Akureyri Port: Small Group Diamond Circle Express Shore Excursion
Description
This Diamond Circle tour is unique because it lets you see the most famous highlights of North Iceland in one simple, well-planned day. You experience waterfalls, canyons, geothermal areas, and coastal villages without feeling rushed. It is an easy and comfortable way to explore the region’s top attractions in a single journey. Each stop offers something different and memorable. Húsavík shows a charming seaside town, Ásbyrgi offers a peaceful and dramatic canyon, Dettifoss displays the raw power of nature, and Námaskarð shows active geothermal landscapes. Goðafoss and Lake Mývatn add beautiful scenery and peaceful views along the way. Overall, it is a full day of natural beauty and variety. You travel through completely different landscapes and see the very best of North Iceland in one smooth and enjoyable experience.
Tour Options
Itinerary
We arrive in the charming coastal village of Húsavík, where life revolves around the sea and the busy harbor. Colorful houses and a peaceful atmosphere welcome you as you explore the town. Húsavík is known as Iceland’s whale watching capital, famous for marine life encounters. The wooden church and movie connections give the town an extra layer of character. Your first stop is the stunning Goðafoss Waterfall, famous for its beauty and historical significance. Walk along the trails, admire the curved waterfall from multiple viewpoints, and take photos of the powerful cascading water.
We continue along the coastline to the Tjörnes Peninsula, where dramatic cliffs rise above the Arctic Ocean. At the Hringsbjarg viewpoint, you step out into fresh northern air and endless sea views. The landscape feels wild and untouched in every direction. During summer, puffins may be seen nesting along the cliffs.
Our next stop is the breathtaking Ásbyrgi Canyon, a huge horseshoe-shaped valley surrounded by towering cliffs. Inside, peaceful woodland and quiet walking paths create a surprising contrast to the dramatic walls above. The canyon feels calm and almost hidden from the outside world. According to legend, it was formed by Odin’s horse, Sleipnir.
We then reach Dettifoss, where nature shows its most powerful side. Massive glacial water crashes down into the canyon with an incredible roar and force. The mist rises into the air, creating a dramatic atmosphere around you. It is widely considered the most powerful waterfall in Europe.
From rushing water we move into a surreal geothermal world at Námaskarð. Steam rises from the earth as bubbling mud pools and colorful minerals shape the ground. The air carries the strong scent of sulfur, reminding you of the volcanic energy below. It feels like stepping onto another planet.
We continue through the volcanic region of Lake Mývatn and stop at a scenic viewpoint above the lake. From here, the vast landscape opens up with lava fields, craters, and shimmering water below. The Skútustaðagígar craters can be seen scattered along the shoreline. It is a peaceful yet powerful reminder of Iceland’s volcanic origins. After a full day discovering waterfalls canyons geothermal landscapes and coastal scenery relax on the return drive to Akureyri cruise terminal, arriving in good time for your ship departure.
Our final major stop is Goðafoss, a wide and elegant waterfall flowing through a curved canyon. The water glides powerfully over the rocks, creating a picture-perfect natural scene. Your guide shares the famous story of Iceland’s conversion to Christianity tied to this place. The name means “Waterfall of the Gods,” adding history to its beauty.
Highlights
What's included
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Specialized infant seats are available
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Reviews(9)
Rafael was amazing! He was incredibly flexible with our small group and even made a few extra stops that weren't part of the original itinerary because we had such beautiful weather and wanted to make the most of our day. One of the highlights was seeing puffins at a lookout that wasn't included in the tour. It was an unforgettable experience and a wonderful bonus to an already fantastic day. Rafael was knowledgeable, informative, and genuinely friendly throughout the tour. Despite it being a full-day excursion, everything was very well organized, and we returned to the ship on time with no concerns. I highly recommend this tour and Rafael as a guide. He truly went above and beyond to make our experience special. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Paula
Thank you so much, Paula for your glowing 5‑star review! We’re thrilled you had such a fantastic day and that Rafael’s flexibility, knowledge, and genuine friendliness made the experience unforgettable. It’s wonderful to hear how the extra stops and puffin sighting added to the adventure. Your recommendation means a lot, and we look forward to welcoming you again.
The driver polite and knowledgeable… made up with the company’s shortcomings. Our tour depart time originally was supposed to be 10am and they changed it to 9am. We made it to the bus at 8:45 only to find the bus left at 10 am anyways. Sent emails and no response which is NOT good customer service! Previous day trip with the same company was supposed to be small group but instead the tour ended up being a full large bus of 60 persons.
Thank you for sharing your feedback and rating. Your comments are valuable to us, and we’ll continue working to improve the overall experience. We’re grateful you joined us and hope to welcome you again for future tours.
Did not get to do this tour as last minute changes from a small, intimate group was then "overbooked"?? so it was offered in a large group with large bus. Went from max group of 19 to large 65. I did not wish to do this. I paid extra specifically for the more private, less crowds and more intimate experience. This was all emailed that was received only night before so that prevented a back up excursion, which was disappointing. I just walked the town of Akureyri instead. Enjoyed the little town and the botanical gardens were great. Best I can say is for this tour experience, is they did offer a full refund to those of us who did not wish to participate...although I have NOT received my refund yet, so depending on response time to this, will determine if I would give them a higher rating "overall". It was just a huge bummer, as it looked like it would have been a great tour. NOTE: If you don't mind impersonal & large crowds and didn't care about the extra money spent for small Group experience then I guess it wouldn't bother you to adjust to the changes. For me personally, it was not what I paid for, nor how I wished to experience this location. All the rest of my tours/excursions (was in Iceland for 13 days) were great and no issues with receiving what I had booked so not sure what happened at this port. It is what it is now. I just hope they honour my full refund & in a timely manner.
Thank you for sharing your experience. We’re very sorry the tour did not meet your expectations and that it left you disappointed. We truly value your feedback and will review it carefully to improve. Please rest assured your refund will be honored, and we appreciate your patience as we work to resolve this promptly.
Tour guide told us he is just a driver following the other van and don’t know anything. Indeed he really had no idea where we were going and therefore, had no information provided at all. People in this tour complained to the driver of the other van and he agreed to give us some info in the following stops to make us feel better. This is really not a tour. The first two stops like the pier and so call puffin in the cliff were all wasting time and after lunch, we finally get to the main attractions that make sense. We can totally skip those and concentrated on the rest to give us more time to enjoy the scenery of the waterfalls and lake.
Thank you for sharing your feedback. We’re very sorry the tour did not meet expectations. We understand how disappointing it must have felt. Your input is important, and we’ll review both our guiding standards and itineraries to ensure a more informative and enjoyable experience.
Overall the experience was fantastic. The guide was very knowledgeable about the area. He was very accommodating to all the guests and made sure that all of us had a wonderful time.
We waited 40 minutes. The guide and driver had no signs and did not look for us. Admonished us for being late repeatedly (we asked and asked). We were put on two buses. One a driver only-no tour guide. No narration. The other was Spanish speaking-not English. And his English was awful. He was insulting and dismissive. He gave no history or useful information. Only “feelings” and thoughts on nature. Each stop was delayed. At one point both buses struggled to make it through the mountains and everyone was worried that we would miss our cruise ship. We made it back an hour and 40 minutes late. The scenery was beautiful and that was the only saving grace for the day.
Very nice trip with informative and entertaining guide - glad he was called in to save our excursions after no one showed up after waiting for 2 hours.
Thank you for your honest feedback. We’re sorry for the delay and the inconvenience it caused at the start of your excursion. We truly appreciate your patience and are pleased that the guide was able to make the experience worthwhile. Your feedback is valuable and will help us improve the overall experience for our guests.
Very disappointed with transportation. Vehicle described in booking details as a comfortable ,air conditioned vehicle. The only part that was true is that it was a vehicle. Old with rust, no air conditioning (was very hot in the back), uncomfortable seats and no windows for the rear seats. We were around other tour vehicles at all of our stops and our vehicle was the only rusted old one. Sights and guide were very good. But spent a long time in that vehicle that day.
Thank you for bringing this to our attention. We sincerely apologize for the inconvenience caused by the vehicle conditions and understand how this affected your comfort and overall experience during the journey. We’re happy that the tour highlights and your guide still made a positive impression, and we truly appreciate your valuable feedback. Comments like yours help us identify areas where we can improve and ensure a better experience for our future guests. We hope to have the opportunity to welcome you again and provide the quality of service and comfort with a much better experience in the future.
Great overall tour. Loved the waterfalls but could have skipped the crater. Spa Lagoon was the best.
Thank you for your review! We're so glad you enjoyed the tour, especially the waterfalls and the relaxing time at the Sky Lagoon. We appreciate your feedback about the crater as well—it's always helpful to hear which stops our guests enjoy most. Thanks for joining us, and we hope to see you again on another Iceland adventure!
