Stuðlagil Canyon Tour from Seyðisfjörður

Your day, stop by stop

Click a stop for photos and practical tips.

Seyðisfjörður cruise portMeet your coach at the harbour, clearly marked with tour signage.

Meet your coach at the harbour, clearly marked with tour signage. Seyðisfjörður is a small town of around 700 residents at the end of a long fjord, with Norwegian-style wooden buildings from the late 1800s. The coach crosses the mountain road to Egilsstaðir and continues along the valley to the canyon.

Read our Seyðisfjörður guide →

Rjúkandi waterfallA multi-tiered cascade near Egilsstaðir.

Rjúkandi drops in two stages, about 60 and 33 metres, down a steep hillside beside the Ring Road in the Jökuldalur valley. The name means roughly 'the smoking one', after the spray that rises off the falls, especially in a strong wind. It is a roadside stop that needs no detour, with a small free car park by the bridge.

Walking · short stop close to the road

Read our Rjúkandi guide →

Stuðlagil canyonBasalt columns up to 30 m high above a turquoise river.

Stuðlagil is a canyon of tightly packed hexagonal basalt columns on the Jökla river, in the upper Jökuldalur valley in East Iceland. Most of the columns used to be hidden under grey glacial floodwater. After the Kárahnjúkar hydropower project diverted much of the river, the water level dropped and the columns came into view, with a blue-green river running between them. The shortest way to see it is from the viewing platforms on the west side, about 250 metres from the car park.

Walking · long staircases; take your time and use the handrailTip · wear shoes with a good grip for the stairs

Read our Stuðlagil Canyon guide →

Gufufoss waterfallA 27-metre fall on the way back to the coast.

Gufufoss takes its name from the steam-like mist, 'gufa', that often hangs around it as the water breaks over the rock. It sits right beside Route 93, the road over Fjarðarheiði between Egilsstaðir and Seyðisfjörður, so most travellers see it without any detour. There is a small free car park and a flat path of about 150 metres.

Walking · short walk from the car park

Read our Gufufoss guide →

5Back to SeyðisfjörðurDrop-off at the cruise port.

About the Stuðlagil canyon tour from Seyðisfjörður

Stuðlagil is one of the newest attractions in East Iceland. The canyon was mostly hidden under the Jökla river until a hydropower dam upstream reduced the flow in 2007 and uncovered rows of basalt columns up to about 30 m high, with a turquoise-blue glacial river running between them. This tour drives you there from the Seyðisfjörður cruise port, over the mountain road to Egilsstaðir and along the valley to the canyon.

On the way you stop at Rjúkandi, a multi-tiered waterfall near Egilsstaðir, and at Gufufoss, a 27 m fall surrounded by moss-covered cliffs. At Stuðlagil itself, a set of stairs takes you down to a viewing platform above the canyon; the stairs are long and can be steep in places, so wear shoes with a good grip.

The tour runs in summer only, from May to September, when the mountain road is reliably open and the canyon is at its most colourful. Weather in the East Fjords can change quickly, so bring a layer even on a sunny morning.

Questions people ask

How much walking is there?

Short stops at each waterfall, plus a staircase down to the viewing platform at Stuðlagil. It is not a long hike, but the stairs take some effort.

Do we get down to the river itself?

You view the canyon from a platform above it. See the booking calendar or ask your guide about reaching the riverbank.

What if our ship's schedule changes?

The tour is timed to your call at Seyðisfjörður; check with the operator if your ship's arrival or departure time changes.

Is it suitable for young children?

The minimum age is 2, but the staircases at the canyon are long, so use your judgement for very young children.

Greta tour

Really great tour we did while on our cruise around Iceland. Beautiful locations, comfortable ride and knowledgeable guide.

David · July 2026

Beyond Expectations

I didn’t expect Studlagil to be as dramatic as it was. The basalt formations are jaw-dropping. The guide’s stories about the river, how the canyon was revealed after the dam project, added depth. One of my favorite stops in Iceland.

Marcus L.

Très beau moment

Un canyon magnifique, très peu fréquenté, juste sublime. Le guide très pro, qui prenait le temps d’expliquer les aspects géologiques, la formation du canyon, etc. Une journée que je n’oublierai pas.

Camille D.

Beauty

The paths were good, the hike not too hard, and the views – wow. Seeing the basalt columns at close range was amazing. Highly recommend this tour if you love nature and geology.

Liam P.

Una maravilla escondida

Maravillosa excursión. Las columnas de basalto, el río turquesa y la tranquilidad del sitio me enamoraron. Guía amable, con mucho conocimiento. Uno de los mejores rincones que visité en Islandia.

Ana G.

Wild, Quiet, Beautiful

Loved how peaceful Studlagil felt. Even with people around, the canyon has a raw, untouched beauty. Guide made sure we had time to enjoy silence and take photos. Wonderful experience.

Theo M.

Stuðlagil Canyon Tour from Seyðisfjörður

Your day, stop by stop

About the Stuðlagil canyon tour from Seyðisfjörður

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Questions people ask

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