Akureyri: Lake Mývatn & Goðafoss Waterfall Shore Excursion

Waterfalls, Lava Fields & Boiling Mud: A Half-Day North Iceland Loop

You board a coach at Akureyri port and spend the day moving between four distinct natural sites: a 12-meter waterfall, a crater-lined lake viewpoint, a 2,300-year-old lava field, and steaming geothermal mud pools. Coffee and an Icelandic treat are served partway through. The coach returns you to the port with a full hour to spare before your ship leaves.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time spent at each

1. Godafoss40m
2. Dimmuborgir50m
3. Hverir20m · entry included

Explore Lake Mývatn and Goðafoss

• Board coach at Akureyri port
• Drive through Icelandic countryside
• Visit Goðafoss Waterfall
• See crater row at Skútustaðir
• Explore Dimmuborgir lava fields
• Visit boiling mud pools at Hverir
• Return to Akureyri port

The experience

The coach pulls away from Akureyri port and within minutes the landscape shifts: snow-capped mountains rise against a pale sky, and the road narrows into terrain that feels older than roads. You're heading toward Lake Mývatn, a geothermal hotspot in North Iceland where the earth itself seems to be breathing. The drive takes you through the kind of countryside that makes you understand why Iceland feels like another planet: raw, sparse, and somehow both empty and full at once.

The first real stop is Goðafoss, a waterfall that drops about 12 meters into a gorge carved by the Skjálfandafljót glacier river. It's not the tallest waterfall you'll see, but the way it falls (wide and deliberate) makes you stand there longer than you expect. After that comes the crater row at Skútustaðir, where you get a proper view over the lake itself and can step into the information center if you want context for what you're seeing. Then you move into Dimmuborgir, a lava field that formed roughly 2,300 years ago when magma cooled in strange, jagged shapes. The rocks really do look like frozen figures: Icelandic folklore calls them trolls, and once you're walking through them, you get why the story stuck around.

Hverir is the part that stays with you. The mud pools steam and bubble in shades of yellow and green, and the air smells sulfurous in a way that's both unsettling and fascinating. You walk among fumaroles that hiss and release heat from deep underground. It's the kind of place that makes you feel small and aware of how much geology is still happening beneath your feet. The coach includes a cup of coffee or tea and an Icelandic treat at Hotel Goðafoss, which lands somewhere in the middle of the day and gives you a moment to sit and absorb what you've seen.

The return drive to Akureyri takes about an hour, and the coach is timed to get you back at least 60 minutes before your ship departs, so there's no scramble at the end. WiFi is on board if you want to download photos or message people, and all fees and taxes are already included in the price. Nothing surprises you at checkout.

What’s included

• Coach transport from Akureyri port with stops at Goðafoss waterfall, Skútustaðir crater viewpoint, Dimmuborgir lava fields, and Hverir geothermal mud pools.
• Coffee or tea and an Icelandic treat at Hotel Goðafoss.
• WiFi on board.
• All entry fees and taxes.
• Return to port at least 1 hour before ship departure.

Options for this experience

4 options

English-speaking guideAvailable from 11 Apr 2027

German-speaking guideAvailable from 11 Apr 2027

Spanish-speaking guideAvailable from 23 May 2027

Italian-speaking guideAvailable from 23 May 2027

You'll see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates and prices

Before you book

Days and timesNext departure: 11 Apr 2027

Book up toStart time

AgesAdult (13 and older) · Child (3 to 12 years) · Infant (under 3)

GroupUp to 50

Live guideEnglish, Spanish, German and Italian

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather or if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated 3 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortPublic transport nearby

Operated by Saga Travel

Is this one for you?Built for cruise passengers docked at Akureyri who want to see North Iceland's main geothermal and volcanic sites without arranging their own transport or timing. The coach handles the route and guarantees you're back before the ship leaves.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English, Spanish, German and Italian.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (3 to 12 years); Infant (under 3).

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

What's included in the price?

Coach transport from Akureyri port, entry to all sites, coffee or tea with an Icelandic treat at Hotel Goðafoss, WiFi on board, and all fees and taxes.

When do we return to the ship?

The coach is scheduled to return at least 1 hour before your ship's departure time, giving you a buffer to get back on board.

Is this suitable if I'm not very fit?

Yes. The tour is suitable for all physical fitness levels. Most time is spent on the coach or at viewpoints. Walking at each stop is optional and self-paced.

Can I walk around Dimmuborgir and Hverir?

Yes. Both sites allow walking and exploration. Hverir has boardwalks and marked paths around the geothermal features for safety.