Choosing a Diamond Circle route
The Diamond Circle brings Lake Mývatn into a wider North Iceland itinerary with waterfalls and volcanic landscapes. The tours compared here offer different versions of that day. A route with Ásbyrgi, Dimmuborgir and Hverir has a different emphasis from a port excursion combining Dettifoss, Goðafoss and Hverfjall. Start with the places you want to experience, then match the departure point to your stay or ship.
For lava walking and Ásbyrgi, choose the guided circuit from Akureyri; for Hverfjall and a packed lunch, choose the shorter port waterfall route. The cruise-focused small-group circuit is another option, with listed terminal pickup and fees at its scheduled attractions. Our Mývatn day tours cover other excursions from Akureyri, while private tours compare a bath-focused day with a Dettifoss itinerary.
Diamond Circle and Mývatn excursions
The guided circuit includes Dimmuborgir and Hverir. Cruise passengers can choose the small-group itinerary with fees at listed attractions or the waterfall outing with a return-to-ship guarantee.
Hand-picked tours, booked through GetYourGuide. Prices are indicative starting prices in euros (as of November 2026). Tap a tour for live availability and the current price in your currency.
Diamond Circle with Dimmuborgir and Hverir
- Hike through Dimmuborgir lava maze
- Hverir geothermal area
- Visit to Godafoss, Asbyrgi, Dettifoss, and Myvatn
A guided route connects the lake region with waterfalls and Ásbyrgi.
Check availability →
Waterfalls and Mývatn from Akureyri port
- Return to ship guarantee
- Full refund if the ship does not dock
- Packed lunch
The guided excursion includes Hverfjall, Goðafoss and Dettifoss.
Check availability →
Diamond Circle shore excursion
- Professional local English speaking guide
- All parking and entrance fees at listed attractions
- Pickup and drop off at listed cruise terminals
The route includes a viewpoint in the Mývatn region; return is aligned with cruise schedules.
Check availability →Compare waterfall and Diamond Circle outings
Choose between a circuit with Ásbyrgi and lava walking, a cruise-focused small-group route and a shorter waterfall day including Hverfjall.
A wider circuit or a shorter waterfall day
The guided Diamond Circle circuit from Akureyri combines Goðafoss, Ásbyrgi, Dettifoss and Mývatn with a walk through Dimmuborgir and a visit to Hverir. Its listed duration is eight hours for the whole tour. Meals and drinks are extra. This is the option for travellers whose priorities include both the lava maze and Ásbyrgi, rather than only the waterfalls.
The seven-hour port outing focuses on Goðafoss, Dettifoss and the Mývatn area, with Hverfjall in its route and a packed lunch included. Treat that combination as a shorter waterfall and crater day, rather than adding Ásbyrgi or Húsavík to the programme. The small-group cruise circuit lasts eight and a half hours and includes a viewpoint in the Mývatn region; plan around that viewpoint rather than an extended lakeshore visit.
Goðafoss is a route stop on these outings. For a separate visit and onward planning, read Goðafoss waterfall and the onward route. Húsavík can also form part of a wider North Iceland journey, but belongs in your own onward itinerary unless included in your chosen outing: Húsavík as an onward stop in North Iceland.
Mývatn, lava formations and geothermal ground
Mývatn adds lava formations and geothermal scenery to the waterfall route. Dimmuborgir preserves the remains of a drained lava lake, with solidified columns left behind. The guided circuit includes walking there. Hverir, east of the lake at the foot of Námafjall, has fumaroles, mud pots and mineral deposits. Stay on marked paths and keep your hands away from hot water and mud.
Hverfjall is a separate crater destination featured in the shorter port route. Snow and ice can make its paths more difficult, and its access road is often impassable in winter. The Dimmuborgir and volcanic sights guide explains these places for independent visits. Keep that wider sightseeing list separate from the stops sold with a particular excursion.
Dettifoss, national park access and the two roads
Dettifoss has different approaches on its west and east sides, within the national park area; Lake Mývatn itself is a separately protected landscape. The paved western road, 862, has limited winter service. The eastern gravel road, 864, closes with autumn snow and reopens according to ground conditions. A seasonal description is not a report of today's road status.
The national park notice of 25 May 2026 permanently closed Fosshvamm following rockfall and the discovery of cracks. That measure concerns a specific area, with paths being relocated, rather than every Dettifoss viewpoint. Follow signs and barriers at the actual access point. For self-driving, use current traffic and weather information when choosing a side and building the day's route.
Akureyri port pickup and winter planning
Akureyri port arrangements depend on the excursion. The small-group cruise circuit includes pickup and drop-off at listed terminals and return aligned with cruise schedules. The shorter waterfall outing includes port pickup, a return-to-ship guarantee and a full refund if the ship does not dock. Those conditions belong to that particular outing, rather than every Diamond Circle departure.
Winter planning also needs room for changing road and walking conditions. Compare the winter tours if a seasonal excursion suits your visit, or use the getting there guide for independent transport. Choose the itinerary around the stops that matter most, with the ship's actual terminal and departure window in mind.
Diamond Circle questions
Which outing includes Ásbyrgi?
The eight-hour guided Diamond Circle circuit from Akureyri includes Ásbyrgi alongside Goðafoss, Dettifoss, Mývatn, Dimmuborgir and Hverir. Choose this combination when the canyon and lava walk are priorities. The shorter port route centres on waterfalls and Hverfjall, so build your choice around those different stops.
Does every tour include lunch?
No. The seven-hour waterfall outing from Akureyri port includes a packed lunch. Meals and drinks are extra on the guided circuit with Ásbyrgi and on the small-group cruise circuit. Keep food arrangements separate from included guiding, transport and attraction fees when comparing the days.
Is all of Dettifoss closed?
No. The permanent closure announced on 25 May 2026 applies to Fosshvamm, with paths being relocated. Other viewpoints are a separate access question. The west and east roads have different seasonal limitations, so current road information and signs at the site remain part of planning a visit.