From Akureyri: Myvatn Lake, Craters, & Waterfall Tour

The strangest sight on this six-hour trip from Akureyri comes at Námaskarð, where boiling mud-pools bubble in a bare, sulfur-scented field. I also like the clever mix of sights: Goðafoss gives you roaring water, Dimmuborgir brings eerie lava towers, and Lake Mývatn adds a quieter look at Iceland’s volcanic past.

I like that port pickup and drop-off make this easy for cruise passengers, and the included sandwich, chocolate bar, and juice save you from hunting for lunch. The main drawback is the schedule. You cover a lot of ground, but some stops can feel brisk, especially if a bus is delayed or someone is late returning.

Key points

• Goðafoss in 45 minutes: See the broad, semicircular Waterfall of the Gods and hear the story behind its name.
• Lake Mývatn’s false craters: Walk among grassy formations created by steam explosions, not eruptions.
• Dimmuborgir’s troll-like lava: Follow a short route through dark rock shapes that look made for Icelandic folklore.
• Námaskarð’s sulfur fields: Stay on the marked paths while mud boils and steam rises around you.
• Guides make a big difference: Guides including Nico, Richie, Alan, Kjartan, and Matthias have been praised for humor, history, and steady commentary.
• Good cruise-port value: At $187 per person, the tour costs less than comparable ship excursions mentioned by passengers, while covering the area’s main highlights.

Why Mývatn makes a strong day trip from Akureyri

Northern Iceland can be hard to see without your own car. The sights around Mývatn are spread out, and the road time would be tiring if you tried to arrange several separate taxis or transfers. This tour handles the driving and links four very different stops into one day.

You begin at Gránufélagsgata 50, near Akureyri’s cruise facilities. If your ship uses Tangarbryggja Pier, meet the guide in the large parking lot. If it docks at Oddeyrarbryggja Pier, meet at the visitor center by the port. Look for an orange jacket or vest with the BusTravel Iceland logo.

That meeting detail matters. Some passengers have had trouble with incorrect directions or finding the bus, so check your pier assignment before leaving the ship. The vehicles are located at the large parking area at Gránufélagsgata 50, but your greeting point depends on where the ship docks.

The first drive takes about 40 minutes. During the day, expect another 40-minute ride to Mývatn, shorter hops between the nearby sights, and an 80-minute return journey to Akureyri. The bus has WiFi, and guides commonly fill the road time with stories about Icelandic customs, farming, horses, sheep, folklore, and local history.

That commentary is one of the tour’s strongest features. Nico, Richie, Alan, Kjartan, and Matthias are among the guides praised for keeping the ride lively. Richie has also used WhatsApp to share information, map pins, and updates. Guides vary by departure, so you should not book expecting one particular person, but the quality of the guiding has been a repeated strength.

Goðafoss: a wide waterfall with a political story

Goðafoss is your first major stop, with about 45 minutes for sightseeing. The name means Waterfall of the Gods, and the story gives this pretty waterfall extra weight.

The water drops in a broad semicircle about 30 meters across. White spray and dark volcanic rock create the scene Iceland does so well: powerful water against black stone. You can take photographs from more than one viewpoint, but the stop is short enough that you should begin walking as soon as you leave the bus.

The waterfall is tied to Iceland’s shift from pagan beliefs to Christianity. The traditional story says that a law speaker helped mark the change by throwing images of the old gods into a waterfall. That connection turns a quick photo stop into a glimpse of how Icelandic religion and politics changed.

Goðafoss is also a good opening stop because it requires little walking compared with Dimmuborgir. You can enjoy the view, take pictures, and return to the bus without spending the first part of the day on a strenuous path.

Skútustaðagígar and Mývatn’s pseudo-craters

After another 40-minute drive, you reach Skútustaðagígar for about 20 minutes. These grassy mounds beside Lake Mývatn look like small volcanic craters, but they formed in a different way.

Lava flowed into wet ground around the lake. The heat meeting the water produced steam explosions, which pushed holes and rims into the surface. No lava erupted from these particular formations, making them pseudo-craters, or false craters.

The stop is brief, so think of it as an introduction rather than a long lakeside walk. You will see the rounded shapes and understand how water helped shape them, but you will not have unlimited time to wander. If weather is clear, the open views make this one of the calmer parts of the day.

Mývatn is also known for small flies, called midges, during some summer visits. Several passengers wished they had been warned about them. Bring a head net if you have one, or at least be prepared for insects near the lake in warm, still conditions. This is a practical point, not a reason to skip the stop, but it can make a big difference to your comfort.

Dimmuborgir: Iceland’s dark lava city

A 10-minute ride brings you to Dimmuborgir, where you have about 55 minutes for a walk. The name is often translated as Dark Fortress, and the place earns it. Lava cooled into towers, walls, arches, and rough corridors, creating a field that feels more like a ruined stone city than a normal lava flow.

This is the most atmospheric stop on the route. I like the way the formations invite you to use your imagination without needing elaborate interpretation. Icelandic children are often encouraged to spot trolls in lava rocks, and you will have no trouble finding shapes that look like faces, animals, or squat figures.

Wear shoes with a firm sole. The walking area is not simply a flat paved viewpoint, and volcanic ground can be uneven. You have enough time for a useful walk, but not for every possible path. Stay aware of the bus departure time, since this is the place where you may want to keep going.

The lava formations also give the tour a welcome change of pace. Goðafoss is about water and scale. Skútustaðagígar is about geology viewed from open ground. Dimmuborgir puts you among the rocks, where the setting feels close and personal.

Námaskarð, where the earth smells of sulfur

The final major stop is Námaskarð, reached after about 15 minutes on the road. You have roughly 40 minutes here, which is enough to walk among the main geothermal features and take photographs.

Námaskarð is almost bare. The ground is stained with mineral colors, steam rises from vents, and mud-pools bubble and pop. The sulfur smell can be strong, so do not be surprised if the first breath feels like a wall of rotten eggs. It is part of the experience, although you may be glad to step back into clean air afterward.

Stay on the marked paths. The ground around geothermal features can be dangerously hot and unstable. This is not a place for wandering off to find a better photograph.

I find this stop valuable because it shows Iceland’s power without a dramatic waterfall or mountain view. You see heat working below the surface. The boiling pools and steaming vents make the area feel almost otherworldly, but the real lesson is simple: volcanic activity is still shaping the ground beneath you.

The time here can feel short. One passenger noted that a late start left less time at the geothermal area, while another wished for longer at the steaming fields. If your bus is running on schedule, 40 minutes is enough to see the main features. It is not enough for a slow, unhurried exploration.

Lunch, bus comfort, and the pace of the day

The packed lunch includes a chicken or vegan sandwich, a chocolate bar, and juice. A bottle of water is also specified with the lunch, though the general inclusions information says bottled water is not otherwise provided, so bring your own refillable bottle if possible.

The lunch is practical rather than special. Some people found the sandwich perfectly adequate, while others wanted more chicken and less mayonnaise. You may eat on the go, depending on the timing and the rules at a particular stop. One passenger was disappointed that food could not be eaten at tables in the lava area.

That criticism points to the tour’s main tradeoff. You get a lot for the price, but the day is tightly managed. A group that returns late can reduce everyone else’s time. Guides such as Alan have handled delays and passenger counts well, but the schedule leaves little spare room.

The bus has WiFi, but passengers have also wished for USB charging points. Bring a charged phone and a portable battery if you plan to take many photographs. You will be glad to have it during the long ride back to Akureyri.

The vehicle is described as comfortable, and drivers have received strong praise for safe handling on narrow or tight sections. This matters in northern Iceland, where a good driver lets you enjoy the views instead of watching the road.

What guides add to the experience

The guide can shape this tour more than any single stop. The scenery is already impressive, but the road between sights is a large part of a six-hour day.

Guides including Nico, Alan, Richie, Kjartan, Elsa, Ana, Pierre, and Matthias have been praised for explaining Icelandic history and customs in a lively way. Some have added folklore about trolls and elves, stories about school and graduation traditions, and personal details about Icelandic life. One guide even sang for the group.

That human detail is useful. You see more than rocks and water when someone explains why Icelanders tell stories about trolls, how the country remembers its religious change, or how people handle dark winter months. The best commentary also makes the long 80-minute ride home pass faster.

The tone can vary. One passenger felt the repeated talk about sheep and horses became stale after several days in Iceland. If you have already taken several tours, you may hear familiar material. Still, guides usually have enough local stories and site information to keep the day worthwhile.

English and German are offered. If you need help with mobility, mention it before booking or at the start of the day. One guide and driver worked carefully with a passenger using a wheelchair and pointed out accessible locations, but the tour includes walks over natural volcanic ground, so conditions vary by stop.

Is $187 a fair price?

At $187 per person, this is not a cheap half-day outing. It is a fair price if you are visiting from a cruise ship and want the main Mývatn sights without renting a car or arranging several transfers.

The value comes from the amount of ground covered. You receive port pickup and return, a driver, a live guide, WiFi, the four main sightseeing stops, and a packed lunch. Comparable cruise excursions have been described as costing about twice as much, while covering the same general route.

A private tour could give you more time at each stop and more control over lunch, photography, and walking. It would also cost more. This group tour makes more sense if you want a broad sample of northern Iceland in one day and accept that each stop has a fixed limit.

The free cancellation policy up to 24 hours before departure and the option to reserve now and pay later add flexibility. Starting times depend on availability, so cruise passengers should check that the departure fits their ship schedule.

Who should book this Mývatn tour?

I would choose this tour if you are in Akureyri for one day, especially from a cruise ship, and want to see volcanic scenery beyond the town. It suits first-time visitors who want variety: waterfall, lake, false craters, lava formations, and geothermal mud in one outing.

It is also a good fit for families and for people who prefer a guide to explain what they are seeing. The short walks make the route manageable for many visitors, though Dimmuborgir and the geothermal area require care on natural ground.

I would hesitate if you want a slow day. The schedule does not leave much room for lingering, long meals, or repeated walks through Dimmuborgir. You should also reconsider if strong sulfur smells, midges, or brisk outdoor stops are likely to spoil your day.

FAQ

How long is the tour from Akureyri?

The tour lasts about six hours, including transport between Akureyri and the Mývatn area.

Where does the tour meet in Akureyri?

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

What sights are included?

The tour visits Goðafoss Waterfall, Skútustaðagígar’s pseudo-craters beside Lake Mývatn, Dimmuborgir lava fields, and the Námaskarð geothermal area.

Is lunch included?

Yes. The packed lunch includes a chicken or vegan sandwich, a chocolate bar, and juice. A bottle of water is specified with the lunch, but you should bring extra water for the day.

What languages are available?

The live guide is available in English or German.

Can I cancel the booking?

You can cancel up to 24 hours before the tour for a full refund. You can also reserve now and pay later, subject to the booking terms.

Should you book it?

Book this tour if you want maximum scenery in one Akureyri day and value a guide, port transport, and a lower price than many ship-run excursions. Goðafoss, Dimmuborgir, and Námaskarð each feel different enough to keep the route interesting.

Skip it only if you need a relaxed pace or want to explore one area in depth. For most cruise passengers and first-time visitors, the brisk schedule is a fair trade for seeing so much of northern Iceland in six hours.