Scenic 5 Day Minibus Tour of North Iceland with Waterfalls, Akureyri & Husavik

Goðafoss Waterfall in North Iceland—its name means 'the Waterfall of the Gods'.

Scenic 5 Day Minibus Tour of North Iceland with Waterfalls, Akureyri & Husavik

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Starting time

at 09:00

Duration

5 days

Languages

English

Difficulty

Easy

Available

May. - Nov.

Minimum age

None

Experience the diverse landscapes of North Iceland, such as mountains, fjords and valleys carved out by ice age glaciers, and out of this world volcanic scenery. This 5-day tour is perfect for anyone wanting to behold the incredible sights of the North in a comfortable manner with a knowledgeable guide.

Your adventure begins in the vibrant town of Akureyri. You will be picked up at the airport or close to your hotel, where you will get to know your local guide and the rest of the small group of travel companions.

After a tour of the town often called the Capital of the North, you will head inland to one of the valleys of Eyjafjörður to visit a typical Icelandic farm where you will get to enjoy light refreshments and befriend the locals.

Over the course of the next five days, you will be whisked away to all the highlights of the area, including Húsavík, Lake Mývatn, and two of Iceland's most amazing waterfalls, Goðafoss and Dettifoss. The tour is conducted with a small group, with a maximum of 16 passengers to ensure a pleasant atmosphere and the best possible experience.

Bask in the mist of Goðafoss waterfall and then continue to Lake Mývatn where you'll spend the day exploring all the natural volcanic wonders, including the Skútustaðir pseudocraters, the dark fortress Dimmuborgir and the fumarole field at Námaskarð. In the summer, the lake itself is teeming with birdlife, so keep your eye out for fulmars or merlins.

Culture lovers will get a treat visiting the turf house at Grenjaðarstaður folk museum, before heading to Húsavík where you will have the time to visit the whale museum in town. When you head back to Lake Mývatn, you can visit the renowned Nature Baths for a relaxing soak. If you, however, have the energy left for adventure, your tour provider can help you arrange extra activities available in the area.

On the final day, you will head to the most powerful waterfall in Europe, Dettifoss, where you'll get to take your time to enjoy its majesty. In the afternoon, you'll return to Akureyri with time to fit in some optional tours if you wish.

Get to know the wonders of North Iceland now. Check availability by choosing a date.

Included

Transporation in a private coach with an English speaking driver guide

4 nights accommodation in a room w/private facilities, breakfast included

2x 3-course dinners

A farm visit with light refreshments

Admission fee to Grenjaðarstaður museum

Admission fee to Húsavík whale museum

Activities

Hiking

Sightseeing

Cultural Activity

Bird watching

Attractions

Akureyri

Mývatn

Dimmuborgir

Húsavík

Goðafoss

Dettifoss

Skútustaðagígar

Námaskarð

Daily itinerary

Day 1

Akureyri is the capital of the North and the start of your adventure.

Akureyri & Surrounding Countryside

Your first day starts in Akureyri, with most guests expected to arrive with the morning flight from Reykjavik. Pick-up from hotels in Akureyri is also available. You will be treated with a 4-hour tour of the town and its surroundings, including the charming city centre and Akureyri Church where you'll have great views of the downtown area and the harbour.

Depending on weather conditions, you may head up to the hills above Akureyri to get impressive views over Eyjafjörður Fjord and the town itself. One of the highlights of the day is a visit to a typical Icelandic farm in one of the valleys of Eyjafjörður. There, you will meet the locals, pet the animals and enjoy complimentary refreshments.

At the end of the day, you will check in to your accommodation in Akureyri, after which you are free to explore the town on your own in the afternoon. Visit the geothermal swimming pool or enjoy traditional cuisine at a local restaurant before turning in for the night.

Day 2

Goðafoss is one of the most impressive waterfalls of North Iceland, named after a legendary incident in which a chieftain threw in it statues of the old Norse Gods.

Godafoss Waterfall & Lake Myvatn

On your second day, you'll depart from Akureyri and head east along Eyjafjörður on your way to the waterfall of the gods, Goðafoss. This is one of the country's most spectacular waterfalls, falling from a height of 12 metres, with a width stretching 30 metres.

From there, you continue to Lake Mývatn to explore the area. The lake and its surroundings are filled with natural volcanic wonders, and you can see obvious signs of recent activity from the 1974-85 eruptions.

Highlights in the area include the boiling mud pits and steam vents at the fumarole field at Námaskarð, the lava sculptures of Dimmuborgir, and the pseudocraters at Skútustaðir. Lake Mývatn is also particularly well known for its rich bird life in the summer, with many different species nesting in the area.

You will spend the night at an accommodation in the Lake Mývatn area.

Day 3

Húsavík is a charming fishing village in North Iceland and often called the whale watching capital of Europe.

Husavik Country Tour

Today, you get to explore the fishing and whale watching village of Húsavik and the beautiful countryside around it.

You start off by driving north through Hólasandur past the hydro-electric power station Laxárvirkjun in the valley of Aðaldalur. You will visit Grenjaðarstaður which is a folk museum in an old turf house, giving you a unique insight of how Icelanders lived in the not-so-distant past.

Then you'll reach Húsavík, known as the whale-watching capital of Iceland. You'll get to visit the Húsavík Whale Museum which is dedicated to these gentle giants of the sea.

After exploring the town, you'll return to Lake Mývatn in the afternoon with enough time for optional activities, such as taking a dip in the Mývatn Nature Baths or enjoy a hike in the area.

You'll spend another night in the Lake Mývatn area.

Day 4

Dettifoss in North Iceland rumbles with such great power that you can feel the earth shake beneath your feet.

Dettifoss Waterfall & Back to Akureyri

Today, get ready for one of the highlights of your trip as you will visit Europe's most powerful waterfall, Dettifoss. The waterfall, with 500 cubic meters of water plunging over its edge, was featured in the opening scene of Ridley Scott's 2012 film Prometheus.

From the parking area is an easy 20-minute walk along a gravel path to the waterfall itself. Fed by Vatnajökull glacier, the water rushes north before plummeting down 44 metres over cliffs of 100 metres in length.

After having enjoyed these amazing falls and taken plenty of photos, you will then head back through the Mývatn area for one last look before returning to Akureyri in the late afternoon, where your accommodation for the night awaits.

Day 5

The Akureyri town church was designed by the same architect that did Hallgrímskirkja Church in the centre of Reykjavík.

Exploring Akureyri

On the last day, you will have the whole morning to yourself to explore Akureyri on your own. For those taking a flight to Reykjavík or Keflavík, a transfer for you to the airport can be arranged.

Know that you just experienced the North of Iceland in all its glory in the scope of five days full of sightseeing and adventure. Book this tour now and become one with the North.

What to bring

Warm and waterproof clothes

Good hiking shoes

Sunglasses

Gloves

A warm hat

Camera

Good to know

This tour starts and ends in Akureyri. Most guests will arrive by a flight from Reykjavík and will be picked up at the airport, but pickup from Akureyri hotels can also be arranged.