Private Silver Circle Saga Geopark Tour
Lava fields, medieval sagas, and Europe's most powerful hot spring on one private journey from Reykjavik.
The Silver Circle Saga Geopark Tour takes you deep into Borgarfjörður, a region shaped by volcanic forces and medieval history, where moss-grown lava fields meet ancient Norse literary heritage in a landscape unlike any other in Iceland.
Departing from the Reykjavik Capital Area, the route passes through the Hvalfjarðargöng tunnel — Iceland's first underwater road tunnel — before crossing Borgarfjarðarbrú, the country's second-longest bridge, and stopping in the town of Borgarnes for a short rest.
The interior of Borgarfjörður holds an extraordinary concentration of natural and cultural landmarks, from Deildartunguhver, Europe's highest-flow hot spring, to Reykholt, where the medieval scholar Snorri Sturluson wrote the sagas and mythological texts that later inspired J.R.R. Tolkien.
The day concludes at the Grábrókargígar volcanic craters and the waterfalls Glanni and Paradísarlaut, rounding out a journey through geology, folklore, and living landscape that few visitors to Iceland experience in a single day.
Tour Highlights
Deildartunguhver hot spring, with the highest water flow rate of any hot spring in Europe at 180 liters per second.
Reykholt village, where Snorri Sturluson composed the Icelandic Sagas, Snorra Edda, and Heimskringla in the 13th century.
Hraunfossar and Barnafoss, two contrasting waterfalls fed by the Hvítá glacier river, declared a nature reserve in 1987.
Húsafell, a self-sustainable woodland oasis ringed by four glaciers, including Ok — Iceland's first officially declared dead glacier.
Grábrókargígar volcanic craters, a 2,000–3,000-year-old scoria cone row with a walkable footpath to the top of the largest crater.
Glanni waterfall and Paradísarlaut, a secluded lava-field hollow with a blue-green pond hidden inside a natural lava cup.
Snorralaug hot spring pool in Reykholt, first used around AD 960 and considered the oldest pool of its kind in Iceland.
Tour Itinerary
The tour departs Reykjavik and passes through the Hvalfjarðargöng underwater tunnel, stretching 5,770 m with its deepest point 165 m below sea level. A stop in Borgarnes provides time for refreshments, restrooms, and a short walk before continuing into Borgarfjörður.
The route crosses the historic single-lane Hvítárbrú bridge, which served as part of Iceland's main north-south road until 1981. Just ahead, Deildartunguhver produces 180 liters of near-boiling water per second, feeding district heating systems across the region and hosting the world's only known population of the rare fern Struthiopteris fallax.
In the village of Reykholt, a guided visit covers the life and legacy of Snorri Sturluson, the 13th-century chieftain and poet whose works underpinned J.R.R. Tolkien's mythology. Snorralaug, the hot spring bathing pool documented from AD 960, and the Snorrastofa Cultural and Medieval Research Center are both included stops.
Hraunfossar presents a kilometer-wide curtain of rivulets emerging from the Grábrókarhraun lava field, while Barnafoss races through a narrow gorge carved by glacial meltwater. Húsafell, a birch-covered oasis at the edge of the Central Highlands, follows — offering views toward Langjökull, Eiríksjökull, and the now-glacier-free Ok mountain.
Three scoria craters — Litla-Grábrók, Stóra-Grábrók, and Grábrókarfell — form a volcanic row declared a nature reserve in 1962. A footpath leads to the rim of Stóra-Grábrók for a wide view over the Norðurárdalur valley and the surrounding lava field formed 2,000–3,000 years ago.
The final stop features the triple-drop Glanni waterfall on the Norðurá river, known locally for the bright white froth of its falling water. A short walking path leads to Paradísarlaut, a tranquil hollow within the lava field holding a deep blue-green pond fed by water filtering through the rock beneath.
What Is Included
Included
- Private professional guide for the full day
- Hotel pickup and drop-off within the Reykjavik Capital Area
- Transport in a private vehicle throughout the tour
- Entry to Snorrastofa Cultural and Medieval Research Center
- Guided commentary at all stops along the route
Not Included
- Food and beverages
- Optional activity add-ons available at select stops
- Personal travel insurance
- Gratuities
Important Information
Reserve Your Private Silver Circle Tour
Explore Borgarfjörður at your own pace with an expert private guide. Secure your spot for this full-day journey through Iceland's volcanic landscapes and medieval heritage.
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