From Akureyri: Myvatn Lake, Craters, & Waterfall Tour

Volcanic Iceland gets wonderfully strange here. This six-hour trip from Akureyri packs Goðafoss, Lake Mývatn, Dimmuborgir, and Námaskarð into one well-planned day, giving you a strong taste of North Iceland without needing a rental car. I like the mix of waterfalls, pseudo craters, lava formations, and steaming mud pools. I also like that pickup, return, WiFi, and a packed lunch are included.

The tradeoff is time. You cover a lot of ground, with roughly 80 minutes on the return drive alone, and some stops can feel brisk. If you want long walks or quiet time at each site, a private tour or overnight stay around Mývatn would suit you better. For a cruise visit, though, the $187 price is strong value, especially when compared with ship-sponsored excursions covering the same sights.

The key details at a glance

• Goðafoss arrives first: You get 45 minutes at the broad, 30-meter waterfall, enough for photographs from more than one viewpoint.
• Mývatn’s craters are not true volcanoes: At Skútustaðagígar, you see grassy pseudo craters formed by steam explosions when hot lava met wet ground.
• Dimmuborgir feels like another world: The 55-minute walk passes through dark lava formations with plenty of troll-like shapes to spot.
• Námaskarð brings the smell of sulfur: Boiling mud pools and steaming ground create the tour’s most unusual stop, but you must stay on marked paths.
• The guide can make or break the day: Guides such as Nico, Ritchie, Alan, Kjartan, Matthias, Ana, and others have earned praise for lively commentary and local stories.
• This is built for cruise schedules: Port pickup and drop-off make it convenient, but late departures or slow passengers can cut into time at the final stop.

Why Mývatn is worth the long ride from Akureyri

North Iceland has a different feel from the more familiar southern route. Around Mývatn, volcanic activity shaped nearly every view: lava spread across wetlands, steam burst through the ground, and geothermal heat still bubbles below the surface.

The drive from the Akureyri meeting point to Goðafoss takes about 40 minutes. You meet at the large parking area on Gránufélagsgata 50 if your ship uses Tangarbryggja Pier. If your ship docks at Oddeyrarbryggja Pier, the guide meets you at the visitor center by the cruise port before directing you to the bus.

Look for an orange jacket or vest marked BusTravel Iceland. That detail matters because cruise ports can be busy, and finding the right coach quickly helps protect your sightseeing time.

The buses have WiFi, and the guide speaks English or German. The tour uses a coach rather than a small private vehicle, so expect a shared group and a fixed schedule. That structure keeps the day affordable and lets you see four major sights, but it also means you need to return to the bus promptly.

Goðafoss: a powerful first stop after 40 minutes

Goðafoss means Waterfall of the Gods, and the name comes with a piece of Icelandic religious history. According to the traditional story, the falls became linked with Iceland’s shift from pagan worship to Christianity.

The water pours across a curved rock shelf in a broad semicircle about 30 meters wide. White water against black volcanic rock gives the falls a sharp, graphic look, especially in clear weather. You have about 45 minutes here, which is a sensible opening stop: enough time to see the falls, take photographs, and walk between viewpoints without turning the morning into a race.

I like the way Goðafoss sets up the rest of the trip. It gives you a dramatic waterfall first, then the day moves into increasingly unusual volcanic terrain. If weather is cold, foggy, or wet, bring a waterproof outer layer. Several people have enjoyed the stop even in poor weather, but the views are much easier to appreciate when the sky clears.

Skútustaðagígar and the science behind pseudo craters

After another 40-minute drive, the bus reaches Skútustaðagígar on the edge of Lake Mývatn. The stop lasts about 20 minutes, so this is more of a focused viewpoint and short walk than a full exploration.

The rounded grassy mounds look like small volcanic cones, but they formed differently. Lava flowed into the wetlands beside the lake. Water trapped beneath the hot lava turned to steam, causing explosions that shaped the crater-like hollows.

That distinction gives the stop real value. You are not just looking at attractive green bumps beside a lake. You are seeing evidence of a specific meeting between lava and water, a process that helped create Mývatn’s unusual appearance.

Twenty minutes is enough to understand the site and take photographs, but not enough for a long walk. Keep your camera ready and listen closely to the explanation before wandering off. This is one of the stops most affected by a late departure from Akureyri.

Dimmuborgir: dark lava, trolls, and a 55-minute walk

Dimmuborgir, often translated as Dark Fortress or Dark Cities, is the most atmospheric stop on the route. The bus ride from Skútustaðagígar takes about 10 minutes, and you then have roughly 55 minutes to walk through the lava field.

The formations are not smooth black rocks scattered at random. You see arches, towers, walls, and twisted shapes left behind as lava cooled. Icelandic children often identify troll-like figures in these formations, and it is easy to understand why. The place encourages a little imagination without needing much decoration from a guide.

The walking time is generous enough to make this more than a roadside photo stop. Still, it is not a long hike through every path in Dimmuborgir. Stay with the group’s timing, wear shoes suited to uneven ground, and do not assume that one photograph captures the full character of the area.

This is also where the packed lunch may become practical. The meal includes a chicken or vegan sandwich, a chocolate bar, and juice, with a water bottle included in the tour information. The food is meant to keep the schedule moving, not replace a restaurant lunch.

Opinions on the sandwich have been mixed. Some people found it tasty and satisfying, while others wanted less mayonnaise and more chicken. A few passengers preferred buying extra food at visitor centers. If you have a large appetite or strict dietary needs, consider bringing additional snacks. The vegan option is specifically available, but other dietary choices are not described.

Námaskarð: sulfur, mud pools, and a harsh volcanic setting

A short 15-minute drive brings you to Námaskarð, also known as the Hverir geothermal area. This is the tour’s strangest stop and one of its most memorable.

The ground here is barren and marked by geothermal activity. Mud pools bubble, steam rises, and yellow-orange mineral colors appear around the hot ground. The smell of sulfur is strong. You may recognize it as an odor similar to rotten eggs, though the setting is far more striking than that comparison suggests.

You have about 40 minutes to walk around. Stay on the marked paths. This is not a place for wandering across open ground, and the safety rule is especially important around boiling mud and hot springs.

The stop can feel almost unreal after the green craters and dark lava. It is also the place where weather and crowd levels matter most. On a clear day, the colors and steam show well. In wind or rain, the smell can feel stronger and the exposed setting less comfortable. Bring a waterproof jacket and keep your time here focused.

The return to Akureyri takes about 80 minutes. That long final ride gives you a chance to rest, but it also explains why a late start can matter. Some past departures ran late, and passengers felt rushed at Námaskarð or returned to port later than expected. The operator generally aims to keep the schedule moving, but shared tours depend on everyone returning to the bus on time.

The guide often adds more than the stops themselves

The strongest part of this trip may be the guiding. Several guides have received particularly warm praise for clear explanations, humor, and stories about Icelandic culture.

Nico has been noted for entertaining, detailed commentary, while Ritchie has used WhatsApp to share information, location pins, and links during the day. Alan received praise for maintaining a near-constant stream of information between stops. Kjartan has been appreciated for going beyond standard tourist facts and discussing Icelandic customs and family stories.

Other praised guides include Matthias, Ana, Elsa, Pierre, Thor, Lili, and Vik. Ana even sang for the group on one departure, while another guide mixed local folklore with stories about Icelandic elves and school traditions. The exact personality depends on your assigned guide, but the pattern is clear: this is not a silent transfer between viewpoints.

That much commentary suits you if you like learning while you ride. It may feel repetitive if you have already spent several days in Iceland hearing the same material about sheep, horses, and rural life. One practical tip is to treat the bus rides as part of the tour, but take a short rest when you need it.

Value at $187, especially for cruise passengers

At $187 per person, this is not a cheap half-day outing. Iceland is expensive, and the tour involves a long drive, a coach, a guide, port transfers, WiFi, and lunch.

The value looks better when you compare the route with a cruise excursion. Several passengers have found this option roughly half the price of a similar ship excursion while covering the same main sights. You also avoid the hassle of arranging a rental car for a single port day and navigating unfamiliar roads in changing weather.

The packed lunch is adequate rather than special. A sandwich, chocolate bar, juice, and water bottle keep the day simple, but you may want extra snacks. Visitor centers at some stops provide opportunities for comfort breaks and additional purchases, though stopping to buy food can reduce sightseeing time.

I would call the price fair for a cruise passenger who wants the main Mývatn sights in one day. It is less compelling if you are staying in Akureyri for several days and can rent a car or book a smaller private outing, since you would gain more freedom and time at each site.

Timing, comfort, and practical concerns

The listed schedule totals six hours, with about 40 minutes to Goðafoss, 40 minutes onward to Skútustaðagígar, 10 minutes to Dimmuborgir, 15 minutes to Námaskarð, and 80 minutes back to Akureyri.

That leaves roughly two and a half hours at the major stops. The plan is efficient, but not slow. You should expect to take photographs, hear an explanation, walk a little, and return to the bus. You will not have time to explore every trail around Mývatn.

Comfort stops are available at visitor centers, and the coach has WiFi. A USB charger was not available on at least one departure, so charge your phone before leaving. You will use it often for photographs, especially at Goðafoss and Dimmuborgir.

Midges can be a nuisance around Mývatn in summer. Past passengers wished they had been warned, so consider bringing a head net or insect protection if you visit during the warmer months. The tour information does not provide a season-specific midge policy, so prepare for them rather than expecting the operator to supply protection.

Accessibility varies by site. One departure successfully helped a passenger using a wheelchair, with the driver assisting with logistics and the guide identifying accessible areas. If you need specific support, contact the operator before booking rather than assuming every path will be easy.

Cancellation is free up to 24 hours before departure, and you can reserve now and pay later. Those terms help if your cruise schedule or weather plans are uncertain, but they do not solve the basic issue of port timing: leave enough margin in your day for a possible late return.

Who should book this Mývatn day trip?

I would choose this tour if you have one day in Akureyri, want the major sights, and prefer not to drive. It suits first-time visitors, cruise passengers, families, and anyone who values a lively guide and a tidy route.

You should think twice if your top priority is solitude, long hikes, or flexible photography time. The bus can feel full, the lunch is basic, and a late start or slow group can squeeze the final stop.

The best preparation is simple: wear sturdy walking shoes, bring waterproof layers, charge your phone, pack extra snacks, and consider midge protection in summer. Listen for the meeting instructions at your pier, find the orange-jacketed guide, and return to the bus on time.

Should you book it?

Yes, if you want a broad introduction to North Iceland from Akureyri in a single day. Goðafoss and Dimmuborgir provide the visual drama, while Skútustaðagígar and Námaskarð explain the forces that shaped the region.

I would not book it for a relaxed, in-depth Mývatn stay. For that, spend more than one day in the area or choose a private tour. But for a cruise stop, the combination of port pickup, four very different sights, an included lunch, and strong guide service makes this a sensible and usually good-value choice.

FAQ

How long is the tour?

The tour lasts six hours, including transportation from Akureyri to the sights and back.

Where does pickup take place?

If your ship docks at Tangarbryggja Pier, meet the guide at the large parking lot at Gránufélagsgata 50. If your ship docks at Oddeyrarbryggja Pier, meet at the visitor center by the cruise port.

How do I identify the guide?

The guides wear orange jackets or vests with the BusTravel Iceland logo. The buses are located at the large parking lot at Gránufélagsgata 50.

Which sights are included?

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

Is lunch included?

Yes. The packed lunch includes a chicken or vegan sandwich, a chocolate bar, and juice. A water bottle is also listed as included.

Are snacks available during the tour?

Visitor centers at the sites provide opportunities to buy snacks and use comfort facilities, though extra stops may reduce your time at the sights.

What languages are available?

The live guide service is available in English and German.

Is WiFi available?

Yes, WiFi is available onboard the bus.

Can I cancel the booking?

You can cancel up to 24 hours before departure for a full refund.

Is this suitable for cruise passengers?

Yes. The tour includes pickup and drop-off at the port, making it designed for a day visit from Akureyri. You should still follow the meeting instructions carefully and return to the bus promptly at every stop.