This private tour of Iceland's Golden Circle puts a guide and vehicle at your group's disposal for the day, starting with a pickup in Reykjavík.

The first stop is Þingvellir National Park, where the Eurasian and North American tectonic plates meet in a dramatic rift valley. Beyond its geology, Þingvellir is where Iceland's ancient parliament, the Althingi, once convened, making it a site of both natural and historical significance. A walk through the Almannagjá gorge puts you at the literal boundary between two continents.

From there the route continues to Haukadalur, a geothermal valley home to the Great Geysir and its active neighbor Strokkur, which erupts roughly every 5 to 10 minutes. Bubbling mud pools and steaming vents fill out the rest of the valley. After a short break, the tour reaches Gullfoss, a two-tiered waterfall dropping into a deep canyon, best seen from the viewing platform beside it.

Weather permitting, the tour continues into the Highlands near Langjökull, Iceland's second-largest glacier, with stops at scenic viewpoints along the way. The day typically closes with a visit to either Faxi waterfall or Kerið, a 3,000-year-old volcanic crater lake (admission to Kerið not included), before the drive back to Reykjavík.

Note: the itinerary depends on weather and road conditions.