A road near Akureyri on a sunny day with snowcapped mountains in the distance

North Iceland & Akureyri tours

North Iceland covers the Diamond Circle route, Lake Mývatn, Húsavík, Akureyri, and the Arctic Coast Way. These packages include accommodation, transport, and a detailed itinerary, with the option to add whale watching in Húsavík, snowmobiling, or extra nights at checkout.

Choose a self-drive tour to travel at your own pace, join a guided group with a local driver-guide, or use Akureyri as a base for day trips into the surrounding region. Most Ring Road packages pass through North Iceland as part of the full circuit.

Save 10% on Select North Iceland Tours

Use promo code SAVE10 to save 10% on select North Iceland Self-Drive, Multi-Day, and Guided Group tours with travel dates through October. Discover waterfalls, whale watching, and volcanic landscapes in Iceland's stunning north. Offer ends soon!

View trips

Venture off the beaten path in Iceland
Choose from a range of travel styles
24/7 helpline once you’re in Iceland
Customize your package with extra activities

View trips About North Iceland tours Reviews FAQs More travel styles More inspo

About North Iceland and Akureyri tours

North Iceland covers the Diamond Circle route, Lake Mývatn, Húsavík, Goðafoss, Ásbyrgi, Dettifoss, and the Arctic Coast Way. Akureyri is the main town in the region and the starting point for day trips into the surrounding area.

All packages include accommodation, transport, and daily breakfast, with detailed itineraries planned before you arrive. Choose a self-drive tour to travel at your own pace, join a guided group with a local driver-guide, or use Akureyri as a base for guided day excursions. Extra days, whale watching in Húsavík, and snowmobiling can be added at checkout.

Secure your trip with just a 5% deposit
Get flexible departure dates
Easily cancel or amend your booking
Enjoy a delicious breakfast every day

Don’t take our word for it

See what hundreds of fellow travelers have to say about their trips with Iceland Tours.

Read customer reviews

FAQs about North Iceland tour packages

These questions cover what to expect on a North Iceland tour, including the main attractions, how to get there, and how to book.

North Iceland covers the Diamond Circle route, which takes in Lake Mývatn, Dettifoss, Húsavík, and Ásbyrgi -- four very different natural sites within a manageable driving distance of each other.

Whale watching in Húsavík operates from April through October. Puffins are present along the coast in summer. The Lake Mývatn area has a concentration of geothermal features including mud pools, steam vents, and volcanic craters within a small area.

North Iceland sits close to the Arctic Circle and within the Northern Lights belt, making it one of the better parts of the country for aurora viewing in winter. Get inspired by these Northern Lights tour packages.

North Iceland's main sights are clustered along the Diamond Circle route. You’ll get to see some of the best ones along the Diamond Circle, a 250-km (155-mi) touring route around the country’s north.

The main stops include:

Goðafoss waterfall – a horseshoe-shaped waterfall with a 12-metre drop, named after the Norse gods.
Lake Mývatn – a shallow lake surrounded by volcanic craters, lava formations, and geothermal areas. The Mývatn Nature Baths are nearby.
Dettifoss waterfall – the second most powerful waterfall in Europe, with a 44-metre drop on the Jökulsá á Fjöllum river.
Ásbyrgi canyon – a horseshoe-shaped canyon around 100 metres deep, part of Vatnajökull National Park.
Húsavík – the main whale watching town in Iceland, with tours operating on Skjálfandi Bay from April through October.

North Iceland is packed with many other must-see sights. For instance, you could check out the Krafla caldera, an active geothermal area home to a volcanic crater. And if you want to witness out-of-this-world lava formations, stop by the Dimmuborgir lava fields. They’re both just a short drive from the beautiful Lake Mývatn area.

Akureyri is North Iceland's main town, with a compact centre, good restaurants, and easy access to the surrounding region.

Akureyri has a range of activities and attractions. Some options:

See humpbacks on a whale-watching tour from Akureyri harbor
Visit the botanical gardens in summer
Soak up views of Eyjafjörður fjord as you unwind in the Forest Lagoon
Check out modern masterpieces at Akureyri Art Museum
Sample fresh seafood at local restaurants
Visit the local swimming pool with outdoor hot pots
Admire the architecture of the awe-inspiring Art Deco church
Ski at Hlíðarfjall in winter
Sample craft beer at Einstök Brewer’s Lounge

Akureyri is also a great base for exploring the rest of North Iceland. With our winter multi-day packages, you can stay in Akureyri and explore the top attractions on guided day tours.

All North Iceland packages include:

Accommodation level of your choice
Daily breakfast
Detailed itinerary with route notes and maps
24/7 helpline during your trip

Other inclusions depend on what type of tour you choose. For example, if you book a self-drive tour of Iceland, you get a rental car of your choice, basic liability insurance coverage, and more.

Flights are not included. All local ground transport within Iceland is covered, including airport transfers and hotel pick-ups for day trips.

Direct international flights operate to Akureyri Airport from a small number of European cities in summer. You can also take a short domestic flight from Reykjavík to Akureyri, and start your tour from there.

The most common route is to drive north from Reykjavík via the Ring Road, which takes around four to five hours depending on stops.

Take a self-drive tour, or get someone else to do the driving on a private or guided group tour from Reykjavík.

Browse the packages on this page and filter by travel style, season, and departure date. You can filter them by season, travel style, and departure dates.

For a step-by-step guide on how to book a tour and answers to frequently asked questions, visit our how to book with us page.

You can choose any departure date you like for travel styles, including self-drive, camping, multi-day, and private tours.

Guided group tours have fixed departures, but we have a selection of dates available during summer and winter. Check individual tour pages for current availability.

Confirm your tour dates first, then search for flights to match. This ensures your travel dates are fixed before you commit to flights.

Once your tour is confirmed, book flights to Keflavík or Akureyri depending on your itinerary.

North Iceland's weather is variable regardless of season. Pack for changeable conditions:.

Here are some tips for what to bring on a North Iceland trip: