Stuðlagil Canyon & Gufufoss Waterfall Tour from Seyðisfjörður

Basalt columns and turquoise water in one afternoon from the port.

This 5-hour shore excursion from Seyðisfjörður visits Stuðlagil Canyon, where 30-meter basalt columns frame the turquoise Jökulsá river, and Gufufoss waterfall, a 27-meter cascade in a secluded valley. A local English-speaking guide meets you at the port and plans the return around your ship's schedule. The tour includes an air-conditioned vehicle and covers roughly 3 hours of driving time across Icelandic countryside.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stuðlagil Canyon and Gufufoss Waterfall

• Travel 60 minutes to Stuðlagil Canyon
• Explore Stuðlagil Canyon for 60 minutes
• Travel 75 minutes to Gufufoss Waterfall
• Visit Gufufoss Waterfall for 45 minutes

The Experience

Your ship docks in Seyðisfjörður and you have an afternoon free. A guide meets you at the port and drives you inland through open countryside for about an hour to reach Stuðlagil Canyon. The basalt columns here — some standing 30 meters high — formed over thousands of years, but the full canyon only became visible about 15 years ago when a nearby dam lowered the glacial river by roughly 10 meters. You spend about an hour at the canyon, walking along the turquoise water and photographing the geometric grey rock faces that have made the spot an Instagram favorite in recent years.

From Stuðlagil, the drive to Gufufoss waterfall takes around 75 minutes. Gufufoss sits in a quiet valley just outside Seyðisfjörður, dropping 27 meters into a narrow gorge. The name comes from the Icelandic word "gufu," meaning steam — the water spray at the base creates a mist that rises into the air. You have time to walk down to the falls and stand in the spray before heading back to the port. The guide times the whole day so you're back before your ship leaves.

The vehicle is air-conditioned and seats are available for children from age 2 onward. WiFi is available on board if you need to stay in touch. Roughly 3 hours of the 5-hour tour is driving time, which gives you a sense of the distances involved — Seyðisfjörður sits at the end of a long fjord, and the canyon and waterfall lie inland in less-traveled terrain.

What’s included

• Air-conditioned vehicle with WiFi on board.
• English-speaking local guide.
• all fees and taxes.

Good to know

Easy physical levelInfant seats availablePublic transport nearby

Operated by BusTravel Iceland

Is this one for you?Your ship is in port for an afternoon and you want to see two of East Iceland's most striking natural sites without arranging transport or timing yourself — the guide handles both, so you step off the ship and the day is already planned around your departure.

Traveler reviews

4.59★★★★★★★★★★

178 verified traveler reviews

5 ★142

4 ★18

3 ★6

2 ★5

1 ★7

Read all the reviews ›

Top questions

How long does it take to drive from Seyðisfjörður to Stuðlagil Canyon?

The drive to Stuðlagil Canyon takes about 60 minutes from the port. Once you arrive, you have roughly 60 minutes to explore the canyon and photograph the basalt columns and turquoise river before heading to the next stop.

What is Gufufoss waterfall like when you get there?

Gufufoss is a 27-meter waterfall in a secluded valley, named for the steam-like spray that rises from the plunge pool below. The falls are accessed by a short walk down into the gorge, and you can stand close enough to feel the mist.

Will the tour get me back to my ship on time?

Yes — the guide coordinates the tour schedule around your cruise ship's departure time, so the return to Seyðisfjörður is built into the 5-hour itinerary from the start.

Is this tour suitable for young children?

Children are welcome from age 2 onward, and specialized infant seats are available in the air-conditioned vehicle. The tour involves walking at both the canyon and the waterfall, but it is suitable for all fitness levels.

What should I know about the drive time?

Roughly 3 hours of the 5-hour tour is spent driving through Icelandic countryside to reach Stuðlagil and Gufufoss. The remaining time is split between exploring the canyon and the waterfall, plus the drive back to port.