Akureyri Port: Lake Mývatn & Goðafoss Waterfall Day Trip

The most striking part of this day is the change in scenery. You leave Akureyri and Eyjafjörður behind, then move from a broad Icelandic fjord to Goðafoss Waterfall, volcanic pseudocraters, twisted lava formations, and steaming ground around Lake Mývatn. I like the way the route packs several very different sights into one day without trying to cover all of northern Iceland.

I also like the small-group van format and the guides’ flexibility. Johanna has handed out bug nets near the lake and lava areas, while Agust, Siggi, Matti, Bo, and others have been praised for keeping the day friendly, informative, and well paced. The main thing to consider is time: this is a cruise-port tour, so stops are efficient rather than leisurely, and the optional Nature Baths visit depends on your ship’s schedule.

Key points to know before booking

• Goðafoss is the opening star: You get about 45 minutes at the 39-foot waterfall, enough for photographs and a proper look from the viewing area.
• Lake Mývatn offers several kinds of scenery: Pseudocraters, lava formations, geothermal ground, and plate-boundary geology all appear on the same circuit.
• The small van can save time: A compact group may move between stops faster than a large coach, useful when your ship has a fixed departure.
• The Nature Baths are optional: If timing allows, you may spend about 1.5 hours in the geothermal pool, but the entrance fee is extra.
• Bring a swimsuit, towel, and reachable phone: These matter if you hope to add the Nature Baths or if the operator needs to contact you at the port.
• Lunch is not included: You stop at a local restaurant, but you pay for food and drinks separately.

From Akureyri’s fjord to Goðafoss

Your day begins at the Akureyri Cruise Terminal, with the exact meeting point tied to your ship. That detail matters because Akureyri has more than one port. At Tangabryggja, look for Star Travel at wooden house number 3. At Oddeyrarbryggja, the meeting area is beside the Icewear shop, where a guide with a bright yellow jacket and Star Travel sign should be waiting.

The first drive takes about 30 minutes. It follows the coast of Eyjafjörður, one of Iceland’s longest fjords, so the ride itself gives you a useful introduction to the area around Akureyri. The route includes scenic driving and photo stops, though the precise number and length of those photo pauses can change with weather and ship timing.

Goðafoss comes next, with roughly 45 minutes for sightseeing. The waterfall drops 39 feet in the Skjálfandafljót River, spreading across a broad rocky span rather than plunging down a single narrow chute. That shape gives you good photo possibilities and lets you appreciate the water’s force from nearby viewpoints.

I would treat this as more than a quick roadside stop. Goðafoss is one of the day’s easiest places to walk around, and the open setting helps you understand how the river cuts through the volcanic country. Still, 45 minutes is not a long visit. You will have time to see the falls and take pictures, but not to linger over every viewpoint.

Skútustaðagígar and the strange shore of Mývatn

After Goðafoss, the van drives about 45 minutes toward Lake Mývatn. This is where the day takes on its unusual character. The first stop around the lake is Skútustaðagígar, a group of pseudocraters formed when lava met water.

Pseudocraters look a bit like small volcanic cones, but they were not created by a direct eruption from deep underground. Steam explosions shaped them as hot lava moved over wet ground. You get about 30 minutes here, enough to see the rounded forms and understand why the area is often compared to the surface of the moon.

The comparison is not just a poetic trick. The muted volcanic colors, low mounds, and open views can make the place feel spare and otherworldly, especially under a gray Icelandic sky. Your guide can explain the geology while you look across the lake and its unusual shoreline.

This stop is relatively gentle compared with the rougher lava areas later in the day, but the supplied information does not specify trail surfaces or walking distances. Wear shoes you can use comfortably outdoors, and do not count on every stop being a long walk. The point here is to see the form of the craters and the wider setting, not to complete a major hike.

Dimmuborgir’s broken lava formations

The van ride from Skútustaðagígar to Dimmuborgir takes only about five minutes. That short transfer is helpful on a packed port day because you are not spending another hour in transit before the next sight.

Dimmuborgir is a lava field with a dramatic, almost tense appearance. Cooling lava left behind irregular walls, holes, and rock shapes, creating a place that feels more like a natural ruin than a normal field of stone. You have about 30 minutes to look around.

I like this stop because it changes the scale of the day. At Goðafoss, moving water dominates the scene. At Dimmuborgir, the eye stays close to the ground, tracing openings and jagged lava forms. Your guide may connect the shapes to Icelandic stories and local culture, but the hard geology is the main reason to be here.

Half an hour will give you a taste rather than a full exploration. If you enjoy walking through lava formations, you may wish for more time. The tradeoff is that this tour also includes the geothermal area, lunch, and the option of a long soak, so the short stop lets you see more of Mývatn in one day.

Hverir’s boiling mud and fumaroles

Another five-minute drive brings you to Hverir, a geothermal area known for boiling mud pools and fumaroles. The ground here can look raw and unsettled, with steam rising from vents and mineral colors marking the earth around them.

You have about 30 minutes at the site. That is enough for photographs and a close look at the geothermal features, but this is a place where you should follow marked paths and your guide’s instructions. Boiling mud and hot ground are not props for a photo. Keep to the areas intended for visitors.

Hverir is also the stop most likely to test your nose. Sulfur smells can be strong near geothermal vents, depending on wind direction. I would not treat that as a flaw. It is part of the experience, and it makes the heat beneath Iceland’s surface feel real rather than abstract.

The itinerary labels this stop as shopping, but the main attraction described is the geothermal site itself. Do not book the day expecting a dedicated shopping outing. The value here comes from seeing fumaroles and mud pools in a setting that looks completely different from the lake, waterfall, and lava field.

A quick look at plate tectonics

The sightseeing around Lake Mývatn also includes the divergent plate tectonics of the region. This gives the guide a chance to explain how Iceland sits where major tectonic plates move apart.

That explanation adds meaning to the scenery. You are not just seeing dark lava, steaming ground, and strange craters as separate curiosities. They belong to a larger story of volcanic activity and shifting crust. I especially like this kind of stop on a guided day because the geology is visible, but not always obvious without context.

The provided schedule does not assign a separate stop length to the plate-boundary explanation. It appears as part of the route around the lake, so the guide will fit it into the available time. If geology interests you, listen during the drives as well as at the viewpoints. The guide’s commentary is one of the main reasons to choose this tour instead of arranging simple transport.

Lunch and the optional Mývatn Nature Baths

A lunch stop at a local restaurant breaks up the sightseeing. Food and drinks are not included, so plan to pay separately. The information does not specify a set menu or fixed meal price, which gives you less certainty about the cost of lunch but also means the meal arrangement can fit the day’s timing.

The Mývatn Nature Baths are the flexible part of the tour. If your cruise ship’s berthing and departure times allow it, the schedule may include about 1.5 hours in the geothermal pool. The entrance fee is extra, and you should bring a swimsuit and towel if you want to take advantage of this option.

This is a major choice, not a minor add-on. The baths can turn a sightseeing-heavy day into a more relaxed one, but adding 90 minutes means less flexibility elsewhere. If your ship has a short window in Akureyri, the operator may need to focus on the waterfall and Mývatn sights instead.

I would decide before departure how much you value the soak. If your priority is seeing every listed natural feature, you may prefer the standard route. If you have enough time ashore and like the idea of sitting in warm geothermal water after walking around lava and mud fields, the Nature Baths could be the most restful part of the day.

How the seven-hour timing works

The advertised duration is seven hours, with pickup at the cruise terminal and return there at the end. The listed route includes a 30-minute ride to Goðafoss, 45 minutes at the falls, a 45-minute transfer to Mývatn, and stops at Skútustaðagígar, Dimmuborgir, and Hverir.

The return drive from the Mývatn area to Akureyri is listed at about 75 minutes. That final transfer is important for cruise passengers. You are not simply wandering until late afternoon and then finding your own way back. The day is built around returning to the same port.

Cruise timing can still change the feel of the tour. One booking had a shorter time ashore, and the guide adjusted the order and pace to fit in the main sights. That sort of quick thinking is valuable, but it also means you should expect the schedule to remain flexible rather than treating every minute as fixed.

A mechanical problem once caused a 1.5-hour delay for one group. That was an unusual complaint among otherwise very positive experiences, but it points to a real cruise-excursion concern: any road tour carries some timing risk. The operator’s response to your ship’s schedule matters, and you should provide the correct vessel name and a phone number that works during the day.

Guides, group feel, and what the price buys

Star Travel provides an English-speaking live guide. Guide assignments vary, with Johanna or Johana, Agust, Siggi, Matti, and Bo among the names associated with this experience. You should not assume you will receive a particular guide, but the range of comments points to an important strength: the human side of the tour is a big part of its value.

The guides are described as friendly, positive, funny, and willing to explain what you are seeing. Johanna has been especially attentive to practical comfort, handing out bug nets for the lake and lava areas. Around Mývatn, small insects can be bothersome in summer, so that simple gesture may make your time outdoors much more pleasant.

A smaller group is another advantage when available. A van can pull into viewpoints and move people along more quickly than a large coach, and the guide can adjust the route when a ship’s time ashore changes. The tradeoff is that a van offers less room than a big bus, and group size can vary by departure.

At $179 per person, this is not a cheap transfer. I think the price can make sense if you want Goðafoss and several Mývatn sights in one port call, with a guide handling the driving and timing. It is less attractive if you only want one short stop, dislike a full day on the road, or plan to spend most of the time at the Nature Baths.

Remember to add lunch and, if selected, the Nature Baths admission to your budget. The booking allows cancellation up to 24 hours before departure for a full refund, and you can reserve now and pay later, which helps if your cruise plans are still shifting.

Who will enjoy this Akureyri day trip

I would choose this tour if you want a broad sample of northeastern Iceland in one day. It suits first-time visitors who would rather see several major sights than spend the entire port call in Akureyri.

It also works well for people who enjoy natural science. The route links a waterfall, pseudocraters, lava formations, geothermal vents, and plate tectonics, while the guide supplies the explanation that turns each stop into part of a connected story.

Families and mixed-age groups may appreciate the short transfers between the Mývatn stops. You are not committing to one long trail. Instead, you get several shorter visits, with time in the van between them.

I would hesitate if you need a slow, quiet day with long walks at each site. The schedule is efficient, and the optional bath visit may force more adjustments. You might also prefer a different plan if exploring Akureyri itself is important. One person wished for more town time, and this excursion sends you away from the city for most of the day.

Should you book it?

Book this tour if your cruise stop gives you about seven hours and you want the best variety of natural sights beyond Akureyri. Goðafoss and Lake Mývatn make a strong pairing, and the added lava, geothermal, and pseudocrater stops give the day real range.

Before booking, confirm your ship name, port location, and available time ashore. Decide if the Nature Baths matter to you, bring a swimsuit and towel if they do, and allow extra money for lunch and admission. If you accept a brisk schedule and the small chance of a transport delay, this is a well-planned way to see a remarkable slice of northern Iceland.

FAQ

Where does the tour begin?

Pickup begins at the Akureyri Cruise Terminal. You must provide the name of your cruise vessel because Akureyri has multiple ports.

Where should I meet the guide at Tangabryggja Port?

At Tangabryggja, walk just outside the cruise ship area to the small wooden houses. Star Travel is located at house number 3, where the meeting takes place.

Where should I meet the guide at Oddeyrarbryggja Port?

At Oddeyrarbryggja, look beside the Icewear shop for the designated agent area. The guide should have a Star Travel sign, and a colleague may be wearing a bright yellow jacket.

How long is the tour?

The tour lasts about seven hours, including pickup, sightseeing, transfers, and the return to Akureyri Cruise Terminal.

Is the tour conducted in English?

Yes. The experience includes a live English-speaking guide.

Is lunch included?

No. The tour stops at a local restaurant, but food and drinks are not included in the price.

Is admission to the Mývatn Nature Baths included?

No. Admission to the Mývatn Nature Baths costs extra.

Can I visit the Mývatn Nature Baths on this tour?

You may be able to visit them if your cruise ship’s berthing and departure schedule allows. The listed visit lasts about 1.5 hours.

What should I bring for the Nature Baths?

Bring a swimsuit and towel if you want to enter the geothermal pool.

Can I cancel the booking?

Yes. You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund. You can also reserve the tour and pay later.