Diamond Circle Myvatn Waterfalls, and Husavik from Akureyri Tour

Northern Iceland packs an astonishing amount into one day. This tour links two major waterfalls, volcanic Lake Mývatn, steaming mud pools, Ásbyrgi canyon, and Húsavík without asking you to drive unfamiliar roads. You get a broad look at the region in about eight hours, with the hardest work handled from the driver’s seat.

I especially like the chance to see Dettifoss and Ásbyrgi in the same outing, since both are far from Akureyri and awkward to combine without a vehicle. I also like the guides who keep the long road sections lively with local stories, music, and practical timing reminders. The main catch is simple: this is a very full day, and some stops may be shorter than the posted schedule.

Key points to know before you book

• Dettifoss is the day’s great physical spectacle: Expect thunderous water, spray, dark rock, and several viewpoints.
• Ásbyrgi brings a calmer contrast: Its horseshoe canyon, tall cliffs, birdlife, and Botnstjorn pond give you time to slow down.
• The bus ride is part of the experience: You cover a large stretch of northern Iceland, but some passengers find the driving tiring.
• Húsavík is a brief town stop: The advertised time includes the wider transfer, while time in the town itself may be around 20 minutes.
• Food is basic: A sandwich and bottle of water may be provided after Dettifoss, but bring extra snacks and water.
• Cruise passengers need a clear meeting plan: The pickup area can be busy, so confirm the local operator name and exact meeting point.

Why this northern Iceland route works

At $214 per person, this is not a cheap bus ride. It is a practical way to reach sights spread across a large part of northern Iceland, especially if you are staying in Akureyri without a rental car or have only one day in port.

The value comes from the number of major sights packed into the route. You see Godafoss early, cross the volcanic country around Lake Mývatn, visit Námaskarð’s geothermal fields, continue to Dettifoss and Ásbyrgi, then loop toward Húsavík before returning to Akureyri.

That range is impressive, but it creates a tradeoff. You are not getting a slow, intimate visit to each place. You are getting a high-yield overview, with timed walks and long stretches in the coach between them.

The maximum group size is 65 people, so this is a large-group excursion rather than a small minibus trip. The upside is a generally lower price than many private options. The downside is that loading and unloading a full coach can eat into your time, especially when someone is late returning.

Guides vary. Ivy has been praised for adding extra puffin stops and even live music with her father. Harold has entertained groups with Icelandic music and local stories. Ritchie has used WhatsApp to share updates and photographs, while Una has been especially firm about keeping to the schedule. Your guide will shape the day, so expect a range of styles rather than a single fixed presentation.

Godafoss gives you a strong start

After roughly 30 minutes on the road from Akureyri, you reach Godafoss, the Waterfall of the Gods. This is an excellent first stop because it gives you immediate drama without requiring a long hike.

You have about 90 minutes here, enough to walk between several viewpoints and frame the falls from different angles. The river spreads across a broad horseshoe of dark rock, and the low profile makes it easy to understand the shape of the falls from the surrounding paths.

I like this stop as a warm-up because you can get good photographs quickly, then use the remaining time for a closer look. You do not need special fitness for the basic viewpoints, but Icelandic weather can make even a short walk feel sharp. A waterproof shell and shoes with a firm grip are sensible.

Godafoss is also one of the more forgiving stops if the weather turns poor. You can see the main feature without committing to a long exposed walk, unlike some later stops where wind and rain may feel more serious.

Lake Mývatn reveals Iceland’s volcanic side

The route then moves into the Lake Mývatn area, one of northern Iceland’s most unusual settings. The lake is surrounded by volcanic forms, including dozens of craters created by ancient eruptions.

The scheduled visit is about an hour, but the exact experience can vary. Some departures make a short viewpoint stop, while others spend more time driving around the area. On a busy day, or when the tour runs in reverse, Lake Mývatn may feel more like a scenic drive than a full lakeside visit.

That is worth knowing before you book. If your main goal is a long walk beside the water or a detailed visit to every volcanic feature, this tour will feel rushed. If you want a useful introduction from the coach and a good photo stop, it delivers more comfortably.

The appeal is the contrast. Godafoss is all moving water and sound. Around Mývatn, the view opens into low volcanic ridges, crater shapes, and broad skies. Your guide may add background on the eruptions and the way they shaped the area, but the scenery does much of the talking.

Námaskarð looks like another planet

At Námaskarð, the ground becomes bare, colorful, and intensely active. Boiling mud pools bubble in the open air, hot springs send up sulfuric steam, and minerals stain the earth in yellow, orange, gray, and red tones.

You have about an hour here. That is enough for a close look at the geothermal features, though you should stay on marked paths and pay attention to signs. The ground around hot springs is not a place for casual wandering.

The sulfur smell can be strong. Some people find it fascinating, while others will want to keep their distance from the steam. I consider this one of the most distinctive stops because it looks and feels unlike the green fields and waterfalls elsewhere in the day.

A rain jacket helps here, but layers matter more than a single heavy coat. The weather can shift quickly, and the open terrain offers little shelter. One departure began in mild sunshine and later met freezing wind and horizontal rain, so pack as if the forecast is only a suggestion.

Dettifoss supplies the day’s biggest shock

Dettifoss is the emotional center of the route. It is known as Europe’s most powerful waterfall, and the first impression is less about elegance than force. Water surges over the edge in a broad gray-white wall, throwing spray into the air and making the surrounding rock seem small.

The stop lasts about 90 minutes on paper. In practice, the time you get at the viewpoints depends on the route order, road conditions, group timing, and the guide’s decisions. I would gladly take every available minute here, because the scale rewards patience.

You may be able to see the falls from more than one vantage point, each offering a different sense of the drop and the canyon. The paths can be exposed, and wind or rain can make the walk harder than the distance suggests. Keep your phone and camera protected from spray, and do not assume that a sunny start in Akureyri will follow you this far.

This is also where the simple lunch arrangement matters. A sandwich and bottle of water are provided on some departures after the Dettifoss stop. That is useful, but it is not a full meal. Bring a refillable bottle and extra food such as fruit, trail mix, or a snack bar. The next chance to buy food may be limited, and a long day on a bus feels much longer when you are hungry.

Ásbyrgi gives the route a quieter finish

Ásbyrgi is a broad horseshoe-shaped canyon surrounded on three sides by cliffs rising as high as 330 feet. Compared with Dettifoss, it feels quiet and spacious.

You have roughly 90 minutes here, allowing time to appreciate the shape of the canyon and walk toward Botnstjorn, an idyllic pond in its deepest section. Birdlife is another part of the appeal, and some departures have added short stops to see puffins near the coast.

This stop suits you if you like scenery that rewards looking around rather than rushing toward one famous object. The cliffs create a strong sense of enclosure, while the vegetation and pond soften the dark volcanic rock.

Ásbyrgi is also one reason the tour requires patience. It lies well beyond the more compact sights around Mývatn, so reaching it means accepting a long day on the road. If you want only waterfalls and geothermal areas, the distance may feel excessive. If you want a fuller picture of northern Iceland, the canyon earns its place.

Húsavík is a quick look at a fishing town

Húsavík is known as Iceland’s whale-watching capital and gained extra fame through the Netflix film Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga. The town has a scenic harbor and one of Iceland’s most attractive churches.

The important practical detail is timing. The overall schedule lists about 90 minutes for this part of the route, but the actual stop in Húsavík may be only around 20 minutes. Much of the listed time includes the scenic drive from Ásbyrgi and the return journey toward Akureyri.

That is enough for a few harbor photographs and a quick look around, but not enough for whale watching, a museum visit, or a relaxed search for film locations. If seeing the Eurovision bar is a personal priority, you should arrange a separate Húsavík visit rather than count on this tour.

Local conditions can change the stop. A festival once prevented a proper visit, resulting in a drive-through instead. On another departure, the shorter Húsavík visit meant the group returned to Akureyri earlier than expected. Treat this section as a brief town glimpse, not a central attraction.

The long bus ride deserves honest attention

The coach makes this route possible, but transportation is also its main weakness. You spend many hours moving between distant sights, and the day can feel tiring even when every stop is worthwhile.

Onboard Wi-Fi is included, which helps during the long stretches. It lets you send a message, check information, or pass the time, but it does not remove the basic fact that this is a full day of sitting and getting on and off a bus.

The best guides make a real difference. Una has been described as clear and firm about departure times, explaining that lingering at one stop means cutting time from another. That is exactly the right approach for a schedule this tight. Other guides, including Harold and Ivy, have used humor, music, and local stories to keep the road sections enjoyable.

Not every guide will suit every personality. One poor experience involved a guide who was perceived as rude and disorganized, with missed or shortened stops. That appears to be an exception rather than the normal pattern, but it is a useful reminder that a large tour depends heavily on the person managing the day.

Timing, food, and meeting point tips

The listed start point is Gránufélagsgata 50 in Akureyri, and the activity ends back at the meeting point. Cruise passengers are generally returned to the port area, but you should allow time to identify the correct bus.

The pickup zone can have many coaches parked close together. Look for the local operator, BusTravel Iceland, rather than relying only on a general booking-company name. If you are coming off a cruise ship, confirm the pickup time directly and do not assume a bus will wait for a delayed disembarkation.

A few practical items will improve the day:

• Bring more water and food than the basic lunch provides.
• Pack waterproof outer layers, gloves, a hat, and several light layers.
• Keep your camera protected at Dettifoss and in wet weather.
• Follow the guide’s return times closely.
• Contact the operator directly about dietary needs, especially vegetarian food.
• Save the operator’s contact details in case the pickup area is crowded.

Most people can participate, but the day involves walking at waterfalls, geothermal areas, and a canyon. You should be comfortable getting on and off the coach several times and walking outdoors in changing conditions.

How the $214 price measures up

The $214 price is reasonable if you value coverage. You are paying for round-trip transportation, a full day of guiding, Wi-Fi, and access to sights that are expensive and time-consuming to connect independently.

It is less compelling if you prefer slow visits, small groups, or complete control over your schedule. A large coach cannot stop every time you see an appealing viewpoint, and the itinerary has little spare time for delays.

Compared with a cruise excursion, the price can offer good value, particularly because the route includes both Dettifoss and Ásbyrgi. The tradeoff is that cruise passengers must pay close attention to return timing. One departure arrived later than expected after a fuel stop and schedule delays, while other departures returned with time to spare.

Free cancellation is available up to 24 hours before departure. If poor weather or too few bookings cause cancellation, you are offered another date, an alternative experience, or a full refund. Minimum numbers matter, especially for people booking outside the cruise season, so avoid building an entire Iceland itinerary around this one departure unless you have a backup plan.

Should you book the Diamond Circle tour from Akureyri?

I would book this tour if you have one day in Akureyri and want the widest possible sample of northern Iceland without driving. Dettifoss, Ásbyrgi, Godafoss, and Námaskarð make a powerful combination, and good guides can turn the long road into part of the fun.

I would skip it if your priorities are a leisurely Húsavík visit, whale watching, extended time at Lake Mývatn, or a small-group experience. You should also think twice if you dislike strict schedules or long coach rides.

For most people, the decision comes down to ambition. This is a big day with basic food and variable stop times, but it reaches places that are difficult to see on your own from Akureyri. Pack warmly, bring snacks, confirm the pickup details, and treat Húsavík as a short bonus rather than the main event.

FAQ

How long is the Diamond Circle tour from Akureyri?

The tour lasts approximately eight hours and returns to the meeting point in Akureyri.

Where does the tour start?

The listed meeting point is Gránufélagsgata 50, 600 Akureyri, Iceland.

Which sights are included?

The route includes Godafoss, the Lake Mývatn area, Námaskarð, Dettifoss, Ásbyrgi, and Húsavík.

Is admission to the stops included?

There are no separate admission charges listed for the stops included in this experience.

Is Húsavík a long stop?

The Húsavík portion is listed as about 90 minutes, but the actual time in town may be around 20 minutes because the wider section includes driving from Ásbyrgi and back toward Akureyri.

Is lunch included?

A simple sandwich and bottle of water may be provided after the Dettifoss stop. You should bring extra food and water because the included meal is limited.

Is the tour suitable for cruise passengers?

It is designed to work with port visits, but you should confirm the pickup details and allow time to find the correct bus among other coaches at the cruise terminal.

What happens if the tour is canceled?

If poor weather or the minimum number of participants causes cancellation, you can choose another date or experience, or receive a full refund. Free cancellation is also available up to 24 hours before the start time.