From Akureyri: Diamond Circle Tour with Waterfalls

Godafoss and Dettifoss give this North Iceland tour its real punch. One is graceful and broad, the other thunderous and raw. Between them, you get volcanic craters, a lava maze, steaming mud, a cave, and the horseshoe-shaped Asbyrgi Canyon.

I like the range of scenery and the personal guiding, especially with Ingimundur Robertsson, known as Ingi. I also like that small groups can sometimes allow extra stops, including a surprise puffin or whale viewpoint. The main drawback is the pace: this is a long road day, and some stops may feel short.

The route covers a remarkable amount of ground from Akureyri, but you should prepare for several hours on the bus. Warm clothes, sturdy walking shoes, water, and realistic expectations about Icelandic weather will make the day much easier.

Key points to know before booking

• Godafoss opens the day with an easy, dramatic waterfall stop that gives you a quick taste of North Iceland’s power and beauty.
• Dettifoss is the day’s great spectacle, with a one-hour visit planned around Europe’s most powerful waterfall.
• Lake Myvatn brings the greatest variety, from Skútustaðagígar’s pseudocraters to Dimmuborgir’s black lava formations.
• Ingi’s local stories are a major part of the experience, mixing Icelandic sagas, facts, humor, and memories from growing up in the region.
• The route is weather-sensitive and physically active, with walking at waterfalls, lava fields, a canyon, and geothermal ground.
• The $330 price buys a full guided day, but food and drinks are extra and the timing can stretch beyond the stated eight hours.

Why this Diamond Circle route is worth your day

North Iceland rewards people who like variety. You are not spending eight hours looking at one type of scenery. The route moves from a waterfall to volcanic landforms, then to steaming ground, a canyon, and another waterfall that feels much wilder.

That variety is the best reason to choose this tour from Akureyri. You get the major sights around Lake Myvatn and the eastern part of the Diamond Circle without arranging several separate trips. A guide also gives the places a story. Ingi is described as personable, funny, and deeply familiar with the area. His stories about Icelandic sagas, local life, and his own childhood can turn a long bus ride into part of the day rather than dead time.

The tour is also useful if you are visiting by cruise ship or have only one day based in Akureyri. One guide took care to return a group in time for its ship, which is an important point for port visitors. Still, I would confirm your return margin before booking. This is a route with long distances and weather that can affect timing.

The advertised duration is eight hours, while the detailed stop and driving plan describes a very full day, and some departures have lasted closer to nine hours. Think of it as a full-day outing rather than a neatly timed city excursion.

Godafoss: a strong opening stop

The first major stop is Goðafoss, about 30 minutes from the Hof Cultural and Conference Centre in Akureyri. The waterfall is wide, curved, and easy to appreciate without a hard hike. Its name is usually translated as Waterfall of the Gods, which gives Ingi plenty of room for Icelandic stories and history.

You have about 40 minutes here. That is enough to walk to viewpoints, take photographs, and see the water spilling over its low rock ledges. The setting is open and dramatic, with the falls framed by dark volcanic land and the broad sky of northern Iceland.

I would like a little more time here if photography is a priority. One person specifically wished for a longer stop at Godafoss, along with more time at the pseudocraters later in the day. That is the tradeoff of this route: it gives you many major sights, but each stop has a clock.

Wear shoes with a firm sole. Even an easy waterfall walk is less pleasant in wet or slippery footwear, and the weather can change quickly.

Skútustaðagígar and the Myvatn region

After another drive, the tour reaches Skútustaðagígar, a group of pseudocraters beside Lake Myvatn. The planned visit is brief, about 15 minutes, so think of this as a viewpoint and short walk rather than a full hike.

These rounded formations are not ordinary volcanic cones. Their shape comes from steam explosions when hot lava met wet ground. You can see why the area is important even during a short visit: the terrain looks almost artificial, with low circular forms spread around the lake.

This stop is one of the places most likely to feel rushed. If you enjoy geology or want time to walk around the craters, 15 minutes will pass quickly. Still, it adds a useful piece of context before the tour moves into the darker lava formations of Dimmuborgir.

The Lake Myvatn district is one of the strongest sections of the day because the scenery keeps changing. Water, volcanic vents, pseudocraters, lava rock, and geothermal heat all sit within the same broad region.

Dimmuborgir: walking through black lava

Dimmuborgir means Dark Fortress, and the name suits the place. You walk through a maze of jagged lava shapes formed by an ancient eruption. The rock walls and towers create narrow paths and odd silhouettes, giving you one of the most memorable walks on the route.

About 50 minutes are set aside here. That is enough for a taste of the area and a chance to stretch your legs after the bus ride. It is not a long wilderness hike, but you should still wear comfortable walking shoes and outdoor clothing.

I like this stop because it feels different from a standard waterfall viewpoint. You are moving through the volcanic material rather than simply looking at it from a distance. The shapes also give the guide a natural place to explain Iceland’s volcanic past and local folklore.

The paths can be uneven. If you have limited mobility, ask about the walking conditions before booking, since the tour includes visits to Dimmuborgir, the waterfalls, Asbyrgi, and geothermal ground.

Grjótagjá and the crack between tectonic plates

Grjótagjá is a short but unusual stop. A large crack cuts through the earth, and a small hot spring lagoon sits inside a cave. The visit is planned for about 15 minutes, so you will have time to look into the cave and hear about the tectonic forces that shaped the area.

This is not a swimming stop. The tour description presents it as a place to see the cave, the fissure, and the hot water. Keep your expectations focused on geology and atmosphere rather than a bathing experience.

Grjótagjá works well as a contrast to Dimmuborgir. At the lava maze, the volcanic rock spreads across the surface. Here, the ground opens into a cave. It is a compact stop, but it helps you understand how active and fractured this region is.

Hverir: steam, mud, and a strong smell of sulfur

At Hverir, the scenery changes again. The geothermal area is marked by bubbling mud pits and steaming ground. The colors are earthy and intense, and the air may carry the unmistakable smell of sulfur.

The planned visit lasts about 20 minutes. That is enough to see the main features and take photographs, but stay on marked paths and follow the guide’s instructions. Geothermal ground can be dangerous, even when it looks calm.

This is one place where a guide adds real practical value. Ingi can point out what you are seeing and help you take in the area without wandering onto unsafe ground. The stop is short, but the visual change from cold lake and black lava to boiling earth makes it memorable.

Bring water for the day, but do not expect food and drinks to be included. Refreshments may be available at some roadside stops, but this is not guaranteed. Pack something small if you know you will need food between stops.

Dettifoss: the day’s loudest moment

Dettifoss is the main event for many people. It is described as Europe’s most powerful waterfall, and the sight is built around force rather than delicacy. The water drops through a stark, rugged setting with spray, dark rock, and a deep sense of motion.

The stop lasts about one hour. That gives you time to walk to the viewpoint, take photographs, and simply watch the falls. The bus ride to this part of the route is long, but the scale of Dettifoss makes the distance worthwhile.

Bring a waterproof layer for yourself and your camera. Even if rain stays away, spray can reach the viewing area. A warm outer layer matters here because open viewpoints can feel cold, especially when you stop moving.

The precise feel of the visit can depend on conditions. Fog, wind, rain, or low cloud may soften the view, but the sound and force of the falls still make an impression. This is a place to give yourself time to look rather than rush through a checklist.

Asbyrgi Canyon and the story of Sleipnir

The final major stop is Ásbyrgi, a huge horseshoe-shaped canyon linked in Icelandic legend to Sleipnir, Odin’s eight-legged horse. According to the story, one of Sleipnir’s hooves touched the ground and formed the canyon.

You have about an hour here, with time for a walk and viewpoints. After the bare rock and geothermal areas earlier in the day, Asbyrgi can feel calmer and more sheltered. Its scale is hard to grasp from one angle, so walking gives you a better sense of the enclosing cliffs.

This is another reason good guiding matters. The canyon has both a physical explanation and a mythic one, and Iceland is at its best when those two ways of understanding a place sit side by side. Ingi’s use of saga stories and local memories appears to be a defining part of the day.

After Asbyrgi, the return drive to Akureyri is listed at about two hours and 15 minutes. That is a long final stretch, especially after walking all day. Use the earlier stops to eat, drink water, and rest when you can.

What the guide adds to the day

The strongest praise for this outing centers on Ingi, or Ingimundur Robertsson. He is described as patient with older people, attentive to different needs, funny, and passionate about his home region.

That matters on a route with so much time in the vehicle. A guide who only points out names would leave you with a string of stops. A guide who shares local stories, facts, humor, and personal memories gives the route a human connection.

Small groups can also change the feel of the day. One family found itself as the only group on its departure, making the outing feel almost private. Another group appreciated flexible timing and extra scenic stops, including a viewpoint for puffins and a whale. Those additions are not guaranteed, but they show what may be possible when the group is small and the schedule allows.

You should not book this expecting a private tour every time. The experience depends on the departure size, timing, weather, and guide. But the format has room for a more personal feel than a large coach excursion.

Price, pace, and practical value

At $330 per person, this is not a cheap day out. The value comes from the distance covered, the number of major natural sights, the guiding, and the convenience of starting and finishing in Akureyri.

You are paying to reach places that are difficult to combine without your own vehicle. Godafoss, the Myvatn area, Dettifoss, and Asbyrgi are spread across a large part of North Iceland. Driving yourself would give you more control, but it would also require navigation, fuel, careful timing, and confidence with Icelandic roads and weather.

The price does not include meals, drinks, or personal expenses. Plan for that before you leave. Water is specifically recommended, and a packed snack is sensible because stop facilities are not guaranteed.

The main value question is pace. If you prefer to spend half a day at one waterfall or wander slowly through a lava field, this route may feel too compressed. If you want to see the major sights in one ambitious day and hear local stories along the way, the price is easier to justify.

Free cancellation is available up to 24 hours before departure, and you can reserve now and pay later. The tour is conducted in English.

Who should book this tour?

I would choose this tour if I had one full day in Akureyri and wanted the broadest possible look at North Iceland without renting a car. It suits people who enjoy natural sights, short walks, geology, folklore, and a guide who adds personality to the route.

It is also a good match for cruise passengers, provided you leave enough margin for the return to the ship. The day can run long, so do not plan a tight appointment immediately afterward.

Families and older visitors can enjoy it, but everyone should be comfortable with a long bus day and several walks. Ingi’s patience with senior participants is encouraging, yet the route remains active and the ground is not always smooth.

I would think twice if you dislike long drives, need a slow pace, or want guaranteed time at every stop. The tour covers a lot, and that means some visits are short. Weather can also shape what you see, so bring proper outdoor clothing rather than relying on a light jacket.

FAQ

Where does the tour start and finish?

The tour starts and returns to the Hof Cultural and Conference Centre in Akureyri.

How long does the tour last?

The stated duration is eight hours. The detailed driving and sightseeing schedule creates a very full day, and some departures have lasted closer to nine hours.

What language is the tour conducted in?

The live guided tour is conducted in English.

Which major sights are included?

The route includes Goðafoss Waterfall, Skútustaðagígar, Dimmuborgir, Grjótagjá Cave, Hverir, Dettifoss, and Ásbyrgi Canyon.

Is food or drink included?

No. Meals and drinks are not included. You should bring water, and a snack is sensible because refreshments are not guaranteed at every stop.

What should I bring?

Bring comfortable walking shoes, warm clothing, outdoor clothing, water, and a camera.

Is smoking allowed?

No. Smoking is not allowed on the activity.

Can I cancel the booking?

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund.

Can I reserve now and pay later?

Yes. The activity offers a reserve-now, pay-later option.

Should you book it?

Book this Diamond Circle tour if you want one packed day of North Iceland’s major natural sights, with local stories and a guide who may add extra stops when time allows. The combination of Godafoss, Lake Myvatn, Dettifoss, and Asbyrgi is excellent.

Skip it if your priority is a slow, unhurried visit or if you dislike long drives. At $330, the tour earns its price through distance, variety, and guiding, but you pay with a demanding schedule. Bring food, wear proper shoes, and accept that Icelandic weather may have the final word.