Lake Mývatn Day tour from Akureyri - Wonder of the North

This day tour takes you to some of the most beautiful and scenic locations in the north of Iceland. On this day trip from Akureyri, you will experience the waterfall Goðafoss (The Waterfall of The Gods), one of the most spectacular waterfalls in Iceland. Dimmuborgir where strange creatures live in volcanic caves and rock formations like no other. The smelly 19th century sulphur recovery which is a myriad of hot mud springs and rich colors in the surrounding landscape. Bathe and relax in a geothermal spa rich of minerals with a view of surrounding area.

About the tour

• Pickup at Akureyri hotel or cruise ship port.

STOPS ON THE WAY:

• Goðafoss
• Skútustaðir pseudo craters
• Dimmuborgir
• Námaskarð
• Jarðböðin at Mývatn. Stop 60-90 min. Admission to Jarðböðin is not inlcuded. Bring: Towels, Swimsuits and all that you need. Lockers are included in the price when you pay the entrance.
• Those who don´t go into Jarðböðin go for a short tour to Grjótagjá, a small lava cave with a thermal spring inside.

The tour starts in Akureyri where we pick you up from your hotel, airbnb or cruise ship at the port.
The first stop on the way is at the waterfall Goðafoss (The Waterfall of The Gods), one of the most spectacular waterfalls in Iceland. The water of the river Skjálfandafljót falls from a height of 12 meters over a width of 30 meters. The name of the waterfall derives from the year 1000 when the Lawspeaker Þorgeir Ljósvetningagoði made Christianity the official religion of Iceland.

From Goðafoss we drive to Skútustaðagígar – Skútustaðir pseudo craters, wich were formed by gas explosions when boiling lava flowed over the wetlands. The craters are a popular site for birdwatchers and are protected as a natural wetlands conservation area.

Our next stop is Dimmuborgir or the Black Fortress, a large area composed of various volcanic caves and rock formations, reminiscent of an ancient collapsed citadel. Dimmuborgir was formed in an eruption that occurred in the area 2,300 years ago. As lava flowed across the area, it passed over a lake, causing it to boil. This both quickened the cooling of the lava and caused pillars of steam to shatter parts of it.

From Dimmuborgir we drive to Námaskarð Pass, a geothermal area on the mountain Námafjall. Námaskarð is a true geothermal wonder of hot sulfuric mud springs and steam vents. It’s like a scene from outer space. The name derives from the 19th century sulphur recovery located at an altitude of 410 m. The place is a myriad of hot mud springs in widely different colors.

Next stop Jarðböðin (the Mývatn Nature Baths), which is a place just as unique as the Blue Lagoon. The water supplies for the Nature baths run straight from the National Power Company´s bore hole in Bjarnarflag. The water has a temperature of about 130°C when it arrives to the huge basin beside the lagoon itself forming an impressive, man-made hot spring. Altogether, the lagoon and the basin contain around 3.5 million litres of water with a temperature of 36 – 40°C. The lagoon itself is a man-made construction, its bottom is covered by sand and gravel. The characteristics of the water are unique in many ways. It contains a large amount of minerals, is alkaline and well suited for bathing. Due to its chemical composition, undesired bacteria and vegetation do not thrive in the lagoon making chloride or any other disinfectant redundant.

Those who don´t go into Jarðböðin go for a short tour to Grjótagjá, a small lava cave with a thermal spring inside., FAB Travel