Diamond Circle Myvatn Waterfalls, and Husavik from Akureyri Tour

Waterfalls, volcanoes, and a long road day.

This 8-hour Diamond Circle tour from Akureyri packs northern Iceland’s biggest sights into one ambitious circuit. I like the wide range, from the graceful Godafoss to thunderous Dettifoss, and I like having round-trip transport, onboard Wi-Fi, and an English-speaking guide handle the long stretches of road. The main catch is time: you may spend several hours on the bus, and the actual stop at Húsavík can be much shorter than the published total suggests.

I also like the chance to see places that are awkward to connect without a car, especially Ásbyrgi canyon and the Námaskarð geothermal area. Guides such as Ivy, Harold, Una, Ritchie, Unnur, and Kgartan have been praised for humor, music, clear instructions, and local stories. Still, the experience depends heavily on the guide, weather, traffic, and keeping to the schedule.

Key points before you book

• A full northern Iceland sampler: See Godafoss, Lake Mývatn, Námaskarð, Dettifoss, Ásbyrgi, and Húsavík in one long day.
• Dettifoss is the dramatic centerpiece: Europe’s most powerful waterfall delivers scale, spray, noise, and excellent photo opportunities.
• Húsavík is usually brief: The overall time shown for this part includes the drive, so you may get only about 20 minutes in town.
• Pack extra food and layers: A small sandwich and bottle of water may be provided, but several hours of sightseeing calls for more snacks and weather protection.
• Guide quality matters: Many guides have been warm, funny, and informative, but one poor guide can affect the whole day.
• Cruise timing needs care: The pickup area can be crowded, and past departures have caused problems for some people arriving from ships.

Why this route works from Akureyri

Akureyri is a useful base for northern Iceland, but the region’s major sights are spread far apart. This tour solves the driving problem by linking the Diamond Circle with the Mývatn area, Dettifoss, Ásbyrgi, and Húsavík in one loop.

At $214 per person, it is not a cheap bus ride. But the price includes about eight hours of transportation and guiding, and the route covers places that would require a full day of independent driving. If you are staying in Akureyri without a rental car, the value is strongest.

The tradeoff is pace. This is a sightseeing circuit, not a relaxed day in one village or nature area. You will get short walks, photo stops, and wide views, but not much spare time for lingering.

The bus can carry up to 65 people, so this may feel like a large group excursion rather than a small personal tour. On the positive side, the bus gives you shelter from Iceland’s quick weather changes, and onboard Wi-Fi can be useful during the long drives.

Godafoss, the waterfall with room to roam

After roughly 30 minutes on the road from Akureyri, the first major stop is Godafoss. The name means Waterfall of the Gods, and it is an excellent opening sight because you can view the falls from more than one point.

You should have about 90 minutes here. That is generous compared with some of the later stops, allowing time to walk between viewpoints and find a good angle for photographs. The falls spread across a broad section of the river, giving you more than one standard postcard view.

Godafoss is also a good place to settle into the rhythm of the day. You are not simply stepping off the bus, taking one picture, and climbing back aboard. You can walk, look for changing perspectives, and let the sound of the water set the tone.

Bring waterproof outerwear even if the morning begins dry. Wind and spray can make a waterfall stop feel colder than the temperature suggests.

Lake Mývatn and the marks of old eruptions

The route then reaches Lake Mývatn, an area shaped by volcanic activity. From a viewing point, you can look across the lake and see numerous craters scattered through the surrounding terrain.

The planned stop is about an hour, but the exact experience can vary. Some departures have offered a proper photo stop, while others have reduced Lake Mývatn to a brief drive-by because of timing. That matters if this is one of your main reasons for booking.

The Mývatn area is interesting because it does not look like a single grand attraction. Its appeal comes from the way water, craters, lava, and open ground fit together. You get a useful introduction to northern Iceland’s volcanic character without needing a long hike.

Keep your camera ready during the drive. The views change quickly, and the bus may pause at a roadside viewpoint rather than a large visitor center.

Námaskarð, where the ground bubbles

Námaskarð is one of the tour’s strangest stops. This barren geothermal area contains boiling mud pools and hot springs, with sulfuric steam hanging in the air. Minerals from the hot water have stained the ground and rock in unusual colors.

You should have around an hour to walk around and take photographs. The place can smell strongly of sulfur, often compared to rotten eggs, so do not be surprised by the odor. That smell is part of the experience, not a sign that something has gone wrong.

The ground here is visually powerful but can feel exposed. Steam, wind, rain, and cold can arrive together, and there is little shelter in the open area. Wear shoes with a firm grip and stay on marked paths around the hot ground.

This is also a stop where a guide adds real value. A good guide can explain the geothermal activity and point out features you might otherwise overlook. Several guides have been praised for making the bus rides and site visits lively with facts, stories, humor, and even music.

Dettifoss, the day’s heavyweight

Dettifoss is the reason many people choose this tour. It is known as Europe’s most powerful waterfall, and the description is easy to understand once you reach the viewpoints. The falls are broad, forceful, and loud, with a volume of water that gives the whole place physical weight.

The planned stop is around 90 minutes, though some departures have allowed less time than expected. I would gladly trade a little time elsewhere for a longer visit here. The waterfall rewards patience, especially when mist catches the light and creates a rainbow.

There are several vantage points, but conditions may affect how freely you can move around. Rain can make paths slick, and strong wind can make the exposed viewpoints uncomfortable. Keep your phone and camera protected from spray.

A small sandwich and bottle of water may be handed out after the Dettifoss visit. That is helpful, but it is not a full lunch. You should carry additional water, fruit, chips, or another snack because the day continues for hours and food stops are limited.

Some people eat on the bus to preserve sightseeing time. That is practical, though not especially leisurely. If you prefer a sit-down meal, this tour may feel too tightly arranged.

Ásbyrgi, a canyon with a quieter mood

After the power of Dettifoss, Ásbyrgi offers a striking change of pace. This huge horseshoe-shaped canyon is enclosed on three sides by cliffs rising as high as 330 feet. In its deepest part sits Botnstjorn, an idyllic pond surrounded by a calmer setting.

The stop is listed at about 90 minutes, giving you time to appreciate the canyon rather than simply photograph it from the roadside. Bird life can be seen around the cliffs, and the area has a gentler feel than the waterfalls and geothermal fields.

Ásbyrgi is also one of the more rewarding parts of the route for people who want something beyond famous waterfalls. The scale comes from the cliffs and the shape of the canyon, while the pond adds a peaceful focal point.

The drawback is the distance. Reaching Ásbyrgi means spending substantial time on the bus, and the road section can feel long if you prefer frequent activity. I think the canyon earns the journey, but you should be comfortable with a full day of movement and sitting.

Húsavík, usually a quick look at the harbor

Húsavík is introduced as Iceland’s whale-watching capital and is also known for its appearance in the film Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga. The town has a scenic harbor, a charming fishing-town setting, and one of Iceland’s most attractive churches.

The published timing can be confusing. The Húsavík section is shown as 90 minutes, but the actual stop in town is described as roughly 20 minutes, with the remaining time taken by the drive from Ásbyrgi and the return journey to Akureyri. You may have enough time for a few harbor photographs and a quick look around, but not enough for whale watching or a relaxed visit to the film-related sights.

Some departures have driven through Húsavík without a proper stop because of a festival or schedule changes. If you strongly want to see the town, eat fish and chips, or find locations from the film, book a separate Húsavík visit instead.

As part of this circuit, Húsavík works as a short final taste of coastal Iceland. It should not be the main reason you choose the tour.

The guide can make or break the day

The strongest praise for this experience goes to the guides. Ivy was praised for going out of her way to add puffin stops and for entertaining the group with live music alongside her father. Harold was described as funny, informed, and especially good at talking about Icelandic music.

Una was appreciated for explaining the timetable clearly and keeping the group moving. Ritchie used WhatsApp to share updates, facts, and group photographs. Unnur was praised for clear instructions and an organized approach, while Kgartan was described as an excellent guide with useful information.

That range tells you something important. The tour is not just a transport service. On an eight-hour route, your guide controls the tone, the explanations, the stop lengths, and how well the day holds together.

There have also been complaints about guides who seemed poorly informed, enforced timing badly, or spoke rudely to the group. One departure reportedly skipped or shortened key stops after reversing the route. You cannot choose the guide in advance, so you should book this with realistic expectations rather than assuming every departure will feel identical.

Timing, weather, and cruise-port details

The schedule is ambitious. A careful guide must watch the clock because extra time at one waterfall can mean less time at Námaskarð, Mývatn, or Húsavík. Some departures have returned later than expected, while others have arrived back early when Húsavík could not be visited fully.

If you are boarding a cruise ship in Akureyri, allow plenty of time before the all-aboard deadline. The experience ends back at the meeting point on Gránufélagsgata 50, and the ride back from Húsavík is about one hour. Most cruise-related departures have returned in time, but delays, fuel stops, late departures, and weather can change the margin.

Finding the bus may take effort when many coaches are gathered near the cruise terminal. Look for the local operator name, BusTravel Iceland, on your booking information, and confirm the bus location before departure. Some people have had difficulty identifying the correct coach among a large group of buses.

The weather deserves serious attention. A day that begins mild and fair can end with freezing wind and horizontal rain. Wear layers, gloves, a hat, a waterproof jacket, and waterproof trousers if you have them. This is not a day for relying on a single warm sweatshirt.

The tour requires good weather and a minimum number of participants. If the operator cancels for either reason, you are offered another date, another experience, or a full refund.

Food, comfort, and what to bring

The included food is best treated as a snack-sized lunch. A sandwich and bottle of water can keep you going, but several people found the portion too small for such a long day.

Bring:

• A refillable water bottle
• Fruit, trail mix, chips, or another filling snack
• Waterproof layers
• Gloves and a hat
• Comfortable walking shoes with good grip
• A charged phone or camera

You may spend long stretches sitting on the bus, so this tour suits you best if you value access to major sights more than a slow pace. Wi-Fi is a useful extra, but do not expect it to replace the experience of looking out the window. Northern Iceland gives you plenty to watch between stops.

Special meal needs require care. A vegetarian sandwich was not available for one booking despite a request made through the booking platform. If you need a specific meal, contact BusTravel Iceland directly before the tour and get confirmation rather than relying only on the booking form.

Is the $214 price fair?

The price makes sense if you want to see the full northern circuit without renting a car. You receive transportation, a guide, Wi-Fi, the listed stops, and a small lunch. Adding a rental car, fuel, navigation, and the work of driving Iceland’s roads would not necessarily be cheaper, especially if you are traveling alone.

The value drops if your priorities are time in Húsavík, a full lunch, or long walks at each site. It also drops if the route is shortened or key stops become drive-bys. Because the group may reach 65 people, you are paying for coverage and convenience, not intimacy.

I would compare this tour with the cost of a cruise-ship shore excursion before booking. One direct comparison found this independent excursion favorable in price, while still covering the major sights. Just keep a close eye on the return time if you have a ship to catch.

Who should book this Diamond Circle tour?

I would recommend it to you if:

• You have only one day in northern Iceland.
• You are staying in Akureyri without a car.
• You want waterfalls, volcanic sights, geothermal ground, a canyon, and a coastal town in one trip.
• You are comfortable with a long bus ride and a firm schedule.
• You enjoy learning from a guide and do not mind a larger group.

I would hesitate if you want a relaxed day, a substantial lunch, a long Húsavík visit, or guaranteed time at every listed stop. Independent drivers and small-group visitors can build a slower route, though they take on the road planning themselves.

Final verdict

This is an ambitious and often excellent introduction to northern Iceland. The best moments are likely to come at Godafoss, Námaskarð, Dettifoss, and Ásbyrgi, with puffin sightings and strong guide performances adding welcome surprises.

Book it for breadth, convenience, and access to hard-to-reach sights. Skip it if you dislike long bus days or need a precise, leisurely schedule. Before paying, confirm the pickup details, direct any dietary request to BusTravel Iceland, pack serious weather gear, and bring extra food. With those expectations in place, $214 can buy a very full day of northern Iceland.

FAQ

How long is the Diamond Circle tour from Akureyri?

The tour lasts approximately eight hours and ends back at the meeting point in Akureyri.

Where does the tour start and finish?

It starts at Gránufélagsgata 50, 600 Akureyri, Iceland, and ends back at the same meeting point.

Is transportation included?

Yes. Round-trip transportation from Akureyri is included, along with onboard Wi-Fi.

Is the tour offered in English?

Yes. The tour is offered in English.

How much time do I get in Húsavík?

The actual stop in Húsavík is described as approximately 20 minutes. The longer time shown for this section includes the drive from Ásbyrgi and the return journey to Akureyri.

Is food included?

A small sandwich and bottle of water may be provided after the Dettifoss visit. You should bring extra snacks and water because this is a long day.

Can I cancel for a full refund?

Yes. You can cancel at least 24 hours before the experience starts for a full refund. Cancellations or changes made less than 24 hours before the start time are not accepted for a refund.