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Bucket list experience:

Last updated: 16 December, 2022
Expert travel writer: Oliver Berry

Iceland often looks like a film set from Lord of the Rings, and nowhere is that truer than the area around Myvatn Lake.

A blasted, volcanic landscape of strange rock formations, smoking volcanoes, plopping mudpools and geothermal ponds, it’s the nearest you’ll ever get to a real-life Mordor.

There are numerous active volcanoes to see around Krafla, but the weirdest sight of all is Dimmuborgir, a bizarre forest of volcanic pillars criss-crossed by colour-coded hiking trails.

Dimmuborgir, a large area of unusually shaped lava fields, east of Myvatn, Iceland. Myvatn area - Iceland. The
Experience

Dimmuborgir Lava Field

Myvatn Lake, Iceland

These strange lava formations look like the remains of an ancient, crumbling citadel (the name means ‘dark castles’), and were made when an ancient lava tube collapsed 2,300 years ago. Various colour-coded hiking trails wind amongst the pillars.

Best for ages: 8+ | Free

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Namafjall Hverir geothermal area in Iceland. Boiling mud pots surrounded by sulfur crystals, natural travel background, tourist attraction
Experience

Hverir Mud Pools

Myvatn Lake, Iceland

Hold your nose: this bizarre landscape of bubbling mud pools and smoking fumaroles stinks to high heaven from all the sulphur, but it feels a little like walking on the surface of another planet.

Best for ages: 8+ | Free

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The Myvatn Nature Baths natural bathing site. Here people can bathe in a lagoon that has many beneficial properties due minerals content in water
Experience

Myvatn Nature Baths

Myvatn Lake, Iceland

Myvatn Nature Baths at Jardbodin are known as the northern version of the Blue Lagoon – a large outdoor geothermal pool and steam room complex with views of Myvatn Lake.

Best for ages: 6+ | £35

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Price: Free
Minimum age: Any
Age suitable: 13+
When: All year around

Getting there & doing it

The main hub is Reykjahlid, a small village on the shores of Myvatn Lake. Most public buses stop here, and several operators offer organised tours of the area. If you’re driving, it’s about 79km east of Akureyri.

Our selection of the best Viator tours of this attraction or activity

Snowmobile Tour by Lake Mývatn

Snowmobile Tour by Lake Mývatn

Reykjahlíð

In Lake Mývatn region, snowmobiling is our favourite way of traveling trough the rough arctic conditions. Our guides grew up riding snowmobi...

€149 | Rating 5 / 5 [9 ratings]

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Lake Myvatn and Godafoss Waterfall Day Tour from Akureyri

Lake Myvatn and Godafoss Waterfall Day Tour from Akureyri

Akureyri

Discover the magical wonderland of Lake Myvatn and Godafoss Waterfall with an experienced local tour guide. We set off from Akureryi stoppin...

€180 | Rating 4.92 / 5 [25 ratings]

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Lake Myvatn Day Tour and Godafoss Waterfall for Cruise Ships from Akureyri Port

Lake Myvatn Day Tour and Godafoss Waterfall for Cruise Ships from Akureyri Port

Akureyri

Discover the magical wonderland of Lake Myvatn and Godafoss Waterfall with an experienced local tour guide. We set off from Akureryi Port st...

€185 | Rating 4.70 / 5 [77 ratings]

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Lake Myvatn, Dettifoss and Goddafoss Waterfalls Day Tour from Akureyri

Lake Myvatn, Dettifoss and Goddafoss Waterfalls Day Tour from Akureyri

Akureyri

Discover the Natural Wonders of Lake Myvan, Nature Baths, Goddafoss waterfall AND the spectacular Dettifoss waterfall all in one day on this...

€187 | Rating 5 / 5 [10 ratings]

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