From Akureyri: Myvatn Lake, Craters, & Waterfall Tour

The strange magic of this tour is how quickly Iceland changes before you. In one day, you go from the broad, foaming curve of Goðafoss to grassy pseudo craters, black lava towers, and sulfur pits that look almost too odd to be real.

I like the efficient route and the guides, especially names such as Nico, Ritchie, Alan, Kjartan, and Richie Rich, who have been praised for humor, clear explanations, and cultural stories. I also like that the tour includes port pickup, drop-off, WiFi, and a packed lunch, making it a practical choice from a cruise ship.

The tradeoff is time. Six hours covers a lot of ground, but several stops are brief, and a late departure or slow boarding can make the final geothermal stop feel rushed. This is a highlights tour, not a slow exploration of the Mývatn area.

Key points to know before booking

• Goðafoss gives you a dramatic first stop: Spend about 45 minutes beside the wide, semicircular waterfall and hear why it is called the Waterfall of the Gods.
• Mývatn’s craters are not ordinary volcanoes: At Skútustaðagígar, steam explosions created the grassy hollows when lava met wet ground.
• Dimmuborgir is the best walking stop: You have about 55 minutes to follow paths through twisted lava formations linked to Icelandic troll stories.
• Námaskarð smells as powerful as it looks: Boiling mud pools and sulfur vents create an otherworldly final sightseeing stop.
• The tour suits cruise passengers: Pickup arrangements cover Tangarbryggja Pier and Oddeyrarbryggja Pier, with return to the starting area in Akureyri.
• The lunch is useful but modest: Expect a sandwich, chocolate, and a drink, not a full sit-down meal.

Why this six-hour route works from Akureyri

This excursion is built around contrast. North Iceland is not just a parade of waterfalls. It is a place where water, lava, steam, and time have worked on one another to produce odd forms at every turn.

From Akureyri, the bus heads east toward the Mývatn region. The listed driving times add up to a substantial part of the day: about 40 minutes to Goðafoss, another 40 minutes to Skútustaðagígar, then shorter hops between the Mývatn stops, followed by an 80-minute return drive. That makes the guide’s commentary important. The road time is not wasted if you enjoy hearing about Icelandic customs, horses, sheep, folklore, and local history.

The bus is also the reason this route offers good value at $187 per person. Renting a car would require driving, navigation, and careful timing around a cruise departure. A private tour would give you more control but usually costs much more. Several guests who compared the excursion with cruise-ship pricing found this independent option close to half the cost for a similar route.

The rating of 4.6 from 793 reviews points to a consistently strong experience, but the details matter more than the number. The most praised parts are the guides, the scenery, and the amount of ground covered. The most common cautions are short stop times, occasional confusion when people board the wrong bus or return late, and a lunch that some found basic.

Goðafoss, where water meets Icelandic history

Goðafoss is a smart opening stop because it delivers an immediate visual jolt. The falls spread across a roughly 30-meter-wide semicircle, pouring over dark volcanic rock in several channels.

You get about 45 minutes here. That is enough time to walk to viewpoints, take photographs, and watch the changing shape of the water. The contrast is the real attraction: white spray and restless water against black stone.

The name means Waterfall of the Gods. Your guide may explain the story linking Goðafoss with Iceland’s conversion from pagan belief to Christianity. In the year 1000, the lawspeaker Þorgeir Ljósvetningagoði is traditionally said to have thrown pagan idols into the falls after Christianity was adopted. The story gives the waterfall more weight than a simple photo stop.

Wear shoes with a firm sole. The time is generous compared with some later stops, but you still need to keep an eye on the bus departure. The area can also be busy when several cruise ships are in Akureyri.

Skútustaðagígar and Mývatn’s unusual pseudo craters

The next major stop is Skútustaðagígar, on the edge of Lake Mývatn. You have about 20 minutes here, so this is a quick look rather than a long walk.

The craters appear volcanic, but they were not formed by lava erupting from underground. Lava flowed across wet ground and marshes, trapping water beneath the hot rock. Steam pressure then caused explosions, leaving the rounded hollows and grassy mounds you see today.

That explanation is worth hearing on site because the formations can look modest at first. Once you understand how they formed, the shapes become much more interesting. You are looking at the remains of steam explosions, not a row of classic volcanic cones.

The stop is short, and that is the main limitation. You will have time to see the craters and take photographs, but not to wander far. If you want a long lakeside walk or detailed birdwatching, this tour will not provide it. The route gives you a useful introduction to Mývatn’s geology before moving on.

Mývatn also has a reputation for tiny flies and midges during warmer months. Some summer visitors found them irritating, especially around the lake. A head net can be useful if you are sensitive to insects, though the supplied information does not promise one or specify conditions on any particular day.

Dimmuborgir, the tour’s best walk

Dimmuborgir means Dark Castles, and the name fits. Here, you leave the bus for roughly 55 minutes and walk among irregular lava formations, arches, walls, and towers.

This is the stop that most benefits from taking your time. The lava did not cool into a smooth field. It hardened into shapes that resemble ruined buildings, animals, and trolls. Icelandic children commonly grow up spotting troll-like figures in lava rock, and your guide may connect the formations with local folklore.

The walking paths let you see the rock from several angles. One formation may look like a doorway from one side and a crouching figure from another. The effect is atmospheric without needing much explanation.

You should still treat this as a short, organized walk. The group must return to the bus on schedule, and the paths can be uneven. Good walking shoes are sensible. The tour does not offer enough time for every route through Dimmuborgir, so think of this as a focused introduction rather than a full hike.

Guides often make this stop memorable with stories. Ritchie Rich was praised for using WhatsApp to share information and map pins, while other guides added folklore and local customs during the drive. The strongest guides on this tour do more than identify rocks. They explain how Icelanders make sense of an environment shaped by darkness, cold, volcanoes, and long winters.

Námaskarð, where the ground seems to boil

At Námaskarð, the scenery changes again. The ground is bare and stained with mineral colors, with steam rising from fumaroles and mud pools bubbling under pressure.

You have about 40 minutes here. That is enough to walk the marked paths, stop at the main hot spots, and take photographs. It is also long enough to notice the sulfur smell. It can be strong, especially when the wind is still. Some people find it fascinating; others will want to get back on the bus quickly.

Do not step beyond the marked paths. This is not a place for improvising a shortcut or testing the ground. The heat below the surface is part of what makes Námaskarð special, but it also makes the safety rules important.

This was one of the most memorable stops for many people because the mud pools and sulfur vents make the area feel unlike the waterfall and lake. The barren setting is not lush or postcard-pretty. It is raw, active, and a little severe. If you want Iceland’s volcanic character without a long hike, this delivers it in a compact visit.

The schedule places Námaskarð near the end, followed by about 80 minutes back to Akureyri. That long drive gives you time to rest, but it also means any delay earlier in the day affects your final stop. Several people enjoyed the itinerary but felt rushed at one or more locations, especially when the bus left late or time was lost counting passengers.

Guides, commentary, and the pace of a group tour

The strongest feature of this trip is the guiding. Names vary by departure, but Nico, Ritchie, Alan, Kjartan, Thor, Lili, Matthias, Ana, and others have been praised for entertaining commentary and practical help.

Alan was noted for giving nearly constant information between stops. Nico was praised for explaining the sights and keeping the group engaged. Richie Rich used a WhatsApp group to share extra information and updates. Ana helped a wheelchair user with access questions, while drivers such as Lucas, Gregory, Soren, and Kelly were praised for safe and capable driving.

That range of comments tells you what to expect. The guide may talk about geology, Christianity, folklore, Icelandic customs, horses, sheep, and local life while you travel. Some people love a steady stream of commentary. If you prefer quiet roads and long stretches of looking out the window, the narration may feel a little much.

Group timing is the other side of the bargain. The bus cannot leave until everyone is accounted for. Late returns, people finding the wrong bus, or confusion at the meeting point can cut into sightseeing. One excursion returned about 45 minutes late, which made some cruise passengers nervous. The tour is designed to return to Akureyri, but you should still keep your own ship’s departure time in mind and avoid treating every minute of the six-hour schedule as guaranteed.

Lunch, comfort stops, and what to bring

The packed lunch is included and is intended to keep the route moving. The listed contents are a chicken or vegan sandwich, a chocolate bar, and a drink. Different details specify the drink as juice or a bottle of water, so confirm what will be handed out when you board.

The lunch received mixed reactions. Some people found the sandwich tasty and satisfying, while others wanted more chicken and less mayonnaise or chose to buy food at a stop. This is not a restaurant meal. It is a practical packed snack that lets the bus keep to its route.

Visitor centers at some sights offer comfort stops and the chance to buy snacks. Still, do not rely on finding a full meal during the day. Bring extra water if you prefer to drink regularly, particularly in dry or windy weather.

Pack layers, waterproof outerwear, and sturdy shoes. Icelandic weather can change quickly, and the tour runs outdoors at waterfalls, craters, lava fields, and geothermal areas. A head net may help around Mývatn in midge season. A phone charger is also worth bringing, since one person specifically missed having a USB charger on the bus.

Port pickup and cruise-day planning

The meeting setup is aimed at cruise passengers. If your ship docks at Tangarbryggja Pier, the guide meets you at the large parking lot at Gránufélagsgata 50. If your ship uses 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 an orange jacket or vest with a BusTravel Iceland logo. Follow the port instructions carefully. A few people had trouble with directions or received an incorrect meeting-point link, so arrive with the details saved on your phone and allow time to find the bus.

Pickup and drop-off at the port add real value. You do not need to arrange a taxi to a distant departure point, and you return to the same general starting place in Akureyri. The tour is offered in English and German.

The tour also allows free cancellation up to 24 hours before departure, and you can reserve now and pay later. Those policies are useful when your cruise schedule or Iceland weather plans are still shifting.

Who should book this Mývatn day trip?

I would choose this tour if you want to see the main sights east of Akureyri in one organized day. It is especially suitable for cruise passengers, first-time visitors to North Iceland, families, and anyone who would rather listen to a guide than manage a rental car.

It is also a good fit if you value variety over depth. You see a waterfall, pseudo craters, lava formations, geothermal mud pools, and a broad slice of volcanic North Iceland without committing to a longer multi-day stay.

I would hesitate if you dislike buses, fixed schedules, or short walks. You cannot linger at every viewpoint, and the group pace may feel hurried. If Dimmuborgir or Mývatn is your main reason for visiting the region, a private tour or a longer stay would give you more freedom.

Should you book it?

Book this tour if your priority is efficient sightseeing from Akureyri. For $187, the route covers four distinct stops, includes port transportation, WiFi, guiding, and a modest lunch, and avoids the cost and responsibility of driving yourself.

Go in with realistic expectations. You are buying a well-planned sampler, not a quiet day beside Lake Mývatn. Keep your shoes practical, bring extra water, watch the departure times, and expect the guide to do much of the storytelling. If that sounds right, this is a strong way to spend a cruise day in North Iceland.

FAQ

How long is the tour from Akureyri?

The tour lasts about six hours, including transportation between Akureyri and the Mývatn region.

What sights are included?

The route includes Goðafoss Waterfall, Skútustaðagígar and its pseudo craters, Dimmuborgir lava formations, and the Námaskarð geothermal area.

Is hotel or port pickup included?

Port pickup and drop-off are included. The meeting point depends on your ship’s berth, with arrangements for Tangarbryggja Pier and Oddeyrarbryggja Pier.

What languages are available?

Live guiding is available in English and German.

Is lunch included?

Yes. The packed lunch includes a chicken or vegan sandwich, a chocolate bar, and a drink. Tour information specifies either a water bottle or juice, so confirm the exact drink provided.

How much walking is involved?

The tour includes sightseeing walks at Goðafoss, Skútustaðagígar, Dimmuborgir, and Námaskarð. Dimmuborgir has about 55 minutes set aside for walking, while the other stops are shorter.

Can I cancel the booking?

You can cancel up to 24 hours before the tour for a full refund. The tour also offers a reserve-now, pay-later option.