Lake Mývatn & Goðafoss Waterfall from Akureyri Port

The most memorable part of this six-hour outing is the sharp change in scenery: one moment you are beside a broad waterfall, and soon after you are walking among lava towers, crater rims, and steaming sulfur pools. It is a fast, useful introduction to North Iceland’s volcanic story from Akureyri Port.

I like the way the tour packs four major sights into one day without charging separate entrance fees. I also like the practical extras, especially port transport, coach Wi-Fi, and coffee or tea with an Icelandic pastry at Hotel Goðafoss. The main consideration is the full bus and the long stretches between stops, which can make some breaks feel brief.

Key points to know before booking

• Goðafoss is the grand finale: The 12-meter waterfall is easy to reach and gives you some of the day’s best photographs.
• Dimmuborgir is the best walking stop: Allow about 40 minutes to see lava shapes that resemble frozen trolls.
• Mývatn has real drawbacks: Midges can be bothersome, and the Hverir geothermal area smells strongly of sulfur.
• This is a cruise-friendly outing: Pickup and return transport are arranged around Akureyri Port, with the tour ending back at the meeting point.
• Guides make a big difference: Guides named Lukas, Runar, Dodi, Michael, and others have received strong praise, but a few departures had problems with sound or accents.
• Bring layers and a snack: Weather can shift quickly, and lunch is not included.

Why this North Iceland day trip works

At $171.80 per person, this is not a bargain-basement bus ride. Still, I think the price can make sense if you are in Akureyri for one day and want to reach Lake Mývatn without arranging a rental car, paying for fuel, or working out a route on your own.

You get about six hours on the road and at the sights, with port transfers, a coach, the main fees, Wi-Fi, and a small refreshment stop included. The value comes from range. In one outing, you see a waterfall, pseudo-craters, old lava formations, and an active geothermal field. Those places feel quite different from one another, so the day never becomes one long view from a coach window.

The tradeoff is group size. The maximum is 50 people, and the bus can feel full. Getting everyone off the coach takes time, and a full group makes it harder to move at your own pace. If you want quiet walks, long photo sessions, or a chance to linger at one site, a private tour would suit you better.

For a cruise visit, though, the structure is sensible. You leave Akureyri, cover a wide area, and return with time built around the port schedule. The drive back from the Mývatn area takes about an hour, so the day includes plenty of transit. Your guide fills much of that time with stories about volcanoes, lava, folklore, and Icelandic life.

Finding the coach at Akureyri Port

The tour begins at Gránufélagsgata 51 in Akureyri, and the activity ends at the same meeting point. For ship passengers, the useful detail is that Saga Travel’s orange booth is near the cruise port after you disembark. Staff in red jackets direct you toward the coach.

I would still allow time to find the meeting place. The pickup directions have caused some confusion, especially for people expecting to meet the bus right beside the ship. Look for the Saga Travel signs and staff rather than walking off in search of a random coach.

Once everyone is aboard, the group heads toward the Lake Mývatn area. The coach is described as clean and comfortable, with free Wi-Fi. It is a full-size bus, not a small minivan, so you gain room for the long drives but lose some intimacy.

The bus ride is part of the tour, not dead time. Guides such as Runar, Lukas, Dodi, Michael, and Michiel have been praised for mixing geology with local stories and humor. The quality of the commentary can vary by departure, however. A few people had difficulty hearing the guide or understanding a strong accent, so sitting closer to the front may be wise if the explanations matter to you.

Goðafoss: a powerful first or final stop

Goðafoss means Waterfall of the Gods, and it earns its name with a broad curtain of water dropping about 12 meters into the gorge below. The falls sit in the Skjálfandafljót glacier river, and the rushing water gives you an immediate sense of Iceland’s force.

The stop lasts about 40 minutes. That is enough for a walk to viewing areas and several photographs, though you should not expect a long hike. The paths are generally manageable, but the ground can be uneven in places and wind can make the area feel colder than Akureyri.

This is often the emotional high point of the day. The water is dramatic, the views are open, and you can get close enough to feel the spray in the air. I would keep your camera ready, but also leave a few minutes simply to watch the falls. The best pictures may come from changing position rather than snapping everything from the first viewpoint.

A coffee or tea and an Icelandic treat at Hotel Goðafoss are included. This small stop matters more than it may sound. After a cool, windy walk, a warm drink and pastry give the group a comfortable pause, with restrooms available there.

The timing of Goðafoss can vary. It is listed as a main stop, and some departures finish here, while the tour route may change to manage traffic and the group. Either way, this is the sight I would most want protected if the schedule becomes tight.

Skútustaðir and the pseudo-crater views

At Skútustaðir, you see a row of pseudo-craters beside Lake Mývatn. These are not standard volcanic craters formed by a deep eruption. They formed when hot lava met wet ground and steam explosions shaped the surface.

You get about 20 minutes here, enough for a look over the lake and a short walk. An information center for the Lake Mývatn Nature Reserve is also nearby, and free toilets are available.

This stop gives you the broadest view of Mývatn itself. The lake and low volcanic forms create a very different setting from the steep energy of Goðafoss. If the weather is clear, it is an excellent place for wide photographs.

There is one famous nuisance: midges. Mývatn is associated with these small flying insects, and you may encounter them around the water, especially when the air is still. They do not bite in the same way as mosquitoes, but they can gather around your face and become irritating.

A fine mesh head net is worth considering if you are sensitive to insects. You can also buy one locally, according to the information available for this stop. I would not let the midges automatically rule out the visit, but I would pack a hat, sunglasses, or light face covering and avoid waving your hands in frustration. That only makes the experience more tiring.

The short stop is also important to understand. You are seeing the edge of a large natural area, not taking a full walk around Lake Mývatn. If you want extended birdwatching or a slow exploration, this tour will feel too quick.

Dimmuborgir and its troll-shaped lava

Dimmuborgir is the most rewarding walking stop for anyone interested in how Iceland was formed. The lava fields were created about 2,300 years ago in a lagoon of magma. As the molten material cooled, it left behind arches, pillars, tunnels, and irregular towers.

You have about 50 minutes here, the longest scheduled stop. That gives you enough time for a meaningful walk rather than just stepping off the bus for a photograph. Guides have led groups through the formations while explaining the geology, local folklore, and the way Icelanders connect these strange shapes with trolls and hidden beings.

The name Dimmuborgir means dark castles or dark fortresses, a good description of the black rock walls. Some formations look like animals, faces, or creatures frozen in place. The pleasure comes from walking slowly and letting the shapes reveal themselves.

The paths include paved and uneven ground, with gentle slopes in places. You do not need to be a serious hiker, but comfortable shoes help. Keep track of the time and your route. One family on a departure wandered too far along a marked path and ended up far from the coach, requiring help to reconnect. The sensible rule is simple: explore, but turn back well before the meeting time and keep your phone with you.

Restrooms at Dimmuborgir may require a small fee, listed as 3 Icelandic krona in the available information. That amount is minor, but it is useful to know before you arrive.

This stop can be especially good with a strong guide. Dodi, Lukas, Michael, and others have been praised for explaining both the science and the stories. If your guide points out the separation of the North American and European tectonic plates, listen closely, but remember that the formations themselves are the main attraction here.

Hverir’s boiling mud and sulfur air

Namafjall Hverir is the most unusual stop and the one most likely to divide opinion. The ground is marked by boiling mud pools, steaming fumaroles, and patches of mineral-stained earth. It looks less like a normal outdoor view and more like a glimpse into the planet’s hot interior.

The stop lasts about 20 minutes. That is usually enough. You can walk around the geothermal area, watch the mud bubble, and photograph the orange, yellow, gray, and white mineral colors.

The smell is strong because of the sulfur. Some people find the rotten-egg odor fascinating and fitting for such an active place. Others find it unpleasant enough to shorten the visit. I would treat the smell as part of the site rather than a flaw in the tour, but it is fair to know that you may want to breathe through your mouth for a few minutes.

There are no facilities at Hverir, so use the restroom at Skútustaðir, Dimmuborgir, or Hotel Goðafoss. Stay within the marked areas and follow the guide’s instructions. The bubbling pools are hot, and this is not a place for casual wandering.

Hverir also has little shade or shelter. Wind, rain, and cold can make the short stop feel exposed. On the right day, the steam and colors are striking. On a wet, windy day, you may be ready to return to the coach before the scheduled time.

Weather, walking, and what to pack

North Iceland can give you several seasons in one afternoon. You might begin in sunshine, meet rain later, and finish beside a waterfall in a sharp wind. The practical answer is layers, waterproof outerwear, and shoes that handle both paved paths and rough ground.

I would pack:

• A waterproof jacket and trousers
• Warm layers that you can remove on the coach
• Sturdy walking shoes
• Water and a snack
• A camera with spare battery power
• A small head net or face covering for Mývatn
• Your phone, kept with you during every walk

Lunch is not included. The schedule includes a short lunch break, but the tour is not built around a full restaurant meal. Bring food if you need a substantial lunch, especially because the stops can be spaced far apart and there may not be time to buy something.

The included Icelandic treat at Hotel Goðafoss is welcome, but it is not a substitute for lunch. Coffee or tea, a pastry, and a snack in your bag will make the day more comfortable.

Expect roughly five miles of walking across the full outing if you explore each area fully, though the exact amount depends on how far you walk. Most people can take part, but anyone who finds uneven paths or gentle slopes difficult should stay near the main viewpoints and tell the guide if help is needed.

How the price compares with the experience

At $171.80, I see this as a practical convenience purchase. You are paying for a full day away from Akureyri, a driver, a guide, port transfers, coach transport, the main fees, Wi-Fi, and a refreshment stop. The price also buys simplicity: you do not need to navigate remote roads or build a tight port-day schedule yourself.

The value is strongest when your ship gives you only one day in Akureyri. You cover sights that are spread across North Iceland, and the return to the meeting point is included. Several cruise passengers have also found this type of independent shore outing less expensive than a comparable ship excursion.

The value drops if you dislike large groups or want control over your time. The coach can be full, loading and unloading can take a while, and some stops are short. You may also find the drive tedious if you prefer active touring over scenic road time.

The 97 percent recommendation rate and 4.8 rating from 157 ratings point to a consistently strong experience, but the lower scores identify real issues: unclear audio, strong accents, full seating, midges, sulfur smells, and occasional feelings of being rushed. I would book it with those limits in mind rather than expecting a private guide and a leisurely pace.

Who should book this tour?

I would choose this tour if you are visiting Akureyri from a cruise ship and want to see the major volcanic sights without renting a car. It suits first-time visitors, photographers, families who can manage moderate walking, and anyone who likes geology mixed with folklore.

It is also a good choice if you want a guide to explain what you are seeing. The strongest departures have included lively commentary from guides such as Lukas, Runar, Dodi, Michael, Michiel, and others. Their stories help connect the lava, geothermal activity, waterfalls, and local legends.

I would hesitate if you need a quiet, uncrowded day, have little tolerance for insects or sulfur smells, or want to spend an hour at every viewpoint. In that case, a smaller private outing may be worth the extra cost.

Should you book Lake Mývatn and Goðafoss?

For most cruise passengers with six hours in Akureyri, yes. The tour covers an impressive range of North Iceland sights, and Goðafoss plus Dimmuborgir alone give the day real weight. The coach is comfortable, the route is efficient, and the coffee and Icelandic pastry are a pleasant touch.

Book it for variety and convenience, not for slow travel. Bring lunch, dress for sudden weather, prepare for midges and sulfur, and try to sit near the front so you can hear the guide clearly. If those conditions suit you, Saga Travel’s Lake Mývatn and Goðafoss outing is a strong way to turn a port call into a proper look at Iceland’s volcanic north.

FAQ

How long is the Lake Mývatn and Goðafoss tour?

The tour lasts approximately six hours, including travel time between Akureyri, Lake Mývatn, the geothermal area, Dimmuborgir, and Goðafoss.

Where does the tour start and finish?

It starts at Gránufélagsgata 51 in Akureyri and ends back at the same meeting point. Port transfers are included.

Is lunch included?

No. The tour includes a short lunch break, but lunch is not provided. You should bring a snack or food if you need more than the included coffee, tea, and Icelandic treat.

What is included in the price?

The price includes coach transport, port transfers, Wi-Fi on board, all fees and taxes, and coffee or tea with an Icelandic treat at Hotel Goðafoss.

How many people can join the tour?

The maximum group size is 50 people. The coach may feel full, especially on popular departures.

Can I cancel for a full refund?

Yes. You can cancel at least 24 hours before the start time for a full refund. If poor weather or insufficient bookings cause the operator to cancel, you will be offered another date or experience, or a full refund.