Silver Circle: Lava Cave, Waterfalls & Iceland Horses-Small Group

Quiet Iceland comes quickly. This 10-hour small-group trip from Reykjavik trades the famous Golden Circle crowds for a more varied day in western Iceland. You get waterfalls, Europe’s highest-flow hot spring, a family-run horse farm, medieval history, and a proper lava cave without driving yourself.

I like the personal horse-farm visit, where you can meet Icelandic horses and taste bread baked with geothermal heat. I also like the Viðgelmir Lava Cave, a long, colorful lava tube with stalactites, stalagmites, and a guide who brings the underground story to life. The main drawback is the road time: it can take about two hours to reach the first stop, and some roads are rough enough to trouble anyone with serious back pain.

Key points to know before booking

• Viðgelmir Cave takes 90 minutes: You walk underground with a helmet and headlamp through one of Iceland’s largest lava caves.
• Sturlureykir is more than a photo stop: You can feed and brush horses, meet the farm family, and try geothermal-baked rye bread.
• Hraunfossar flows from beneath lava: The water appears from the edge of a lava field rather than falling from a single cliff.
• The group is capped at 19 people: That gives the day a more relaxed feel than a large coach tour.
• Winter footing can be tricky: Icy paths have been a problem, and crampons may be provided, but you still need warm, waterproof clothing and sturdy shoes.
• The price is $219 per person: With transport, a guide, Wi-Fi, cave admission, and the farm visit included, it is fair value if you want several western Iceland sights in one day.

Why the Silver Circle feels different from the Golden Circle

Iceland’s Golden Circle is the easy first choice, and for good reason. Its major sights are famous and well connected. The Silver Circle offers a less polished day, with more time on the road and a wider mix of experiences.

I like that this route is not just a parade of waterfalls. You move from a forested waterfall near Bifrost to a boiling geothermal site, then to a working horse farm and a medieval settlement. The day finishes underground, where the cave provides a strong change of pace.

Crowds are often lighter than on the Golden Circle. That does not mean you will have every stop to yourself, but the experience can feel calmer, especially when the bus is only partly full. One person who had taken both routes preferred this tour because there was more room on the vehicle and fewer people at the sights.

The tradeoff is distance. You spend a good part of the day riding between stops, and Icelandic roads can be bumpy. If you enjoy scenic drives and listening to local stories, this is part of the pleasure. If long bus rides make you restless, the schedule may feel full.

Glanni Waterfall and the first walk of the day

Glanni Waterfall is the opening stop, in the peaceful Bifrost area. You have about 20 minutes to walk to the viewpoint and take in the river, falls, and surrounding scenery.

This is not Iceland’s biggest or most forceful waterfall, so keep your expectations sensible. Its appeal is the setting and the quiet start. It gives you a chance to stretch your legs after the drive before the day becomes more active.

The path can be icy in colder months. Crampons have been provided on some departures, which can make a real difference, but you should still wear shoes with solid grip. A short walk in Iceland can become awkward when ice covers the trail.

Deildartunguhver, where the ground feels alive

At Deildartunguhver, you see the highest-flow hot spring in Europe. About 180 liters of water per second emerge at roughly 100 degrees Celsius. This is not a bathing stop. It is a powerful geothermal site where hot water pushes through vents along the ground.

You will have about 20 minutes to follow the marked path carefully, watch the steam, and listen to the water forcing its way out. The spring is less about a dramatic geyser and more about raw pressure. The ground seems to tremble with energy in places.

Safety matters here. Stay on the path and follow the guide’s directions. The water is dangerously hot, and this is one of those Iceland sights where the name alone does not explain the force of the place.

Sturlureykir Horse Farm and geothermal bread

For me, the horse farm is one of the strongest parts of the day. At Sturlureykir, you spend about 45 minutes meeting Icelandic horses at close range. You may be able to feed and brush them, and you can see them both in the stable and outside.

This feels more personal than stopping beside a roadside paddock to buy horse food. The farm has been in the same family for five generations, and the visit includes a look at its breeding work and daily connection with the animals.

The geothermal details make the stop even better. A private hot spring helps heat the home and stables, and the family uses hot spring heat to bake rúgbrauð, a traditional rye bread. You can enjoy the bread with coffee, hot chocolate, or water.

I especially like this kind of stop because it explains how geothermal energy fits into ordinary Icelandic life. You are not only looking at hot water behind a barrier. You are seeing how a family uses it for warmth and food.

The 45-minute visit is long enough to feel worthwhile. If you are not interested in animals or local food traditions, it may feel slower than the waterfall stops. For most people, though, it adds warmth and personality to a day otherwise filled with rocks, rivers, and steam.

Reykholt and Snorralaug’s medieval connection

The next stop is Reykholt, a historic site tied to Snorri Sturluson, the famous Icelandic poet and political figure. You see Snorralaug, a small hot spring associated with local use since the 12th century.

This is a short 20-minute stop, so do not expect a full museum visit or a long historical lecture. Its value comes from placing Iceland’s medieval writing tradition in an actual location. Snorri lived and died here, and the small pool connects the physical site with stories from Iceland’s past.

I enjoy this pause because it breaks up the natural sights. The guide may explain Snorri, the settlement, and the role of the site in Icelandic history. Several guides, including Thorri, have been praised for making this stop engaging rather than treating it as a quick photo opportunity.

Hraunfossar, water flowing from the lava

Hraunfossar is one of the most unusual waterfall stops in Iceland. Instead of one large stream dropping over a cliff, countless rivulets flow out from beneath the Hallmundarhraun lava field and run toward the river.

The falls stretch for roughly 900 meters. You get about 30 minutes to walk along the viewing paths and see the water from different angles. The effect is broad and delicate, with many small falls spread across the riverbank.

The lava field formed about 1,000 years ago during a major eruption connected with the area beneath Langjökull glacier. That geology explains the strange sight: water emerges from the lava itself.

The paths can be slippery in icy weather. Warm socks, waterproof outer layers, and shoes with good traction are practical choices. You may receive crampons, but do not treat them as a replacement for care.

Hraunfossar is not as thunderous as Gullfoss. Its appeal is detail rather than sheer force. I would give it time and look along the full stretch instead of snapping one picture and returning to the bus.

Barnafoss and the story behind the name

Barnafoss sits only a few minutes from Hraunfossar, but it has a different character. The water rushes through a narrower channel, creating a more forceful and turbulent scene.

The name means waterfall of the children. Local tradition tells of two children who fell to their deaths while crossing a natural stone bridge over the river. Their grieving mother had the bridge destroyed afterward.

You have around 30 minutes for Barnafoss. The nearby trails and bridge give you more than one viewpoint, though icy conditions can make the walk slow. The combination of Hraunfossar and Barnafoss works well because you see two very different types of moving water in the same area.

Lunch is not included in the tour price, but there is time to stop at a cafe near the waterfalls. Soup and bread or a buffet may be available, depending on the arrangements that day. Bring money for food, and do not assume the meal is covered just because the stop is built into the schedule.

Inside Viðgelmir Lava Cave

The cave is the major finale. Viðgelmir is nearly 1,600 meters long and is described as one of Iceland’s largest lava caves. Your underground visit lasts about 90 minutes.

You start near the cave facilities, where there may be displays about local rocks, maps, restrooms, and snacks. Then you cross the exposed lava field to the wooden stairs leading down to the entrance. That outdoor section can be windy, so keep your outer layers on until you are inside.

A helmet and headlamp are provided. The helmet matters because some sections have low ceilings, while the headlamp helps in the darker parts of the tube. The cave is not a smooth tourist tunnel with bright lighting everywhere. You walk through a natural space with narrow passages, uneven ground, and changing surfaces.

Inside, your cave guide explains how the lava tube formed and points out the marks left by cooling lava. The colors and formations differ from those in a typical limestone cave. You may see lava stalactites, stalagmites, ice formations, and other textures along the walls.

The cave guide is an important part of the experience. Guides such as Gareth and Jan have been praised for making the underground walk lively and clear. You may even switch off your headlamps for a short section, creating a memorable taste of total darkness.

The cave is not a technical caving trip, but it is still a walk underground. One person described it as manageable even without being in top shape. You should be comfortable walking for 90 minutes and handling low ceilings and uneven passages.

The cave is chilly. Wear warm layers, even if the weather in Reykjavik seems mild. The tour provides the admission, helmet, and headlamp, but your comfort depends on what you bring.

Guides, group size, and the ride

Nicetravel limits the group to 19 people. That is small enough for a more personal day, though the actual number may vary. A partly full vehicle gives you more room for coats and day bags, a small luxury when you are dressed for Icelandic weather.

The guide can shape the whole experience. Names praised in past comments include Dominique, Christina, Walter, Bart, Gulli, Monica, Thora, Filip, Thorri, Maria, Addi, and others. Their styles differ, but the strongest guides balance stories and useful facts with quiet time to look out the window.

You may hear Icelandic history, geography, local stories, and food details. Bart’s background as a chef added useful context about Icelandic food, while Filip used stories and music to keep the long drive lively. Thorri was praised for making the Reykholt stop feel meaningful.

Free Wi-Fi is available on the bus, which helps during the long stretches between stops. Hotel pickup and drop-off are offered within the Reykjavik capital area. Since large buses cannot use some central streets, your pickup may be at a nearby bus stop rather than directly outside your hotel.

Pickup runs from about 8:30 to 9:00 a.m. for the 9:00 a.m. departure. Be ready at 8:30 and look for the bus with red NICE Travel logos. You can also meet at the Nicetravel office at Fiskislóð 45M, but you must arrange this directly and arrive before 8:20 a.m.

Is $219 a fair price?

At $219 per person, this is not a cheap day trip. I consider it fair value if you want to combine several paid and unpaid sights without renting a car.

The price includes transport from Reykjavik, Wi-Fi, a professional guide, admission to Viðgelmir Lava Cave, and the Sturlureykir horse-farm visit. Lunch is extra, as is any food or coffee you buy along the way.

The value comes from variety. A simple waterfall tour might cost less, but it would not give you the farm visit, medieval site, geothermal stops, and cave admission in one day. Driving yourself could offer more freedom, but you would need to manage the route, weather, road conditions, parking, and cave reservation yourself.

I would book this if you want a full day outside Reykjavik and prefer not to drive. I would skip it if you want a slow day with only one or two sights, or if rough roads are likely to cause pain.

Who should book this day?

You are a good match for this tour if you:

• Want a broad taste of western Iceland in one day
• Prefer smaller groups to large coach excursions
• Enjoy waterfalls, geology, animals, and local history
• Like having a guide explain what you are seeing
• Are comfortable walking on uneven or icy paths
• Want a cave visit without arranging it separately

You may want another plan if you dislike long drives, need a very smooth ride, or want a tour centered on major headline sights. This route is quieter and more varied, but not every stop has the instant drama of Gullfoss or a major glacier.

Free cancellation is available up to 24 hours before the start time for a full refund. If poor weather forces cancellation, you can be offered another date or a full refund. The tour is offered in English, confirmation is provided at booking, and most people can take part.

Should you book the Silver Circle tour?

I would book it if you want Iceland to feel like more than a checklist of famous waterfalls. The best parts are the horse farm, the strange water pattern at Hraunfossar, and the 90-minute walk through Viðgelmir Cave.

Bring waterproof clothing, warm layers, sturdy shoes, and patience for the road. If you do that, the $219 price buys a well-filled day with transport, local stories, geothermal sights, animals, and one memorable underground adventure. For a quieter alternative to the Golden Circle, this is a strong choice.

FAQ

How long does the Silver Circle tour last?

The tour lasts approximately 10 hours, starting at about 9:00 a.m.

Where does pickup take place?

Free pickup and drop-off are offered from hotels in the Reykjavik capital area. Because buses cannot use some central streets, you may be assigned a nearby bus stop.

What time should I be ready for pickup?

Pickup takes place between 8:30 and 9:00 a.m. You should be ready from 8:30 and look for a bus with red NICE Travel logos.

Can I meet the tour at the Nicetravel office?

Yes. You can meet at Fiskislóð 45M, 101 Reykjavik, but you need to notify Nicetravel directly and arrive before 8:20 a.m.

Is lunch included?

No. Lunch is not included, but the tour makes time for a lunch stop and an afternoon coffee break.

Is Wi-Fi available on the bus?

Yes. Free Wi-Fi is available aboard the tour vehicle.

Is the lava cave admission included?

Yes. Admission to Viðgelmir Lava Cave is included in the tour price.

How long is the cave visit?

The visit to Viðgelmir Lava Cave lasts about 1 hour and 30 minutes.

Are helmets and headlamps provided in the cave?

Yes. Helmets and headlamps are provided for the cave visit.

How many people can join the tour?

The maximum group size is 19 people.

Is the tour offered in English?

Yes. The tour is offered in English.

Can I cancel for a full refund?

You can cancel at least 24 hours before the experience start time for a full refund. Cancellations or changes made less than 24 hours before departure are not refunded or accepted.