Port Akureyri: Godafoss Waterfall, Myvatn and Baths Tour

The best part of this Akureyri shore excursion is how much of northern Iceland it fits into one day. You move from a broad fjord to Goðafoss, then into the volcanic country around Lake Mývatn, where pseudo craters, twisted lava, steaming vents, and a hot spring cave appear one after another. I like the small minibus format, and I like that the guides often adjust the order to avoid the biggest crowds.

The main consideration is pace. Eight hours sounds generous, but this is a full day with several short walks and a long ride back to Akureyri. The Mývatn Nature Baths are optional and cost extra, so you need to decide if you want a proper soak or more time for food and sightseeing.

Key points to know before booking

• Goðafoss comes early, when the waterfall is a fine first photo stop after leaving Akureyri.
• Lake Mývatn packs in several kinds of scenery, from Skútustaðagígar’s pseudo craters to Dimmuborgir’s dark lava shapes.
• The group travels by comfortable minibus, with free WiFi and a cruise ship return guarantee.
• Guides make a real difference, with Joanna, Jowi, Baldur, Matteo, Friðþórbjörn, and others praised for timing, stories, and personal help.
• The baths are an add-on, and you must arrange entry in advance if you want to swim.
• Bring lunch, swimwear, a towel, sturdy shoes, and warm layers, since the café stop comes fairly late.

Why Lake Mývatn is worth the long day

Lake Mývatn is one of northern Iceland’s most unusual areas because volcanic activity shaped nearly everything you see. A huge basaltic eruption about 2,300 years ago left behind lava fields, crater-like formations, steaming ground, and unusual rock towers.

I like this route because it does not rely on one famous viewpoint. Instead, the scenery keeps changing. One stop is about falling water, another about volcanic bubbles, another about walking through black lava, and the last is about sitting in warm geothermal water.

The region also appeared in Game of Thrones, although you do not need to know the show to enjoy it. The volcanic scenery is the star here. You will spend much of the day outside, so comfortable shoes and clothing that handles wind and changing weather matter more than stylish cruise clothes.

Leaving Akureyri along Eyjafjörður

The day begins at the Akureyri Harbor Cruise Terminal. Look for the Fox Adventure guide and minibus outside the ship, usually with a sign. Arriving 15 minutes early is sensible, since the group leaves soon after meeting.

The first drive follows Eyjafjörður, one of Iceland’s longest fjords. The ride takes about 35 minutes to Goðafoss, and the road gives you an early look at the broad northern scenery before the volcanic sights begin.

The minibus is a practical choice for this route. It can carry a small group, and guides have sometimes changed the order of stops to work around traffic, weather, or larger buses. That flexibility is useful in a popular area where a few minutes can make the difference between a quiet walk and a crowded one.

Goðafoss, the waterfall with a story

Goðafoss is the first major stop, with about 40 minutes for photos, walking, and sightseeing. The name means Waterfall of the Gods, and the site is tied to Iceland’s conversion to Christianity around the year 1000.

You do not need a long hike to see the falls. The water spreads across a curved drop, making several good angles for photographs. If sunlight breaks through, a rainbow may appear in the spray, and the guide can point out useful photo positions.

Forty minutes is enough for the main viewpoints, but not for an unhurried wander in every direction. I would keep your camera ready, wear shoes with a good grip, and avoid spending the entire stop at the first railing. The falls are impressive, but the next part of the day is where the volcanic character of Mývatn really takes over.

Skútustaðagígar and the strange shape of pseudo craters

After roughly 35 minutes on the road, you reach Skútustaðagígar for around 40 minutes. These formations look like small volcanic craters, but they formed when hot lava met wet ground and trapped steam burst through the surface. They are called pseudo craters because they were not created by a normal eruption from a central vent.

This stop is more about shape and scale than dramatic height. Paths lead around low, rounded formations, and you get a good sense of how water and lava worked together. The area is also a pleasant place for photographs because the formations sit beside Lake Mývatn.

The short visit means you should stay aware of the meeting time. A guide-led walk helps explain what you are seeing, but the stop is not a strenuous hike. Regional snacks or café purchases may be available during the day, though food and drinks are not included in the price.

Dimmuborgir, a walk through black lava

A 15-minute drive brings you to Dimmuborgir, the Dark Fortress, for about 40 minutes. Here, thick lava cooled into arches, towers, caves, and rough walls. The shapes can look almost built by hand, which explains the area’s name and its place in Icelandic folklore.

I find this one of the most memorable stops because you are not simply looking at scenery from a roadside viewpoint. You walk among the formations and see the texture close up. Some routes are easy, while uneven ground and steps can make parts of the visit less comfortable for anyone with limited mobility.

The guide may lead a short walk and explain local stories, geology, or customs. There can also be time for coffee, tea, beer, or a small snack, but you should not count on this as your main meal. The tour advises bringing food and drinks, especially because the café stop comes late.

Grjótagjá and the continental rift

Grjótagjá is a short stop, about 30 minutes after a 12-minute drive from Dimmuborgir. This cave contains a hot blue pool, although the water is not a bathing spot. You can look into the cave and see the geothermal water below.

The site is also associated with the rift between the Eurasian and North American tectonic plates. The plates are moving apart in Iceland, and this area gives you a vivid way to think about that process. You may be able to take a photograph near the split between the rock formations, though the ground can be rough and slippery.

This is one of the stops where expectations matter. Grjótagjá is not a large cavern tour with a long underground route. It is a brief, atmospheric visit, and the value comes from the unusual combination of cave, hot water, and tectonic setting.

Hverir, where the ground smokes

Only about eight minutes later, you reach Hverir for a 30-minute visit. This geothermal area has smoking fumaroles, boiling mud pots, and yellow, orange, and gray ground colored by minerals.

The smell of sulfur can be strong. That is part of the experience, but it may not suit everyone. Stay on marked paths and follow the guide’s instructions. The mud and steam are hot, and this is not a place for wandering off to find a better photograph.

Hverir is visually different from every earlier stop. Goðafoss is wet and green, Dimmuborgir is dark and solid, while Hverir looks active and unstable. I like the contrast, and the short visit is about right for seeing the main features without lingering too long in the sulfur-scented air.

The Mývatn Nature Baths as the day’s final reward

The final major stop is the Mývatn Nature Baths, reached after a six-minute drive from Hverir. You get about 80 minutes here, which gives enough time to change, bathe, and sit in the geothermal water before the long return to Akureyri.

Entry is not included in the $218 tour price. You need to request a reservation in advance, and space should be arranged with Fox Adventure before the trip. Bring your own swimsuit and towel. A towel can be rented at the facility for an additional fee.

The baths are a good fit if you enjoy quiet soaking and want a softer ending after several outdoor stops. If you would rather not swim, you can relax at the Kvika restaurant or take a walk nearby. That flexibility matters, especially for families or people who prefer sightseeing to changing into swimwear.

The timing creates one practical tradeoff. If you spend the full 80 minutes bathing, you have less time for food or browsing. If you skip the baths, you may have a more comfortable meal break, but you lose one of the most distinctive ways to experience Iceland’s geothermal water.

The return to Akureyri and cruise timing

The drive back takes about 80 minutes. If time allows, the guide may make a final stop by Eyjafjörður for a photograph looking across the fjord toward Akureyri. Some guides have also added a brief look at Akureyri’s old town on the way back.

This is a cruise-focused excursion, so the return plan is important. The company says it returns at least 30 minutes before the ship leaves, and usually about 50 minutes before departure. That buffer is reassuring, though you should still confirm your ship’s departure time and listen carefully to the meeting instructions.

A breakdown once caused a delay for one group, but a replacement bus was arranged while the group was at the baths. That is a useful reminder that road conditions and vehicle problems can happen anywhere. The important point is that the operator builds the day around getting you back to the port, rather than treating the ship schedule as an afterthought.

Guides, group size, and the human side of the day

The guide can shape this tour as much as the scenery. Guides named in guest feedback include Joanna, also called Jowi, Baldur, Matteo, Johanna, Mati, Friðþórbjörn, and Joava. The strongest pattern is personal attention: help on slippery steps, answers to questions, local stories, and efforts to keep the group ahead of larger coaches.

Small groups have another benefit. The minibus can sometimes reach places or viewpoints that are awkward for large buses, and the guide can adjust the order of stops. One guide even helped a passenger find Icelandic butter and another made a supermarket stop for Icelandic candy. Those are small touches, but they show the value of a local guide who pays attention to what you want from the day.

There are a few limits. English is the tour language, and one passenger found the guide’s English harder to follow. Another noted occasional problems with the sound system. These issues may not occur on your departure, but they are worth knowing if clear commentary is essential to you.

Is $218 good value?

At $218 per person, this is not a cheap bus ride. Yet the price covers an eight-hour guided outing from the cruise port, transport in a comfortable minibus, several major Mývatn-area sights, free WiFi, and a cruise ship return guarantee.

You still need to pay for the baths, meals, drinks, and possibly towel rental. The late café stop makes a packed lunch especially sensible. If you add the baths, the total cost rises, but you are also getting a full day that would be difficult to organize independently during a port call.

I see the strongest value for cruise passengers who want to visit Mývatn without renting a car, navigating Icelandic roads, or worrying about getting back to the ship. It is less compelling for someone who wants a slow day at one site, a long hike, or complete control over every stop.

Who should book this day tour?

I would choose it if you want a wide sample of northern Iceland in one outing. It suits active adults, families with older children, and cruise passengers who want waterfalls, volcanic formations, geothermal areas, and a bath without arranging separate transport.

You should be comfortable with a busy schedule. The walks are generally short, but some ground is uneven, rocky, or slippery. The operator says the tour is wheelchair accessible, while also recommending a private tour for greater comfort. Contacting the company before booking is wise if mobility support is important.

Weather and road conditions can change the plan at short notice. Bring sunglasses, a camera, comfortable shoes, warm and comfortable clothes, food, drinks, swimwear, and a towel. Free cancellation is available up to 24 hours before departure, and you can reserve now and pay later.

Should you book the Goðafoss and Mývatn tour?

Book it if you want the biggest possible taste of northern Iceland during a single Akureyri port call. The combination of Goðafoss, pseudo craters, lava formations, Grjótagjá, Hverir, and geothermal bathing gives you real variety, while the small bus and careful ship timing reduce much of the usual shore excursion worry.

Skip it if you dislike long drives, fixed stop times, sulfur smells, or paying extra for the bath. For everyone else, this is a strong choice, especially if you request the Mývatn Nature Baths in advance and bring your own lunch. The scenery changes often, the guides add useful local character, and you are back at the ship with time to spare.

FAQ

Where does the tour begin?

It begins outside the Akureyri Harbor Cruise Terminal. Look for a Fox Adventure guide and minibus with a sign.

How long does the tour last?

The tour lasts about eight hours, including the return drive to Akureyri.

Is transportation included?

Yes. Transport is provided by a comfortable minibus, with free WiFi on board.

Is a guide included?

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

Is admission to the Mývatn Nature Baths included?

No. Bath entry costs extra, and you need to request a reservation in advance.

Should I bring a towel and swimsuit?

Yes. Bring swimwear and a towel. A towel can also be rented at the baths for an additional fee.

Are meals included?

No. Meals and beverages are not included. The tour recommends bringing a packed lunch because the café stop comes fairly late.

What happens if I do not want to swim?

You can relax at the Kvika restaurant or take a walk around the area instead.

Is the tour suitable for wheelchair users?

The tour is listed as wheelchair accessible, but a private tour is recommended for greater comfort. Contact the company before booking.

Can I cancel the tour?

You can cancel up to 24 hours before departure for a full refund. You can also reserve now and pay later.