Goðafoss Waterfall & Earth Lagoon Tour from Akureyri

This tour from Akureyri harbour combines Goðafoss, the Waterfall of the Gods, with a soak in Earth Lagoon (formerly Mývatn Nature Baths), North Iceland's geothermal answer to the Blue Lagoon.

• Goðafoss, the crescent-shaped Waterfall of the Gods
• Skútustaðir pseudo-craters around Lake Mývatn
• A soak in Earth Lagoon, a geothermal lagoon with mineral-rich blue water
• Packed lunch and lagoon entry included
• Good option if you want sightseeing and relaxation in one trip

Your day, stop by stop

2Goðafoss waterfallA wide, crescent-shaped 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 viewpoints on both sidesFacilities · toilets and a small café nearby

Read our Goðafoss guide →

3Skútustaðir pseudo-cratersGrassy, crater-like mounds around Lake Mývatn.

These formed when lava flowed over wet ground, trapping steam that later blew upward through the surface, leaving distinctive rounded mounds around Lake Mývatn. A flat loop path runs around them.

Walking · flat loop path around the craters

4Earth LagoonA soak in the milky-blue geothermal lagoon at Mývatn.

Formerly known as Mývatn Nature Baths, the lagoon's warm, mineral-rich water is fed by the same geothermal system that heats the area's mud pools. It is calmer and less crowded than the Blue Lagoon.

Time here · time to relax before returningFacilities · changing rooms; towels for rent

About the Goðafoss and Earth Lagoon tour

This tour pairs North Iceland's best-known waterfall with its best-known lagoon. From Akureyri harbour the coach drives to Goðafoss, a wide, crescent-shaped fall on the Skjálfandafljót river. Its name, Waterfall of the Gods, comes from the story that a lawspeaker threw statues of the old Norse gods into the water when Iceland adopted Christianity around the year 1000.

From there the route continues past the Skútustaðir pseudo-craters, grassy mounds formed by ancient steam explosions, to Earth Lagoon at Lake Mývatn. This geothermal lagoon has recently been renamed from Mývatn Nature Baths, though the pools and mineral-rich, milky-blue water are the same as before. It is quieter than the Blue Lagoon near Reykjavík and set in a starker, more volcanic landscape.

Bring a swimsuit and towel, since towels are usually rented on site rather than provided. The lagoon water is warm year round, so this makes a good way to warm up after being outdoors, whatever the season.

Questions people ask