Description
Summary
Description
Trade the Golden Circle crowds for West Iceland's quieter twin on this Silver Circle tour from Reykjavik with entry to Vidgelmir Lava Cave. This West Iceland day tour works well for travelers who have already seen the standard highlights and want hot springs, lava waterfalls, and Icelandic horses in one unhurried day.
Booking covers hotel pickup and drop-off in Reykjavik, a comfortable coach with free Wi-Fi, and a certified English-speaking driver-guide who stays with the group all day. Admission to Vidgelmir Lava Cave and the guided walk inside it are included, along with the stop at the Reykholt horse farm.
Pickup begins in the morning from your accommodation or a nearby bus stop within Reykjavik. For the next 9 to 10 hours, your group will be in the company of a friendly guide, who will make your trip extra fun with trivia and insights about the land of fire and ice.
The route runs north along the Ring Road past Borgarnes, then turns inland to Deildartunguhver Hot Spring. Europe's most powerful hot spring pushes out 47.6 gallons (180 liters) of water a second at 207 F (97 C), and a short walkway crosses the steaming field.
A brief drive from here brings Hraunfossar Waterfall. Here, meltwater seeps out of the Hallmundarhraun Lava Field and spills over a ledge roughly 3,000 feet (900 meters) wide in hundreds of separate threads. Barnafoss Waterfall sits minutes upstream and behaves nothing like it, forcing a strong torrent through a tight rock channel.
Vidgelmir Lava Cave is the centerpiece of the day. It's Iceland's largest lava cave by volume, running 5,200 feet (1,585 meters) and was formed during an eruption around 900 AD. Raised walkways and lighting make the passage manageable for most ages, and your guide points out lava stalactites, stalagmites, and bands of red and orange mineral staining.
The last stop is a horse farm at Reykholt, home to the Icelandic horse, a breed kept pure since the settlement era and known for its extra gait, the tolt. Staff explain how the animals are raised, and there is time to pet, feed, and photograph them before the drive back.
The tour coach reaches Reykjavik in the early evening and returns you to your original pickup point.
The day involves easy walking on maintained paths and boardwalks, and helmets and headlamps are handed out at the cave, so no previous experience is needed. Stop order can shift if weather or road conditions demand it.
Book this Silver Circle tour from Reykjavik to combine Deildartunguhver Hot Spring, Hraunfossar Waterfall, and Vidgelmir Lava Cave in a single West Iceland day. Check availability now by choosing a date.
