Lake Mývatn & Geothermal Springs Day Tour
Volcanic landscapes, ancient craters, and steaming hot springs in the heart of North Iceland.
This Lake Mývatn day tour takes you through one of Iceland's most geologically remarkable regions, combining cascading waterfalls, lava formations, bubbling mud pots, and seasonal geothermal bathing into a single full-day experience departing from Akureyri.
The route follows the coast of Eyjafjörður, one of the longest fjords in Iceland, before reaching the volcanic basin surrounding Lake Mývatn. The lake itself was born from a massive basaltic lava eruption roughly 2,300 years ago, and the landscape around it remains shaped entirely by volcanic forces.
Throughout the day, stops are chosen to illustrate the full range of geothermal activity in the region, from the sulphur-rich fumaroles at Hverarönd to the eerily sculpted lava towers of Dimmuborgir. Each site tells a different chapter of Iceland's ongoing geological story.
The tour concludes with a visit to a geothermal lagoon, with the specific location depending on the season. Between May and September, guests visit Forest Lagoon just outside Akureyri. From October through April, Earth Lagoon in the Lake Mývatn area serves as the final stop before returning to the city.
Tour Highlights
Stand at the rim of Goðafoss, the Waterfall of the Gods, where water drops 12 meters over a 30-meter-wide curtain of whitewater.
Explore Dimmuborgir, a surreal field of lava pillars and caverns formed when flowing lava passed over a lake 2,300 years ago.
Visit the geothermal field at Hverarönd in Námaskarð, where boiling mud pots and smoking fumaroles surround sulphur crystal formations.
Enter Grjótagjá, a lava cave sheltering a vivid thermal spring that served as a bathing site for locals until the 1970s.
Walk among the pseudocraters at Skútustaðagígar, rare geological formations created by steam explosions beneath flowing lava.
Relax in a geothermal lagoon — Forest Lagoon in summer or Earth Lagoon in winter — as a fitting close to the day.
Take in a panoramic view over Eyjafjörður fjord toward Akureyri from a dedicated scenic overlook on the return leg.
Itinerary
The first stop is Goðafoss, widely considered one of the most visually striking waterfalls in Iceland. In the year 1000, the chieftain Þorgeir Ljósvetningagoði cast his pagan statues into this waterfall after declaring Christianity the official religion of Iceland, giving it the name Waterfall of the Gods.
A short detour leads to Grjótagjá, a small lava cave near Lake Mývatn with a thermal spring glowing inside. The cave has a documented history as a bathing spot dating back to the early 18th century, when the outlaw Jón Markússon reportedly sheltered there.
At Hverarönd, the ground is alive with boiling mud pots and hissing fumaroles coated in sulphur crystals of yellow, orange, and white. The area sits along the active volcanic ridge that runs through this part of Northeast Iceland.
Dimmuborgir is a sprawling field of hardened lava stacks, arches, and caverns that formed when a lava flow solidified over a lake, trapping steam that shattered the surface into its current jagged shapes. The structures have drawn comparisons to fortress ruins and feature prominently in Icelandic folklore.
The pseudocraters along the southern shore of Lake Mývatn are among the best-preserved examples of this rare formation type in the world. They were created when lava flowed over shallow wetlands, causing steam explosions that punched craters through the surface.
The day ends with a soak at a geothermal lagoon — Forest Lagoon near Akureyri from May to September, or Earth Lagoon in the Mývatn area from October to April. On the way back, a final stop above Eyjafjörður offers a wide view over the fjord toward Akureyri.
What Is Included
Included
- Round-trip transportation from Akureyri
- Guided stops at all listed sites
- Entry to Goðafoss, Dimmuborgir, and pseudocrater area
- Geothermal lagoon visit (Forest Lagoon or Earth Lagoon depending on season)
- Professional guide throughout the day
Not Included
- Meals and beverages
- Personal travel insurance
- Gratuities for guide
- Any optional activities not listed in the itinerary
Important Information
Reserve Your Spot
Spaces on this tour are limited. Secure your place on the Lake Mývatn day tour and explore the volcanic landscapes of North Iceland with an experienced local guide.
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