DAY 07 // There is definitely a lot to see in the Mývatn Region. We started the day at Krafla – a large volcanic crater that was formed by a major eruption leading to the collapse of the mouth of the volcano. You can park and take a short hike to the top of the crater. On the drive back to the entrance, be sure not to miss the random shower head. Not quite sure how or when it was placed there, but apparently there used to be a toilet there too! We took the opportunity to clean our dishes here. The water runs all day/night so it’s a little muddy around the shower. Don’t miss it because it was definitely amusing.
Hverir is a geothermal area at the foothill of Namafjall. This area is easy to spot heading west from Krafla. The steam and smell will lead you the way. The land is filled with sulfurous mud springs and steam vents. I loved walking around this area. The steam vents randomly burst out without warning, so watch out for hot air!
The Mývatn Nature Bath is similar to the Blue Lagoon, but 10x better, smaller, and less expensive. I found the lagoon experience much enjoyable with fewer people. The view overlooks the Mývatn region – I’d definitely recommend a visit to the Mývatn Nature Bath, there are a ton of things to see in the area and worth the drive.
A few miles down the road you’ll find Grjotagja lava cave. For you Game of Thrones fans, you might recognize the cave underneath as they filmed part of season three in this location. A walk inside the cave reveals a beautiful natural geothermal spring – the water so crystal clear you can see to the bottom. Bathing is strictly prohibited here unfortunately, but still worth the visit.
To finish our day we headed to Godafoss “waterfall of the god” – it’s yet another spectacular waterfall in Iceland. The massive water from the river Skjálfandafljót falls straight from 12 meters high over a width of 30 meters. A beautiful way to end a day in the Mývatn area.
