From Akureyri: Myvatn Lake, Craters, & Waterfall Tour

Volcanic oddities fill this North Iceland day. From Akureyri, this six-hour BusTravel Iceland excursion takes you to Goðafoss, Lake Mývatn’s pseudo craters, Dimmuborgir’s twisted lava, and Námaskarð’s steaming mud pools. I like the strong mix of waterfalls, geology, folklore, and geothermal scenery. I also like that the tour starts and ends near the cruise port, with lunch and WiFi included.

The main consideration is time. You cover a lot of ground, and stops range from 20 to 55 minutes. That is enough to see the major sights, but not enough for a slow, wandering day. The tour works best if you want a broad taste of the Mývatn region rather than a private outing built around long walks and photography.

The guides receive much of the credit for making the schedule work. Nico, Ritchie Rich, Alan, Kjartan, Ana, and Matthias are among the guides singled out for lively stories, clear explanations, and good humor. Drivers such as Gregory, Lucas, Torve, Soren, and Kelly also earned praise for safe, calm driving.

Key points to know before booking

• A full volcanic circuit in six hours: You visit a waterfall, pseudo craters, lava formations, and geothermal fields in one carefully packed day.
• Goðafoss is the first major stop: The broad, 30-meter waterfall combines powerful water with dark volcanic rock and an important Icelandic conversion story.
• Dimmuborgir is the best walking stop: You get about 55 minutes among lava towers, caves, and shapes that Icelandic children often connect with trolls.
• Námaskarð looks like another planet: Boiling mud pools and sulfur-stained ground create the tour’s strangest scene, but you must remain on marked paths.
• The lunch is basic but useful: Expect a chicken or vegan sandwich, a chocolate bar, juice, and a water bottle.
• Cruise passengers need the correct meeting point: Pickup depends on your ship’s berth, and the guides wear orange BusTravel Iceland jackets or vests.

Why Lake Mývatn makes a strong day trip from Akureyri

Lake Mývatn is one of the most varied sightseeing areas in northeastern Iceland. The region was shaped by repeated volcanic activity, but its appeal is not just scientific. In a single day, you see soft green knolls, black lava, steaming earth, and a wide waterfall.

The distance from Akureyri is manageable for a guided outing. The schedule lists about 40 minutes by bus to Goðafoss, another 40 minutes to Skútustaðagígar, short transfers between the Mývatn stops, and an 80-minute return drive from Námaskarð. That means a useful portion of the day is spent looking through the windows.

I see that bus time as part of the experience, especially with a good guide. Several guides kept up a steady commentary about Icelandic culture, customs, animals, history, and local traditions. Ritchie used WhatsApp to share information and location pins, while another guide entertained the group with stories about Icelandic elves and graduation customs.

The tradeoff is that the quality of the commentary can vary by guide. Most feedback describes the guiding as a major strength, but one person found repeated information about Icelandic sheep and horses a little tiring after several days in the country. If you prefer quiet roads and your own audio guide, the continual commentary may feel like a lot.

Goðafoss: a powerful opening stop

After roughly 40 minutes on the bus, you reach Goðafoss for about 45 minutes. This is a smart first stop because it delivers an immediate visual reward without requiring a strenuous walk.

The waterfall pours across a wide, curved formation, creating a semi-circle roughly 30 meters across. White water crashes over dark volcanic rock, and the contrast is exactly the sort of scene that makes Iceland feel so distinct. You can take in the falls from viewing areas and use the time for photographs before the group moves on.

Goðafoss also carries a famous name and story. It means Waterfall of the Gods and is linked with Iceland’s shift from pagan worship to Christianity. Your guide can give that change a human and political context rather than leaving you with only a pretty waterfall.

Forty-five minutes is generally enough for the main views. It is not enough to explore every angle at a leisurely pace, especially if the stop is busy or the weather slows everyone down. Stay aware of the bus departure time. At several stops, groups lost minutes waiting for late passengers, and one excursion returned to port about 45 minutes late.

Skútustaðagígar and the mystery of pseudo craters

The next stop is Skútustaðagígar, beside Lake Mývatn, with about 20 minutes for sightseeing. These grassy mounds look like small volcanic craters, but they formed in a different way.

Long ago, lava flowed into wet ground near the lake. The heat met the water and caused steam explosions. Those explosions shaped the rounded depressions and knolls you see today. No lava erupted directly from these particular formations.

This is a short stop, so think of it as an introduction rather than a full hike. You can see the unusual forms, hear the explanation, and take photographs, but you will not have time for a long circuit. The green vegetation also provides a sharp contrast with the black lava at Dimmuborgir and the bare ground at Námaskarð.

There is one practical nuisance here: midges. In warm, still conditions, tiny flies can gather around Lake Mývatn. Several people wished they had been warned, and one person said the flies spoiled parts of the visit. Bring a mosquito net or face covering if you have one, particularly in summer. The tour information does not provide one.

Dimmuborgir gives you the best walk

Dimmuborgir, often translated as Dark Castles, receives about 55 minutes. This is the most substantial walk of the day and, for many people, the most memorable stop.

The area is filled with unusual lava shapes formed when molten rock cooled around pockets of steam or other natural structures. The result is a field of arches, walls, pillars, and dark openings. The shapes can feel theatrical and slightly spooky, especially under cloudy skies.

I like this stop because it asks you to slow down and look closely. Goðafoss is a grand view, but Dimmuborgir rewards curiosity. You can examine the texture of the rock, notice how plants occupy cracks, and understand why Icelandic folklore places trolls and other hidden beings among these formations.

The walk is not described as a long or difficult hike, but the ground is volcanic and uneven. Wear sturdy shoes with good grip. Your available time depends on the group’s pace, so do not wander far from the marked route or bus meeting point.

The lunch is usually part of this middle section of the day. You receive a chicken or vegan sandwich, a chocolate bar, juice, and a water bottle. The meal is practical rather than elaborate. Some people found the sandwiches tasty, while others wanted less mayonnaise and more chicken. Another person felt the sandwich was poor enough to buy additional food at a visitor center.

My advice is to treat the packed lunch as a snack-sized meal. It saves you from needing a restaurant stop, which would not fit easily into this schedule, but you may want to carry extra food if you have a large appetite. Visitor centers at the stops offer chances to buy snacks and use restrooms.

Námaskarð is the tour’s strangest scene

The final sightseeing stop is Námaskarð, also called the Hverir geothermal area. You have about 40 minutes here, which is a reasonable amount of time for the marked paths and main viewpoints.

This is not a green, lake-filled part of Mývatn. It is bare, stained, and active. Boiling mud pools bubble in shallow basins, steam rises from the ground, and sulfur gives the air a powerful rotten-egg smell. The colors can be striking, with pale mineral deposits and orange or yellow tones against the dark earth.

Stay on the marked paths. The ground around geothermal features can be unstable and dangerously hot. This is a place to follow instructions closely, not a place for creative shortcuts to get a closer photograph.

Námaskarð often becomes the emotional high point of the tour because it looks so unlike ordinary scenery. Several people described feeling as if they had reached another planet. The smell is part of the experience, but it can be intense. If you are sensitive to sulfur, keep your visit focused and do not linger directly downwind.

The schedule gives this stop enough time for photographs and a proper look around. Still, late departures or slow boarding earlier in the day can reduce time here. One excursion left about 15 minutes late and felt rushed at the geothermal area. Promptly returning to the bus helps everyone get the full stop.

The bus ride matters more than you might expect

The tour uses a bus or coach and includes WiFi onboard. The road time connects the separate sights, but it also gives you a chance to watch North Iceland change outside the window.

You move from the settled area around Akureyri toward volcanic terrain, then back again after Námaskarð. A guide who keeps the commentary useful can turn those transfers into part of the outing. Alan, Nico, Ritchie, Kjartan, and others were praised for explaining local culture and the places along the route, not just naming the next stop.

The bus itself was described as comfortable, though one person wished for USB charging. Bring a charged phone or portable battery if you plan to photograph all day. WiFi is helpful, but it does not replace a full battery.

Organization is generally good, but group tours depend on everyone returning on time. There were occasional problems with passengers getting on the wrong bus or needing to be counted again. I would save the meeting point in your phone, listen carefully to the guide’s instructions, and note the bus appearance before walking away.

Cruise-port pickup and the details that prevent stress

The listed starting point is Gránufélagsgata 50. If your ship docks at Tangarbryggja Pier, the guide meets you in the large parking lot there.

If your ship docks at Oddeyrarbryggja Pier, the meeting point is the Visitor Center by the cruise port. The buses are located at the large parking lot at Gránufélagsgata 50, and guides wear orange jackets or vests with the BusTravel Iceland logo.

This distinction matters. A few people had trouble with unclear directions or an incorrect meeting link. Check your berth and meeting instructions before leaving the ship, and arrive with enough time to identify the orange-jacketed guide. Pickup and drop-off at the port are included, which is especially useful when your visit to Akureyri is tied to a ship schedule.

The tour returns to the same general starting point. Most excursions run smoothly, but no coach tour can guarantee an exact return minute. If you have an independent activity immediately after, leave a cushion.

Is $187 good value for this North Iceland day?

At $187 per person, this is not a cheap outing, but it covers a large area and includes transport, a guide, port pickup and drop-off, WiFi, and a packed lunch. The value is strongest for cruise passengers who want to see the Mývatn region without renting a car or arranging several separate transfers.

Several people compared it favorably with a cruise-line excursion covering the same general route, saying this option cost about half as much. That comparison makes the tour appealing, provided you are comfortable with a shared bus and a fixed schedule.

A private tour could give you more time at Dimmuborgir, longer walks around the pseudo craters, and greater control over meals and photo stops. It would also cost more. For a first visit, the group tour gives you an efficient look at four very different sights in one day.

Who should book this tour?

I would choose this tour if you have one day in Akureyri and want to see beyond the town. It suits cruise passengers, first-time visitors, families, and anyone who prefers a guide to explain the geology and local stories while someone else handles the driving.

It is also a good fit if you enjoy variety more than depth. You see a waterfall, lake features, lava formations, and geothermal activity without needing to plan the route yourself.

I would hesitate if you dislike bus travel, need long uninterrupted walks, or want to photograph each site at your own pace. The itinerary is full, and the 20-minute pseudo crater stop is especially brief. You should also prepare for sulfur at Námaskarð, midges near Mývatn, and a simple sandwich rather than a full café lunch.

Accessibility may be workable, but it should be confirmed before booking. Ana and Lucas helped one passenger using a wheelchair with logistics and accessible locations, though the supplied details do not promise full accessibility at every stop.

FAQ

How long is the tour from Akureyri?

The tour lasts six hours, including transportation, sightseeing, and the return to Akureyri.

Where does the tour meet?

If your ship docks at Tangarbryggja Pier, meet the guide in the large parking lot at Gránufélagsgata 50. If your ship docks at Oddeyrarbryggja Pier, meet at the Visitor Center by the cruise port.

What sights are included?

The tour includes Goðafoss Waterfall, Skútustaðagígar’s pseudo craters, Dimmuborgir lava formations, Lake Mývatn scenery, and the Námaskarð geothermal area.

Is lunch included?

Yes. The packed lunch includes a chicken or vegan sandwich, a chocolate bar, juice, and a water bottle.

What languages are available?

Live guiding is available in English and German.

Can I cancel the booking?

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund. The booking option also allows you to reserve now and pay later.

My verdict

Book this tour if you want the biggest possible taste of the Mývatn region during a short stay in Akureyri. The combination of Goðafoss, Dimmuborgir, and Námaskarð gives you three very different kinds of Icelandic scenery, while the guides add useful stories about geology, culture, and folklore.

Just keep your expectations clear: this is an efficient group circuit, not a slow wilderness day. Bring sturdy shoes, extra snacks, a charged phone, and protection from midges. With those small preparations, $187 buys a practical and unusually varied day in North Iceland.