Cruise Tour Godafoss and Myvatn Lake and Baths Small Group

Goðafoss is the star of this Akureyri shore excursion, but the real pleasure is how quickly the day changes character. You move from a broad fjord and roaring waterfall to volcanic craters, twisted lava, a blue underground river, steaming mud pots, and finally warm geothermal water at the Mývatn Nature Baths.

I like the small-group format, which makes it easier to leave the port early, avoid some large-bus crowds, and get help with photos. I also like the range of scenery packed into one day, with guides such as Johanna, Joanna, Leo, and Julia praised for their friendly, personal approach.

The main caution is timing. The tour lasts about seven to eight hours, and one port-day review found the schedule rushed when the ship was in Akureyri for only 10 hours. Check your ship’s time carefully before booking, and remember that the bath admission costs extra.

Key things to know before booking

• Goðafoss comes early: Reaching the waterfall before larger groups can make the first stop calmer and better for photos.
• Six very different stops: You see a waterfall, pseudo craters, lava formations, a cave, geothermal vents, and a mineral bath in one day.
• Small group, maximum 19 people: The mini bus offers a more personal setup than a large cruise coach.
• The bath is optional in practice: Entry to the Mývatn Nature Baths costs ISK 7,400 per person, and swimwear and a towel are required.
• Lake Mývatn has flies: Bring insect protection or accept that the small flies can be thick around the lake in summer.
• Cruise timing matters: The operator includes a cruise ship return guarantee, but you should still confirm that your port stay allows enough breathing room.

From Akureyri’s port to Goðafoss

The day begins at the Akureyri Cruise Terminal on Laufásgata. Pickup at the port is included, and the tour ends back at the same meeting point. That direct arrangement is useful on a cruise stop because you do not need to find a separate bus station or make your way across town.

The road follows Eyjafjörður, one of Iceland’s longest fjords. Even before the main sights, this gives you a strong sense of northern Iceland: water, open views, and a road leading toward the volcanic country around Lake Mývatn.

Your first major stop is Goðafoss, the Waterfall of the Gods. You get about 35 minutes here, with no separate admission charge. That is enough time to walk to viewpoints, take photos, and listen to the guide explain why the waterfall matters in Icelandic history.

Goðafoss is broad rather than especially tall, with water splitting around rocky formations as it rushes through the river. On a clear day, spray and sunlight can produce a rainbow. Your guide may also help you find a good angle for photographs, a small service that matters when the stop is short.

The early start is one of the tour’s practical strengths. Several guides are praised for getting the group away from the port and reaching Goðafoss before the largest buses. That does not guarantee an empty viewpoint, but it can make the stop feel less like a queue and more like a real introduction to Iceland.

Skútustaðagígar and the unusual shores of Lake Mývatn

The next stop is Skútustaðagígar, a group of pseudo craters beside Lake Mývatn. You have about 30 minutes, and admission is free.

Pseudo craters are not ordinary volcanic cones. They formed when lava flowed over wet ground and trapped steam beneath it. The steam burst through the lava, leaving crater-like shapes without a conventional volcanic vent. They are uncommon around the world, with examples noted in Iceland, Hawaii, the Azores, and even Mars.

That detail gives the stop more meaning than a quick photo break. You are not only looking at round mounds beside a lake. You are seeing evidence of how water and lava interacted, a process that produced one of the area’s most unusual features.

I would pay attention to your shoes here. The walking time is limited, and the point is to see the formations rather than take a long hike. The guide can help explain what you are looking at, which is especially useful because pseudo craters are easy to mistake for ordinary hills.

Lake Mývatn is also where you may encounter the area’s famous flies. They are harmless but can be extremely annoying, particularly as summer progresses. If the guide offers a fly net, take it. Insect spray is also a sensible addition to your day bag.

Dimmuborgir’s lava towers and troll shapes

Dimmuborgir, about 40 minutes away, offers a completely different view of Iceland’s volcanic past. This field of lava formations contains arches, pillars, walls, and strange shapes that invite comparison to castles or trolls.

The formations were created as lava cooled and collapsed. You are not simply walking across a black rock field. The shapes give the area a storybook quality, which explains its popularity with fans of Game of Thrones and with anyone who enjoys using a little imagination outdoors.

The guide-led walk is a strong part of this stop. Johanna is praised for pointing out different formations, helping with photographs, and keeping the group together without rushing people who walk more slowly. The tour is not presented as a hard trek, but you should still expect to walk over uneven ground.

Dimmuborgir is one of the places where a personal guide adds real value. Without explanation, some formations may blur together. With a guide, you begin to notice why one opening looks like a doorway, another wall seems to lean, and a dark hollow resembles a troll’s home.

The 40-minute visit is enough for an introduction, though not for an extensive exploration of the entire area. If you want a long independent walk through the lava field, this schedule will feel brief. If your goal is to see the main character of the place and continue to the next sight, the timing works well.

Grjótagjá and the continental rift

Grjótagjá is a short, 20-minute stop at a cave known for its hot blue river. The cave’s interior gives you a glimpse of the intense forces beneath the surface, while the surrounding rock shows how dramatic Iceland’s volcanic ground can be.

You may also have the chance to take a photograph on the continental rift between Europe and North America. This is one of those stops that works best when the guide explains what you are seeing. A quick picture with one foot on each side is fun, but the setting has more value when connected to the region’s geology.

The stop is brief, so do not expect a long cave visit or an extended geological walk. Conditions and access can affect what you can see. Treat it as a focused look at an unusual place rather than a major underground attraction.

The blue water is visually striking, but the tour does not include swimming here. The bathing portion comes later at the Mývatn Nature Baths. That distinction matters because the cave and the baths serve very different purposes: Grjótagjá is about geology and atmosphere, while the final stop is for rest.

Hverir’s steam, mud, and sulphur

At Namafjall Hverir, the ground seems to be working. Smoking fumaroles release steam, mud pots bubble, and the colors of the geothermal earth contrast sharply with the dark volcanic rock around them. You have about 30 minutes, and there is no separate admission charge.

The smell of sulphur is strong. I would not describe it as a minor detail. Some people find it fascinating, while others will want to move quickly through the area. Stay on the marked paths and keep your attention on the ground, since the geothermal features are hot and active.

This is one of the best stops for understanding that Iceland’s natural attractions are not all waterfalls and mountains. Here, heat rises from below, mud boils, and the air itself changes. A guide can turn those details into a clearer picture of how geothermal energy shapes daily life and industry in Iceland.

The supplied route places Hverir before the baths, which creates a useful contrast. First you see the raw, sulphurous side of geothermal activity. Later you use a controlled geothermal pool for a long, warm rest.

Ending at the Mývatn Nature Baths

The final scheduled stop is the Mývatn Nature Baths, also called Jardböðin við Mývatn. You have about 90 minutes here, making it the least rushed part of the day.

The bath admission is not included. The listed price is ISK 7,400 per person, so add that cost to the advertised tour price of $216.02. Swimwear and a towel are required. Meals and drinks are also not included, so carry what you need for the day.

The timing works well after walking around Dimmuborgir and the other outdoor stops. You can soak in geothermal water, spend time in the steam baths, and let your legs recover before returning to Akureyri. This is not just an extra attraction tacked onto a sightseeing route. It changes the pace of the day and gives you a proper pause.

Not everyone will want to pay the extra bath fee. The tour company has sometimes offered people who skip the pools alternative stops, such as Hverfjall Crater, a geothermal power plant, snowy mountains, or other nearby viewpoints. These extras are not guaranteed parts of the published schedule, so ask your guide what is possible on your departure.

If bathing is a priority, bring your own towel if practical and leave enough room in your bag for wet swimwear. If you prefer to photograph the area or have lunch instead, the time can still be useful, but confirm the group’s meeting arrangement with the guide.

What the small mini bus changes

The vehicle is a comfortable mini bus, with WiFi on board and room for a maximum of 19 people. That is still a group, but it is far more manageable than a full-size cruise coach.

A smaller group helps in three ways. First, boarding and leaving stops can be quicker. Second, the guide can answer questions and help with photos without addressing a crowd. Third, the pace can be adjusted a little when someone needs extra time.

Several guides are specifically praised for taking photographs, helping people who walk more slowly, and adding occasional extra stops. That personal attention is one of the clearest reasons to choose this tour over a standard ship excursion.

There is also a practical risk with any road tour in a small vehicle: mechanical trouble can interrupt the schedule. On one departure, the mini bus broke down, but another vehicle was sent, the order of stops was changed, and the group still reached the planned sights and returned to the ship on time. That suggests the operator has a working backup response, though no company can remove the risk entirely.

Price, port timing, and overall value

At $216.02 per person, this is not a bargain-priced bus ride. You are paying for a full northern Iceland route, port pickup and return, transport, guiding, WiFi, and a cruise ship return guarantee. The nature bath ticket is extra, and the total cost rises further if you buy food or drinks during the day.

I think the price can make sense if you want to see the Mývatn region without arranging several separate transfers. The route covers a lot of ground, and the guide adds context that you would miss by simply hiring transport to the waterfall and lake.

The key question is your ship’s time in port. The advertised duration is seven to eight hours, with the remaining time used for driving. One departure felt rushed when the ship had only 10 hours in Akureyri, while another group had plenty of time to return before departure.

I would be most comfortable booking this when your ship is scheduled to remain in port for at least 11 hours. If your ship has a shorter stop, contact the operator before booking and ask how much buffer they normally protect for the return. The cruise ship return guarantee is reassuring, but your own schedule check is still essential.

The tour is usually booked well ahead, with an average booking lead time of about 95 days. That is a useful signal for cruise passengers planning a popular port day. If you want a small group and a specific date, I would not leave it until the last minute.

Free cancellation is available up to 24 hours before the local start time. Changes or cancellations inside that window are not accepted for a refund, and poor weather or an insufficient number of participants can lead to a rescheduled departure or full refund.

Who should choose this Akureyri excursion?

I would choose this tour if you want one busy day that shows several sides of northern Iceland. It suits adults, families with older children, and most people who can manage short walks over natural ground.

It is especially good for you if you value a guide who can explain geology, history, and local life while also helping with photographs. The guide names associated with the departures include Johanna, Joanna, Leo, and Julia, though the specific guide depends on the date.

You should think twice if you dislike group schedules, want long hikes at each stop, or have limited time in port. The route is broad rather than slow. You will see many places, but you will not have hours at any one of them.

Service animals are allowed, and most people can participate. The tour is offered in English. Bring warm layers, sturdy shoes, swimwear, a towel, and protection from the flies around Lake Mývatn.

Should you book the Goðafoss and Mývatn tour?

I would book it when your cruise ship has a generous port stay and you want a high-yield day outside Akureyri. The combination of Goðafoss, volcanic formations, geothermal activity, and a final soak is unusually varied, and the small vehicle makes the long route more comfortable.

I would skip it if your port call is only about 10 hours or less, unless the operator confirms that the timing is safe for your ship. I would also compare the full cost after adding the ISK 7,400 bath fee.

For the right schedule, this is a strong choice. You get the essential Mývatn sights, personal guiding, and a relaxing finish, all without committing to a large coach group.

FAQ

Where does the tour start?

It starts at the Akureyri Cruise Terminal on Laufásgata in Akureyri, Iceland.

Where does the tour end?

The tour ends back at the Akureyri Cruise Terminal meeting point.

How long does the tour last?

The tour lasts approximately seven to eight hours. Some of that time is used for driving between Akureyri and the Mývatn area.

What is the maximum group size?

The tour allows a maximum of 19 participants.

Is pickup at the cruise port included?

Yes. Pickup at the port and return to the meeting point are included.

Is the Mývatn Nature Baths admission included?

No. Admission costs ISK 7,400 per person and must be paid separately.

What should I bring for the baths?

Bring swimwear and a towel. Meals and beverages are not included.

Is the tour offered in English?

Yes. The tour is offered in English.

Does the tour include transport and a guide?

Yes. It includes transport in a comfortable mini bus, WiFi on board, and a fully guided tour.

Can I cancel for a full refund?

You can cancel at least 24 hours before the local start time for a full refund. Cancellations or changes made less than 24 hours before the start are not accepted for a refund.