Day 13: Exploring Iceland’s Diamond Circle

Today, you’ll explore part of the famous Diamond Circle! Your starting point depends on where your accommodation is, so feel free to map out your own route through these amazing sights. My starting point was Goðafoss — an iconic waterfall in the heart of the Mývatn area. Cruise ships from Akureyri often make this spot busy, but don’t let that stop you. A short walk from the parking lot takes you straight to the falls, where you can admire them from above or descend a small staircase to stand right at their base — a truly mesmerizing experience!

Next up is Skútustaðagígar, a field of pseudo-craters perfect for a short walk. When I arrived, though, clouds of midges made it impossible to linger, so I continued to my next stop: Dimmuborgir. Here you can choose your own adventure — a short stroll or a longer hike among surreal lava formations. The paved paths and waymarkers make it easy to navigate. These lava pillars were formed when molten lava flowed over a wet area, cooling rapidly from the water below. As the trapped water turned to steam and escaped, the remaining structures solidified into the dramatic shapes you see today.

After Dimmuborgir, head to Grjótagjá — a small lava cave with crystal-blue water that used to be a bathing spot in the 1970s and 80s. Over time, the heat from the magma below made the water too hot (around 60°C), but it remains an incredibly beautiful place. You’ll need to squeeze through a narrow crack in the rocks and climb down a bit, but the view that awaits — shimmering blue water framed by stone — is worth every step.

Your next stop is the geothermal area, and you’ll probably spot (and smell) it from afar. The heavy scent of sulfur fills the air, so be prepared! The lush greens of earlier stops give way to an otherworldly orange landscape, steaming and hissing beneath your feet. Take a short walk along the wooden boardwalks and enjoy this Martian-like terrain.

Finally, end your day at Hverfjall, an enormous crater that’s well worth the climb. With a diameter of about one kilometer, Hverfjall is mainly made up of tephra — volcanic fragments like ash and debris ejected during eruptions. The volcano stands 312 meters tall and reaches about 140 meters deep. Only a few of these tephra cone volcanoes exist on Earth: one more in Iceland, and another in Hawaii.

A steep but short path leads up to the crater rim, and once you’re there, the view is spectacular. Standing on the edge offers a dizzying look into the crater’s depth and panoramic views over the Mývatn area. You can even walk a full circle around the rim. In one of my photos, you can spot two tiny figures walking along the edge — a perfect reminder of just how immense Hverfjall really is.