Lake Mývatn & Goðafoss Cruise Excursion from Akureyri

This Lake Mývatn and Goðafoss tour runs from Akureyri harbour to the volcanic landscape around Mývatn, in North Iceland. You see Goðafoss waterfall, the Skútustaðir pseudo-craters, the lava formations at Dimmuborgir and the steaming ground at Námaskarð.

• Goðafoss, the crescent-shaped Waterfall of the Gods
• Skútustaðir pseudo-craters, formed by ancient steam explosions
• Dimmuborgir, a lava field of dramatic rock towers and arches
• Námaskarð, a bare, steaming geothermal area of boiling mud and sulphur
• A packed lunch included on the coach

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 mounds formed by steam explosions in ancient lava.

Skútustaðir's pseudo-craters are crater-like mounds that are not true volcanic vents. They formed when hot lava flowed over marshy ground, trapping steam that blew upward through the surface. A flat loop path runs around them, on the south shore of Lake Mývatn.

Walking · flat loop path around the craters

4Dimmuborgir lava formationsA maze of dark lava towers, pillars and arches.

Dimmuborgir means 'Dark Castles', and it fits: a maze of black lava towers, arches and small caves, left behind about 2,300 years ago when a lava lake drained away and the crust collapsed into castle-like shapes. Hollow rock chimneys that once cooled the lava from below can be walked between and, in places, through. Five marked loops, from about 600 metres to 2.3 kilometres, let you choose a short stroll or a longer walk.

Walking · easy marked loop paths, about 30–45 minutes

Read our Dimmuborgir guide →

5Námaskarð geothermal areaBoiling mud pools and colourful, sulphur-stained ground.

Námaskarð and Hverarönd, often just called Hverir, is one of the starkest landscapes in Iceland: bare, cracked ground in shades of grey, yellow, pink and orange, with steam vents hissing and mud pots bubbling on every side. It sits at about 400 metres above sea level beside the mountain Námafjall, a few kilometres east of Lake Mývatn. The smell of sulphur reaches you before the sight does. The ground is hot, so stay on the marked paths.

Walking · flat gravel paths, keep to the marked routeTip · the smell of sulphur is strong here

Read our Námaskarð and Hverarönd guide →

About the Lake Mývatn and Goðafoss tour

Mývatn is one of the most volcanically active areas in Iceland, and this tour gives you a good half-day sample of it from the ship. The coach leaves Akureyri harbour and drives northeast, with your first stop at Goðafoss, a wide, crescent-shaped waterfall on the Skjálfandafljót river that takes its name, the Waterfall of the Gods, from Iceland's conversion to Christianity in the year 1000.

From there you continue to Lake Mývatn itself, stopping at the Skútustaðir pseudo-craters, grassy mounds formed when lava flowed over wet ground and trapped steam that later exploded upward. Nearby, Dimmuborgir is a maze of dark lava pillars and arches, easy to walk through on marked paths. The last stop is Námaskarð, a stark, treeless slope of bubbling mud pots and mineral-stained ground with a strong smell of sulphur.

This is a coach tour with several short walks rather than one long hike, so it suits most fitness levels. Bring layers and a waterproof coat regardless of the forecast, since weather in North Iceland can change quickly and the geothermal areas offer little shelter.

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