Akureyri: Lake Mývatn & Northern Lights – Winter Special

North Iceland gives you two very different treats in one compact trip: the strange volcanic world around Lake Mývatn by day, and a dark-sky search for the Northern Lights at night. The route packs in waterfalls, lava formations, hot springs, and a geothermal soak without asking you to plan several separate outings.

I like the small group size, limited to 18 people, and the useful airport shuttle for EasyJet passengers. I also like the flexible Northern Lights policy: if the evening goes ahead but the lights do not appear, you can take the trip again for free. The main consideration is weather. The lights are never guaranteed, and the Mývatn Nature Baths may be unavailable or affected by refurbishment, as happened on one recent departure.

Key points

• Two full days from Akureyri: The package combines an evening Northern Lights hunt with a daytime Mývatn excursion.
• Sigi, also called Ziggie, guides both outings: Having one guide and driver for the trips can make the schedule feel clear and personal.
• A strong volcanic itinerary: You visit Goðafoss, Grjótagjá, Hverarönd, Dimmuborgir, and Skútustaðagígar.
• Nature Baths are optional: The geothermal soak costs extra, and you need to bring a swimsuit and towel.
• The Northern Lights trip can be repeated: If the tour operates but you see no lights, the provider offers it again for free.
• EasyJet airport transfers are included: Pickup and return require your flight and accommodation details in advance.

Why Lake Mývatn makes this a strong Akureyri side trip

Lake Mývatn is not simply a pretty body of water. It is the center of one of Iceland’s most unusual volcanic areas, shaped by a major basaltic lava eruption about 2,300 years ago. Around the lake, you see lava pillars, pseudocraters, steaming ground, caves, and twisted rock formations.

That variety is the real value of this tour. You are not spending the day at one viewpoint, hoping the scenery changes. Instead, the route moves through several types of volcanic terrain, with a guide helping you understand what you are seeing.

The tour begins at 9 AM and runs along Eyjafjörður, one of Iceland’s longest fjords. The drive itself gives you a broad introduction to the region, and the final stop offers a view back across the fjord toward Akureyri. You get both the open countryside and a sense of how the town sits within North Iceland.

The trip is guided in English, and the group is limited to 18 people. That is large enough to keep the price reasonable, but small enough that the day should feel more manageable than a big coach outing. You also avoid the work of arranging a rental car, checking winter roads, and fitting all the stops together yourself.

Goðafoss brings a dramatic first stop

Goðafoss is the first major stop on the Mývatn day. Its name means Waterfall of the Gods, and it is one of the most famous waterfalls in North Iceland.

The waterfall gives the tour an immediate visual payoff. Water pours over a broad, curved section of rock, and winter conditions can add snow and ice around the falls. The exact appearance depends on the weather, but the stop is built into the route rather than treated as an optional extra.

You should bring sturdy shoes here. Even a short walk near a waterfall can be slippery in winter, and the tour specifically advises warm clothing and solid footwear. Gloves and a hat are sensible additions, especially because you will also spend time outdoors later in the evening.

Goðafoss is a good early stop because it breaks up the drive and gives you one of Iceland’s classic natural sights before the more unusual volcanic attractions begin.

Grjótagjá shows Iceland’s volcanic side

Grjótagjá is a cave with geothermal water inside. It is one of those places where the connection between Iceland’s geology and its hot springs becomes easy to see.

The cave is interesting because it feels different from the wide views at Goðafoss and the open area around the lake. You move from a waterfall into a more enclosed volcanic setting, then continue to other sites shaped by heat and eruptions.

The tour description does not promise swimming at Grjótagjá, so you should treat it as a viewing stop rather than a bathing stop. The proper soak comes later at the Mývatn Nature Baths, if you choose that option.

This is also a useful reminder that the day is about variety. Some stops offer grand views, while others give you a closer look at the rocks and underground heat that formed the region.

Hverarönd brings steam, color, and strong smells

At Hverarönd in Námaskarð, you visit a hot spring area where geothermal activity is visible from the surface. Expect steaming ground and the unmistakable smell of sulfur.

This stop can be one of the most memorable for you if you enjoy Iceland’s rawer side. It is not polished scenery. The ground looks active, strange, and sometimes almost alien, with heat rising from below.

Stay on marked paths and follow the guide’s directions. Geothermal ground can be dangerous, and the safest experience is one where you keep to the areas meant for viewing.

Hverarönd also adds a useful contrast to the Nature Baths. At the baths, geothermal water is prepared for relaxation. Here, you see the same underground heat in its untamed form.

The Mývatn Nature Baths are the comfort stop

The Mývatn Nature Baths are the optional relaxation point on the day. A warm soak in geothermal water can be exactly what you want after a cold morning among waterfalls, caves, and steaming ground.

Entry is not included in the $350 tour price. Swimwear and a towel are also not included, so pack both if you want to bathe. The tour information specifically reminds you to bring them.

You should also understand that the baths are not guaranteed to be available exactly as planned. On one recent departure, the Mývatn baths were closed for refurbishment, and the group was offered an alternative that required an extra 45-minute drive. One person chose not to take that option after visiting Forest Lagoon the previous evening, while Sigi dropped that person in a local town to explore as the rest of the group visited the alternative baths.

That detail matters. The provider did make an effort to offer another plan, but you should not book this package solely for the bath visit. Think of the soak as a pleasant addition to an already worthwhile sightseeing day.

Dimmuborgir is the most theatrical lava stop

Dimmuborgir means Dark Fortresses, a fitting name for a field of unusual lava formations. The rocks were shaped when lava cooled in complex ways, leaving walls, pillars, and openings that look more like old ruins than ordinary volcanic rock.

This is one of the best stops for walking and photographs. The formations give you something to study at close range, and the area feels very different from the open shore of Lake Mývatn.

The tour allows time to explore rather than simply taking a roadside photograph. Still, keep winter daylight and weather in mind. Warm layers, practical shoes, and a willingness to walk on uneven ground will make this stop much more enjoyable.

Dimmuborgir is also the sort of place where a guide adds value. Without context, you see dramatic black rocks. With an explanation of how lava can form these shapes, the stop becomes easier to read.

Skútustaðagígar explains the pseudocraters

The final major Mývatn area stop is Skútustaðagígar, known for its pseudocraters. These formations look like small volcanic craters, but they did not form from direct eruptions in the usual way.

The area gives you another change of scale. Dimmuborgir feels enclosed and jagged, while Skútustaðagígar opens out into rounded forms beside the lake. The stop helps show how many different shapes one volcanic region can contain.

You may find the views especially appealing in winter, when snow changes the outlines of the craters. The exact visibility depends on weather and daylight, so keep your expectations flexible. The tour includes several distinct sites, but Iceland can only show you what the conditions allow on that particular day.

The final Eyjafjörður view closes the daytime route

On the return journey, the tour stops in Eyjafjörður for a view across the fjord toward Akureyri. It is a simple but useful ending.

After a day focused on volcanic formations, this stop gives you a broader sense of the area. You can look back toward the town and see how the fjord organizes the surrounding region.

It is also a practical photo stop. Keep your camera ready, but do not expect a fixed view in every season or weather condition. Cloud, snow, and low winter light can all change the scene.

The Northern Lights hunt works best on your first night

The Northern Lights outing begins at 9:30 PM. You leave the light pollution around Akureyri and head into darker surroundings, with the exact direction chosen according to cloud cover and the best available conditions.

That flexible route is important. A Northern Lights tour cannot use one guaranteed viewpoint because the weather changes across the region. The guide has to balance clear sky, darkness, and road conditions on the night itself.

The lights are a natural phenomenon, so no company can promise a display. The tour may operate and still produce no aurora. This package handles that risk better than many fixed-date outings because you can repeat the trip for free if it goes ahead without a sighting.

For that reason, I would schedule this experience on your first night in Akureyri whenever possible. If the lights do not appear, or if bad weather cancels the outing, you have a chance to move it to another night. Booking it at the end of your stay removes that useful backup.

Dress for standing outside in cold weather. The advice to wear layers and sturdy shoes is not filler. You may spend time waiting, looking up, and moving between the vehicle and outdoor viewing points. Warm clothes will make the search much more enjoyable.

One guide for both trips helps the two-day plan

Sigi, also identified as Ziggie, led both outings on recent departures. That continuity can be valuable. You do not have to learn a new meeting routine or explain your plans to a different driver each day.

The guide’s role matters most on the Mývatn day. The area includes several stops, and a good pace keeps the outing from becoming a tiring checklist. The available details indicate that the day includes time to explore and does not feel rushed, which is useful when you want photographs and a proper look at the formations.

The group limit is 18 people. This is not a private tour, but it is a more personal format than a large bus. You still need to follow a group schedule, especially at the Nature Baths and on the Northern Lights hunt.

Airport transport adds another practical benefit. EasyJet passengers can receive a complimentary shuttle from Akureyri Airport to their accommodation, with return transport to the airport on departure. You need to provide flight information and accommodation details so the pickup can be arranged.

Is $350 good value for two days?

At $350 per person, the package is not the cheapest way to see North Iceland, but it combines several useful services: airport transfers for EasyJet passengers, a guided Mývatn day, and a Northern Lights outing.

The price makes the most sense if you want a compact plan without renting a car. You avoid arranging transport between Akureyri and Mývatn, finding each stop, and deciding how to handle an evening aurora search.

The Nature Baths entry fee is extra, as are meals, drinks, towels, swimwear, and personal expenses. Include those costs before comparing the package with other options. The bath is optional, so you can keep the total lower if you prefer the volcanic sights.

You also pay for the possibility of repeating the Northern Lights outing if the first attempt fails. That policy has practical value, especially when you schedule the tour early in your stay.

Who will get the most from this experience?

I would choose this tour if you have two days in Akureyri and want to cover the region’s major natural sights without driving. It suits first-time visitors who want clear structure, an English-speaking guide, and a small group.

It also works well for people who want both daytime sightseeing and a serious chance at the Northern Lights. The evening outing is never certain, but the free repeat makes the gamble more reasonable.

You may want another plan if you dislike fixed schedules or want long, quiet walks at each stop. The route includes many locations, so the day is active and organized rather than slow and unstructured.

The package is also less suitable if the Mývatn Nature Baths are your main reason for booking. Entry costs extra, and the baths may be closed or replaced by another option. Book it for the full combination of geology, waterfalls, fjord views, geothermal water, and aurora hunting.

Final verdict: a practical two-day choice from Akureyri

I would book this tour if you want a well-organized introduction to North Iceland and do not plan to drive. The strongest parts are the range of Mývatn stops, the small group format, the airport shuttle, and the repeat option for a failed Northern Lights outing.

Book early in your Akureyri stay, bring serious winter clothing, and pack swimwear and a towel if you want the Nature Baths. Keep your expectations realistic about weather and aurora sightings, and treat the bath as an optional extra rather than the centerpiece.

For $350, you get a useful two-day framework with a lot of natural variety. It is a good fit for a short Iceland visit, especially when you value straightforward transport and a guide who handles the route.

FAQ

How long does the experience last?

The package lasts 2 days. The Northern Lights tour starts at 9:30 PM, and the Lake Mývatn, Goðafoss, and Nature Baths tour starts at 9 AM.

What is included in the price?

The price includes the guided Lake Mývatn tour, the Northern Lights hunt, and an airport shuttle for EasyJet passengers.

Is entry to the Mývatn Nature Baths included?

No. Entry to the Mývatn Nature Baths is not included and must be paid for separately.

Should I bring a swimsuit and towel?

Yes, bring both if you want to use the Nature Baths. Swimwear and a towel are not provided.

Are Northern Lights sightings guaranteed?

No. The Northern Lights are a natural phenomenon, and sightings depend on weather and sky conditions.

What happens if the Northern Lights do not appear?

If the evening tour operates but you do not see the lights, the provider offers the trip again for free. Booking it on your first night in Akureyri gives you the best chance to use this option.

How many people are in the group?

The group is limited to 18 participants.

What language is the tour conducted in?

The tour is conducted in English with a live guide.

Is airport pickup available?

Yes. Complimentary airport shuttle service is available for EasyJet passengers who purchase a combo tour. You need to provide your flight information and accommodation details for pickup and return arrangements.