Lake Mývatn & Goðafoss tour: nature baths, small group

Boiling mud pots sit next to lava castles that sit next to a waterfall, all within a morning's drive from Akureyri.

A small group tour from Akureyri covers Goðafoss waterfall, pseudo craters, Dimmuborgir's lava formations, Hverir's boiling mud and the Mývatn Nature Baths in a single eight-hour loop with a driver-guide and hotel pickup included. The tour visits four distinct geothermal and volcanic sites, though entry to the Nature Baths and bathing gear are separate bookings you arrange at checkout.

Step-by-step itinerary

Explore Lake Mývatn and Surroundings

• Start at Hotel KEA
• Visit Goðafoss waterfall
• See boiling mud pots at Hverir
• Explore lava formations at Dimmuborgir
• Photostop with lake view
• Visit pseudo craters
• Relax at Mývatn Nature Baths
• View fjord over Akureyri

The Experience

The route starts at Hotel KEA in Akureyri and moves north through North Iceland's most concentrated run of geological drama. Goðafoss — the waterfall of the gods — opens the day with a walk to the falls themselves. From there the tour swings through Skútustaðagígar's pseudo craters, formed by volcanic activity and visible from a photo stop overlooking the lake, then into Dimmuborgir, where lava has cooled into formations that look like a dark castle from every angle. The guide points out the shapes and the geological story; the landscape does the rest.

Hverir at Námafjall brings you to boiling mud pots and steam vents — the geothermal activity is active and visible, not a display. Then comes the Mývatn Nature Baths, the blue lagoon of the North, where you can soak if you've arranged entry and brought a bathing suit and towel. If you skip the bath, the tour includes time to walk the grounds or sit in the restaurant. The whole loop takes eight hours, so you're back in Akureyri by late afternoon.

The group stays small, and the driver-guide speaks English and handles the route. Pickup from your hotel is included; if you need an infant seat, let the operator know when you book. Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller. The tour suits all fitness levels — most stops involve short walks or standing at viewpoints, not scrambling.

What’s included

• Driver-guide speaking English.
• hotel pickup from Akureyri.
• entry to Goðafoss, Skútustaðagígar pseudo craters, Dimmuborgir lava formations, and Hverir boiling mud pots.
• local taxes.

Good to know

Easy physical levelStroller friendlyInfant seats availablePublic transport nearby

Operated by Star Travel Iceland

Is this one for you?Eight hours is long enough to hit four distinct sites without rushing, but short enough to leave your afternoon free — if you want a full day of geology and geothermal activity without an overnight, this loop holds it all. If you plan to soak in the Nature Baths, book that entry separately and bring your bathing gear; if you skip the bath, the tour still stops there and you see the grounds.

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Top questions

What exactly is Dimmuborgir and why does it look like a castle?

Dimmuborgir is a lava formation field where cooled lava has fractured and settled into shapes that resemble towers, walls and fortifications — hence the name, which means "dark castle." The tour includes time to walk through the formations and see how the volcanic landscape created the effect.

Can I swim in the Mývatn Nature Baths on this tour?

You can enter the baths if you book and pay the entry fee separately at checkout, and you bring your own bathing suit and towel. If you don't swim, the tour still stops there and you can walk the grounds or relax in the restaurant while others bathe.

How long is the drive from Akureyri to Goðafoss?

Goðafoss is the first stop on the route north from Akureyri, and the tour is structured as an eight-hour loop, so the timing is built into the day. The drive itself is under an hour, leaving most of the day for the four main sites.

Is lunch included on this tour?

Lunch is not included, though the Mývatn Nature Baths has a restaurant where you can eat if you choose to enter the baths. You can also bring your own food or eat in Akureyri before or after the tour.

What's the difference between the pseudo craters and Dimmuborgir?

Skútustaðagígar's pseudo craters are cone-shaped formations created by volcanic steam explosions, visible from a photo stop overlooking the lake. Dimmuborgir is a lava field where the rock has cooled and fractured into castle-like shapes you can walk through — two different volcanic processes, two different landscapes.

Do I need to be fit to do this tour?

The tour suits all fitness levels. Most stops involve short walks or standing at viewpoints rather than strenuous hiking, and the pace is set by the group and the guide.