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Diamond Circle & GeoSea Tour from Akureyri or Mývatn

Name: Diamond Circle & GeoSea Tour from Akureyri or Mývatn
Brand: Iceland Travel Guide
SKU: 83303
Price: 38900 ISK
Availability: InStock
Rating: 5.0 (1 reviews)

About 9 hoursGroup: Small groupEasyMinibus with pick-up in AkureyriAge 3+June–October

5.0(1 review)

Bathers looking across the bay to snowy mountains

Visitor on the rocks at Goðafoss waterfall

A full-day Diamond Circle tour covering North Iceland's biggest sights: Goðafoss, Dettifoss, Ásbyrgi canyon and the fishing town of Húsavík, with a stop at GeoSea's geothermal sea baths. Pick-up is from Akureyri, Lake Mývatn or the cruise port.

Goðafoss waterfallDettifoss waterfallÁsbyrgi canyonHúsavíkGeoSea sea baths

Goðafoss, the Waterfall of the Gods
Dettifoss, one of Europe's most powerful waterfalls
Ásbyrgi, a horseshoe-shaped canyon in the Jökulsárgljúfur area
Time in Húsavík and a stop at GeoSea's geothermal sea baths
Pick-up from Akureyri, Lake Mývatn or the cruise port

Your day, stop by stop

Click a stop for photos and practical tips.

1Pick-upFrom Akureyri, Lake Mývatn, or the cruise port.

GoðafossA wide, elegant waterfall known as the Waterfall of the Gods.

Goðafoss, the 'waterfall of the gods', is a horseshoe-shaped fall on the Skjálfandafljót river, about 12 metres high and 30 metres wide, right beside the Ring Road. The name is tied to a well-known story about Iceland's conversion to Christianity around the year 1000. Paths on both banks give different views of the curve.

Walking · short, easy paths to the viewpoints

Read our Goðafoss guide →

DettifossOne of the most powerful waterfalls in Europe.

Dettifoss is often described as the most powerful waterfall in Europe, with an average flow of around 193 cubic metres per second. The Jökulsá á Fjöllum, a glacial river fed by Vatnajökull, drops 44 metres over a ledge about 100 metres wide into the Jökulsárgljúfur canyon, throwing up spray that you can see and hear before you reach the viewpoint. It is part of Vatnajökull National Park and a highlight of the Diamond Circle.

Walking · gravel paths, can be uneven

Read our Dettifoss guide →

Ásbyrgi canyonA horseshoe-shaped canyon with cliffs and birch woodland.

Ásbyrgi is a horseshoe-shaped canyon about 3.5 kilometres long and up to 1.1 kilometres wide, with cliff walls up to 100 metres high, in Vatnajökull National Park. A rock formation called Eyjan, 'the Island', splits it down the middle. Inside, sheltered from the wind, a birch and willow forest has grown up that feels quite different from the open moorland outside, and a walk leads in from the car park to the pond at the head of the canyon.

Facilities · visitor centre and toilets

Read our Ásbyrgi guide →

HúsavíkA stop in Iceland's whale watching capital.

Húsavík is a fishing town of around 2,400 people on Skjálfandi Bay in North Iceland, best known as Iceland's whale watching capital. It is still a working harbour, with colourful houses on the hillside and a timber church from 1907 looking out over the water. Commercial whale watching started here in 1995, and the sheltered, food-rich waters of the bay have made it one of the most reliable places in the country to see whales.

Read our Húsavík guide →

GeoSea sea bathsA stop at the geothermal sea baths above the bay.

Bather at the edge of the pool above the sea

GeoSea is a geothermal sea bath on the Húsavíkurhöfði headland, on the northern edge of Húsavík, with infinity-edge pools looking out over Skjálfandi Bay. The water is hot seawater from two boreholes on the headland, kept at about 38 to 39°C and constantly flowing, so it stays clean without chemicals. It feels milder and slightly saltier than a typical hot spring.

Entry fee · see the tour details for whether this is included or optional

Read our GeoSea guide →

7ReturnDrop-off back at your hotel, Akureyri or the port.

About the Diamond Circle tour Akureyri

The Diamond Circle is North Iceland's answer to the Golden Circle, and this tour takes in its main stops in one long day with a small-group minibus and a local guide. It works from Akureyri, from Lake Mývatn, or with pick-up from the cruise port if you are arriving by ship.

You see Goðafoss, a wide and elegant waterfall with strong ties to Iceland's conversion to Christianity, then Dettifoss, one of the most powerful waterfalls in Europe by volume, and Ásbyrgi, a canyon shaped like a horseshoe. Along the Jökulsárgljúfur canyon there are also striking rock formations at Hljóðaklettar.

The day usually finishes around Húsavík, Iceland's whale watching town, with a stop at GeoSea's cliffside geothermal sea baths. Because the route covers a lot of ground on gravel and mountain roads, it is a long day out, and it only runs from June to October when the roads are reliably open.

Included

Local guide
Minibus transport
Pick-up and drop-off

Not included

Food and drinks (stop at a café or shop along the way)
GeoSea entrance fee

What to bring

Warm, waterproof clothing
Comfortable walking shoes
Swimwear if visiting GeoSea
Snacks and water for the day

Good to know

Runs June to October, when mountain roads are reliably open
A long day of about 9 hours, starting at 8:00 with pick-up in Akureyri
GeoSea entry is an optional add-on and not included in the price; bring swimwear and a towel if you want to bathe (towels can be rented)
Minimum age 3, with mostly short, easy walks at each stop. Not wheelchair or stroller accessible
Minimum 2 people per booking.

Questions people ask

Is GeoSea entry included?

No. The GeoSea baths are an optional stop and the entrance fee is paid separately.

How long is the tour?

About 9 hours, since the Diamond Circle covers a lot of ground.

Where does it depart from?

Akureyri, Lake Mývatn, or the cruise port if you are on a ship.

Is it suitable for people with limited mobility?

Most stops have short, mostly flat paths, but some sections at Dettifoss and Ásbyrgi are uneven, so ask us in advance if this matters to you.

Reviews

Reviews from travellers who took this tour. A local reads every review before it is shown.

5.0Based on 1 review

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Loved this tour

We loved the Diamond Circle tour from Akureyri! Each stop was breathtaking, from Godafoss waterfall to the geothermal area at Hverir. Our guide was wonderful, giving us insight into each location’s natural and cultural significance. The scenery was stunning, and we got a true sense of Iceland’s raw beauty. Highly recommend this tour!

Liam

From38,900 ISKPer person · Minimum 2 people per booking