forgot about it. In 2005, it was decided to give it a second life. The idea was to make the pool more comfortable than it had been but still authentic, and, in the end, the Secret Lagoon was born and opened in June 2014.
  • The Secret Lagoon has been kept natural, simple, and unique for you to get the authentic Icelandic experience.
  • Friðheimar Tomato Farm
  • Have you ever been out for a meal in a greenhouse? Enjoy a unique food experience at Friðheimar Greenhouse restaurant, with tomatoes growing all around! Tomato soup, fresh-baked bread, and other goodies in a charming environment among the plants.
  • As the name suggests, tomatoes are grown all year round, despite Iceland's long dark winters. They use artificial lighting in greenhouses to do that. Visitors can enjoy a taste of their crop; many agree you will get the best tomato soup you will ever taste there!
  • The farm grows about 370 tonnes of vegetables yearly (primarily tomatoes and cucumbers).

Version 1 – December 19, 2023 09:49

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Duration from
  • 9.5
Duration unit
  • hours
  • minutes