This guided day tour from Akureyri explores North Iceland’s volcanic and geothermal regions. Visit Goðafoss waterfall, the steaming grounds of Námaskarð, the blue geothermal waters inside Grjótagjá lava cave, and the lava formations of Dimmuborgir, shaped by both geology and folklore. The journey ends at the Skútustaðir pseudocraters by Lake Mývatn, rounding out a focused introduction to the area’s defining landscapes.
On this single-day tour, you’ll explore the natural and mystical wonders of North Iceland. Visit iconic sites around Lake Mývatn, with roaring waterfalls, steaming geothermal areas, and monumental lava formations. Among these highlights is Dimmuborgir, a monumental lava labyrinth associated with Icelandic elves and the hidden people.
You’ll start the day by meeting your tour guide at the Special Tours office in Akureyri 15 minutes before departure. You and the tour group will board the bus and depart east toward the Lake Mývatn region and North Iceland’s most remarkable natural sights.
Your first stop is the powerful and picturesque Goðafoss (Waterfall of the Gods), one of Iceland’s most famous waterfalls. Measuring 12 m (39 ft) high and 30 m (98 ft) across, the horseshoe-shaped waterfall pours into a bright blue pool below. Paths on both sides of the river lead to several viewpoints, making it easy to take in the waterfall from different angles and appreciate its scale and movement.
Afterward, you’ll head on to the otherworldly landscape of Námaskarð and Hverir, filled with steaming vents, boiling mud pools, and sulfur-stained ground. This active geothermal area provides insight into Iceland’s volcanic energy beneath the surface. Here, the air carries a sharp sulfur scent, a reminder that this raw terrain is shaped by powerful forces still at work. Follow the marked paths at an easy pace—they’re well-maintained and designed to show how the landscape changes from one section to the next. Stop often, take in the views, and give yourself time to feel how alive this place is when you’re not rushing through it.
Continue to Grjótagjá, a small lava cave sheltering a geothermal hot spring whose water glows a deep, milky blue, lit from within by the cave’s narrow opening. Once a quiet bathing spot for locals, the cave gained global attention after appearing in Game of Thrones. Today, visitors can still step inside the cave and watch steam curl above the glowing blue water, though bathing is no longer permitted due to extreme heat. The surrounding lava field feels raw and untouched, shaped by past eruptions and time. Part geological curiosity, part pop-culture landmark, Grjótagjá leaves a quiet, lasting impression in North Iceland.
Next stop—the legendary lava formations of Dimmuborgir, often called the “Dark Castles.” Here, you’ll wander among towering pillars, arches, and caves while learning about the folklore of the area. According to Icelandic legend, Dimmuborgir is home to elves and hidden people (“huldufólk”), including a mythical “king of the elves” said to dwell in the tallest lava towers. Locals believe these mystical beings protect the land, making Dimmuborgir both a geological wonder and a sacred place.
The final stop is Skútustaðagígar, a field of pseudocraters formed when molten lava flowed over the wetlands of Lake Mývatn, trapping water beneath the surface and releasing it in sudden bursts of steam. These eruptions shaped the low, irregular craters visible today.
Boardwalks lead through the area and along the lakeshore, allowing for close views of the formations set against open water and volcanic terrain. Birdlife is common, and the wide outlook over Mývatn brings the route to a quiet, reflective close shaped by the forces that define North Iceland.
The tour concludes with a scenic drive back to Akureyri and return to the Special Tours office, completing a half-day introduction to the region.
Your guide will meet you at Special Tours Whale Watching Akureyri, Oddeyrarbót 1, 600 Akureyri. Please be at the office at least 15 minutes before the tour starts.
