Akureyri Port: Small Group Diamond Circle Express Shore Excursion

by Nordur Travel Services ehf · North Iceland

  • Fine on your own
  • Suits older travellers

from €210 per person

Next departure: Sun 11 Apr

  • Duration

    8 hours and 30 minutes

  • Difficulty

    Easy

  • Season

    All year

  • Starts in

    Akureyri

  • Pickup

    Meet at the start point

  • Starts at

    Akureyri Cruise Terminal

    Laufásgata, Akureyri

  • Guide

    Guided in English

  • Departs

    06:30, 07:00, 07:30, 08:00 …

  • Minimum age

    2

  • Cancellation

    Free until 24 hours before

About this experience

Experience the best of North Iceland on a full-day Diamond Circle journey from Akureyri with Nordur Travel. Your adventure begins at the cruise terminal where you are welcomed onboard before setting out into a landscape shaped by fire, ice, and time. As we leave the town behind, the scenery quickly transforms into mountains, open valleys, and coastal views that set the tone for an unforgettable day. This is a guided experience designed to show you the most iconic natural wonders of the region in one seamless route.

The first part of the journey takes you along the coast to the charming village of Húsavík, known as Iceland’s whale watching capital. Here, colorful houses, a lively harbor, and the iconic wooden church reflect the town’s deep connection to the sea. From there, we continue to the Tjörnes Peninsula where dramatic cliffs rise above the Arctic Ocean, offering sweeping views and a chance to spot puffins during the summer season. These coastal stops bring you close to both Icelandic culture and wildlife.

The adventure then moves inland to some of Iceland’s most powerful natural landscapes. Ásbyrgi Canyon welcomes you with its vast horseshoe shape, peaceful woodland, and towering cliffs filled with legend and geology. Not far away, Dettifoss reveals its raw strength as Europe’s most powerful waterfall, where glacial water crashes deep into a rugged canyon with incredible force. These contrasting stops highlight both the calm and the power of Icelandic nature.

As we continue through the volcanic heart of the north, we enter the geothermal area of Námaskarð, where steaming vents, bubbling mud pools, and colorful mineral-rich earth create an otherworldly setting. The journey then passes through the Lake Mývatn region, offering a scenic viewpoint over lava fields, craters, and the unique landscape shaped by ancient eruptions. Each stop reveals another layer of Iceland’s volcanic identity, making the region feel alive and ever changing.

Before returning to Akureyri, we make our final stop at Goðafoss, one of Iceland’s most beautiful waterfalls. Its wide, curved cascade and historic significance make it a perfect ending to the day. From here, we return comfortably to the cruise terminal with time to reflect on a journey filled with waterfalls, canyons, coastal villages, and geothermal wonders, capturing the true spirit of the Diamond Circle.

Description from the operator, Nordur Travel Services ehf. Prices and availability in the booking panel are live.

Where you go

  1. Pickup at Akureyri Cruise Port
  2. Húsavík – Charming Fishing Village
  3. Tjörnes Viewpoint
  4. Ásbyrgi Canyon
  5. Dettifoss Waterfall – Europe’s Most Powerful Waterfall
  6. Námaskarð Geothermal Area
  7. Lake Mývatn Viewpoint
  8. Goðafoss Waterfall – “Waterfall of the Gods”
  9. Return to Akureyri Cruise Port

Included

Small-group shore excursion from Akureyri Port

Transportation in a comfortable, air-conditioned vehicle

Professional local English speaking guide

Guided visits to all scheduled Diamond Circle highlights

All parking and entrance fees at listed attractions

Timely return to Akureyri Port aligned with cruise schedules

Good to know

Warm layers, waterproof jacket, and sturdy walking shoes

Cancellation for this tour

Free cancellation until 24 hours before departure; no refund after that. If the operator cancels for weather or safety, you get a full refund or a new date.

Why this one and not the cheaper one?

The nearest cheaper Mývatn, Goðafoss & Grjótagjá Half Day Tour From Akureyri from Arctic Adventures is €125 — €85 less. Here is every difference we can actually measure.

Nordur Travel Services ehf · €210Arctic Adventures · €125
How long it runs8.5 hours6 hours

The €85 buys you 2.5 more hours out. Whether that is worth it is your call — but that is what the difference is.

Who this is not for

  • Children under 2 cannot join this one.
  • Not for late risers on your first morning — the earliest departure is 06:30, and Reykjavík pickups start before that.

Read off the operator's own conditions. If none of it applies to you, this is a good one.

Why we list it

Nordur Travel Services ehf is one of 207 operators we work with — chosen for reliability, honest descriptions and how they treat guests when weather changes plans. We don't list everything; we list what we'd book ourselves. The six checks every operator passes →

What travellers say about Nordur Travel Services ehf

Read all 156 reviews on Google →

Operator rating 4.8/5 from Google — these are reviews of the company, not this specific tour. Shown as Google returns them, unedited.

  • Carsten Dederle

    ★★★★★ · a month ago

    Really enjoyed the Golden Circle Tour with Nordur. Always on time. Our guide was well educated and explained everything very well. We say fantastic nature.

  • Carolyn Stanley

    ★★★★★ · 4 weeks ago

    We did the Grundarfjordur Snaefellsnes tour (small group for cruises) with Lorenzo. It was fantastic. Lorenzo was a great guide, the scenery spectacular. It was a great taste of the Icelandic West Coast. A fabulous day, thank you.

  • Reme Amat Sánchez

    ★★★★★ · 2 months ago

    Great tour, i enjoy a lot, the guide speaks spanish very good. Wonderfull places.

  • Susan Millhouse

    ★★★★★ · a month ago

    A brilliant tour with Marcos to the spectacular Dynjandi waterfall and a farm visit. He was witty, friendly and very informative all tour. The coffee and homemade cakes at the farm, plus the adorable horses, were a bonus. Highly recommended 🤩

Reviews from Google · updated 23 Oct 2026

Read before you book

Reviews from our travellers

Only people who booked this tour through us can write here. We publish every review in full — good or bad.

Reviews arrive the day after each trip — none yet for this one. After your tour we send one email asking how it was, and what you write goes here, unedited.

Hotels

Where to stay for this tour

From the cheapest to the top end of what is near Akureyri, from our hotel partners. Rooms are booked on our hotels site.

All hotels in North Iceland →
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Pairs well with

Add any of these to this tour and 3 % comes off both at checkout — about €12 on the cheapest pair. One basket, one payment, however many operators they come from.

Fox Adventure ehf

Adventure! Diamond Circle Tour!

from €293 per person5.0· 20 Google reviews of the operator

106% above the €142 typical for sightseeing day tours

Moderate · from age 6 · pickup included

10 h · from Akureyri

  • Wi-fi on board
  • Family friendly
  • Free cancellation 24 h
Check dates

from

€210 per person

Book Sun 11 Apr · €210