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Dive into adventure with a snorkeling tour of the world-famous Silfra. Then follow it up with the popular highlights of the famous Golden Circle route. This Golden Circle and snorkeling tour is a thrilling sample of the best Iceland has to offer!
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Embark on a one-of-a-kind snorkeling combo tour along the popular Golden Circle. The sightseeing route includes the fantastic Gullfoss Waterfall, Geysir Geothermal Area, and Þingvellir (Thingvellir) National Park, which houses Silfra Fissure.
Beneath Thingvallavatn Lake you'll explore the subaquatic oasis of Silfra, the only place in the world where you can swim between two continents. The Silfra snorkeling experience was voted as a top-five experience by Trip Advisor’s 2019 Travelers’ Choice and it's easy to see why! Follow up your underwater experience with the famous Golden Circle sights. Witness the explosive geyser Strokkur and the powerful cascade of Gullfoss Waterfall. This combo tour is the perfect day adventure!
The tour begins with a thrilling snorkeling adventure at Silfra Fissure. The fissure is located in Thingvellir National Park on a rift valley between the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates. Silfra was formed by a powerful earthquake in 1789, and the tectonic plates continue to drift apart at a yearly rate of about 0.79 in (2 cm). So when you go snorkeling you will actually be swimming between two continents!
To get to your Silfra snorkeling location you can either choose to be picked up from Reykjavik or meet us on-location at Thingvellir, where our friendly guides will be waiting for you.
Once you're onsite you'll be given all the necessary snorkeling gear and drysuit. Don't have any prior snorkeling experience? No worries. Our knowledgeable guides will walk you through everything you need to know. The only requirements are that you are able to swim, are in good health, and have an adventurous spirit.
For the tour, you'll swim in the "lazy current," a glacial water stream that flows calmly in the fissure. The crystal water has been filtered for decades by lava rock and is so pure you can drink it. Marvel at the vibrant blue and green water shades, orange seaweed, and spectacular rock formations. The water at Silfra boasts 100-meter (328 ft) visibility, so you'll have the perfect conditions for exploring the geological wonders below.
After you dry off and change, enjoy a treat of hot cocoa and cookies.
At 12:00 pm we will end our underwater adventure and begin exploring the surrounding Thingvellir National Park. Thingvellir is Iceland's oldest national park and is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site for its historic and geological value. Besides the tectonic rift in its valley, it is where the world’s oldest parliament (the Alþingi) was founded in 930 AD. The park limits contain dramatic landscapes, forests, and cliffs.
After Thingvellir, we’ll head to the Geysir hot spring area for a geothermal show. Witness the active Strokkur Geyser, which spouts scorching water every 8-10 minutes, followed by the now dormant Great Geysir. The impressive geyser eruptions are truly a feat of nature, shooting up to 130 ft (40 meters) in the air!
We finish up our Golden Circle experience with a stop at the thundering Gullfoss Waterfall, or “The Golden Waterfall. The attraction is the largest falls by volume in Europe, so you will hear it before you see it!
Gullfoss has an impressive two-tiered cascade with a 32-meter drop that plunges into a deep gorge below. Unlike most waterfalls, you view the cascade from the top, so it is an extraordinary sight to behold. The perfect end to your all-day adventure.
Pick up will start at 08:30 am from your Reykjavik pick up point. Please note that pick up can take up to 30 minutes so your patience is appreciated.
Check out our list of designated pick-up points.
Return time: You will return to Reykjavik around approximately 18:00 pm.
Participants need to be comfortable in the water and able to swim. You are unable to participate if you are pregnant due to the small risk of cold water entering the suit.
Medical condition: Please read and fill in the medical statement form in our Snorkeling Handbook before booking the tour. If you have any medical issues you will need to get medical approval from a doctor.
Weight limit: 45-120 kg
Height limit: 150 cm -200 cm
Age Limit: 12 years old minimum. Participants under the age of 18 must be accompanied by a parent or adult guardian booked on the same tour.
English: It is important that you can both understand and communicate in English in order to participate in the tour.
All relevant information for the tour can be found in our snorkeling handbook.
Yes, you are allowed to bring your camera along, but we recommend to have a waterproof one if you want to have it in the water with you.
If you are planning on meeting us at the location than the meeting point is at the Silfra car park, in Thingvellir National Park.
GPS: 64°15’23.508″N 21°6’58.676″W
Please note that the National Park charges a small parking fee of 500 ISK.
We kindly ask you to be at the Silfra car park at least 15 minutes prior to your tour starts,
Our guides normally have an underwater camera and usually, take photos during the tour. If you are interested in photos please let your guide know before you go into the water.
You can then buy the photos from your guide at the end of the tour, for a price of 3 900 ISK, which includes all the photos from that day. Kindly note that photos cannot be guaranteed. Our customer’s safety and wellbeing is our first priority, and therefore the guide will focus on snorkelers as a priority when in the water and will be taking photos when everyone is comfortable.
Unfortunately, you cannot wear glasses as the glasses don’t create a seal between your face and the mask. We recommend wearing contact lenses instead.
You are not allowed to participate in our snorkeling tour if you are pregnant as it can put your baby in high risk.
Yes, you must be able to understand English to a participant. The tour is directed in English.
Some snorkeling tours match with a dive tour, and then you will be in the same area at the same time. You will, however, be in separate groups with separate guides, and won’t be in the water exactly at the same time.
You need to be more than 12 years old ( guardian’s approval needed for minors under 18) and you need to know how to swim independently. Because of the dry suit sizes, there are height-weight limitations. The minimum height is 150 cm, and the minimum weight is 45 kg. The maximum height is 200 cm, and the maximum weight is 120 kg.
Yes, you must be able to swim independently without a lifejacket and feel comfortable in the water to take part in the tour.
It is a magical experience. When snorkeling you will be wearing a dry suit, hood, and gloves made of neoprene, along with fins, mask, and snorkel. This equipment will make it not only possible but as well very enjoyable to stay in the water despite the cold temperature. Tripadvisor recently rated Snorkeling at Silfra as one of the Top 5 travel experiences in the world.
No, you do not need any previous experience to snorkel, however, it is important that you can swim independently and feel comfortable in the water.
We highly recommend long underwear and some warm socks. Wool or fleece is the best material to wear. You’ll be wearing the clothing under the dry suit.
We provide you with high-quality neoprene dry suit so that your body stays dry. There is always a small risk that water can enter the dry suit, that is not dangerous but you can feel a little cold, therefore, we recommend you to bring an extra spare set of clothes and a towel, just in case. Note that your hands and face will get wet, which is completely normal.
You will be provided with high-quality neoprene dry suit from Waterproof International and O’Three. As well as neoprene hood and gloves to protect your head and hands from the cold. You’ll also be given fins, mask, and snorkel.
Our client to guide ratio is 1 guide for every 6 snorkelers
The water temperature is 2-4 degrees C (35-37 degrees F) all year round.
Yes, there are two toilet facilities at Silfra.
Occasionally fish venture into Silfra from Þingvallavatn lake, but they will quickly swim back as they don’t like the cold glacier water. However, there is a lot of colorful seaweed including a bright green variety known as ‘’troll hair’’, which makes the fissure unlike anything on the surface.
Silfra can be up to 60m deep. However, when you’re diving in Silfra than you will go about 7 to 12m deep, and the maximum diving depth that is permitted is 18m.
