From Akureyri: Diamond Circle Tour with Waterfalls

North Iceland packs a lot into one day. This Diamond Circle tour from Akureyri links Godafoss, Lake Myvatn, Dettifoss, and Asbyrgi Canyon in a long but rewarding loop, with a guide adding Icelandic stories and local context along the way. I especially like the mix of huge waterfalls and unusual geology, and I like that the route includes smaller stops such as Grjótagjá and Hverir rather than racing only between headline sights. The main concern is time: eight hours is tight for such a full route, and the day can run longer or lose a stop if conditions or timing get in the way.

The tour is led in English and costs $330 per person. That is a serious price, but it includes transport, guiding, and access to several far-flung parts of North Iceland that are awkward to connect without your own car. Guide Ingimundur, often called Ingi, receives especially warm praise for his humor, local stories, patience with older visitors, and care in getting people back to a cruise ship on time.

Key points to know before booking

• Godafoss begins the day with an easy, dramatic reward: You get about 40 minutes at the broad waterfall, enough for photos and a short walk.
• The route covers major North Iceland sights in one long loop: Myvatn, Dettifoss, and Asbyrgi are widely spread out, so expect plenty of road time.
• Ingi can add real local character: His stories about growing up around the area, Icelandic sagas, jokes, and personal memories are a major part of the appeal.
• The geology keeps changing: You move from a waterfall to pseudocraters, lava formations, a cave, bubbling mud, and glacial water.
• Small groups may bring useful flexibility: Extra viewpoints, puffin sightings, or a whale lookout were added on some departures when time allowed.
• Food is not included: Bring water and snacks, and do not count on every stop having refreshments available.

What the Diamond Circle route covers in one day

The tour starts at the Hof Cultural and Conference Centre in Akureyri. From there, you ride through northeastern Iceland on a route designed to show off the region’s varied natural forces: falling water, volcanic heat, tectonic movement, and glacial erosion.

The listed duration is eight hours, with about 30 minutes of driving before the first stop and a long return drive of roughly two hours and 15 minutes from Asbyrgi. In practice, the day may stretch closer to nine hours, depending on road conditions, group pace, extra stops, and how long each visit takes.

That matters because this is not a slow, lingering day at two or three places. You get a broad sample of North Iceland, but most stops have firm time limits. I would choose this tour for range and convenience, not for a relaxed pace.

The transport is by bus or coach, and the tour is guided in English. The provided schedule gives a total of about four hours of sightseeing time, with the rest spent on the road. Those drives are not wasted, since the scenery changes constantly, but anyone prone to motion sickness should prepare carefully.

Godafoss: a strong opening stop

Godafoss, the Waterfall of the Gods, is the first major stop. You have about 40 minutes here, which gives you time to walk to viewpoints and take in the horseshoe-shaped falls.

The name connects to an important Icelandic story. Around the year 1000, Iceland’s law speaker Þorgeir is said to have rejected the old Norse gods and thrown their images into the waterfall. The tour uses the site to connect natural beauty with Icelandic culture and belief.

For you, the practical advantage is simple: Godafoss is striking without demanding a hard hike. The path and viewing areas make it a good early stop for a mixed-age group. Still, 40 minutes can feel short if you want to explore both sides of the falls or take many photographs. One piece of feedback specifically wished for more time here, so keep your camera ready before you leave the bus.

Skútustaðagígar and the pseudocraters

Next comes Skútustaðagígar, a group of pseudocraters beside Lake Myvatn. The stop lasts about 15 minutes, so think of it as a quick look rather than a full walk around the formations.

These rounded volcanic features formed when hot lava flowed over wet ground, causing steam explosions. They resemble volcanic craters, but they were not created by lava erupting directly from underground vents.

The stop helps you understand why the Myvatn district is so unusual. It is not only a pretty lake area. The ground here records several kinds of volcanic activity, and the pseudocraters are an easy way to see that process without a long hike.

The drawback is the clock. Fifteen minutes gives you a taste, but not much time for a serious circuit or quiet photography. If this kind of geology interests you most, you may wish for a separate Myvatn day rather than trying to see the whole Diamond Circle at once.

Dimmuborgir: lava formations with a name from folklore

The Dimmuborgir lava field receives about 50 minutes, making it one of the better walking stops on the route. The name means Dark Cities or Dark Castles, a fitting label for the maze of twisted lava shapes, caves, arches, and rough pathways.

You will hike through part of the formation rather than simply step off the coach for a quick photograph. Wear shoes with a solid grip, since the paths can be uneven and the terrain is made from hard, broken lava.

Dimmuborgir also carries a strong place in Icelandic folklore. Its strange shapes helped create stories about trolls and other supernatural figures, and local Christmas folklore connects the area with the Yule Lads.

I like this stop because it gives you time to walk and see the formations from different angles. It also breaks up the day after several short drives. The limitation is that 50 minutes is still not enough for every path, so do not wander far without checking where and when the group meets.

Grjótagjá shows Iceland’s restless geology

Grjótagjá is a small cave with a hot spring lagoon inside. The tour allows about 15 minutes here, enough to see the dramatic crack in the earth and look into the cave.

The site is linked to the movement of Iceland’s tectonic plates. The wider fissure and surrounding volcanic ground show that this region is being shaped by forces below the surface, not merely weather and erosion.

The water in the cave became famous after appearing in Game of Thrones, though the real draw is the setting itself. You should not plan on bathing there, and the visit is a short viewing stop rather than a swimming experience.

This is one of the tour’s more intimate locations. After the wide views at Godafoss and Myvatn, Grjótagjá gives you a close look at a small, dramatic feature. Fifteen minutes is enough for the basic visit, but the stop will feel rushed if the group is large or if you want time for careful photographs.

Hverir: steam, sulfur, and bubbling mud

At Hverir, the ground turns orange, gray, and yellow around steaming vents and bubbling mud pits. You get about 20 minutes to walk through the geothermal area.

This is not a gentle, floral hot-spring setting. Hverir smells strongly of sulfur, and the mud pits can look almost unreal as they bubble and churn. Stay on marked paths and follow the guide’s instructions. The hot ground is not a place for casual wandering.

Hverir adds a useful contrast to the waterfalls. At Godafoss and Dettifoss, water does the work. Here, heat from below shapes the surface. If you have never seen an active geothermal field, this may be one of the most memorable short stops of the day.

The time allowance is enough to see the main features, though the smell can be intense. Bring water, and keep your camera protected from the weather rather than lingering too close to steam.

Dettifoss delivers the day’s biggest force

Dettifoss is given one hour, and that is welcome. The waterfall is presented as the most powerful in Europe, with huge volumes of glacial water plunging through a stark canyon.

The sound arrives before the full view. Mist rises from the falls, and the surrounding rock gives the place a raw, heavy feel. Compared with the graceful spread of Godafoss, Dettifoss is all force and impact.

You should expect walking over uneven ground to reach the viewing area. Comfortable outdoor shoes are essential, and warm clothing matters even in summer because wind and spray can make the stop feel cold.

One hour lets you take photographs, listen to the guide, and spend a little time watching the water rather than simply checking off the sight. Weather can affect the view and the walking conditions, so bring waterproof outer layers even if Akureyri looks clear when you leave.

Asbyrgi Canyon closes the sightseeing loop

The final major stop is Asbyrgi Canyon, where you have about an hour. The canyon curves into a distinctive horseshoe shape, with steep rock walls and a broad, sheltered interior.

Icelandic legend says the shape was made when Sleipnir, Odin’s eight-legged horse, touched the ground with one hoof. The story is a good example of how Icelandic nature is often explained through saga and mythology, not just geology.

The canyon also gives you a quieter final walk after the noise of Dettifoss. You can stretch your legs, take in the scale of the cliffs, and hear local stories from the guide.

Because Asbyrgi comes late, fatigue may affect how much you enjoy it. The return to Akureyri takes about two hours and 15 minutes, so this is a long final stretch. If you are visiting from a cruise ship, confirm the expected return time and tell the guide about your schedule. Ingi received praise for making sure one group returned in time for its ship.

The guide can make or break a long day

This tour asks you to spend many hours in a vehicle, so the guide matters as much as the route. Ingimundur, known as Ingi, is repeatedly praised for being warm, funny, attentive, and well informed about the region.

His personal connection to North Iceland adds something a standard script cannot. He grew up in the area and tells stories about places he knew as a boy, along with Icelandic saga material and factual explanations. That gives the road sections a human voice.

His patience also matters for groups with different walking speeds. One account describes him taking special care with two older women, while another notes that he handled unexpected adventures calmly and thoughtfully.

The small-group format can also help. One family found itself alone on a departure, making the day feel almost private. Extra stops have included scenic viewpoints, a cliff-top location for puffin sightings, and a place to look for whales. These additions are not guaranteed, but they show how a smaller group can sometimes respond to conditions and timing.

There is one caution here. Flexibility can work both ways. One departure reportedly lost the first two excursions because of time pressure. I would ask at the start how the day is shaping up and which stops are firm if the schedule begins to slip.

Is $330 good value from Akureyri?

At $330 per person, this is not a bargain sightseeing bus. The value comes from the distance covered and the number of major sights packed into one day.

Driving yourself could give you more control over time, but it would also require renting a car, navigating long roads, watching the weather, and planning a route between sites that are widely spaced. The guide adds local stories, handles the driving, and may find extra viewpoints when conditions allow.

I think the price is easier to justify if you have only one day in North Iceland, are arriving by cruise ship, or do not want to drive. It is harder to justify if you already have a rental car and can spend several days around Myvatn and the northeast.

Meals and drinks are not included. One stop may have takeaway food, but refreshments are not guaranteed at every location. Bring water, snacks, and outdoor clothing. That small bit of preparation will make the long day much easier.

Free cancellation up to 24 hours before departure and the option to reserve now and pay later reduce the risk of booking far ahead. Starting times vary, so check availability before arranging the rest of your day.

Who should book this North Iceland tour?

I would recommend it to you if you want the broadest possible introduction to North Iceland from Akureyri. It suits people who value scenery, geology, folklore, and a lively guide more than long periods of free time at each attraction.

It is also a good fit for families and mixed-age groups, provided everyone can manage short walks over uneven ground. The route includes no single major trek, but you will walk at Godafoss, Dimmuborgir, Hverir, Dettifoss, and Asbyrgi.

You may want another plan if you dislike long coach rides, need a slow pace, or want to study one area in detail. The schedule is ambitious, and the day can run close to nine hours. Weather may also change the order, shorten stops, or remove a visit.

My verdict: book it for range and local storytelling

I would book this tour if my time in Akureyri were limited and I wanted to see the big North Iceland sights without driving. Godafoss, Dettifoss, Asbyrgi, Myvatn, Dimmuborgir, Grjótagjá, and Hverir make a powerful set of stops, while Ingi’s humor and local memories can turn a long bus day into something personal.

I would not book it expecting a leisurely schedule or guaranteed extra stops. Bring sturdy shoes, warm layers, water, and food, then accept that weather and timing may shape the day. For a one-day overview with strong guiding and impressive variety, the $330 price can be fair.

FAQ

Where does the tour start and finish?

The tour starts and finishes at the Hof Cultural and Conference Centre in Akureyri.

How long does the tour last?

The advertised duration is eight hours. Actual timing can vary, and one account described a day lasting about nine hours.

What language is the tour conducted in?

The live tour guide speaks English.

Which major waterfalls are included?

The tour visits Godafoss Waterfall and Dettifoss Waterfall.

Does the tour visit Lake Myvatn?

Yes. The route includes the Lake Myvatn district and stops at Skútustaðagígar, Dimmuborgir, Grjótagjá, and Hverir.

Is hiking included?

Yes. You can walk through the Dimmuborgir lava formations, and the stops at Godafoss, Dettifoss, and Asbyrgi also involve sightseeing on foot.

Are meals and drinks included?

No. Meals, drinks, and personal expenses are not included. Water and snacks are recommended.

What should I bring?

Bring comfortable walking shoes, warm clothing, outdoor clothing, water, and a camera. Be prepared for changing weather.

Can I cancel the booking?

Yes. You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund. You can also reserve the tour and pay later.