Akureyri: Lake Mývatn & Northern Lights – Winter Special

Northern lights and volcanic wonders make a strong pair. This two-day trip combines a guided journey through Lake Mývatn with an evening hunt for the aurora, giving you two very different ways to experience North Iceland. I especially like the small group size, limited to 18 people, and the useful airport shuttle for easyJet passengers. The main consideration is that the Northern Lights are never guaranteed, and the Nature Baths may be affected by closures or weather.

Guide Sigi, also called Ziggie, led both outings for several people who booked this experience, keeping the drives lively and well organized. I also like the pacing of the Lake Mývatn day, with many stops but enough time to look around. At $350 per person, the price is reasonable if you want transport, guiding, the aurora hunt, and the airport transfers bundled together, though the Nature Baths entry fee is extra.

Key points at a glance

• Two very different Iceland days: Spend one day among volcanic formations and geothermal sites, then head out after dark to search for the aurora.
• Goðafoss is an early highlight: The waterfall gives you a dramatic first stop before the tour reaches Lake Mývatn.
• Small group, maximum 18 people: This is more personal than a large coach outing and makes the multiple stops easier to manage.
• Mývatn Nature Baths cost extra: Bring a swimsuit and towel if you want to add a warm geothermal soak.
• Airport pickup helps easyJet passengers: Share your flight details so the shuttle can meet you at Akureyri Airport.
• Book the aurora hunt early in your stay: If the lights do not appear, the operator offers the trip again for free, subject to available dates and operating conditions.

Why this two-day Akureyri tour works

Akureyri is a practical base for exploring northeastern Iceland, but the best sights are spread well beyond town. This tour solves that problem with guided transport to Lake Mývatn and a separate evening drive away from city lights.

I like the combination because the two outings do not feel repetitive. The daytime trip is about geology, waterfalls, caves, and unusual volcanic forms. The night trip is quieter and more weather-dependent, with the guide choosing a location based on cloud cover and viewing conditions.

You get an English-speaking guide and a small group capped at 18 people. That matters on a day with several stops. You are not left trying to organize a complicated route, and you can focus on the scenery instead of Icelandic road conditions.

The package also includes an airport shuttle for passengers arriving on easyJet flights. Pickup and return details depend on the flight and accommodation information you provide, so this is worth arranging carefully before arrival.

The 9:00 AM drive toward Lake Mývatn

The daytime tour begins at 9:00 AM and follows the coast of Eyjafjörður, one of Iceland’s longest fjords. The drive itself gives you a broad introduction to the area, with the fjord and surrounding North Iceland scenery visible along the way.

Your first major stop is Goðafoss, one of Iceland’s most famous waterfalls. Its name means Waterfall of the Gods, and it is a fitting opening stop: powerful, easy to appreciate, and visually different from the volcanic sites later in the day.

Bring sturdy shoes and warm layers for this stop. Even when the waterfall viewing time feels short, winter conditions can make the ground slippery or cold. The tour is designed to keep moving, so you should enjoy the view without expecting a long independent walk.

From Goðafoss, the route continues toward Lake Mývatn. The lake was formed by a major basaltic lava eruption about 2,300 years ago, and the area still feels shaped by that event. Instead of one single attraction, you get a series of volcanic features spread across the region.

That variety is one of the best reasons to choose this tour. You see how lava, steam, water, and erosion have worked together to create a setting unlike the usual waterfall-and-coast route.

Grjótagjá and the volcanic character of Mývatn

Grjótagjá is a cave with a hot spring inside. It is one of the area’s most memorable stops because the volcanic activity is not just something you see from a distance. You are looking into a natural opening shaped by Iceland’s geothermal forces.

The tour does not promise a long cave exploration, so treat this as a scenic and geological stop rather than a full underground adventure. Conditions can also affect how close you can get or how much time you spend there.

At Hverarönd in Námaskarð, the scenery changes again. This hot spring area is known for geothermal activity, and the stop gives you a clear sense of heat moving beneath the ground. Steam and unusual earth colors create a sharp contrast with the colder surroundings.

You should expect a strong geothermal smell in places. That is part of the experience, but it can be intense if you are sensitive to sulfur. Stay on marked paths and wear shoes with good grip, since wet or uneven ground can be part of the visit.

Dimmuborgir and Skútustaðagígar

On the return route, the tour stops at Dimmuborgir, a group of distinctive lava formations. The name is often translated as Dark Fortresses, and the rock shapes do look more like walls and ruins than ordinary volcanic stone.

This is a good stop for taking your time with visual details. Look for openings, pillars, and twisted forms rather than expecting one single viewpoint. The tour allows you to explore without rushing, which is important here because the appeal comes from walking a little and noticing the shapes.

You also visit Skútustaðagígar, an area of pseudocraters beside Lake Mývatn. These formations were created when lava met water, producing crater-like shapes without the usual volcanic vents beneath them.

The pseudocraters help explain why Mývatn feels so varied. You are not simply viewing a lake. You are seeing several different results of ancient eruptions in one compact area.

The combination of Dimmuborgir and Skútustaðagígar gives the day a good rhythm. One stop is about solid lava formations and the other about rounded crater forms. You get a better understanding of the region than you would from a single viewpoint beside the lake.

Adding the Mývatn Nature Baths

The Nature Baths are an optional part of the day, and the admission fee is not included in the $350 tour price. If you choose this option, bring your own swimsuit and towel.

A soak in geothermal water can be a welcome break after a cold day outside. The appeal is simple: you sit in warm mineral-rich water while surrounded by North Iceland’s volcanic setting. It is less about a long list of facilities and more about the pleasure of being warm in an otherwise chilly environment.

You should confirm the current operating situation before you depend on this part of the plan. One recent outing found the Mývatn Nature Baths closed for refurbishment. The operator offered an alternative bath location about 45 minutes away, but one person chose not to go because they had already visited Forest Lagoon the previous evening.

That detail points to an important choice. If the baths are central to your plans, ask about availability before booking or shortly before departure. If they are simply a pleasant extra, you can treat the stop as flexible rather than letting it determine the value of the whole tour.

The Nature Baths entry fee, swimwear, and towel are all your responsibility. The tour provides the route and transport, not the bathing admission.

The final Eyjafjörður viewpoint

Before returning to Akureyri, the route includes a final stop in Eyjafjörður. From here, you can look across the fjord toward Akureyri and take a broad scenic photograph.

This closing viewpoint is useful because it reconnects the day’s volcanic sights with the town where you are staying. After hours among lava formations and geothermal sites, you get a clear sense of Akureyri’s position beside the fjord.

It is also a good place to take a final photo without needing to build a separate viewpoint stop into your own schedule. Keep your phone or camera ready, but do not count on a particular light or weather condition. North Iceland can change quickly.

The 9:30 PM Northern Lights search

The Northern Lights outing begins at 9:30 PM. The guide takes you away from Akureyri’s artificial light and chooses the night’s destination according to cloud cover and the best chance of seeing the aurora.

That flexible approach is more useful than promising one fixed viewing location. The lights are visible only when several conditions come together: suitable sky conditions, darkness, and auroral activity. A clear forecast in one direction can make a different route more sensible than the one used the previous evening.

You should dress for standing outdoors, not just sitting in a warm vehicle. Wear several layers, sturdy shoes, and warm outer clothing. The tour information does not specify how long you will stay outside, so come prepared for pauses in the cold.

The Northern Lights are a natural phenomenon, so nobody can guarantee a show. The operator does offer the trip again for free if the evening goes ahead but you do not see the lights. That is helpful, but it does not remove the need for a flexible schedule.

For that reason, I recommend booking this tour for your first night in Akureyri if your plans allow it. A repeat outing needs another suitable evening, and you have a better chance of fitting it in when you are not leaving town immediately.

One recent outing had an excellent display, while another described the lights and the Mývatn day as the best parts of the trip. That is encouraging, but the weather clause still matters. You are buying a well-planned search, not a guaranteed natural performance.

What the $350 price really covers

At $350 per person, this is not a budget bus ride. Still, the cost includes two guided outings, transport from Akureyri, the Lake Mývatn route, the Northern Lights hunt, and an airport shuttle for eligible easyJet passengers.

The price makes the most sense if you would otherwise need to rent a car, arrange a separate driver, and pay for an independent aurora tour. It also saves you from planning the route between Goðafoss, Mývatn, Hverarönd, Dimmuborgir, and Skútustaðagígar.

The value is weaker if you already have a car and plan to visit Lake Mývatn on your own. You would still need to arrange your own evening aurora search, though, and winter driving in Iceland requires care.

Remember the additional expenses. Meals, drinks, personal purchases, and the Nature Baths admission are not included. If the baths close or move to an alternative location, you may also decide not to take the longer replacement trip, as one person did after visiting another geothermal lagoon.

Group size, guiding, and pace

A maximum of 18 people keeps this from feeling like a huge coach excursion. You still have a group, so you will not control every departure time, but the size should make boarding and short stops easier.

The strongest personal touch comes from the guide. Sigi, known to some as Ziggie, drove and guided both the evening and daytime outings for several bookings. His role included keeping people informed and entertained, which is especially useful during longer drives and late-night waiting periods.

The daytime schedule includes many stops, but it is not designed for long hikes. You will see a wide range of places in one day, with time to explore each stop without turning the trip into an endurance test.

That balance suits you if you want variety and context more than serious walking. If you want to spend half a day at one lava formation or take a long independent trail, a private tour or self-drive plan would give you more control.

Who should book this experience?

I would recommend this tour if you are staying in Akureyri for at least two nights and want a straightforward way to reach the Mývatn area. It is also a strong fit if the Northern Lights are high on your list but you do not want to drive after dark.

The package suits first-time visitors who want a guided introduction to North Iceland’s volcanic features. The airport shuttle adds real value for easyJet passengers, particularly if you prefer to settle into Akureyri without arranging a separate transfer.

You should think twice if you need guaranteed aurora viewing, a guaranteed bath visit, or a private schedule. Neither the lights nor the bath opening is fully within the operator’s control.

The tour has received a top rating from the three available bookings, with praise focused on easy transfers, the guide, the Northern Lights outing, and the well-paced Mývatn day. That matches the practical strengths of the package: it covers a lot, keeps the planning simple, and leaves room for weather to guide the evening route.

Final verdict: a good North Iceland package

I would book this experience if I wanted Lake Mývatn, a Northern Lights search, and airport transport arranged in one purchase. Sigi’s guiding, the small group, and the broad range of daytime stops make the package feel useful rather than rushed.

Book it early in your Akureyri stay, pack seriously warm clothing, and treat the Nature Baths as an optional extra rather than a promise. If you accept that the aurora and weather remain unpredictable, the $350 price offers a practical way to see some of northeastern Iceland’s best-known natural sights without taking on the driving yourself.

FAQ

How long does the experience last?

The experience lasts two days. It includes a daytime Lake Mývatn outing and an evening Northern Lights hunt.

What time does the Lake Mývatn tour begin?

The Lake Mývatn, Goðafoss, and Nature Baths tour begins at 9:00 AM.

What time does the Northern Lights tour begin?

The Northern Lights tour begins at 9:30 PM.

Is airport pickup included?

Yes. An airport shuttle is included for passengers arriving on easyJet flights in Akureyri. You need to provide your flight information so pickup can be arranged.

Is transportation back to Akureyri Airport included?

Yes. The operator provides transport back to Akureyri Airport on your departure day.

Is the Mývatn Nature Baths admission included?

No. Entry to the Mývatn Nature Baths is not included in the tour price.

What should I bring for the Nature Baths?

Bring a swimsuit and a towel if you want to use the baths.

Are the Northern Lights guaranteed?

No. The Northern Lights are a natural phenomenon, and sightings depend on weather and sky conditions. If the evening tour operates but you do not see the lights, the operator offers the trip again for free.

What is the group size and tour language?

The tour is conducted in English, with a small group limited to 18 participants.