Golden Circle, Fridheimar Farm & Horses Small Group Tour from Reykjavik

First, a Golden Circle day that feels smarter. This small-group tour covers the big three Golden Circle stops plus extras most schedules skip, including Kerið crater and the Fridheimar farm. You start in Reykjavik with pickup and a Wi-Fi-equipped minibus, then spend a full day moving between waterfalls, steam, and volcanic color.

I especially like how the day mixes famous sights with hands-on Iceland life at Fridheimar. The horse show and greenhouse tomato tasting add real flavor to the trip, not just photos from the roadside. The guides are a big part of the value too, with people praising story-driven explanations and jokes from guides such as Monica, Addi, Sindri, Sigfus, and Beggi.

One consideration is that it is a long day. Expect cold bus time in winter, walking at most stops, and you will need to plan for an out-of-pocket lunch since lunch is not included.

Key things that make this tour worth your time

• Extra stops beyond the standard Golden Circle, including Kerið and Fridheimar
• Fridheimar horses and greenhouse tomatoes, with the horse show plus tomato tasting
• Strokkur timing you can feel, since it erupts every 7 to 10 minutes
• Professional guide + small group max 22, often described as calm and well-paced
• Wi-Fi on board, handy while you wait for the next viewpoint and photo stop
• Built-in breaks, with time to buy food at farm and geyser areas (lunch is separate)

Golden Circle from Reykjavik, but with two smart add-ons

The classic Golden Circle is already packed: geothermal steam at Geysir, the roar of Gullfoss, and the history and geology of Thingvellir. What makes this tour different is that it adds the kind of stops that feel like Iceland instead of just an itinerary.

You get Kerið crater on the schedule, with that bright, milky blue volcanic-water look. Then you go to Friðheimar (Fridheimar) farm, where the day shifts from natural wonders to how people farm and care for Icelandic horses. Even if you love waterfalls and geysers, you will probably remember the farm side as much as the major sights.

The tour also stays focused on timing. Reviews point to a good balance of time at each place, and multiple people say the stops feel efficient without feeling rushed. In plain terms, you see the big stuff, and you also get a reason to care about the drive between it.

Pickup, Wi-Fi minibus, and how to dress for a 9-hour day

You start with hotel pickup in select parts of central Reykjavik, with a start time of 9:00 am. Pickup can take up to 30 minutes, so plan to be ready at the pickup point when your ticket says to be there.

Once you are in, the minibus has on-board Wi-Fi, which is a small detail that becomes surprisingly helpful on a long day. You can save maps, read up before each stop, or just keep your phone from feeling like a brick in cold weather.

Iceland weather can change fast, and this tour runs in all weather conditions, so dress for it. One review mentioned cold around -12, and several people note the bus and the outdoor time can feel chilly. I recommend layers you can peel and re-add quickly, plus gloves you can use with your camera. If you have motion sickness, take something in advance, since this is a full day of driving on Iceland roads.

Also, do not rely on one long lunch block to get you through. The schedule includes time where you can buy food at the farm and at Strokkur, and that helps keep the day comfortable.

Kerið crater lake: volcanic color that looks unreal

Kerið is one of those stops where people say, wow, and then immediately start taking pictures because it looks too vivid to be real. This crater is volcanic, with a depth of about 55 meters. You get around 20 minutes here, which is enough time to walk to viewpoint areas and take in the basin without feeling like you are sprinting.

What I like about Kerið on this tour is the contrast. After Reykjavik and the drive out, you are not only chasing steam and waterfalls. You get something calmer but still dramatic, with black and red rocks surrounding the milky blue water.

The drawback is simple: 20 minutes is short. If you want a slow photo walk, you might feel the time pressure. Still, most visitors come away satisfied because the main views are close to the path.

Fridheimar farm and the Icelandic horse show, plus greenhouse tomatoes

If you are booking this tour for the Golden Circle, Fridheimar still becomes the highlight for many people. The visit includes the horse show at the farm, a Friðheimar Greenhouse stop, and a taste of tomatoes from the greenhouse.

Expect about 1 hour 30 minutes here. That is long enough to slow down, watch horses up close, and eat without feeling panicked. Reviews are very consistent on this point: the horse part is fun, the staff know their stuff, and the farm experience feels different from the standard “look at animals from far away” tourism.

Also, food is a big topic at Fridheimar. Lunch is not included on the tour, but you can buy meals at the greenhouse restaurant. People specifically mention the tomato soup, saying it can be the best they have ever had. If you prefer a lighter meal, you can also plan snacks since you can buy food there.

A couple of practical notes:

• The farm timing matters. Build in time to browse and eat once you arrive.
• If you hate long lunches, this is still doable because the show keeps the schedule moving.

This stop is also where the guide’s storytelling shines. Multiple reviews praise guides like Addi, Sigfus, and Andy for explaining what you are looking at, including how Icelandic land use works and what makes Icelandic horses special.

Geysir and Strokkur: the eruption you can count on

The geothermal part of the Golden Circle is the reason most people come, and this tour makes it easier to enjoy. You get time at the geothermal area with stops that include Strokkur, the geyser that still erupts.

Strokkur’s pattern is your friend. It blows water up into the air about every 7 to 10 minutes, so once you learn the timing, you can settle in and watch. You get about 40 minutes at this area, which is a solid window for multiple eruptions plus time to reposition for better views.

Geysir itself is included as part of the Golden Circle coverage, and the area is known for boiling mud pits and dramatic steam. Even when conditions change, you still get the core experience: ground that behaves like it has a pulse.

If you want great photos, bring a rain layer and be ready for mist. A few reviews mention wet weather and hiking, and the geothermal sites are often damp. Wear shoes that handle slick ground.

Gullfoss: two tiers of power you feel in your chest

Gullfoss is the kind of waterfall that stops you mid-sentence. The key detail here is that it is stepped, with two drops: an upper fall with about 11 meters, and a lower fall plunging about 21 meters into a crevasse roughly 32 meters below. You also get a sense of scale from how much water passes through at the second step.

This tour gives about 45 minutes here. That is enough for viewing from different spots and for catching the “how is there so much water” feeling as you circle for angles. In winter, it can be windy, so having the right outer layer matters.

A realistic expectation: the power is loud and the air is misty. If you prefer quiet scenic stops, this one is all about force. The trade-off is worth it. Gullfoss is one of the best-known stops for a reason, and you still get time to enjoy it instead of just standing at one viewpoint for five minutes.

Thingvellir National Park: where plates meet and stories start

Thingvellir is both a natural site and a human one. This tour includes a stop of about 45 minutes at the national park.

On the geology side, Thingvellir is where the Eurasian and North American tectonic plates meet. You can see this visible division through the rock formations and the ongoing geothermal activity, including geysers in the area.

On the history side, Thingvellir is tied to politics and settlement. It is described as the location of the first Icelandic parliament, founded in the late 900s. Even if you do not read every sign, the guide helps connect why this place mattered.

This is also a good stop for different walking styles. Some people like to take longer walks for more viewpoints, while others stick to a shorter path and still get the key sights. If you are traveling with limited mobility, keep your pace slow and plan for uneven ground.

How the small-group size changes the whole day

The tour runs with a maximum of 22 travelers, and multiple reviews mention that group sizes can be much smaller than that. One review described a trip with only nine people total. When the group is small, you get two big wins: better flexibility and less stress at each stop.

You also tend to get closer parking at entrances. Several reviews mention van placement and getting to entrances efficiently. That saves energy, especially when the weather is cold or damp.

The other big win is guide attention. Guides on this tour are repeatedly described as funny, friendly, and willing to answer questions. Names like Monica, Addi, Sindri, Sigfus, Andy, Joseph, Beggi, Linda, Siegie, and Soggy show up in feedback, which tells you they do a consistent job across different guides. Some guides are more talkative than others, so if you love a running commentary, pick times when you feel comfortable with a lively style.

Even with the guide differences, the pattern is clear: you get facts, plus personal touches that help you connect the places.

Price and value: $130 for the core sights plus Fridheimar

At $130 per person, you are paying for a full-day plan that includes more than a simple Golden Circle loop. This is where the value comes from:

• Hotel pickup and drop-off from selected Reykjavik hotels and central meeting points
• A professional guide throughout the day
• Included experiences: horse show and a greenhouse visit with tomato tasting
• Time at major Golden Circle stops: Kerið, Gullfoss, Geysir/Strokkur, and Thingvellir
• A Wi-Fi-equipped minibus, which helps on a long schedule

Lunch is not included, and that is a fair note. You will likely spend extra on food if you get tomato soup or other meals at the farm. But the tour gives you multiple chances to eat where the experience itself is part of the appeal, especially at Fridheimar and at the geyser area.

So for value, I treat this as two tours in one: a Golden Circle day plus a farm and greenhouse visit. If you were going to drive yourself, you would still spend time and fuel, and you would not get the structured access to Fridheimar’s horse show and greenhouse experience.

Who should book this Golden Circle and horses tour

This tour fits best if you want:

• A guided day without the stress of driving a full circuit
• A small-group feel and a packed but not chaotic schedule
• The Golden Circle highlights plus at least two extras: Kerið and Fridheimar
• A more human-scale Iceland experience through horses and greenhouse farming

It can also be a smart choice for winter travel when roads, weather, and daylight make self-driving less fun. Reviews include mentions of switching from self-drive because of snow or cold, and that is exactly where a pickup-based tour removes friction.

The one group that should think twice is anyone who hates long days outdoors. It is about 9 hours, with multiple stops and some walking. If you want a slow, chill pace with only one or two locations, this may feel too full.

Should you book it? My practical take

Yes, I think you should book this tour if your goal is to get the Golden Circle done in one day and you also want something that goes beyond the standard checklist. The Fridheimar farm and horse show plus greenhouse tomato tasting are the reason this tour feels like more than “three famous places.”

If you are the type who enjoys a guide that keeps things moving, you will probably love it. Reviews repeatedly praise guides for being friendly, funny, and packed with facts, and names like Monica, Addi, Sigfus, and Beggi come up often.

Only go in with eyes open about two realities: the day is long, and you will need to handle cold weather and plan for lunch on your own. If that sounds fine, this is a very strong way to experience Iceland’s Golden Circle plus a farm stop you will actually talk about later.

FAQ

How long is the Golden Circle, Fridheimar Farm & Horses small group tour?

The tour runs for about 9 hours.

What is included in the tour price?

It includes hotel pickup and drop-off from selected Reykjavik hotels or central meeting points, a professional guide, the horse show at Friðheimar, and a Friðheimar greenhouse visit with tomato tasting. Admission is included for Kerið, Fridheimar, Thingvellir, and Strokkur, and some Golden Circle stops list admission as free.

Is lunch included?

No. Lunch is not included, though food is available for purchase during the tour, including at the farm and at the Strokkur stop.

Do you visit Kerið Crater and Thingvellir National Park?

Yes. Kerið is included as a stop, and Thingvellir National Park is also included.

Is this tour really small group sized?

Yes. The tour has a maximum group size of 22 travelers.

Is the tour offered in English?

Yes. It is offered in English.

Does the bus have Wi-Fi?

Yes. The minibus has on-board Wi-Fi as you travel.