Whale Watching and Golden Circle Tour

From$218
8 hours
Reykjavik, Iceland

About this activity

Experience Iceland's natural wonders with a whale watching excursion and a guided tour of the Golden Circle, including Thingvellir National Park, Gullfoss Waterfall, and Geysir geothermal area.

Highlights

  • Spot majestic whales in their natural habitat
  • Explore the geological wonders of Thingvellir
  • Witness the power of Gullfoss Waterfall
  • Marvel at the erupting Geysir geothermal area
  • Experience Iceland's unique natural beauty

Full description

Dive into Iceland's breathtaking landscapes with this full-day adventure from Reykjavik. Begin your day with an exhilarating whale watching excursion, where you'll have the chance to observe these magnificent creatures in their natural habitat. Afterward, embark on a guided tour of the Golden Circle, visiting the UNESCO World Heritage site of Thingvellir National Park, the stunning Gullfoss Waterfall, and the geothermal marvels of the Geysir area. This tour offers a perfect blend of marine and terrestrial natural wonders, providing an unforgettable Icelandic experience.

Included / Excluded

  • Whale watching excursion from Reykjavik
  • Guided tour of Thingvellir National Park
  • Visit to Gullfoss Waterfall and Geysir geothermal area
  • Meals and beverages during the tour

Important information

Know before you book

  • Check the availability of the tour on your preferred date
  • Review the cancellation policy before booking
  • Ensure you have the necessary travel documents for Iceland

Know before you go

  • Dress in layers to accommodate varying weather conditions
  • Bring a waterproof jacket and sturdy footwear for the tour
  • Consider motion sickness remedies if prone to seasickness

Cancellation policy

Free cancellation up to 1 days before the activity starts

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Accessibility

  • Infant Seats Available

Good to know

  • Total driving time on this tour is around 3h30mins

Traveler reviews

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Best in Iceland

Saga was exceptionally good and knowledgeable. The driver was very mindful.. Highly recommended.

lilianam812Aug 17, 2026TRIPADVISOR

Golden tour with an incredible and magical bus and guide. Connection between golden and whale very risky. And whale watching disappointing

I give a 10/10 for the golden tour and extra and attentive guide. That small bus tour was magical! However, for the whale watching... It is misleading... Success 97 percent yes we saw two backs and back whale tails. It's not bad already, that's for sure, but they left very quickly as soon as we spotted them. Just to say, okay, we finally found them. In any case, don't expect to see them up close if you take the big boat... Besides, we were supposed to try the speed boat again today... Cancelled this morning, cancelled this afternoon, and they state that the whale museum is included in it, before OR after, and in fact it's impossible to do it before, supposedly it doesn't work with the ticket... We'll see tomorrow if we manage to do the speed boat, but this company is very complicated... Not to mention a small detail, the boat-whale AND Golden Circle connection is a nightmare... the bus was ready to leave and we still had 30 minutes of boat ride left... Fortunately, the nice guide was willing to wait for us, but it was stressful... Anyway, I'm giving 4 stars for the Golden Circle but not for the boat...

elisef689Aug 1, 2026TRIPADVISOR

Fantastic Whale watching! Golden circle not so great.

The Whale watching trip was fantastic, we saw a humpback whale within half an hour of the tour starting and the guide was very knowledgeable and experienced. Would definitely recommend whale watching with Special Tours. However the Golden circle which was operated by Bustravel Iceland was less organised. Our guide didn’t seem to know what he was talking about most the time, such as opening times of restaurants or facilities. We were also told that we couldn’t visit one of the stops because it was too late in the day and would be closed. However we went ourselves at the same time the next day and it was fully open. It all seemed very disorganised. I’m not sure I’d recommend this part of the tour as it doesn’t seem worth the money.

Steven_SMar 4, 2026VIATOR

Wild fantastic trip

Absolutely fantastic trip. We saw lots of whales jumping. Super Golden Circle tour where everything just was so fascinating. Recommendation herfea

Rikke_ISep 6, 2025VIATOR

Great time

Brilliant tour guide and driver, lots of knowledge and very friendly and helpful. Coach was really nice.

Carol_RAug 28, 2025VIATOR

Additional information

Total driving time on this tour is around 3h30mins