Golden Circle and Blue Lagoon tours: both in one day
The order of the day
This tour runs the loop clockwise, which is the opposite of the full-day coach. Þingvellir comes first, then Geysir, then a lunch stop, then Gullfoss, then Kerið on the way down Route 35, and only then the long run west to Grindavík for the lagoon. Reykjavík drop-off is late in the evening. Kerið’s entry fee is included, and unlike the flagship coach it does not get dropped from later departures, because this tour starts early by design.
Eleven hours is a long day and the reviews say so without complaining much. Caroline from Canada called it a very busy day, however at a good pace. Emma from Sweden would have liked a coffee break in the afternoon in addition to lunch, which is a fair note given the gap between the lunch stop and the water. Micole from the US, travelling with limited mobility, enjoyed every stop and singled out a surprise stop to feed horses. Louise, Cindy, Bettina and Tracey all name their guide or driver rather than the sights, which tells you something about a minibus day.
What the lagoon ticket is worth
You pick the ticket type at the booking step. Comfort admission is the cheaper of the two and covers entrance, the silica mud mask, a towel, shampoo, conditioner and moisturiser, and one non-alcoholic drink. Premium costs more and adds a drink of your choice, a bathrobe and a mask to take home. That admission floor is the single biggest reason this tour is priced well above the same loop without a lagoon. The water sits at 37 to 42 °C, and between 15 June and 20 August the lagoon runs 07:00 to 23:00. Opening times and ticket tiers live on bluelagoon.com.
Usually included
- Small-group minibus with Wi-Fi
- Reykjavík hotel pickup and drop-off
- Live English-speaking guide
- Blue Lagoon admission, ticket type chosen at booking
- Towel, silica mud mask, conditioner and shower gel
- Kerið crater entrance fee
Not included
- Lunch and any food or drink on the road
- Swimsuit rental
- Alcohol at the lagoon bar
- Gratuities
Or book the two separately
You can, and sometimes you should. The Blue Lagoon sells timed entry slots, so booking it yourself means arranging both the slot and the transport out to Grindavík. The one case where separating them clearly wins is a departure day: the lagoon is on the road to Keflavík airport, so a soak on the way to your flight costs you no extra driving at all. Then your loop day can be the six-hour afternoon tour or the 19-seat minibus instead, and you have spent less in total. If you want warm water on the loop itself rather than off it, the Secret Lagoon combo costs less and finishes two hours earlier.
Swimsuit rental is not included, so pack one. Wear it under your clothes at the last stop — Kerið — and you will be in the water while other people are still queueing for a changing cubicle. Long hair takes silica badly; use the conditioner they hand you, before you get in as well as after.
Top ratedBlue Lagoon admission includedReykjavik: Golden Circle, Kerid Crater, & Blue Lagoon Tour
Hot-spring comboSecret Lagoon entry includedFrom Reykjavik: Golden Circle, Kerid, & Secret Lagoon Tour
Max 19 guestsHotel pickup includedGolden Circle and Kerið Crater Small Group Tour
Check dates on the Blue Lagoon combo
This is the highest-rated tour on the site at 4.9 from 5,921 reviews, and it depends on lagoon slots, so it books out earlier than anything else here. Free cancellation still applies up to 24 hours before.
Frequently asked questions
Can you do the Golden Circle and the Blue Lagoon in one day?
Yes, and it takes about 11 hours because the lagoon lies west of Reykjavík towards Keflavík while the loop runs east. The combo tour covers Þingvellir, Geysir, Gullfoss and Kerið before giving you roughly two hours in the water. The full timing comparison is on how long the loop takes.
Is Blue Lagoon admission included in the tour price?
Yes, along with a towel, the silica mud mask, conditioner and shower gel. You choose the ticket type when you book. Comfort admission alone is expensive and Premium dearer still, which explains most of the gap between this tour and the cheaper rungs.
Can children go on the Blue Lagoon combo tour?
Not under 5. Children aged 2 to 11 must share a locker with an adult at the lagoon. Age rules differ on every tour here — they are collected on the Golden Circle with kids.
Is the Blue Lagoon combo better than doing the loop alone?
Only if you want the lagoon. The sightseeing is the same four stops the full-day coach makes; you are buying a small-group minibus, hotel pickup and a lagoon ticket. My stop-by-stop account is in the Blue Lagoon combo review.