Port Akureyri: Godafoss Waterfall, Myvatn and Dettifoss

Goðafoss and Dettifoss give this outing its big drama, but the real pleasure is the variety between them: steaming ground, black lava, strange craters, a blue cave, and the broad sweep of Eyjafjörður. I like the way the route packs much of northeast Iceland into one day, and I like the careful return timing for cruise passengers. The drawback is simple: nine hours on the road means a busy day with little room for lingering.

I also like that the guide helps with viewpoints and photographs instead of merely pointing out each stop. Guides Joana and Johanna have been especially praised for warm, personal service, useful explanations, humor, and thoughtful photos. Bring your own lunch, though, since the café stop comes late and meals are not included.

Key points to know before you book

• Two major waterfalls: See historic Goðafoss early, then finish the main sightseeing with the forceful Dettifoss.
• Unusual volcanic sights: Walk among Skútustaðagígar’s pseudo craters, Dimmuborgir’s lava formations, and Hverir’s fumaroles and mud pots.
• A full but logical route: Short drives connect most stops, while the 40-minute ride to Dettifoss and 110-minute return drive take up much of the day.
• Good for cruise schedules: The tour returns at least 30 minutes, and usually 50 minutes, before the ship departs.
• Practical transport: You ride in a comfortable minibus with onboard WiFi and an English-speaking guide.
• Pack food and layers: Lunch and drinks cost extra, and weather or road conditions can alter the plan.

Why this northeast Iceland route works

From the Akureyri Cruise Terminal, the tour heads along Eyjafjörður, one of Iceland’s longest fjords. That opening drive gives you a sense of the region before the volcanoes and geothermal fields take over. The route is not a quick hop between one or two sights. It is a long loop through a part of Iceland where water, fire, and shifting tectonic plates all shape what you see.

At $288 per person, this is not a bargain outing. Still, the price covers nine hours of transport, a fully guided day, a comfortable minibus, WiFi, and the peace of mind that comes with a cruise ship return guarantee. If you tried to arrange this route independently from a cruise stop, the distances and timing would be hard to manage. For me, the value is strongest if you want to see the farthest sights, especially Dettifoss, without worrying about driving or getting back to the ship.

The tradeoff is pace. You get around 30 to 40 minutes at most stops, and the day includes long drives. This is a sightseeing sampler, not a slow visit to Mývatn with time for every trail, café, or viewpoint.

Goðafoss, the waterfall tied to Icelandic history

After about 35 minutes by bus, you reach Goðafoss. Its name means Waterfall of the Gods, and the falls carry an important place in Icelandic history. The water drops in a wide, curved sweep, making this an easy first stop for photographs and a useful introduction to the power of Iceland’s rivers.

You have about 35 minutes here for a guided visit, walking, photos, and perhaps a local snack or a little shopping. That is enough to see the main viewpoints without turning the stop into a race. Your guide can also suggest where to stand for the best photographs, especially if a rainbow appears in the spray.

Goðafoss is visually generous. You do not need a long hike to appreciate it, which matters on a day with many stops. Wear shoes with a firm grip, though, since waterfall paths can be wet or uneven. The short visit means you will not have unlimited time to explore every angle, but that is a fair compromise for the wider route.

Skútustaðagígar and the strange shape of Lake Mývatn

Another 35-minute drive takes you to Skútustaðagígar, the pseudo craters around Lake Mývatn. These are not ordinary volcanic craters formed by eruptions from deep underground. They formed when lava met wet ground, creating steam explosions and crater-like mounds.

The result is one of the area’s most unusual sights. You can walk around the formations, take photographs, and hear how this rare volcanic process works. Similar formations are found in only a few places around the world, including Hawaii, one location in the Azores, and Mars. That last comparison may sound fanciful, but it helps explain why the shapes feel so otherworldly.

The stop includes time for a guided visit, a walk, regional food, and a food market visit. Since meals are not part of the tour, do not count on this stop as your main lunch. It is better to bring food with you and treat any local snack as an extra.

I like this stop because it slows the visual rhythm after Goðafoss. Instead of one powerful burst of water, you get low, rounded volcanic forms and open views around the lake. The limit is time. You will see the area, but you will not have a long hike around Mývatn.

Dimmuborgir, where lava became architecture

A 15-minute drive brings you to Dimmuborgir, an area of remarkable lava formations. The name is often translated as Dark Fortresses, and the comparison makes sense once you walk among the jagged shapes, arches, and walls.

You have about 35 minutes for sightseeing, a guided walk, and some light hiking. The route gives you a closer look at lava than the wider views at Skútustaðagígar. The formations can look almost built, yet they are the remains of molten rock shaped by heat and cooling.

This is one of the better stops for understanding how Iceland’s scenery changes at ground level. You are not just looking across a valley or at a waterfall. You are walking beside the material that made the region.

The tour information also mentions coffee, tea, beer, cocktails, local snacks, and regional food at this stop, but food and beverages are not included in the price. Think of those as possible purchases, not part of the package. With only 35 minutes here, you will want to choose between a short walk and refreshments rather than expect time for both in depth.

Grjótagjá and the rift between continents

Grjótagjá comes next, only about 12 minutes from Dimmuborgir. You get around 30 minutes to see the cave, take photographs, and look at the blue hot river inside. The cave adds a more intimate stop to a day filled with broad views and large natural features.

This area is also associated with the rift between the Eurasian and American continents. You may have the chance to take a photograph standing on two tectonic plates, a memorable way to connect Iceland’s geology with the movement of the earth beneath it.

The cave is not simply another photo stop. It brings together hot water, volcanic rock, and the shifting crust. Your guide can help make sense of those features while you look into the cave.

Keep your expectations practical. The listed time is 30 minutes, and this is part of a packed route. You will have time to see the cave and enjoy the view, but not to turn the stop into a long geological walk. The exact visit can also change if weather or road conditions affect the day.

Hverir, where the ground smokes

Only eight minutes after Grjótagjá, the bus reaches Hverir. Here the earth bubbles, steams, and smells of sulfur. Smoking fumaroles and boiling mud pots make this one of the most immediate geothermal stops in northeast Iceland.

You have about 30 minutes for photographs, walking, and a guided explanation. Hverir is not subtle. The colors and steam are striking, but the sulfur smell can be strong. Stay on the marked paths and listen to your guide. Boiling ground is not a place for casual wandering.

I value Hverir because it shows Iceland’s heat in a direct way. At Goðafoss, you see water in motion. At Hverir, you see the heat under the crust pushing up through the soil. The contrast makes the whole route easier to understand.

This stop is also a reminder to dress for changing conditions. Steam, wind, rain, and cold can arrive in the same hour. A waterproof outer layer and sturdy shoes will make the short walk more comfortable.

Dettifoss, the day’s great payoff

The drive from Hverir to Dettifoss takes about 40 minutes. That is one of the longer outward stretches, but it leads to the waterfall many people most want to see. Dettifoss is known as one of Europe’s most powerful waterfalls, and the approach builds anticipation after the smaller-scale volcanic stops.

You have about 40 minutes at the falls for a guided visit, walking, photographs, and scenic views. On a sunny day, spray can form a rainbow over the waterfall. Even without one, the scale and force of the water make this a powerful final major sight.

Dettifoss also shows why this is a long tour. It is not close to Akureyri or the main Mývatn sights, so adding it creates a demanding day. I think the extra drive is worthwhile if this waterfall is high on your Iceland list. If you prefer short transfers and relaxed meals, the route may feel too compressed.

Good walking shoes matter here. The tour includes a walk, and conditions can change quickly around exposed waterfall viewpoints. Stay close to the guide’s instructions and give yourself time to enjoy the sound and scale rather than rushing from one photograph to the next.

The long ride back to Akureyri

After Dettifoss, the return drive takes about 110 minutes. This is the main quiet stretch of the day. It is also why lunch planning matters. The café stop for refreshments comes quite late, and meals are not included, so a pre-packed lunch is the sensible choice.

The route may finish with a stop at Eyjafjörður if time allows. From there, you can photograph Akureyri across the fjord. It is a calm closing view after a day of waterfalls, lava, steam, and boiling mud.

The tour is designed around the ship’s schedule. It returns at least 30 minutes before departure and usually about 50 minutes before departure. That buffer is reassuring, though no road-based tour can remove every risk created by weather or road conditions. The provider can change the route at short notice when conditions require it.

The guide can make or break a packed day

A nine-hour route with many short stops needs a guide who manages time well without making the day feel mechanical. The strongest praise here centers on Joana and Johanna, who are described as warm, funny, attentive, and generous with explanations and photographs.

That matters at places such as Hverir and Grjótagjá, where the scenery is more rewarding once you understand what you are seeing. It also matters at Goðafoss, where advice about photo positions can save you from spending the whole stop searching for a good angle.

The personal touch seems especially useful for cruise passengers. The company has shown care with timing, and guides have been praised for taking photographs while people were absorbed in the scenery. You should still keep an eye on the meeting time, but the structure is clearly built for a ship day.

Who should book this $288 tour?

I would choose this tour if you have one Akureyri port day and want maximum coverage. It suits you if Dettifoss is a priority, if you prefer a guide to explain the geology and history, or if driving Iceland’s remote roads is not appealing.

It also works well if you want transport handled from the cruise terminal. The minibus, onboard WiFi, English-language guiding, and return guarantee add practical value that is difficult to measure from the ticket price alone.

I would hesitate if you dislike long drives, need a slow pace, or want a proper sit-down meal during the day. You should also think carefully about mobility. The tour is listed as wheelchair accessible, but a private tour is recommended for greater comfort, so contact the provider before booking if this is important for you. Infant seats are available.

Free cancellation up to 24 hours before departure and reserve-now, pay-later booking give you some flexibility. Still, reserve ahead because a place is required, especially when your cruise schedule allows only one day in port.

My verdict: a strong choice for a one-day port visit

Book this tour if you want to see the widest possible mix of northeast Iceland in nine hours. Goðafoss, Mývatn, Dimmuborgir, Grjótagjá, Hverir, and Dettifoss each offer something different, and the route gives you a clear sense of how water, lava, geothermal heat, and tectonic movement shape the region.

The cost is high, and the pace is brisk. But for a cruise passenger, the combination of distant sights, a fully guided minibus, helpful photo advice, and a carefully planned return makes the price easier to justify. Pack lunch, wear sturdy layers, accept the long ride, and choose this outing for breadth rather than leisure.

FAQ

Where does the tour begin?

The meeting point is the parking lot in front of the Akureyri Cruise Terminal.

How long does the tour last?

The tour lasts approximately nine hours.

What language is the tour conducted in?

The tour has a live English-speaking guide.

Are meals and drinks included?

No. Meals and beverages are not included. A café stop is made during the day, but a pre-packed lunch is recommended because the stop comes quite late.

Is the tour suitable for wheelchair users?

The tour is listed as wheelchair accessible. A private tour is recommended for greater comfort, and you should contact the provider before booking to discuss your needs.

Does the tour return in time for a cruise departure?

The tour returns at least 30 minutes, and usually about 50 minutes, before the cruise ship departs. Weather and road conditions can cause short-notice itinerary changes.