Diamond Circle, Waterfalls and Amazing Landscapes of North Iceland
From cascading waterfalls to volcanic craters and ancient canyons — a full-day journey through North Iceland's most remarkable scenery.
This Diamond Circle tour from Akureyri takes you through some of the most geologically dramatic and historically significant landscapes in Iceland, covering Goðafoss Waterfall, Lake Mývatn, Dettifoss, Ásbyrgi Canyon, and Húsavík in a single sweeping day. The route follows the celebrated Diamond Circle road, connecting natural wonders that span volcanic craters, glacial rivers, and towering basalt cliffs. Classified as easy difficulty, the tour is well suited to a broad range of travelers seeking an immersive encounter with North Iceland's raw geology and Norse heritage.
The journey begins at Goðafoss, the Waterfall of the Gods, where in the year 1000 the lawspeaker Þorgeir Ljósvetningagoði cast his pagan idols into the falls after declaring Christianity the official religion of Iceland. The waterfall drops 12 meters over a 30-meter-wide curtain of water, offering an immediate introduction to the power and myth embedded in this landscape. From there the route moves to the Lake Mývatn region, where geothermal forces have shaped an environment that feels simultaneously beautiful and hostile.
At Hverir, beside Mount Námafjall, boiling mud pits and sulfurous steam vents mark one of Iceland's most active geothermal zones. A short detour brings you to the Víti crater near Krafla Volcano, a vivid turquoise lake set inside a collapsed caldera. The area around Mývatn itself is Iceland's fourth-largest lake, bordered by pseudo craters, lava formations, and multicolored rhyolite mountains that shift in hue with the changing light.
The afternoon moves north to Dettifoss, one of the most powerful waterfalls in Europe, where glacier meltwater from Vatnajökull thunders 45 meters into the Jökulsárgljúfur canyon at a width of 100 meters. The tour continues along the canyon rim to Hljóðaklettar, the echoing cliffs, where ancient basalt columns and volcanic plugs remain from a crater row that erupted roughly 9,000 years ago. A catastrophic glacial flood some 2,500 to 3,000 years ago stripped away much of the volcanic material, leaving only these extraordinary rock formations standing in and beside the glacial river. The final natural stop is Ásbyrgi, a horseshoe-shaped glacial canyon stretching 3.5 kilometers in length and over 1 kilometer wide, believed in Norse tradition to be the hoofprint of Odin's eight-legged horse Sleipnir. The group then passes through the coastal town of Húsavík, home to the distinctive wooden church Húsavíkurkirkja built in 1907, before returning to Akureyri.
Tour Highlights
Stand beside Goðafoss Waterfall, the Waterfall of the Gods, where Iceland's conversion to Christianity is said to have taken place over a thousand years ago.
Explore the geothermal wonderland of Hverir near Mount Námafjall, featuring bubbling mud pots and steaming fumaroles, and visit the Víti crater near Krafla Volcano.
Witness Dettifoss, among the most powerful waterfalls in Europe, as glacial water from Vatnajökull crashes 45 meters into Iceland's most dramatic canyon.
Walk among the basalt columns and ancient volcanic plugs of Hljóðaklettar, shaped by millennia of glacial floods along the Jökulsá á Fjöllum river.
Descend into Ásbyrgi, the vast horseshoe-shaped canyon within Vatnajökull National Park, surrounded by sheer cliffs and associated with Norse mythology.
Discover Lake Mývatn, Iceland's fourth-largest lake, surrounded by pseudo craters, lava formations, and colorful geothermal mountains.
Pass through the charming coastal town of Húsavík, known for its iconic 1907 wooden church and its position on the shores of Skjálfandi bay.
Tour Itinerary
The tour departs Akureyri and makes its first stop at Goðafoss, where the Skjálfandafljót river plunges 12 meters over a 30-meter-wide ledge. The waterfall carries deep historical significance as the site where pagan statues were cast into the current when Christianity was adopted as Iceland's official religion in the year 1000.
The route continues to the Lake Mývatn region, Iceland's fourth-largest lake, where the surrounding landscape includes pseudo craters, lava fields, and colorful mountains. At Hverir beside Mount Námafjall, boiling mud pits and sulfurous steam vents are followed by a short stop at the Víti crater near Krafla Volcano, a vivid lake inside a collapsed caldera.
Dettifoss is powered by glacial meltwater flowing from Vatnajökull, Iceland's largest glacier, and drops 45 meters over a 100-meter width into the Jökulsárgljúfur canyon below. The volume and force of the water make it one of the most powerful waterfalls in Europe and a defining feature of the Diamond Circle.
Traveling alongside the Jökulsárgljúfur glacial canyon, the group reaches Vesturdalur valley and the echoing cliffs of Hljóðaklettar. The basalt columns and volcanic plugs here are remnants of a crater row that erupted approximately 9,000 years ago, with much of the original volcanic material removed by catastrophic glacial flooding.
Ásbyrgi is a horseshoe-shaped glacial canyon within Vatnajökull National Park, measuring 3.5 kilometers in length and more than 1 kilometer wide, enclosed by precipitous cliffs. In Norse tradition the canyon is said to mark the landing point of Odin's horse Sleipnir, adding a layer of mythological depth to its striking physical presence.
The final stop is Húsavík, a coastal town of approximately 2,300 residents on the shores of Skjálfandi bay, where the group pauses at a café near the famous wooden church Húsavíkurkirkja, constructed in 1907. From Húsavík the tour returns to Akureyri, completing the Diamond Circle loop.
What Is Included
Included
- Guided transportation from Akureyri
- Stops at all Diamond Circle highlights
- Visit to Goðafoss Waterfall
- Lake Mývatn and Hverir geothermal area
- Dettifoss Waterfall visit
- Hljóðaklettar and Ásbyrgi Canyon stops
- Café stop in Húsavík
Not Included
- Food and beverages
- Personal travel insurance
- Gratuities for the guide
- Personal expenses at café stop
Important Information
This tour covers a long route through remote terrain in North Iceland. Comfortable walking shoes and weather-appropriate clothing are strongly recommended, as conditions can change rapidly regardless of season.
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Secure your spot on this full-day journey through the waterfalls, volcanic craters, and glacial canyons of North Iceland's Diamond Circle route.
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