Lake Mývatn & Goðafoss Waterfall from Akureyri Port

Volcanic Iceland fits into one long day. This six-hour Saga Travel excursion takes you from Akureyri to Goðafoss Waterfall, Lake Mývatn’s pseudo-craters, Dimmuborgir’s strange lava towers, and the steaming ground at Hverir. I like the efficient route and the mix of geology, folklore, waterfalls, and wide-open scenery.

I also like that port transport, coach travel, WiFi, and a coffee or tea with an Icelandic treat are included. The main drawback is the pace: four sightseeing stops in six hours leave limited time, and a full bus can feel crowded.

The tour costs $171.80 per person, which is a fair price for a cruise-port outing if you want to cover this much ground without renting a car. Bring layers, rain gear, water, and a snack. At Mývatn, midges can be a nuisance, while Hverir smells strongly of sulfur. Guides such as Runar, Lukas, Dodi, Michael, and Aitana have earned praise for clear storytelling and humor, though guide quality can vary.

Key Points at a Glance

• Goðafoss is the visual highlight: The broad waterfall is close to the path, easy to photograph, and especially rewarding near the end of the day.
• Four major sights fit into six hours: You see pseudo-craters, lava formations, geothermal mud pools, and a waterfall without arranging several separate trips.
• The tour is built for cruise schedules: Pickup and return are in Akureyri, with the excursion designed to make good use of a port call.
• Mývatn means bugs are possible: Midges are part of the area, especially around Skútustaðir, so a fine-mesh head net can make the stop more pleasant.
• Hverir is dramatic but not gentle: The boiling mud and fumaroles look otherworldly, but the sulfur smell is strong and there are no facilities at the site.
• The coach can hold up to 50 people: A full departure may mean slower boarding and less personal space, though the bus includes WiFi.

Why This Akureyri Shore Excursion Works

Akureyri is a useful base for seeing North Iceland, but the most striking sights are spread across the countryside. Lake Mývatn is roughly an hour from Akureyri, and reaching the area independently during a short port call takes careful timing. This excursion handles the driving and keeps the route simple.

I like the way the day brings together several sides of Iceland. Goðafoss shows the force of moving water. Dimmuborgir explains what happens when lava cools in unusual conditions. Hverir shows that the earth is still active beneath your feet. Skútustaðir adds a quieter view over the lake and its crater row.

The coach ride also gives your guide room to explain what you are seeing. Guides have talked about volcanic activity, lava formation, Icelandic folklore, geography, and stories of hidden people. That commentary matters here because some sites can look like a jumble of rocks or steam until someone explains how they formed.

The schedule is the compromise. You spend about an hour each way on the road, then have around two and a half hours spread across four stops. That is enough for a useful introduction, not enough for long hikes or a slow picnic beside the lake.

Meeting the Bus in Akureyri

The stated starting point is Gránufélagsgata 51 in Akureyri, and the activity ends back at the meeting point. Since this is sold as a port excursion, check the exact instructions for your departure date rather than relying only on the street address.

The meeting area has been easy to identify for many cruise passengers. Saga Travel staff have used an orange-colored booth near the port gate, with staff in red jackets directing people to the nearby coach. That setup is useful after leaving the ship, but you should still allow time to find the correct staff member and board.

The bus leaves once the group is aboard. Some departures have been nearly full, while another reported departure had only 10 people on a 50-seat coach. You cannot count on having spare seats, so arrive ready to board rather than expecting a relaxed wait.

The coach is clean and has WiFi. The driver is responsible for a long route on Icelandic roads, and the driving has generally been described as smooth and careful. The vehicle is comfortable enough for the distance, though tight seats and slow unloading can be issues when the bus is full.

Goðafoss, the Waterfall of the Gods

Goðafoss is a strong opening or closing sight, depending on how the day is arranged. The Skjálfandafljót glacier river drops about 12 meters into a broad gorge, creating a powerful curtain of water that is easy to appreciate without a hard hike.

You have about 40 minutes here. That gives you time to walk toward the falls, find several viewpoints, and take photographs. The approach is generally easy, but you still need sensible shoes because Icelandic paths can be wet or uneven.

The waterfall is often the favorite stop on this outing, and I understand why. It has scale, sound, and movement, yet you can get close without spending much of your limited time walking. It is also the kind of place where changing weather improves the mood rather than ruining it. Sun, mist, cloud, and wind all alter the view.

A coffee or tea and an Icelandic pastry are included at Hotel Goðafoss. Several people have found this welcome, especially in cold weather. Treat it as a short comfort stop, not a full meal. Lunch is not included, and the break during the day is brief.

Skútustaðir and the Pseudo-Craters

At Skútustaðir, you get a view over Lake Mývatn and its row of pseudo-craters. These formations look like volcanic craters, but they formed when lava flowed over wet ground and trapped steam beneath it. The result is a group of rounded, crater-like shapes without the usual volcanic pipe.

The stop lasts about 20 minutes. That is enough to see the area and take pictures, but not enough for a long walk. There is an information center for the Lake Mývatn Nature Reserve, and free toilets are available here.

The main practical issue is the midges. Lake Mývatn is famous for them, and their presence is part of the reason for the name Mývatn, commonly translated as Midge Lake. They do not bite in the same way as mosquitoes, but clouds of small flies around your face can make photography and conversation annoying.

I would pack a fine-mesh head net if you are sensitive to insects. Mesh hoods can also be bought on site, but carrying one saves time and avoids an unwanted purchase. Keep this stop short, follow the guide’s timing, and do not let the bugs sour the whole area. The crater row is a useful piece of volcanic geography, even if it is not the most dramatic stop of the day.

Dimmuborgir’s Troll-Like Lava Formations

Dimmuborgir is the most atmospheric stop for anyone who likes unusual rock formations and Icelandic folklore. The lava field formed about 2,300 years ago in a lagoon of magma. As the lava cooled, it left behind towers, arches, caves, and bulky formations that can look like frozen trolls.

You have around 50 minutes here, the longest stop in the Mývatn area. That is enough for a moderate walk through part of the formations, though you should not wander far from the route. One person on a previous excursion followed yellow markers too far and ended up about an hour from the coach. Keep your phone with you, note the meeting time, and turn back well before the point where the path begins to feel uncertain.

This is where a good guide adds real value. Danni, for example, led a walk through the formations while explaining the local stories and the geology. Other guides, including Michael, Lukas, and Runar, have been praised for filling the driving time with history, geography, humor, and tales of hidden people.

The ground can be uneven, so wear shoes with a firm sole. The walk is not described as strenuous, but some slopes may trouble anyone with limited mobility. There is a small toilet charge at Dimmuborgir, reported as three Icelandic krona, so carry a little local currency if you want to use it.

Hverir’s Boiling Mud and Sulfur Steam

Namafjall Hverir is the tour’s most raw and divisive stop. The ground is marked by boiling mud pools, steaming fumaroles, and bright mineral colors. It feels less like a park and more like a working piece of the planet.

The stop lasts about 20 minutes. Stay on marked paths and keep your distance from the hot ground. The mud pools are not decorative ponds. They are active geothermal features, and the heat and unstable ground demand care.

The sulfur smell is strong. Some people find it fascinating, while others compare it to a broken sewer. Both reactions are fair. The smell comes from sulfur in the geothermal area, and it may linger in your nose for a while after you leave.

There are no facilities at Hverir. Use the toilet at Skútustaðir or another available stop, and carry water. The site can be windy and exposed, so hold onto hats and loose clothing.

I would not judge this stop only by comfort. Hverir gives you something Goðafoss and Dimmuborgir cannot: a direct look at geothermal activity. Still, if you dislike strong odors, have breathing sensitivities, or prefer gentle scenic stops, this may be the least enjoyable part of the route.

The Coach Ride and the Day’s Pace

The route includes long stretches of countryside between stops. You may see green hay fields, open views, and changing weather, but there are also periods when little is happening outside the window. This is a sightseeing day, not a continuous parade of famous landmarks.

The guide’s commentary becomes important during those quiet stretches. Runar has been praised for mixing geology with stories and humor. Lukas has received strong praise for his talks between stops, and Dodi has been described as warm and entertaining while pointing out sights along the road.

There has been one recurring concern: some people have struggled to understand a guide’s accent or had trouble hearing the audio system from the back of the bus. That is not a problem on every departure, but it is worth knowing. If you cannot hear, say so early rather than waiting until the next stop.

The group size can reach 50. That is large enough to slow boarding and make the bus feel crowded, especially at popular sites. On the other hand, a large coach helps keep the cost below many cruise-ship excursions and provides a predictable structure.

What to Bring for North Iceland’s Fast Weather Changes

Dress for several seasons in one day. You could encounter sun, rain, strong wind, and chilly temperatures during the same six-hour outing.

Pack:

• A waterproof outer layer
• Warm layers that can be removed
• Sturdy walking shoes
• Water and a snack
• A phone or camera with enough battery
• A fine-mesh head net for midges
• Small change for the Dimmuborgir toilet

The tour includes coffee or tea and an Icelandic treat, but lunch is not included. The lunch break is short, and food options may not be available at every stop, so bring something substantial if you need regular meals.

You will walk over paved paths and uneven ground. One cruise passenger recorded close to five miles over the full day, including movement around the stops, so do not treat this as a stay-on-the-bus outing. The walking is generally manageable, but anyone with balance or mobility concerns should ask the operator for current conditions before booking.

Is $171.80 a Fair Price?

At $171.80 per person, this is not a cheap bus ride. It is a packaged shore excursion with port pickup, a driver, a guide, transport for roughly six hours, WiFi, entry-related fees, and the coffee or tea stop.

The value comes from the amount of driving handled for you. Hiring a car for a short port visit would require route planning, fuel, parking, and strict attention to the ship’s departure time. This tour gives you a fixed return and lets you enjoy the scenery rather than navigate.

The price is less convincing if you want long walks, a quiet experience, or a flexible itinerary. A bus carrying up to 50 people cannot linger whenever you find a perfect photo angle. It also cannot replace a full day or two based in the Mývatn area.

For a cruise passenger with one day in Akureyri, I consider the cost reasonable. The itinerary covers the area’s main geological themes and returns you to the port with time to spare on many departures. That return buffer matters more than squeezing in one extra minor stop.

Who Should Book This Tour?

I would choose this excursion if you want a broad introduction to North Iceland and prefer having transport arranged. It suits cruise passengers, first-time visitors, photographers, geology fans, and anyone who wants waterfalls, lava, craters, and geothermal features in one outing.

It also suits you if stories matter as much as scenery. A strong guide can turn the long drives into useful travel time, and guides such as Runar, Lukas, Dodi, Michael, and Aitana have helped make the day more than a sequence of photo stops.

I would think twice if you dislike buses, need a slow schedule, or cannot tolerate midges and sulfur smells. The two Mývatn stops are interesting for geological reasons, but they are not polished attractions. Skútustaðir can be buggy, and Hverir has no services and a sharp odor.

The tour is also less suitable if you hope to hike deeply into Dimmuborgir. You get a short guided walk, not a full exploration of every path.

Final Verdict: A Strong Shore Excursion with Two Rough Edges

I would book this tour for a first visit from Akureyri, mainly because it makes a complicated day simple. Goðafoss is superb, Dimmuborgir is memorable, and Hverir gives you a vivid reminder that Iceland is still geologically restless.

The weaknesses are real: a full coach, limited time, midges, sulfur, and occasional problems hearing the guide. Still, the route is well chosen, the included snack is a welcome touch, and the price compares well with many organized port excursions.

Choose it for range and convenience, not relaxation. If you arrive prepared for wind, bugs, uneven paths, and a quick pace, this tour gives you a memorable slice of North Iceland in one carefully packed day.

FAQ

How long is the Lake Mývatn and Goðafoss tour?

The tour lasts approximately six hours, including travel time between Akureyri and the sightseeing stops.

Where does the tour start?

The stated meeting point is Gránufélagsgata 51, 600 Akureyri, Iceland. Port pickup is included, so check the current instructions for the exact meeting location on your departure date.

Where does the tour end?

The activity ends back at the meeting point in Akureyri.

Is transport from the cruise port included?

Yes. Port transfers and transport by coach are included.

What sights are included?

The tour visits Goðafoss Waterfall, Skútustaðir’s pseudo-crater row, Dimmuborgir lava formations, and Namafjall Hverir’s boiling mud pools and fumaroles.

Is lunch included?

No. Lunch is not included, though the tour takes a short lunch break. A coffee or tea and an Icelandic treat are included at Hotel Goðafoss.

Is there WiFi on the coach?

Yes. WiFi on board is included.

How large can the tour group be?

The tour can have a maximum of 50 participants.

Can I cancel for a full refund?

Yes, if you cancel at least 24 hours before the experience start time. Cancellations or changes made less than 24 hours in advance are not refunded. If poor weather or an insufficient number of participants causes cancellation, you will be offered another date or experience, or a full refund.