Akureyri: Lake Mývatn & Northern Lights – Winter Special

Northern Iceland gives you two very different shows in one compact trip: Lake Mývatn’s volcanic oddities by day and the Northern Lights after dark. You’ll travel through a region shaped by lava, hot springs, pseudocraters, and wide fjord views, with a small group capped at 18 people.

I like the useful mix of sightseeing and downtime, especially the chance to add a warm soak at the Mývatn Nature Baths. I also like the flexible Northern Lights policy: if the lights do not appear, the evening trip can be offered again for free. The main consideration is weather. Neither tour can run normally in poor conditions, and the aurora itself never comes with a guarantee.

Key points to know

• Two full days of North Iceland highlights: One day covers Lake Mývatn and its volcanic sites, while another evening is set aside for the Northern Lights.
• Sigi is the guide to look for: Booking feedback names Sigi, also written as Ziggie, as the guide and driver for both outings.
• Goðafoss adds a major waterfall to the day: The route begins with one of Iceland’s most famous falls before reaching the Mývatn area.
• The Nature Baths are optional: Admission, towel, and swimwear cost extra, so bring your own swimsuit and towel if you plan to go in.
• Airport transfers help with a short stay: EasyJet passengers receive airport pickup and a return transfer to Akureyri Airport.
• The Northern Lights outing works best early in your stay: If the sky stays cloudy or the lights fail to appear, you have a chance to move the trip to another night.

Two days that show off North Iceland

At $350 per person, this is not a cheap day trip. It is a two-day package that combines a guided Lake Mývatn excursion, a Northern Lights hunt, and airport transfers for EasyJet passengers. That bundle makes the price easier to understand, especially if you are flying into Akureyri and want to avoid arranging separate transport.

The group is limited to 18 people, which matters on a long sightseeing day. You are not signing up for a giant coach experience with a guide trying to manage a crowd at every stop. The schedule still covers a lot of ground, but the small-group setup should make stops and questions easier to handle.

The tour begins with airport pickup information tied to your EasyJet flight. You also provide your Akureyri accommodation details so the operator knows where to collect you for the two outings. On departure day, the service takes you back to Akureyri Airport.

A night under North Iceland’s dark skies

The Northern Lights outing starts at 9:30 PM. You leave the city lights around Akureyri and head toward the area with the best mix of clear sky and viewing conditions that night. The exact route changes, which is sensible. Chasing the aurora is not like visiting a fixed monument. Cloud cover can make one direction useless while another has a clear opening.

You should think of this as a search rather than a scheduled light show. The Northern Lights are a natural event, and even a well-timed trip can end without a sighting. That honest limitation is important when you plan your expectations.

The trip can be offered again for free if it operates but the lights are not seen. If weather prevents the tour from operating, the same policy gives you another chance. For that reason, I would book this package for your first night in Akureyri, not your last. A spare evening gives you room to change the date.

Warm clothing is essential. You may spend time outside waiting and watching, so layers, sturdy shoes, gloves, and a hat make the experience far more comfortable. The operator specifically asks you to dress warmly and wear comfortable shoes. That advice is practical, not decorative.

The Northern Lights outing earned especially strong praise for the combination of a successful sighting and a capable guide. Sigi, also spelled Ziggie in one booking note, drove and guided both outings for some visitors and kept the evening moving while explaining what was happening. If your night produces a clear display, this can be the emotional high point of the two days. If it does not, the free repeat option softens the disappointment.

Goðafoss, the waterfall of the gods

The Lake Mývatn day begins at 9 AM and follows the coast of Eyjafjörður. This is one of Iceland’s longest fjords, and the route gives you a sense of how the sea reaches far inland in the northeast.

The first major stop is Goðafoss, one of Iceland’s most famous waterfalls. It is a strong opening to the day because it gives you a big natural sight before the tour turns toward the volcanic features around Lake Mývatn.

You get time to look, take photographs, and walk around the viewing area before continuing. The stop also breaks up the drive from Akureyri, which is welcome on a full day of touring. Bring shoes that can handle wet ground and uneven surfaces.

Goðafoss is not simply a quick roadside photo stop in the way some waterfall visits can be. It is one of the headline sights on this route, and the waterfall helps frame the rest of the day: Iceland’s scenery here was shaped by powerful natural forces, from falling water to ancient lava.

Lake Mývatn’s volcanic oddities

Lake Mývatn was created by a large basaltic lava eruption about 2,300 years ago. That age gives the area a strong sense of geological time, but you do not need to be a geology enthusiast to enjoy it. The appeal is visual. Lava pillars, rootless vents, steaming ground, caves, and unusual rock shapes appear across the area.

The guided format helps you connect these features instead of seeing them as a random collection of strange rocks. Sigi’s role is useful here. On a route with several short stops, a guide can explain why one formation looks different from the next and keep the day from becoming a string of unexplained photo breaks.

The region can feel exposed in winter, so the right clothing matters more here than it would on a sheltered city walk. The tour asks you to bring warm layers and sturdy footwear. I would take that seriously, particularly if you plan to explore each stop rather than remain near the vehicle.

Grjótagjá and Hverarönd near Námaskarð

Grjótagjá cave is one of the day’s more unusual stops. It is a lava cave formed by Iceland’s volcanic activity, and it gives you a close look at the underground side of the region. The stop adds variety after the open views around the lake.

The tour then reaches Hverarönd in Námaskarð, a hot spring area where geothermal activity is visible in the ground. Expect a place shaped by heat and steam rather than a calm bathing pool. The colors and steaming earth make it one of the more memorable stops, but the conditions can be cold, windy, and strong-smelling.

This is where good shoes and warm clothing pay off. You are visiting active geothermal ground, so follow the guide’s directions and stay within the areas intended for visitors. The attraction is the natural activity itself, not a polished attraction with indoor comfort.

The Mývatn Nature Baths option

The Mývatn Nature Baths offer the tour’s most relaxing stop. You can add admission and spend time in geothermal water surrounded by Iceland’s volcanic scenery. It is a useful contrast to the outdoor sightseeing, particularly after several hours of walking and driving.

The bath entry is not included in the $350 price. Swimwear and a towel are also not supplied, so pack both if you select this option. Check the booking choice carefully so you know you have paid for admission before the day begins.

One practical warning comes from a recent winter outing: the Mývatn baths were closed for refurbishment, and the group was offered an alternative bath about 45 minutes away. One person chose not to make the extra drive after visiting the Forest Lagoon the night before, while Sigi dropped that person in a local town to explore as the others went to the alternative baths.

That detail tells you two things. First, facilities can change, even when a bath visit is part of the plan. Second, the operator may try to offer a substitute, but the replacement can affect the timing and rhythm of your day. If a specific bathing experience is the main reason you are booking, confirm its operating status before you go.

If you are happy with flexibility, the bath option is a pleasant addition. If you have already visited another geothermal spa or dislike changing plans, you may prefer to use that time for an independent stop if the original baths are unavailable.

Dimmuborgir and Skútustaðagígar

On the return route, you visit Dimmuborgir, a group of unusual lava formations and one of the best-known sights around Lake Mývatn. The name is often associated with dark, fortress-like shapes, and the formations give the area a more dramatic feel than a normal lava field.

Dimmuborgir is valuable because it lets you see lava in solid form after it has cooled and fractured. You can walk among the formations and get a better sense of their scale than you would from a vehicle window. The tour allows time to explore rather than treating every stop as a quick photograph.

The route also includes Skútustaðagígar, an area of pseudocraters. These are not true volcanic craters formed by a direct eruption from a central vent. They formed when lava flowed across wet ground and caused steam explosions, leaving crater-like shapes behind.

You do not need to memorize the geological terms. The simple takeaway is that the area contains several different kinds of volcanic features close together. That variety is what makes Lake Mývatn more rewarding than a single viewpoint.

The final view across Eyjafjörður

Before returning to Akureyri, the tour makes one last stop in Eyjafjörður. From here, you can look across the fjord toward Akureyri and take a broad photograph of the town and water.

This closing stop gives the day a clean sense of place. You began along the fjord, spent the day among volcanic formations, and return with a view back toward the town where you are staying. It is also a useful photo opportunity if the weather is clear.

The route covers many sights, but the pacing is one of its stronger features. A recent booking note described the day as full of interesting stops without feeling rushed, with enough time to explore. That balance matters because the Mývatn area deserves more than a series of hurried roadside pauses.

What the $350 price really covers

The price includes two guided experiences, airport transportation for EasyJet passengers, and the Northern Lights hunt. It does not include meals, drinks, personal expenses, or entry to the Mývatn Nature Baths.

The value is strongest for someone who wants a ready-made two-day plan from Akureyri. You avoid arranging transport to a distant volcanic region, finding a separate aurora operator, and solving airport transfers on your own. You also receive an English-speaking guide and small-group transport.

The value is weaker if you only want one part of the package. If you have your own vehicle, have already arranged airport transport, or plan to visit Lake Mývatn independently, you may not use every part of what you are paying for.

Food is not provided, so plan for meals and drinks during the full-day excursion. The supplied details do not specify meal stops or restaurant arrangements, so do not assume lunch is covered. Keep personal spending money available for anything you buy along the route.

Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the activity and reserve-now, pay-later terms also help if your Iceland plans are still moving around. Weather remains the key risk, since both outings can be affected by conditions.

Who will enjoy this tour most

I would choose this experience if you are staying in Akureyri for at least two nights and want the major sights organized for you. It is especially useful for EasyJet passengers who want a pickup from the airport and a return transfer on departure day.

It suits first-time visitors who want context as well as scenery. The route includes waterfalls, a fjord, volcanic formations, geothermal ground, a possible spa visit, and a Northern Lights search. You get a broad introduction to northeastern Iceland without having to plan each stop.

It also works well for people who value a small group and a flexible aurora policy. The group limit of 18 is still large enough that you should not expect a private tour, but it is more personal than a large coach outing.

I would be more cautious if you need guaranteed bathing access, dislike late nights, or are visiting Akureyri for only one evening. The Northern Lights trip begins at 9:30 PM, and the natural conditions may require patience. If your schedule is tight, there may be no spare night for a repeat outing.

Practical preparation for the two days

Wear warm layers for both tours, even if the forecast looks mild in Akureyri. Conditions can change between the town, the fjord, geothermal sites, and open ground around the lake.

Use sturdy, comfortable shoes. You will be walking at waterfall, lava, cave, geothermal, and pseudocrater stops, and the ground may be wet or uneven.

Pack your swimsuit and towel if you want the Nature Baths. Entry is extra, and neither item is included.

Send the operator your EasyJet flight details for airport pickup and your accommodation information for the tour pickups. This is especially important because the package depends on several separate collection times.

Try to schedule the Northern Lights outing for your first night. If the lights do not appear or weather stops the trip, the operator can offer another attempt for free. That option is far less useful when you wait until your final night.

Should you book the Lake Mývatn and Northern Lights Winter Special?

Book it if you want a practical two-day introduction to North Iceland with transport, guiding, and an aurora backup option handled in one package. The strongest reasons are the range of stops, the small group, the airport transfers, and the steady guidance provided by Sigi on both outings.

Go in knowing that the Nature Baths may be unavailable or replaced, and the Northern Lights are never certain. If you accept those limits, the $350 price is reasonable for a tightly organized package that combines the volcanic wonders around Lake Mývatn with one of Iceland’s most memorable natural events.

FAQ

How long does the experience last?

The package lasts two days. The Lake Mývatn, Goðafoss, and Nature Baths outing begins at 9 AM, and the Northern Lights tour begins at 9:30 PM.

Is airport pickup included?

Airport pickup and return transfer are included for EasyJet passengers. You need to provide your EasyJet flight information and accommodation details.

Is the Northern Lights sighting guaranteed?

No. The Northern Lights are a natural phenomenon, and sightings depend on weather and sky conditions.

What happens if the Northern Lights are not visible?

If the evening tour operates but the lights are not seen, the operator will offer the trip again for free. Booking it on your first night gives you the best chance to use that option.

Is entry to the Mývatn Nature Baths included?

No. Admission to the Mývatn Nature Baths is not included in the price. Swimwear and a towel are also not provided.

What language is the tour offered in?

The live guided tour is offered in English.

How large is the group?

The tour is limited to 18 participants.