Our Epic Iceland Game of Thrones Tour with Iceland Premium Tours

We were bubbling with excitment for months in anticipation of our return trip to Iceland. At the top of our agenda was the Iceland Game of Thrones Tour with Iceland Premium Tours. This private Game of Thrones day tour took us from Reykjavik to many of the Game of Thrones filming locations in Iceland. Combine Iceland (our favorite country) with the HBO series Game of Thrones (our favorite TV show), and we had one epic Game of Thrones Iceland adventure! There are so many Game of Thrones Iceland locations near Reykjavik, making this a great day trip. Find out why we think this is the best Game of Thrones Tour Iceland has to offer. Keep reading to discover where HBO filmed Game of Thrones in Iceland!

Why choose this Iceland Game of Thrones Tour?

When you search “Game of Thrones Tour Iceland”, you’ll see that there are many options for guided tours or even self-drive tours of the Game of Thrones filming locations in Iceland. We enjoy guided tours because we can relax while a knowledgeable expert tells us what we need to know and takes us to all the best places. Some of the Iceland Game of Thrones locations are remote and difficult to find without a guide, so we recommend a tour so you don’t miss anything.

What we don’t like about guided tours is getting lost in a crowd of people and being on a tight schedule, often having to hurry up and then wait for others who are straggling behind. That’s why we prefer private guided tours, which offer the flexibility to linger a little longer and to have the undivided attention of the guide. We chose Iceland Premium Tours because we wanted a tour that would cater to our needs and go the extra mile. We spent A LOT of time taking photos, videos, and even flying a drone around Iceland. We wouldn’t have had the time or flexibility to do all that on a group tour with other people, or even a private tour on a strict schedule. Our guide allowed us all the time we needed and never rushed us, which made for an amazing day discovering Game of Thrones Iceland locations! That’s why we think they offer the best Game of Thrones tour in Iceland.

Furthermore, Iceland Premium Tours has been offering premium guided tours for over 30 years. Our guide, Orvar, who happens to be the owner of the company, is the ultimate expert. He has spent 7 decades exploring the beauty of the island and still prides himself in showing visitors his homeland. He took us off the beaten path to see where he grew up and shared memories of his favorite experiences as a child. Our kids loved hearing his stories (especially ones about elves and trolls), and we picked his brain about Iceland history, traditions, and current affairs. We could tell he genuinely enjoyed spending his day with us, as we did too! He even extended our tour by a few hours, which he is happy to do when he sees how much his customers are enjoying their time. We truly had a wonderful day with Orvar and hope to see him again next time we’re in Iceland. If you see him, tell him Alexis, Bertaut and the kids say hello.

Highlights of this Game of Thrones Tour in Iceland

So now that we’ve explained why we think this is the best Game of Thrones Tour Iceland has to offer, it’s time to share the highlights. Premium Iceland Tours will pick you up from your accommodation in the Reykjavik area and take you on an exciting journey to the Game of Thrones filming locations in South Iceland. The private Game of Thrones tour lasts 10 hours, but our guide allowed us an extra 2 hours because we were having so much fun. The tour includes free Wi-Fi in the comfort of a 4×4 Jeep.

The itinerary includes Laxnes horse farm to meet the horses in Iceland that were featured in the Game of Thrones series. Another stop is the Thorufoss waterfall where one of Daenarys’ dragons torched a goat in Meereen. Thingvellir National Park is another location where many scenes featuring the White Walkers were filmed. Almannagjá Gorge is where they filmed scenes of the Bloody Gate of the Eyrie. Nearby at Hengilssvaedid mountain was the famous fight scene between the Hound and Brienne.

In Thjorsardalur Valley the tour visits reconstructed Viking turf houses at Stong. On the show, this was a quiet farming village south of the wall that was attacked by the Wildlings. The tour takes you to two beautiful waterfalls nearby, Hjálparfoss and Haifoss, which were not featured in the film but are worth the stop for their sheer beauty! The tour also includes with a relaxing soak in a geothermal hot spring at The Secret Lagoon. Although this lagoon was not featured in the series, it is the perfect way to end a day of sightseeing.

The price of the tour includes entrance to Laxness horse farm and The Secret Lagoon. Complimentary water, coffee, tea and  chocolate are provided. Lunch is at your own expense.

See where they filmed Game of Thrones in Iceland at…

Thingvellir National Park

Regardless of whether you’re a GoT fan, Thingvellir National Park is one the best places to visit in Iceland. This UNESCO World Heritage Site was where the first parliament of Iceland met from the 10th to 18th centuries. It is also where the European and American tectonic plates are slowly drifting apart, causing an enormous crack in the surface of the Earth. The huge Almannagjá gorge was used to film scenes of the Bloody Gate of Eyrie that leads into the Vale of Arryn.

Check out Game of Thrones Season 4, episode 5 and 8, to recognize Thingvellir National Park. Sansa and Littlefinger, and later Arya and the Hound, arrive to Vale after passing through the Bloody Gate, which was added with CGI into the Almannagjá Gorge. Check out some YouTube clips of the scenes here and here.

Hengilssvaedid Mountain

Inside Thingvellir National Park is Hengilssvaedid Mountain, also called Mt. Hengill, the filming location for the fight scene between the Hound and Brienne. To watch this thrilling scene again, check out this YouTube clip from Season 4, Episode 10 “The Children”. Your tour will stop for photos on the mountain, where you will enjoy panoramic views of Thingvellir National Park and Thingvellir Lake. Make sure to dress warm because even in June it was incredibly windy and cold up there!

 

Stöng Viking Houses

In the Thjorsardalur Valley, the Game of Thrones Iceland tour stops at Stöng Viking houses called Pjodveldisbaerinn. The reconstructed Saga-age farm from medieval Viking times is so picturesque that you will want to snap tons of photos here. The Viking turf houses were covered with soil and grass to keep them insulated. You can even go inside Viking houses here. Inside the Viking longhouse you will find a museum that shows how the Vikings used to live.

Outside, you will fall in love this this adorable little farm with a waterfall cascading down the mountain in the background. Such a serene setting was the scene for a violent attack in Game of Thrones, for which Ygritte shot the first arrow. A boy was the only survivor of the Wildlings’ attack on this village south of the wall. Watch Game of Thrones Season 4, Episode 3 to see this village or watch a clip from YouTube here.

If you have to use the bathroom, now is a good time to do it since there’s not a lot of public toilets when you’re out exploring the wilderness of Iceland. Just head back behind the Viking longhouse and down the steps to the bathroom.

Hjalparfoss Waterfall

Although this waterfall was not a filming location for Game of Thrones, it would be foolish to skip it since it is so close to the Stong village and is a hidden gem of Iceland. We let the kids stretch their legs for awhile here and throw rocks into the river while Bertaut flew his drone. It was one of the few waterfalls where we did not see a sign prohibiting drones, so we took advantage and sent that bad boy up.

Hjalparfoss is unique with its black lava basalt columns creating a dramatic contrast with the cascading flow of water. We were the only ones there for quite awhile, enjoying the beauty all to ourselves. This would be a nice spot to have a picnic lunch next to the river.

Haifoss Waterfall

Haifoss is another nearby waterfall that was not a filming location for Game of Thrones but is absolutely worthy of a visit. Haifoss is Iceland’s second highest waterfall and its sheer power and size will leave you speechless. From the parking lot, you will hike down the rocky path about 10 minutes to the viewing point. Be extremely careful because there are no barriers to stop you from falling off the cliff. Use good judgement and don’t get too close to the edge. As a mother of an energetic and fearless 4 year old boy, I was very nervous near the edge and held on to my kids with a death grip.

Of all the places we visited during our Iceland Game of Thrones Tour, this was the most awe-inspiring (and nerve-wrecking if you have young children with you). Make sure to dress very warm up for this stop, because the wind was so strong that we were frozen after our short hike down and back. The wind was also so powerful that it was blowing us around, which was another reason I was feeling so nervous out there. Our guide said it was unusually windy and cold during our visit, but be prepared just in case. The weather in Iceland can change at the drop of a hat, so always dress in layers no matter what season you are visiting.

Thorufoss Waterfall

Thorofuss Waterfall is seen in the episode where Daenerys’s dragon attacks a local boy’s herd of goats in Meereen. Drogon sets one ablaze with his fiery dragon breath and then flies off with his lunch. Watch Season 4, Episode 6 “The Laws of God and Men” for another look at this Game of Thrones Iceland filming location. See just that scene with this clip from YouTube. We unfortunately missed this waterfall during our tour because we spent so much extra time at other stops. Our guide was going to take us there despite being way over on time already, but unfortunately we had to get back to Reykjavik for another commitment.

End your tour relaxing at The Secret Lagoon

The Secret Lagoon in Fludir is the final stop on the Game of Thrones Iceland Tour. This was not a filming location but was a lot of fun to visit. Compared to the Blue Lagoon, this pool heated naturally by hot springs is less crowded, less touristy, and more authentic. It is actually the oldest geothermal pool in Iceland, created in 1891. Your entrance to the Secret Lagoon is included with your private day tour, so go enjoy!

Bring your own swimsuit, towel, and sandals or rent there in case you forgot. You will be required to shower without a swimsuit in gender-separate changing rooms before entering the pool. Icelandic people are very serious about hygiene when it comes to public bathing, so don’t skip this step. Grab a pool noodle and float blissfully in the hot geothermal waters of the Secret Lagoon. Some areas are warmer than others, so wade around to find the temperature that’s just right for you. We avoided the outer edges because they tend to be the hottest. You can also walk around the grounds on the path to see the hot springs and a small geysir shooting boiling water out of the ground. Make sure not to venture off the path (there are barriers here thankfully) or you could get seriously burned by scalding hot water.

You can even buy alcoholic drinks inside, so grab a glass of wine and relax at the end of a perfect day. If the geothermal water works up your appetite, we recommend the fresh fish and chips sold at the stand outside the lagoon entrance.

An impromptu stop for ice cream at Efstidalur Dairy Farm

Although this was not on the tour itinerary, our thoughtful guide made an extra stop for ice cream at Efstidalur dairy farm just for our kids. We sat inside a barn that has been turned into an ice cream parlor and cafe, with windows looking out into the barn at the cows as they grazed on hay. This was one of their favorite stops because they got to pet some adorable baby calves and eat delicious home-made ice cream. We all scream for Efstidalur ice cream! 😉  This little impromptu stop is exactly why we loved Iceland Premium Tours. They go the extra mile to make sure you have an extraordinary experience and enjoy every moment of your tour.

Final Words on our Iceland Game of Thrones Tour

If you’re a fan of the award-winning HBO series, then you can’t visit without touring the locations where they filmed Game of Thrones in Iceland. Although you can visit many of the locations easily with a rental car, we enjoyed having the expertise of a guide taking us to the locations that we may have never found on our own. It was also fun to hear his stories about Icelandic traditions, folklore, history, and culture. When we weren’t geeking out over being in the real Game of Thrones Iceland locations, we were spellbound by the natural beauty of the hidden gems we visited. Even if you’ve never seen an episode of Game of Thrones (although we highly recommend you watch it because it’s awesome), you will still love the Game of Thrones Tour with Iceland Premium Tours. The locations are beautiful and you will learn so much about Iceland.

For more on Iceland, check out our posts about things to do in Iceland in summer, highlights of South Iceland, what to do in Reykjavik, dreamy Iceland winter scenery, tips for visiting Iceland in the winter, and epic drone shots of Iceland. If you’re looking for a luxury hotel in Iceland, read our Hotel Ranga review. If you’re searching for an affordable flight to Iceland, check out our WOW Air review.

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*Disclosure- We were guests of Iceland Premium Tours for the private Game of Thrones Tour, but all opinions are our own.

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