Tours in Northern Iceland
· Updated · BootsnAll
Most guided tours in Iceland depart from the city of Reykjavik, as that’s where most tourists stay. If you do make it up to northern Iceland, chances are good that you’ll have your own wheels and may prefer to do a self-guided tour of the area’s attractions. But for some of the wonders for northern Iceland, you’re better off with a guide. Here are some excellent tours to take from Akureyri or Husavik in northern Iceland.
Askja
Geo Travel runs super jeep day tours from Lake Mývatn to the Askja caldera and the Holuhraun lava field between mid-June and mid-October. The 12-13 hour tour costs 59,900 ISK per person as of 2026, so it’s not cheap, but it will get you up close to the crater. From the parking area you’ll walk about 2.5 kilometers each way to the eerily blue Viti crater lake, where you can take a dip in late summer if you bring a swimsuit.
Godafoss
Though it makes more financial sense to either visit Godafoss on your own or combine the visit with another tour, if you are determined to do a guided tour of just Godafoss, it is possible. In winter, Saga Travel offers a three hour tour to the waterfall from Akureyri for 16,000 ISK per person as of 2026.
Lake Myvatn
Visit Lake Myvatn with Saga Travel, whose Lake Mývatn Classic day tour departs from Akureyri and first visits Godafoss before continuing to the Skútustaðir pseudo craters, the Dimmuborgir lava field, the geothermal area at Mt. Námafjall with its boiling mud pools and steaming fumaroles, and the Grjótagjá cave. The tour takes 7-8 hours, runs from November to March, and costs 39,900 ISK per person as of 2026. Bring your own lunch.
Dettifoss
Europe’s most powerful waterfall is a sight to behold, and it’s much easier to reach on your own than it used to be. Road 862 to the west side of the falls is now paved, so an ordinary car will get you there, though the road isn’t kept clear in winter from January until early April. Road 864 on the east side is still gravel and usually doesn’t open until the end of May.
Northern Lights
Depart from Akureyri on a Saga Travel Northern Lights tour, which runs nightly at 9pm from September 1 to April 15 and costs 13,900 ISK per person as of 2026, and search for the Northern Lights under the stars. Sightings of the lights are never guaranteed and it’s just as easy to see them from your accommodation, but if you’d rather do a tour, this is an easy option.
Culinary tours
Saga Travel offers a three hour guided walk around Akureyri with stops to taste local food at restaurants in town. It runs year-round and costs 17,900 ISK per person as of 2026.