Mývatn, Goðafoss, Grjótagjá & Dimmuborgir Small Group Tour from Akureyri
A 6-hour small-group tour from Akureyri covering North Iceland’s five most iconic geological and cultural sites — Goðafoss (Waterfall of the Gods), Hverir geothermal area (steaming vents and sulfur mud pools), Grjótagjá lava cave (Game of Thrones filming location, geothermal hot spring inside), Dimmuborgir lava formations (Icelandic elf folklore), and Skútustaðagígar volcanic pseudocraters on Lake Mývatn. Minibus, English-speaking guide, Wi-Fi, snacks, and lunch included. Max 19 travelers. From $139.37 per person. Free cancellation.
About This Activity
Up to 24h, full refund
Book today, pay nothing until later
Departs 10 AM from Akureyri
Grjótagjá cave featured in Season 3
Pseudocraters, lava formations, geothermal vents
Wi-Fi on minibus
Why North Iceland Is Iceland’s Most Overlooked Region
Most Iceland itineraries focus on the south and the Golden Circle — and they’re extraordinary. But North Iceland, centered on Akureyri and the Lake Mývatn region, offers a geological and cultural variety that the south doesn’t. This is where the geothermal activity is wilder (Hverir’s mud pots bubble and erupt rather than just steam), where Game of Thrones came to film (Grjótagjá cave), where Icelandic elf folklore takes physical form in the Dimmuborgir lava formations, and where the waterfall that changed Iceland’s religious history (Goðafoss) stands.
The Mývatn region sits above a geological hotspot particularly different from Thingvellir or the Geysir area. The pseudocraters at Skútustaðir form where lava flowed over a lake — the water turned instantly to steam, creating explosions that left craters without any magma involved. The Hverir geothermal area smells of sulfur and steams from every surface. The Grjótagjá cave has a geothermal spring so hot it’s unswimmable (it reached 50°C after 1975 earthquakes) but so visually spectacular that HBO chose it for Jon Snow’s bathing scene in Season 3.
This tour runs from Akureyri — Iceland’s second city — making it ideal for cruise passengers docking there or travelers who’ve based themselves in the north. The route covers all five major Mývatn-area sites in 6 hours.
The Five Stops
Goðafoss — Waterfall of the Gods
30 min · Free admission
Goðafoss is where Iceland officially became a Christian nation in the year 1000 AD. The Lawspeaker Þorgeir Ljósvetningagoði, after being paid to declare Christianity Iceland’s official religion at the Alþingi parliament, returned north and threw his statues of Norse gods into this waterfall — hence the name. Historically significant and visually extraordinary: a wide, powerful horseshoe of cascades on the Skjálfandafljót River in a volcanic landscape. One of the most photographed waterfalls in North Iceland.
Namafjall Hverir — Geothermal Area
30 min · Free admission
The ground at Hverir is orange, red, and yellow — stained by sulfur and iron deposits. Boiling mud pools bubble and erupt at the surface. Steam vents (fumaroles) blast superheated gas. The smell of sulfur is strong. It looks and feels like another planet, and it sits immediately adjacent to the road — no hiking required to reach it. The guide explains the difference between this kind of direct surface volcanic activity and the geothermal systems further south.
Grjótagjá Lava Cave
20 min · Free admission
A small lava cave with a geothermal spring inside — the water is a vivid blue and the cave walls are sculpted by centuries of volcanic activity. Made internationally famous by Game of Thrones (Season 3, Episode 5 — Jon Snow and Ygritte). The spring water is currently too hot to swim in (it reached 50°C after volcanic activity in 1975, having previously been a swimming spot for locals). You can view and photograph the spring but not bathe in it. Christopher D. (October 2025, similar Arctic Adventures tour): “Sylvester our guide was awesome — even took us on a little side trip where they shot some Game of Thrones scenes.”
Dimmuborgir Lava Formations
45 min · Free admission
“Dark Castles” in Icelandic — an extraordinary field of lava pillars, arches, and caves formed when a lava lake drained while its surface was still solidifying, leaving behind the structures underneath. In Icelandic folklore, Dimmuborgir is home to huldufólk (hidden people) and the Grýla the troll-witch who evaluates children’s behaviour before Christmas. The mythology here is specific and the guide delivers it against a backdrop that makes it feel entirely plausible. A 45-minute walk through the formations.
Skútustaðagígar — Lake Mývatn Pseudocraters
25 min · Free admission
The final stop. Pseudocraters look like volcanic craters but formed differently — when lava flowed over the lake’s surface, the water instantly turned to steam and the explosions created bowl-shaped depressions. No magma was involved. The Skútustaðir pseudocraters sit right on the shore of Lake Mývatn (“Midge Lake” — bring insect repellent in summer) with the volcanic landscape visible in every direction.
What’s Included
- Minibus transport
- English-speaking tour guide
- Free Wi-Fi on board
- Snacks
- Lunch
Not included: Insect repellent — bring your own for Lake Mývatn in summer (midges can be dense in July–August). Hotel pickup — meet at the Special Tours Whale Watching office, Oddeyrarbót 1, Akureyri. Minimum age: children welcome, be 15 minutes early. Free cancellation up to 24 hours before.
How the Tour Unfolds
| Season | Upsides | Downsides | Book Ahead |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jun–Aug (Summer) | Best light, all sites accessible, Game of Thrones atmosphere | Midges at Lake Mývatn can be dense in July — bring insect repellent | Book 87 days ahead on average |
| Sept–Oct (Autumn) | Fewer crowds, dramatic skies, autumn colors | Days shortening | 3–5 weeks |
| Year-round (cruise season) | Available whenever Akureyri cruise ships dock | Cruise season is June–September | 2–3 months |
Important Information
Bring insect repellent for Lake Mývatn. The lake’s name means “Midge Lake” — in July and August the midge density can be significant. A head net is optional but appreciated by some visitors.
Grjótagjá hot spring cannot be bathed in. Water temperature is around 43–50°C — view and photograph only.
Meet at the Special Tours Whale Watching office in Akureyri. Arrive 15 minutes before your 10:00 AM departure. Maximum 19 travelers.
New Viator listing — no reviews yet. This tour is run by Arctic Adventures, one of Iceland’s most established outdoor operators with hundreds of thousands of reviews across their full portfolio.
Book the Mývatn & Goðafoss Small Group Tour from Akureyri
6 hours, five sites, Waterfall of the Gods, Game of Thrones cave, elf lava castles, sulfur mud pools, and Lake Mývatn pseudocraters. Lunch and snacks included. From $139.37 per person with free cancellation.
Visiting other parts of Iceland? Browse all tours at Iceland Volcano Tour.