Lake Mývatn & Goðafoss Waterfall from Akureyri Port

Iceland packs its wildest scenery into one day. This six-hour excursion links Goðafoss Waterfall with the volcanic sights around Lake Mývatn, including pseudo-craters, lava formations, and steaming mud pools. I especially like the varied route and the chance to see several major sights without arranging a car or worrying about port transport.

I also like the comfortable coach, onboard WiFi, and the included coffee or tea with an Icelandic treat at Hotel Goðafoss. The main caution is that this is a full day with long stretches on the road, a potentially full bus, and two stops where midges or sulfur smells can test your enthusiasm.

Key points before you book

• Four very different sights in six hours: You see a waterfall, crater row, lava formations, and an active geothermal field.
• A strong choice for cruise passengers: Pickup and return are arranged from Akureyri, with the tour ending back at the meeting point.
• Goðafoss is the visual highlight: The waterfall is easy to reach and offers excellent photo angles.
• Mývatn has real trade-offs: The scenery is remarkable, but midges can be bothersome and Hverir smells strongly of sulfur.
• Guiding makes the long drive useful: Guides such as Runar, Lukas, Dodi, Michael, Michiel, and Aitana have been praised for history, geology, humor, and local stories.
• Pack for fast-changing weather: Sun, rain, wind, and cold can all arrive in one afternoon.

A full day of North Iceland in one coach ride

At $171.80 per person, this is not a bargain-basement bus trip, but it can be good value from a cruise port. You get transport, port pickup, a guide, WiFi, entrance fees, and several major sights in one outing. A similar ship-organized excursion can cost much more, while renting a car for a short port call brings its own timing and navigation worries.

The tour is operated by Saga Travel and accepts up to 50 people. That maximum matters. On a quiet departure, you might have plenty of room, but a full coach can mean slower boarding and tighter seats. One practical benefit is that the route covers a lot without asking you to handle Icelandic roads, parking, or weather changes.

The drive itself is part of the experience. Your guide fills the road time with stories about volcanoes, lava, local culture, geology, and folklore. Guides named in past departures include Runar, Lukas, Dodi, Michael, Michiel, Aitana, and Reynor. Most praise has gone to their humor, clear explanations, and ability to answer questions.

There is one fair warning: a few people found a guide’s strong dialect or weak audio difficult to follow. The company responded by asking for the departure date so it could investigate. If the commentary is a major reason you are booking, sit closer to the front and ask the guide to repeat anything you miss.

Akureyri port pickup keeps the morning simple

The advertised start point is Gránufélagsgata 51 in Akureyri, and the activity returns there at the end. For cruise passengers, the practical meeting point is near the port, where Saga Travel staff in red jackets direct people to the coach. An orange Saga Travel booth has also been used as a visible check-in point after disembarkation.

This arrangement is useful because port days can feel rushed. You do not need to locate a rental car, find a bus station, or work out a route to Lake Mývatn. Once everyone is aboard, the coach heads out of Akureyri.

The outing lasts about six hours, including driving. That sounds generous until you consider the distance between Akureyri and the Mývatn area, plus the time needed for four stops. The schedule is efficient rather than leisurely. Some departures have changed the order of stops to avoid crowds and allow more time at each site, but you should still expect a structured day.

The coach is generally described as clean and comfortable, with free WiFi and a careful driver. Restrooms are available at several stops, but not everywhere. Bring water and a small snack because lunch is not included, and the lunch break is short.

Goðafoss: the day’s most rewarding stop

Goðafoss means Waterfall of the Gods, and the name fits the setting. The falls pour from the Skjálfandafljót glacial river into a broad gorge, dropping about 12 meters. You get close enough to feel the scale and power of the water without committing to a difficult walk.

The stop lasts about 40 minutes, enough for photographs and a good look from more than one angle. The path is manageable, but the ground can still be wet or uneven. Wear shoes with a decent grip, especially if rain has passed through.

Many people consider Goðafoss the strongest stop on the route. The water is dramatic, the walk is relatively easy, and the site gives you an immediate sense of Iceland’s raw forces. It also works well for photography because the waterfall is broad and open rather than hidden behind trees.

A cup of coffee or tea and an Icelandic pastry are included at Hotel Goðafoss. Some departures have described the treat as a doughnut, and it makes a welcome pause after the waterfall walk. Restrooms are available there as well.

The hotel stop is a useful comfort break, but do not confuse it with lunch. You will need to plan your own food for the day.

Skútustaðir shows how volcanic craters can form

At Skútustaðir, you look across a row of pseudo-craters beside Lake Mývatn. These formations are not ordinary volcanic cones. They formed when lava flowed over wet ground and trapped steam, producing crater-like mounds without a direct eruption from underground.

The stop lasts around 20 minutes. You get a broad view over the lake and access to an information center for the Lake Mývatn Nature Reserve. It is a quick introduction to the area, not a long hike.

This is also the stop most likely to challenge your patience with midges. Lake Mývatn is famous for them, and the name itself is linked to the local abundance of these small flies. They are not generally dangerous, but they can swarm around your face, especially in calm weather.

Bring a head net if you are sensitive to insects. Fine mesh hoods can be purchased locally, but it is easier to pack one before you leave Akureyri. Long sleeves and a hat also help. Do not let this stop surprise you: the insects are part of the ecosystem, but they can make a short visit feel longer.

There are free toilets at Skútustaðir. That makes this a useful practical stop even if the crater row is not your favorite sight of the day.

Dimmuborgir turns lava into folklore

Dimmuborgir is one of the most atmospheric stops. The name refers to dark lava formations created in a magma-filled lagoon roughly 2,300 years ago. As the lava cooled, it left behind arches, pillars, caves, and twisted shapes that resemble trolls frozen in place.

You have about 50 minutes here, the longest stop on the route. That gives you time for a walk through the formations rather than a quick roadside photograph. The paths include paved and uneven sections, with some gentle slopes. Comfortable shoes are important.

A good guide adds a lot here. Dodi, for example, was praised for taking the group on a roughly 40-minute walk while explaining the geology, history, and stories tied to the rocks. Guides have also pointed out the area where the North American and European tectonic plates are pulling apart.

Stay aware of the time and the route. One family once followed yellow markers too far and ended up about an hour from the bus. The guide was able to help after they made contact, but the lesson is simple: enjoy the walk, keep your phone with you, and turn back well before the coach departure time unless your guide clearly directs you onward.

Toilets at Dimmuborgir may require a small payment. Carry a few Icelandic króna if you want to use them.

Hverir offers steam, color, and a strong smell

Namafjall Hverir is an active geothermal area filled with boiling mud pools, fumaroles, sulfur deposits, and steaming ground. The colors can be striking, with pale earth, yellow mineral stains, gray mud, and clouds of vapor creating an otherworldly scene.

This stop lasts about 20 minutes. There are no facilities at the site, and the sulfur smell is strong. Some people compare it to rotten eggs or a broken sewer pipe. That description is not unfair, but it also misses why the place is worth seeing: you are looking at real geothermal activity close to the surface.

Stay on the marked paths and follow the guide’s instructions. The ground around hot springs can be unstable, and the pools are extremely hot. This is a place for photographs and observation, not wandering wherever you like.

Hverir divides opinion more than the waterfall or lava fields. I would not skip it if you want to understand Iceland’s volcanic character, but I would set your expectations correctly. You are not visiting a polished attraction with cafés and shops. You are visiting a raw geothermal field that smells as active as it looks.

The ride back gives you breathing room

After the Mývatn stops, the coach returns to Akureyri in about an hour. The scenery along the way includes open fields and broad views, though some stretches are simply long drives through green farmland. That is the price of covering this much ground in half a day.

The return journey also gives you time to rest, use the WiFi, sort photographs, or listen to the final stories from your guide. The best guides keep talking without making the bus feel like a classroom. Their commentary has been praised for mixing geology with Icelandic folklore, local history, and humor.

The coach has generally returned on time, and one departure even let passengers off in town at the end. Still, you should confirm the exact return arrangement with the staff before leaving the port area, especially if your ship has a firm departure time.

Weather, clothing, and walking advice

Iceland can deliver several seasons in a single afternoon. You might get sun at the waterfall, rain near the lake, and a cold wind at the geothermal field. Pack a waterproof outer layer, warm layers, gloves or a hat if you feel the cold, and sturdy walking shoes.

The walking is not extreme, but this is not a ride where you simply step off the bus and take one photograph. You may cover several miles over the day, with paved paths, gravel, uneven lava, and gentle slopes. A few older people have found parts of the walking tiring, so pace yourself.

Bring these items:

• Waterproof jacket and trousers
• Warm mid-layer
• Shoes with good grip
• Water and a snack
• Phone or camera
• Small amount of Icelandic króna
• Insect head net or fine mesh hood
• Hand sanitizer, if you prefer having your own

The lunch break is short, and lunch is not included. You should eat before departure or bring something compact. The included coffee, tea, and Icelandic pastry are pleasant, but they are not a meal.

Who gets the best value from this tour?

I would choose this excursion if I had one day in Akureyri and wanted to see the widest range of North Iceland without driving. It suits cruise passengers, first-time visitors, photographers, and anyone who wants a guide to explain the volcanic features rather than simply point them out.

It is also a good fit for families with older children who can manage several walks. The scenery changes often enough to keep the day interesting, although younger children may find the long coach ride less exciting.

I would think twice if you dislike full buses, strong smells, insects, or tightly scheduled stops. A private vehicle would give you more control over timing, food, and which sights to skip. The trade-off is that you would need to handle driving, navigation, parking, and port-day timing yourself.

The rating of 4.8 from 157 reviews, with 97 percent recommending the experience, reflects the tour’s main strengths: a strong route, reliable transport, good guides on most departures, and excellent scenery. It does not erase the smaller issues. Group size, guide audio, weather, midges, and the rushed feel at some stops can affect your day.

Should you book the Lake Mývatn tour?

Book it if you want a practical, well-packed introduction to the volcanic side of Iceland from Akureyri. Goðafoss and Dimmuborgir are the safest bets for memorable scenery, while Hverir and Skútustaðir add useful geological context, even if they come with sulfur and midges.

I would book this for a port day, pack lunch and rain gear, bring insect protection, and aim to sit near the front of the coach. At $171.80, the price makes the most sense when you value convenience and guided commentary. If you want a slow, quiet day with plenty of time at each stop, choose a smaller or private outing instead.

FAQ

How long is the Lake Mývatn and Goðafoss tour?

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

Where does the tour start?

The listed meeting point is Gránufélagsgata 51, 600 Akureyri, Iceland. Cruise passengers are directed from the port to the Saga Travel check-in area and coach.

Where does the tour end?

The activity ends back at the meeting point in Akureyri.

Is lunch included?

No. Lunch is not included, although the tour includes a short lunch break. Coffee or tea and an Icelandic treat are provided at Hotel Goðafoss.

Is transportation included?

Yes. Port transfers and coach transportation are included. WiFi is available onboard.

How many people can join the tour?

The maximum group size is 50 people.

Is the tour offered in English?

Yes. The experience is offered in English. A small number of departures have had audio or strong-dialect issues, so you can ask to sit closer to the guide if clear commentary is important to you.

Can I cancel for a refund?

You can cancel at least 24 hours before the local start time for a full refund. Cancellations or changes made less than 24 hours before departure are not accepted for a refund. If poor weather or insufficient bookings cause the operator to cancel, you will be offered another date or experience, or a full refund.