The Diamond Circle in Iceland from a Húsavík base
The Diamond Circle in Iceland is a roughly 250 km circular route linking Húsavík, Goðafoss, Mývatn, Dettifoss and Ásbyrgi. Húsavík provides a coastal base, while the other stops take you into waterfall and volcanic landscapes. The route length describes the whole circuit, rather than the distance from Húsavík to a single attraction.
Choose the five-to-six-hour Mývatn and Goðafoss excursion if you want a guided outing from Húsavík harbour; choose an Akureyri departure for the eight-hour or eight-and-a-half-hour Diamond Circle options. The harbour excursion is a shorter alternative focused on two destinations, rather than the full circle. Independent drivers can build their day around road conditions and the stops they want to explore.
Excursions around North Iceland
Two Diamond Circle excursions start in Akureyri, one at the cruise terminal. From Húsavík port, the shore excursion visits Mývatn and Goðafoss.
Hand-picked tours, booked through GetYourGuide and Viator. Prices are indicative starting prices in euros (as of November 2026). Tap a tour for live availability and the current price in your currency.
Mývatn and Goðafoss from Húsavík port
- Guided tour
- Transport
- Pick up and drop off
A five- to six-hour shore excursion with Mývatn and Goðafoss on the route.
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Diamond Circle from Akureyri cruise port
- English speaking guide
- Air conditioned vehicle
- Entrance fees at listed attractions
Pickup and return are at listed cruise terminals; the return is aligned with cruise schedules.
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Diamond Circle excursion from Akureyri
- Guide
- Air-conditioned vehicle
- Packed lunch with sandwich and water bottle
This guided route visits Húsavík and Dettifoss.
Check availability →Diamond Circle routes and a shorter Húsavík departure
Two excursions begin in Akureyri; the five-to-six-hour harbour departure in Húsavík concentrates on Mývatn and Goðafoss.
Driving the route from Húsavík
Húsavík works as a starting point for a self-drive Diamond Circle itinerary, with the waterfalls, lake and canyon as separate stops. Pick the places that matter to your day before choosing the approach roads. Leave room for walking and viewpoints rather than treating the circuit as a distance to complete as quickly as possible.
Winter planning needs particular care: ice, unpredictable weather and short daylight can change the practical route. Consult current road and weather information before setting out. The Húsavík transport guide covers car rental and arriving via Akureyri; the season guide puts outdoor plans in context.
Mývatn and its volcanic landscapes
Mývatn brings lava formations, craters and walking trails into a Diamond Circle day. Dimmuborgir, Hverfjall and Grjótagjá are regional sights, rather than attractions in Húsavík town. Choose a manageable selection if you also want to spend time at the waterfalls. Treat Grjótagjá as a sightseeing stop rather than a swimming plan.
The southern route described in Golden Circle in South Iceland belongs to a different part of the country. The northern Diamond Circle is the relevant landscape route when your base is Húsavík or Akureyri.
Goðafoss and its viewpoints
Goðafoss is a waterfall on the Skjálfandafljót with parking areas on both banks and surfaced paths to viewpoints. The regional manual describes a height of 12 m and width of 30 m. Choose the access that fits your route, and allow time to leave the vehicle and view the river.
Dettifoss by the west and east approaches
Dettifoss has an asphalt western approach on road 862 and a gravel eastern approach on road 864. Winter service on 862 is limited. Road 864 is seasonal, closing with autumn snow and reopening according to snow and ground conditions. Neither description promises access on your travel date.
Dettifoss has marked walking routes, parking and toilets. The national park describes the combined Dettifoss and Selfoss D2 walk as 2.5 km and about one hour. Follow current trail information and signs, especially when surfaces are icy. A viewpoint walk and a long drive need separate space in the day's plan.
Jökulsárgljúfur, Ásbyrgi and national park walks
Ásbyrgi is a wooded horseshoe-shaped canyon in the Jökulsárgljúfur area of Vatnajökull National Park. Walking trails and the Gljúfrastofa visitor centre offer a different kind of stop from the waterfalls. Keep to marked routes and fit the walk to conditions. Toilets inside the visitor centre are accessible during its opening hours.
Guided alternatives and their actual starting points
The eight-hour Diamond Circle trip with packed lunch starts at Gránufélagsgata 50 in Akureyri and visits Húsavík and Dettifoss. Guide, air-conditioned transport, WiFi and a sandwich with water are included. The eight-and-a-half-hour small-group cruise excursion begins at Fiskitangi cruise terminal in Akureyri, with pickup and return at listed terminals, guided visits and listed attraction entrance and parking fees. Food and drinks are extra on that option.
The Mývatn and Goðafoss excursion starts at the cruise pier in Húsavík and lasts five to six hours. Guide, transport, pickup and return are included. Its eight reviews, recorded in November 2026, form a small review base. Choose it for its departure and two-destination itinerary; Dettifoss and a complete Diamond Circle are outside that shorter route.
Diamond Circle planning questions
How long is the Diamond Circle?
About 250 km describes the Diamond Circle circuit connecting Húsavík, Goðafoss, Mývatn, Dettifoss and Ásbyrgi. Walking, viewpoints and road conditions determine how much of it fits your day. The figure is a route length, rather than the distance from Húsavík to each waterfall or a guaranteed driving time.
Does the Húsavík harbour tour cover the full circle?
No, the five-to-six-hour excursion from Húsavík cruise pier focuses on Mývatn and Goðafoss. Guide, transport, pickup and return are included. Choose this shorter route for a departure in town. The Diamond Circle excursions shown alongside it begin in Akureyri and follow different itineraries with their own inclusions.
Is Dettifoss guaranteed to be accessible in winter?
No, Dettifoss access depends on road and weather conditions. Western road 862 is asphalt with limited winter service, while eastern gravel road 864 is seasonal. Consult current road information before driving and use the available marked routes at the site. A road's surface does not establish winter access.