Description
Summary
Description
Set out on a private Diamond Circle adventure across the most incredible sites of North Iceland with this fantastic, day-long excursion. Travelers in Akureyri who want to pack as many attractions as possible into a single day should take advantage of this mind-blowing tour.
Your trip begins when your private guide picks you up in the capital of North Iceland, Akureyri. Once your group is gathered, you'll depart the beautiful town, admiring the fjord of Eyjafjordur as you travel.
Your guide is a local expert who can tell you about the attractions you pass and the folklore associated with them. As you have their undivided attention, you can ask any questions about Icelandic nature and culture.
Godafoss waterfall is your first stop. This dramatic feature perfectly represents the region's wild beauty and has a fascinating role in Iceland's religious history.
You'll next reach the Lake Myvatn area, which boasts many of the day's most unique attractions. The lakes themselves are stunning, with some of the country's most diverse birdlife and flora, and they have a range of geological features.
The Skutustadir pseudocraters that line the banks and the basalt pillars that rise from the waters are impressive, but the Dimmuborgir lava fortress is particularly spectacular. Within the cliffs and caves are many tales of folklore, and one of the tunnels is home to the hot spring of Grjotagja.
This feature gained worldwide recognition as a setting in Game of Thrones, and scenes throughout the second and third seasons were shot in the wider area.
Volcanic forces created Lake Myvatn, and you can see these at work on the barren mountainside of Namarskard. This plateau has a row of boiling mud pits, and the sulfur smell fills the air.
After enjoying Namaskard, you will move to the Jokulsargljufur canyon, which is famous for its three incredible waterfalls.
First and most impressive is Dettifoss, the most powerful waterfall in Europe. Surrounded by dramatic black cliffs, the strength of this magnificent feature is breathtaking. Like Myvatn, this area was used as a shooting location for a famous franchise, this one being the Alien movies.
Most specifically, the opening scene of Prometheus features the attraction.
Just upriver from Dettifoss is Selfoss waterfall, and just downriver is Hafragilsfoss. Though not as strong as Dettifoss, they are just as beautiful.
Following these attractions, you'll continue to Asbyrgi canyon. Shaped like an enormous horseshoe, surrounded by cliffs that stand over 300 feet (100 meters) tall and filled with birch forests, this is one of the best places in the country for photography.
Those interested in Icelandic folklore will also appreciate the stories of this location. In legend, the shape originates from the footstep of Odin's great horse, and the ancient gods met within its walls.
After witnessing the incredible sites of the Diamond Circle, your guide will escort you back to Akureyri. On the way to there, you will do a short stop in Husavik to grab a bite or a coffee. You may even see the northern lights on your return journey in winter.
Enjoy a private tour around all the sites of the Diamond Circle, North Iceland's most diverse and popular sightseeing route. Check availability now by choosing a date.
