Silver Circle Small Group Day Tour | Canyon Baths, Waterfalls & Sagas

This exciting and unique guided day tour takes you to the heart of Borgarfjordur. Known for its beautiful landscape and cultural and historical heritage, the fjord is ideal for those seeking a genuine connection with untouched nature. During this 9-hour day tour, you go through stretches of farm fields with horses roaming freely, see seclusive waterfalls, experience geothermal pools, and visit Europe’s most powerful hot spring!

Check out the day tour program!

Your adventure starts with a pick-up service from your accommodation’s doorsteps in Reykjavik (please see selected spots). You then set course northeast and are driven along the scenic route from the capital past Mount Esja. After crossing Hvalfjordur through an underwater tunnel, you arrive at Borgarnes, where we shortly stop for refreshments. Take the opportunity to admire the surroundings of the fjord!

You now dive deep inland through the rich farming countryside and onwards to our first visit, Deildartunguhver. With more than 180 liters of boiling water flowing every second, Deildartunguhver is the most powerful hot spring in Europe! It has such an incredible output that it provides geothermal hot water for all the towns and villages in this part of Iceland. On the way there, you can see the fast-flowing glacial rivers as they rush down from Langjokull.

Two beautiful waterfalls: Hraunfossar and Barnafoss

A short drive further takes you to two landmarks: Hraunfossar and Barnafoss chutes. Hraunfossar is a magnificent series of waterfalls running nearly a kilometer across the Hallmundarhraun lava field. Hraunfossar translates as the “Lava Waterfalls,” but nowadays, only crystal-clear waters rush over the edges of rugged volcanic cliffs. The nearby Langjökull glacier feeds the waterfall. It’s extraordinary to see countless rivulets cover such a large area from viewing platforms.

You find Barnafoss, or “the waterfall of the children,” just a few meters away. Here the water comes out of a narrow volcanic opening, making the waterfall quite spectacular. Rumor has it that the chute was named after two children who lost their lives in the river. When they fell, they crossed over the existing stone bridge at night to look for their mother in the village. The grief-stricken mother had the bridge destroyed so that no other families would ever suffer the same fate.

Husafell, an intense and inspiring region

You then visit Husafell, which is home to many local artists who come to find inspiration from this enchanted place. Between the two glaciers of Eiriksjökull and Langjökull, Husafell has birch tree forests, waterfalls, and traditional turf houses. You may also find tiny elf houses to delight the children too!

You may also find the famous Husafell Stone used in the World’s Strongest Man competition, weighing 186 kg. He who could lift it to his chest and walk about the goat pen was deemed the most muscular man!

It is now time to go for an adventure ride! You take a seat in a specially modified 4WD vehicle, and we drive along rugged mountain passages that aren’t usually accessible to other visitors.

You stop on the way to visit Langifoss. It is a spectacular two-tiered waterfall that plunges through a steep ravine and into the depths of the Deildargil canyon. Langifoss and Deildargil are astonishing sights and the best-kept secrets in the area. They are barely even marked on a map or Instagram, but our tour reveals them to you. A viewing platform nearby offers a spectacular view over the canyon and the waterfall.

The highlight of the tour: Husafell Canyon Baths

The highlight of your tour comes next at Husafell Canyon Baths – an authentic Icelandic “hot pot” experience in the splendid setting of Hringsgil canyon.

Here in this enchanting place, you soak in the delicious geothermal waters from (30-41°C or 86-105°F). The Canyon Baths have a maximum of twenty visitors at a time, making it a unique experience in a seclusive area without crowds. In an off-grid location, the pools are sustainably built in the traditional stone-bath style, allowing you to travel back in time and experience how locals enjoyed their evenings.

Guests can use changing room facilities and showers, but soaps or detergents are not allowed to respect the environment. Bathing shoes and towels are also provided. Should you like to use other facilities at Husafell when we return, you are welcome to do so free of charge.

Your last tour visits before journeying back to Reykjavik are at Reykholt. Your first stop at Snorralaug (Snorri’s Pool) is a traditional natural hot spring where local people have bathed since the 12th century. This pool was first mentioned in the medieval writings of Snorri Sturluson, a famous Icelandic poet and chieftain who lived here too. Snorralaug is now a protected archaeological site, and Snorri’s story is a significant part of Iceland’s history.

You also visit a beautiful old timber church that dates back to the 19th century and where a viewing glass from a medieval smithy cistern can be seen.

It is time to return to the capital city, full of memories, revitalized, and maybe even rejuvenated!