Premium 4×4 Diamond Circle Tour

The big draw here is the sheer reach of the day. From Akureyri, you head east through Godafoss and the volcanic sights around Lake Myvatn, then continue toward Asbyrgi, Hljóðaklettar, Tjörnes, and Husavik. It is a full, ambitious circuit that packs some of North Iceland’s best sights into one guided outing.

I like the small maximum group of 11, which should make pickup and short walking stops easier than on a large coach. I also like the guide-led format, especially if Armann is leading your day. He is praised for his patient manner, broad command of local history and geology, and willingness to add extra stops when time allows.

The trade-off is simple: this is a long day with many stops, not a slow visit to one region. The Nature Baths and GeoSea are not included in the price, and fitting so much into 8 to 10 hours means some stops are brief.

Key points to know before booking

• A wide-ranging North Iceland route: You’ll cover Godafoss, Lake Myvatn, Jökulsárgljúfur, Asbyrgi, Tjörnes, and Husavik in one day.
• Small-group 4×4 transport: The group is limited to 11 people, with pickup and drop-off included.
• Excellent geology along the way: Hverir’s mud pools, Dimmuborgir’s lava formations, Hljóðaklettar’s basalt shapes, and Asbyrgi’s canyon walls give the day real variety.
• Two optional bathing choices: You can pay to enter the Myvatn Nature Baths or add GeoSea in Husavik, while non-bathers can see Grotagja cave and rift or walk around Husavik harbour.
• A guide can make the long route worthwhile: Armann is specifically praised for his explanations, patience, and flexibility.
• Plan for a full day: The 8:00 am start and 8 to 10-hour duration leave little room for a late morning or a relaxed lunch stop.

Why this 4×4 day reaches so much of North Iceland

Many day trips from Akureyri focus on Godafoss and Lake Myvatn. This one keeps going. It adds the dramatic canyon country of Jökulsárgljúfur National Park, the basalt formations at Hljóðaklettar, the Arctic coast of the Tjörnes Peninsula, and a final stop in Husavik.

That makes the tour useful if you have only one free day in the Akureyri area. You get a broad taste of waterfalls, volcanic ground, glacial rivers, coastal views, and geothermal bathing without arranging several separate outings.

The route also explains why the 4×4 matters. The vehicle is being used as a practical way to connect scattered sights across a large part of North Iceland. You should expect time on the road between stops, with the scenery changing from waterfall country to volcanic terrain, canyon, coast, and harbour.

The small group helps here. With no more than 11 people, pickup should be less cumbersome, and short visits do not require moving a full coachload in and out of the vehicle. Still, this is not a private tour, so the pace needs to suit the whole group.

Godafoss begins the day with a classic Iceland view

The first stop is Godafoss, the Waterfall of the Gods, on the route from Akureyri toward Lake Myvatn. You have about 15 minutes here, with no admission charge.

That is enough for a quick look and photographs, but not a long walk around the falls. If you like to linger at waterfalls, you may find this stop brisk. Its value is that it gives the day an immediate visual start before the route turns toward the volcanic country around Myvatn.

Your guide can also help put the waterfall in context. This is one of those places where a short stop works well if you want to see many parts of North Iceland in one day.

Lake Myvatn brings together fire, steam, and lava

The Lake Myvatn portion is the main center of the day, with about three hours assigned to the area. That time is shared among several sights, so you are not simply sitting beside the lake for three hours.

At Dimmuborgir, you see unusual lava formations shaped by past volcanic activity. The name is often translated as Dark Fortresses, and the formations give the area a rough, sculpted feel. This is a good stop for walking and close views of the rock, though the amount of time available will depend on the day’s pace.

The Námaskarð area brings a very different scene. At Hverir, bubbling mud pools and steaming fumaroles show heat escaping from the ground. The colors and textures are striking, but stay attentive to your guide and the marked areas. Geothermal ground is not a place for casual wandering.

The air around Hverir can also be strong. If sulfur smells bother you, keep your visit short and take photographs from the designated viewing areas. You are here for a direct look at Iceland’s volcanic forces, not for a long stroll.

The tour also gives you a choice involving the Myvatn Nature Baths. You can pay to enter and spend time in the warm geothermal water, or skip the bath and go to Grotagja cave and rift while other people in the group use the baths. That choice is important because it prevents the whole day from being built around one optional activity.

The entry fee for the Myvatn Nature Baths is not included, and no price is supplied here. Check the current rate before booking if bathing is central to your plans. The one-hour stop includes time for the baths and cafe, but changing time will reduce the time available for soaking.

Choosing between Myvatn Nature Baths and Grotagja

The Nature Baths are the more relaxing option. After a morning of driving and sightseeing, warm water and a cafe can break up the day nicely. You pay separately, and you should not assume the admission is part of the $378.71 tour price.

If you do not want to bathe, Grotagja cave and rift provide an alternative. The tour description makes clear that the group can be split for this part of the day, with bath users at the Nature Baths and non-bathers visiting the cave and rift.

That flexibility is a real plus for mixed groups. One person can enjoy a soak while another keeps sightseeing. Ask the guide how the timing works on your date, since the practical length of each visit may depend on the group.

Jökulsárgljúfur and Selfoss show the power of glacial water

After the Myvatn sights, the route reaches Jökulsárgljúfur National Park. The park covers a vast area around Vatnajökull, Europe’s largest glacial ice cap, and the Jökulsárgljúfur Canyon was carved by huge floods from the glacier.

You have about 30 minutes at the canyon and 15 minutes at Vatnajökull National Park. These are short visits, but they add a different kind of drama to the day. Instead of volcanic vents and lava rock, you are looking at a river corridor shaped by ice and floodwater.

Selfoss Waterfall gets about 20 minutes. It is another quick stop, yet it helps show how the region’s waterways connect to the wider glacial system. I like the contrast between Selfoss and Godafoss: one appears early as a famous waterfall stop, while the other arrives after the tour has shifted into the canyon and park country.

The main limitation is walking time. The schedule gives you a taste of the park rather than a proper day hike. Wear shoes suitable for short walks over uneven ground, but do not book this expecting extended trails.

Hljóðaklettar rewards close attention to the rock

Hljóðaklettar is scheduled for about 30 minutes and is known for its striking basalt hexagons. These columns are among the clearest examples of Iceland’s volcanic rock shapes on this route.

This stop is especially good if you enjoy geology. The rocks are not just scenery in the distance. Their patterns, angles, and repeated shapes give you something to examine at close range.

Half an hour is enough to see the main formations and take photographs. It is not enough to explore every trail in the area. Your guide’s explanations matter here, since the shapes become more interesting when you understand how cooling lava formed them.

Asbyrgi is the day’s great canyon stop

Asbyrgi is a horseshoe canyon on the Arctic coast, with walls rising about 100 meters. The 25-minute stop is short, but the canyon should feel very different from the exposed geothermal areas around Myvatn.

The horseshoe shape gives Asbyrgi a strong sense of enclosure. You can look up at the high walls and understand how much the ground has been cut and shaped over time. The stop is designed for a viewpoint-style visit rather than a long canyon walk.

If Asbyrgi is the place you most want to explore, ask about the exact timing at the start of the day. The published schedule allows only 25 minutes, and the tour has several more stops ahead. This is a highlight to see, not a substitute for a dedicated Asbyrgi hiking day.

Tjörnes adds cliffs, birds, and an Arctic view

The Tjörnes Peninsula stop lasts about 20 minutes. In summer, puffins nest in the area, and the peninsula is known for geological layers dating back to the end of the Ice Age. You also get a view over Öxafjord.

This is one of the tour’s more varied stops because it combines wildlife potential, geology, and open coastal views. Puffins are seasonal, so do not book the tour solely for a guaranteed close encounter. The supplied information only says they nest there in summer.

The stop is brief, so bring your camera ready. You may have time for a quick look, a few photographs, and an explanation from the guide, but not a long birdwatching session.

GeoSea or Husavik makes a gentle finish

Near the end of the route, you reach GeoSea Geothermal Sea Baths for about an hour. Admission is optional and costs ISK 6,990 per person. That fee is separate from the tour price.

GeoSea sits above Skjálfandi Bay, with an infinity pool overlooking the water. It is a pleasant way to finish a long day if you want to relax rather than add another walk. The hour includes the bath visit, so you will want to move efficiently if you decide to enter.

If you skip GeoSea, you can walk through Husavik harbour, where you may find a restaurant or cafe. Husavik is famous for whale watching and its small-boat harbour, so this alternative gives you a look at the town rather than another paid attraction.

The final Husavik stop lasts about 30 minutes. That is enough to see the harbour and get a feel for the town, but not enough for a whale-watching trip. No whale-watching excursion is included in this tour.

Is $378.71 a fair price?

At $378.71 per person, this is not a budget outing. The value depends on how much of North Iceland you want to cover in one day and how useful pickup, transport, and guiding are to you.

The price includes the guided tour, transportation, pickup, and drop-off. It does not include food, drinks, Myvatn Nature Baths admission, or the ISK 6,990 GeoSea entry. Those extras can raise your total, especially if you choose both bathing stops, though the itinerary treats them as alternatives rather than required additions.

I would see the price as easier to justify if you have a short stay in Akureyri, do not want to drive, or want a guide to explain the geology and history along the route. It is harder to justify if you prefer slow visits, long hikes, or independent control over every stop.

The strongest value comes from the route’s breadth. You are not paying for one attraction. You are paying for a long day that connects major sights spread across North Iceland, with a small group and a guide.

The guide can shape the whole day

The supplied details identify Armann as an excellent guide for one departure. His strengths include explanations about history and geology, patience with a difficult group, and flexibility when people fall behind.

That matters on a route like this. There are many scheduled stops, and delays can quickly eat into the final visits. A guide who keeps the group moving without making the day feel harsh is especially useful here.

The same account says the group reached all the planned sights and even added a few locations. That suggests some flexibility, but you should treat extra stops as possible rather than promised. Weather, road conditions, group timing, and the minimum number of people can all affect the day.

The tour is offered in English. Confirmation arrives at booking, and pickup is offered from listed hotels. If your hotel is not listed, contact the provider before booking rather than assuming pickup is available.

Who should book this North Iceland tour?

I would recommend it to you if you want a big first look at North Iceland from Akureyri and prefer having someone else handle the driving. It suits people who enjoy geology, waterfalls, unusual rock formations, coastal views, and a choice of geothermal baths.

It also works well for mixed groups. Bath users can visit the Myvatn Nature Baths or GeoSea, while non-bathers have alternatives such as Grotagja or a walk in Husavik.

I would be more cautious if you dislike early starts, long vehicle days, or short visits. The 8:00 am pickup and 8 to 10-hour duration demand energy. You should also be comfortable with a schedule that may feel full rather than leisurely.

Most people can participate, and the maximum group is 11. Still, the information does not promise a private vehicle or detail specific mobility arrangements, so ask the provider if you have particular access needs.

Should you book it?

Book this tour if your priority is seeing as much of North Iceland as possible in one organized day. The combination of Godafoss, Myvatn, Hverir, Dimmuborgir, Jökulsárgljúfur, Hljóðaklettar, Asbyrgi, Tjörnes, and Husavik gives you a broad and memorable route.

Skip it if your ideal day means lingering at one waterfall, taking a long hike, or spending hours in a single bath. At this price, the tour earns its keep through coverage, transport, small-group size, and guiding rather than leisure.

You can cancel for a full refund up to 24 hours before the start time. Poor weather or failure to meet the minimum group size can also lead to a different date or a full refund. For a one-day North Iceland sampler from Akureyri, I think the route is strong, provided you accept the brisk pace and budget separately for any bath admission.

FAQ

Where does the Premium 4×4 Diamond Circle Tour begin?

The tour begins with pickup in Akureyri at about 8:00 am. If your hotel is not listed for pickup, contact Imagine Iceland Travel before booking.

How long does the tour last?

The tour lasts approximately 8 to 10 hours.

Is transportation included?

Yes. Guided transport, pickup, and drop-off are included.

How many people can join the tour?

The activity has a maximum of 11 participants.

Is admission to the Myvatn Nature Baths included?

No. Entrance to the Myvatn Nature Baths is not included in the tour price.

How much does GeoSea cost?

GeoSea admission is an optional add-on costing ISK 6,990 per person.

What happens if the tour is canceled because of poor weather?

You will be offered a different date or a full refund. The same applies if the minimum number of participants is not reached and the tour is canceled for that reason.