Golden Circle with Secret Lagoon + Tomato Farm Lunch – 12 people VIP tour

The Golden Circle: VIP tour starts by heading straight out of Reykjavík, driving over Hellisheiði mountain pass and heading south before driving inland to the Golden Circle area. Our first stop will be to warm up and soak in the natural hot springs of the Secret Lagoon. This is Iceland’s oldest natural swimming pool, dating back to the 19th Century. The walls of the lagoon were placed around a small bubbling geyser over 100 years ago and have remained in place ever since.

In contrast, the modern changing rooms and rest area make this authentic bathing experience comfortable for everyone. We intentionally arrive at the hot pool early, when it is quietest in true Hidden Iceland style. This allows us to truly relax and bathe in the magic of this wonderful geothermal pool. A great way to start the day!

Next, we drive to the nearby village of Reykholt. Here we enjoy a unique lunch inside the tomato greenhouse farm, Friðheimar. This geothermally heated greenhouse produces over one tonne of tomatoes each day, even in winter. Having lunch amongst all the tomato plants in the greenhouse is something we are sure you will never forget.

You can choose either their famous tomato soup or ravioli pasta or grilled tortilla pizza. Delicious homemade bread is also included regardless of your choice (the cheesy olive bread is a secret favourite of our guides). Lunch is included in the price of this tour (one main meal and water, tea or coffee). Friðheimar is also a renowned horse breeding farm, and you’ll get the chance to say hello to these stunning and unique horses before or after lunch.

After lunch, we get to witness the force of Gullfoss, one of Iceland’s most powerful waterfalls. A 100ft, two tiered waterfall pouring into a deep fissure created from tectonic plate movement. Almost all the water originates from the distant Langjökull ice cap which you can see on a clear day. On sunny days, rainbows appear in the mist of this golden hued waterfall.

Beyond the sheer beauty, there are many legends regarding the name but on a high flow day it’s hard not to notice the distinctive colour of the golden, sediment rich, glacial water. In summer you can walk down to the very edge of this giant and feel the spray. In the icy winter you can enjoy the view of the half frozen waterfall from above.

From there, it is only a short drive to see the wonders of the geothermal area of Geysir, the original exploding geyser, and its surrounding steam vents. The most active geyser in the area, Strokkur, erupts every 6-10 minutes and is slightly different every time. Strokkur is known to erupt between 6ft and 60ft. Make sure you stick around for a few eruptions before checking out the souvenir shops.

Finally, after all this we drive onto the famous Þingvellir National Park. The National Park holds both a historical and geological significance. Þingvellir is the site of the longest surviving parliament in the world, where many of Iceland’s most important decisions were made. The Althing Assembly dates as far back as 930AD.

Additionally, it is also a place of incredible beauty, sitting in the rift valley of the separating North American and Eurasian tectonic plates. It is for these reasons that the national park was recognised as Iceland’s first UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2004. To finish the day we will explore this area enjoying easy walks and great views. From there, it’s just a short drive back into town, reaching Reykjavik in time for dinner.