Goðafoss and Mývatn feel like two different worlds.

This day trip from Akureyri pairs a thunderous 39-foot waterfall with Lake Mývatn’s surreal, lunar-like terrain, plus geothermal stops and a cruise-port schedule built for a tight shore window. I like that it’s guided start to finish, so you’re not stuck figuring out where to stand or what to look for, and you get a smooth van route that keeps your day moving.

My favorite part is the mix: Goðafoss for pure power, then Lake Mývatn for walking among pseudocraters, lava fields, and steaming geothermal areas. If you have time, the optional soak at Mývatn Nature Baths turns it into the kind of Iceland day you can actually feel the next morning. One drawback: if the timing at the port is tight, you may lose some time for wandering or the baths may be skipped.

Key things I’d bet you’ll care about

• A real guide with live English commentary, and you’ll hear the story behind the sites as you go
• Goðafoss as the headliner, with a focused stop for photos and viewpoints
• Lake Mývatn highlights are spaced well, from Skútustaðagígar pseudocraters to Dimmuborgir and Hverir
• Geothermal fields you can’t ignore, including boiling mud pools and fumaroles
• Optional Mývatn Nature Baths, but only if your ship’s schedule allows it
• Small-group energy shows up in reviews, including quick movement between stops and practical tips like bug nets

Goðafoss and Lake Mývatn in One Cruise-Day Loop

This is a classic Northern Iceland pairing, done in one efficient van day. You start from the Akureyri cruise terminal, drive into the Eyjafjörður area with photo stops along the way, then anchor the day at Goðafoss Waterfall before circling Lake Mývatn. The “why it works” is simple: you get both the big-ticket roar of Iceland’s waterfalls and the stranger-than-fiction geothermal setting around Mývatn.

The tour is built for people on a cruise schedule, so the pacing tends to be purposeful rather than leisurely. You get set sightseeing windows at each main stop, which makes it feel like a guided hits-and-photos day rather than a slow hike-and-stay-all-day plan. That can be ideal if you only have one day in the area.

One more thing: Lake Mývatn isn’t just pretty from a distance. The stops are designed so you can actually see and experience the region—pseudocraters, lava terrain, and geothermal features like boiling mud and fumaroles. It’s the kind of place where the scenery changes every few minutes, and your guide’s explanations help you keep your bearings fast.

Meeting Star Travel at Akureyri Port Without a Stress Spiral

Since this is a cruise-day tour, meeting point details matter more than usual. In Akureyri, there are multiple ports, and the pickup location changes depending on which side your ship docks.

• If your ship is at Tangabryggja Port, you’ll see small wooden houses outside the cruise area. Star Travel is at house number 3.
• If your ship is at Oddeyrarbryggja Port, you’ll find an Icewear shop right outside the ship. Next to it is the designated tour agent area. Look for a colleague wearing a bright yellow jacket and a Star Travel sign.

I strongly recommend you do two quick things before the tour day:

1) confirm your ship name (since pickup depends on the vessel), and

2) make sure your phone number works during your cruise day, in case they need to update you.

This is one of those tours where “show up on time” is less about punctuality pride and more about fitting everything in before the ship leaves.

Eyjafjörður Coast to Goðafoss: How the Day Gets Rolling

After pickup at Akureyri Cruise Terminal, you’ll head out by van. You’ll get an early drive segment (about 30 minutes) and then the day’s first major stop: Goðafoss Waterfall.

Along the coast you’ll also have photo stops in the Eyjafjörður area, noted as one of Iceland’s longest fjords. Even if you’re not a hardcore photographer, these quick stops help you shake off the cruise-ship routine and get into “Iceland mode” right away—wind, water, rock, and wide views.

The big payoff comes at Goðafoss. You’ll have around 45 minutes for sightseeing there. That’s enough time to find a good viewpoint, take the photos you came for, and still avoid feeling rushed. I like a waterfall stop that’s long enough to linger, but short enough that you don’t arrive at the second half of the day exhausted.

Goðafoss Viewpoints: 39 Feet of Power in 45 Minutes

Goðafoss is the emotional anchor of the day. The tour highlights it as a 39-foot-tall waterfall on the Skjálfandafljót River, and that size matters—this isn’t a little cascade you peek at and forget.

With about 45 minutes on-site, you can do the practical things: choose a viewpoint that fits your comfort (wind can be real here), get your photos, and watch the water movement from a couple of angles. A short visit works best when you treat it like a photo-and-stroll stop rather than a full-on hike.

Also, you’ll be guided, so you don’t waste time figuring out what to prioritize. The guide’s job is especially important on a cruise day, because there isn’t room for detours or “let’s see what happens.”

Skútustaðagígar Pseudocraters and Dimmuborgir Lava Terrain

Once you leave Goðafoss, your focus shifts from water power to volcanic, geothermal weirdness. The next stage is Skútustaðagígar, where you’ll spend about 30 minutes sightseeing among pseudocraters in a lunar-like setting.

This is the kind of place that looks like it belongs on another planet. You don’t need a geology degree to appreciate it. The tour frames these features so you know what you’re looking at, and the scenery does the rest.

From there, you’ll move on to Dimmuborgir for another 30 minutes. The tour calls it a lavafield area with a tense, otherworldly feel. I like this stop because it keeps the “wow” streak going without being the same kind of scenery you already saw at Goðafoss. In a single day, you go from roaring river water to rough, black volcanic terrain—exactly the kind of variety that makes a short Iceland trip feel full.

One practical tip: if you’re visiting in warmer months, expect insects in geothermal and lakeside areas. In reviews, guides including Johanna have handed out bug nets for walking around the lake and lava areas. Even if you don’t get them, having a plan for bugs (repellent and long sleeves) makes your time outside more comfortable.

Hverir Geothermal Fields: Mud Pools, Fumaroles, and Good Walking Time

After the lava stops, the tour heads to Hverir, where the focus becomes geothermal activity. You’ll spend about 30 minutes here, and the tour’s description is clear about what to look for: boiling mud pools and fumaroles, tied to the divergent plate tectonics theme of the region.

This is one of the stops where you’ll want to take your time—even if your itinerary is tight. Geothermal areas can look dramatic from one angle and totally different from another. Your guide can also help you understand what’s happening (and what you should not do), which keeps the stop both interesting and safe.

There’s also mention of shopping during this time block. That’s useful if you want a small Iceland souvenir without turning the day into a detour.

Lunch Break That Doesn’t Eat Your Entire Day

Between the lake stops, you’ll get a lunch stop at a local restaurant. Food and drinks aren’t included, so you’ll pay for your meal. The key value here is timing: the lunch break is placed so you can keep momentum without sacrificing the major sights.

In my view, for a day trip like this, lunch is less about finding the perfect restaurant and more about not getting stuck hungry at an awkward hour. A scheduled meal also helps when the ship’s timetable tightens the day.

If you’re the kind of person who wants to maximize walking time at each stop, you’ll probably appreciate that the rest of the day is organized into clear, bounded segments. No open-ended wandering. Just go, see, listen, and move.

Mývatn Nature Baths: When It Fits, It’s Worth It

Depending on your cruise ship departure time from Akureyri Port, there may be an option to stop at Mývatn Nature Baths. The tour lists it as a 1.5-hour swimming block if time allows.

Here’s the practical catch: entrance fee isn’t included, and you’ll need a swimsuit and a towel if you plan to go in. So treat the baths as an added bonus, not something you can assume.

I love this kind of “Iceland ration balancing.” You spend hours around wind, water, steam, and rough terrain, and then you have a warm pool moment to reset. Even if you don’t swim, arriving with enough time for a quick change and chill can make the ride back feel much less like a mad dash.

Price and Value: Is $179 Worth It for One Day?

At $179 per person for about 7 hours, this tour isn’t a budget add-on. But it can be good value if you factor in what’s included and what’s not.

Included:

• Pickup at Akureyri Port
• A live English guide
• Van transport between the main sights
• Guided time at Goðafoss, pseudocraters, Dimmuborgir, and Hverir

Not included:

• Food and drinks
• Mývatn Nature Baths entrance fee (if the baths are added)

So the value depends on your priorities. If you want the key northern sights without renting a car, doing navigation, and managing timing around a ship departure, the guided loop is doing real work for you. The included structure matters: someone else handles the route, timing, and stop logic.

Also, reviews strongly emphasize guide quality and flexibility. Names that come up include Agust, Johanna, Siggi, Matti, and Bo—people praised for being enthusiastic and adjusting when cruise timing gets complicated. One review even described how the guide made quick changes to fit the sights when time ashore was shorter than expected. That’s the kind of value you can’t see in a brochure, and it’s exactly what you want in a cruise-day experience.

Should You Book This Akureyri Day Trip?

I think you should book if:

• You only have one day from Akureyri and want the biggest hits: Goðafoss plus Lake Mývatn geothermal terrain.
• You prefer a guided plan over self-driving or hunting for viewpoints on your own.
• You want the option of warm water at Mývatn Nature Baths if timing allows.

I’d hesitate if:

• You’re the type who needs lots of downtime or hates being on a schedule.
• You’ll be disappointed if the cruise timing trims the day. The baths are explicitly timing-dependent, and the tour blocks are fixed.
• You’re not comfortable with the reality of van travel on a cruise itinerary. One review reported a mechanical issue that caused about a 1.30 hour delay, so while that’s not the norm you want to plan around it.

If you’re comfortable with a structured day, this is a strong way to see northeastern Iceland’s “wow” zones without stress.

FAQ

How long is the Akureyri port day trip?

The tour duration is listed as 7 hours.

What’s included in the price?

The tour includes pickup at Akureyri Port and a live tour guide in English. Food and drinks are not included.

Do I need to pay for the Mývatn Nature Baths?

Yes. The tour notes that the entrance fee to Mývatn Nature Baths is not included. If your cruise timing allows, you can swim for about 1.5 hours.

Where do I meet the tour at Akureyri Port?

If you dock at Tangabryggja Port, meet at house number 3 where Star Travel is located. If you dock at Oddeyrarbryggja Port, meet at the designated agent area next to the Icewear shop, looking for someone in a bright yellow jacket with a Star Travel sign.

Is lunch provided?

Lunch is mentioned as a stop at a local restaurant, but food and drinks are not included, so you’ll pay for your meal.

What language is the tour guide?

The tour includes a live tour guide in English.

Can I cancel for a refund?

Yes. The activity lists free cancellation up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund.

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