6-Hour Shore Excursion from Akureyri: Ljosvatn, Godafoss, Myvatn Craters and Lava Fields

Six hours, six stops and a guaranteed return to the port before the ship sails. The excursion is made for cruise passengers and runs with an English-speaking guide. The first stop is Ljósvatn, a quiet lake in the North Iceland countryside, good for a stretch and a few photos. Goðafoss, the Waterfall of the Gods, comes next: a wide horseshoe of falling water and mist with viewpoints on both sides. Around Lake Mývatn the group walks among the grassy Skútustaðagígar pseudocraters, formed where eruptions met wetland, then follows easy paths through Dimmuborgir, the lava field of arches, caves and towering rock known as the Dark Castles. The small Grjótagjá lava cave hides a hot spring with clear blue water, and it appeared in Game of Thrones. The last stop is Hverir, called the Fly Lands, at the foot of Námafjall, where fumaroles steam, mud pools bubble and the soil turns orange, yellow and red. Food is not included, so bring snacks or a packed lunch for the day.