Hot springs and waterfalls, private super jeep tour

Iceland saves its best surprises for rough roads. This private super jeep tour from Akureyri reaches three waterfalls and the Laugafell geothermal pool, far beyond the usual roadside stops. I like the mix of easy waterfall walks and a remote highland bath, and I like having a local guide and vehicle reserved for only your group. The main drawback is the price: $1,179.95 for up to four people is a serious spend, especially since food is not included.

You get about nine to ten hours on the road, with pickup and drop-off at your hotel or port. I also like the freedom that comes with a private outing, since your group is not sharing the day with strangers. Still, the route depends on good weather, and the highlands can be cold, so this is not a casual sightseeing drive in ordinary clothes.

Key points at a glance

• Three very different waterfalls: Goðafoss is broad and famous, Aldeyjarfoss is framed by basalt columns, and Hrafnabjargarfoss offers a quieter stop.
• Laugafell is the reward: You get about 50 minutes at a geothermal pool surrounded by Icelandic highland nature.
• A true private tour: The vehicle, driver-guide, hotel pickup, and port pickup are arranged for your group of up to four.
• A long, remote day: Plan for nine to ten hours, with a picnic because food and drinks are not provided.
• Guide quality matters: Kristjan received especially warm praise for being friendly and well-informed on one family’s private outing.
• Pack for changing weather: Bring hiking shoes, warm clothing, a swimsuit, and a towel.

Why this Akureyri day feels different

Many outings from Akureyri focus on one major sight, perhaps Goðafoss or a well-known geothermal area. This trip ties several kinds of Iceland together: a famous waterfall, two less familiar falls, a rough route through the uninhabited highlands, and a warm geothermal pool.

That combination is the real appeal. You are not simply getting out of a vehicle, taking a quick photograph, and returning to town. The day has a clear rhythm. First come the waterfalls, then the remote drive, then time to soak at Laugafell before returning toward Akureyri with a view over Eyjafjörður.

I especially like the private format for this route. A full day in a vehicle can feel tiring if every stop is controlled by a large group. Here, only your party participates, and the price covers up to four people. For four people sharing the cost, the total works out to roughly $295 per person before food. For one or two people, the same price feels much harder to justify.

The tour is operated by Arctic Fox Travel, and the driver is a certified local guide. That matters in the highlands, where the quality of the person behind the wheel and the guide’s sense of timing can shape the whole day.

Goðafoss, the easiest opening stop

The first waterfall is Goðafoss, often called the Waterfall of the Gods. It is a strong beginning because it is famous for good reason, with a broad, powerful appearance that gives you an immediate sense of Iceland’s raw water and volcanic setting.

You have about 20 minutes here. That is enough for a short look and photographs, but it is not a long walk or a slow exploration. If you have already seen Goðafoss from another excursion, this stop may feel familiar. If it is your first visit, the short visit gives you a useful introduction before the route becomes more remote.

There is no separate admission charge for the waterfall stops. That keeps the focus on the scenery rather than ticket booths and facilities. I would still treat the time carefully. Twenty minutes passes quickly when you are taking photographs, walking to a viewpoint, and trying to stay warm.

Aldeyjarfoss and its basalt frame

Aldeyjarfoss brings a different look. Its water drops beside tall basalt columns, giving the waterfall a more architectural feel than Goðafoss. The dark volcanic rock and bright water make this one of the most visually distinctive stops on the route.

You get about 20 minutes here as well. The stop is short, but the attraction is concentrated. You do not need a full afternoon to appreciate the contrast between the falling water and the regular shapes of the basalt.

This is also where good hiking shoes become important. The tour specifically asks you to bring them, and that advice should be taken seriously. The exact ground conditions are not specified, so you should not assume a paved, polished viewpoint. Wear shoes that can handle uneven ground and cold conditions.

Aldeyjarfoss is a good example of why the super jeep matters. The route is not built around only the easiest sights near town. You are being taken farther into the country, where the reward is a waterfall with a stronger sense of isolation.

Hrafnabjargarfoss, a shorter and quieter pause

The third waterfall is Hrafnabjargarfoss, described as a hidden gem. I would interpret that carefully. It is a less familiar stop on this route, not a promise that you will have the place entirely to yourself or that it requires a major hike.

The visit lasts about 15 minutes, making it the briefest waterfall stop. That can be a plus late in the waterfall portion of the day. You get another change of scenery without turning the morning into a series of long walks.

It also helps the route feel varied. Goðafoss is the well-known name, Aldeyjarfoss has the basalt columns, and Hrafnabjargarfoss supplies the quieter, less obvious stop. Taken together, they give you more than one version of Icelandic water and rock.

Do not expect a long interpretive visit here. The available time is short, and the attraction is mainly the natural setting. I would use this stop to slow down, look carefully, and let the guide handle the timing.

The road to Laugafell

After the waterfalls, the character of the day changes. The route continues through the uninhabited Icelandic highlands toward Laugafell. This is the part that makes the experience feel like an adventure rather than a standard waterfall transfer.

The tour description does not promise a particular road surface, driving style, or number of photo stops, so I would keep expectations practical. You are spending a substantial part of the day in a vehicle, and the point is reaching a remote geothermal pool, not racing from one attraction to the next.

The highlands can be cold, even when conditions in Akureyri feel mild. Bring warm clothes and keep them available rather than buried in a bag. A picnic is also essential because food and drinks are not included. You could lose valuable time and comfort if you assume there will be a café or shop along the way.

This is a good route for someone who enjoys the journey between stops. If you want a compact half-day outing with frequent services, this is probably the wrong choice. If you like long drives into sparsely settled country, the distance is part of the value.

A warm stop at Laugafell

Laugafell is the centerpiece of the day. Here, you have about 50 minutes to enjoy a natural geothermal pool in the middle of the Icelandic highlands. The setting is the point: you are bathing surrounded by open nature rather than sitting in a busy urban spa.

The service fee for the geothermal pool is included, so you do not need to budget for a separate entrance charge. Bring your swimsuit and towel. The tour provides the opportunity to bathe, but the supplied details do not promise changing facilities, lockers, towels, or other spa services, so pack with simple outdoor conditions in mind.

Fifty minutes is a sensible amount of time. It gives you time to change, soak, and enjoy the surroundings without turning the stop into the entire day. The pool may be the most memorable part for you, especially after the colder drive through the highlands.

I would not book this tour solely for a polished spa experience. Laugafell is presented as a natural geothermal pool, and the appeal comes from its remote setting. Think outdoor bathing with a powerful sense of place, not a resort visit with a long menu of treatments.

Returning with views over Eyjafjörður

The return toward Akureyri includes a spectacular view over Eyjafjörður. This gives the day a fitting final scene, shifting from the inland highlands back toward the broad fjord near town.

The exact viewing point and length of the stop are not specified, so you should treat this as part of the return drive rather than a guaranteed long photo session. Still, the change in setting matters. After waterfalls, volcanic rock, and a geothermal bath, the fjord provides a wide finish to a long day.

Because the tour lasts around nine to ten hours, the return can feel tiring. That is normal for a route covering remote areas and several major stops. A private vehicle helps because your group can travel together without managing a busload of people, but it does not shorten the distance.

What the private format is worth

The price is $1,179.95 per group of up to four. This is expensive for one or two people, but the calculation changes with a full group. Four people sharing the cost pay about $295 each, and the fee covers the driver-guide, hotel or port pickup and drop-off, private transport, and the geothermal pool service fee.

The strongest value is not simply the number of stops. It is the combination of access, time, and privacy. You can reach three waterfalls and a highland pool in one long day without arranging several separate transfers. You also avoid sharing the experience with other groups.

That said, the price does not include food or drinks. Add a picnic to your planning, and do not expect the tour to supply lunch along the road. The vehicle and guide are included, but your comfort still depends on what you pack.

One family of four chose this private trip instead of a cruise-sponsored excursion and had a particularly positive day with Kristjan. The family included young adults, and the guide was praised for being friendly and well-informed. That is useful evidence for families and small groups who want a personal alternative to a larger shore excursion, though the public rating is based on only two reviews, so I would not treat it as a broad statistical guarantee.

Timing, pickup, and practical planning

Pickup is offered from hotels and ports in Akureyri. That is especially useful if you are in town for a short stay or arriving by cruise ship. You do not need to arrange a separate taxi to begin the day, although you should confirm the pickup details when booking.

The listed operating window is 8:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. from July 1 through October 1, 2025, Monday through Sunday. Since the full experience lasts nine to ten hours, the exact start time affects your return time. Ask for the confirmed departure time before finalizing other plans.

Confirmation is provided at booking, and the experience is offered with a mobile ticket. Cancellation is free up to 24 hours before the start time for a full refund. Changes or cancellations inside that 24-hour period are not accepted for a refund, and poor weather can lead to a different date or a full refund.

The weather rule is important, not a footnote. This route reaches the highlands, and conditions can affect safe operation. Keep your schedule flexible if possible, especially if you are connecting directly to a flight or another fixed activity.

Who will enjoy this tour most

I would recommend this experience to:

• A group of up to four who can share the private cost
• Cruise passengers wanting a personal alternative to a large shore excursion
• People who want waterfalls and geothermal bathing in one day
• Visitors comfortable with a long vehicle ride and remote conditions
• Families with older children or young adults who can manage a full day
• Anyone who enjoys natural settings more than indoor attractions

I would think twice if you dislike long drives, need a highly predictable schedule, or want a luxury spa with full facilities. The tour also may not suit someone looking only for Goðafoss, since the famous waterfall is just one part of a much longer day.

Most participants can take part, according to the tour information, but you should still consider your own comfort with walking near waterfall areas, cold weather, and a long day on the road. Good shoes and warm clothing are not decorative extras here.

What to pack for the highlands

Keep your packing simple and useful:

• Good hiking shoes
• Warm clothing for cold regional weather
• Swimsuit
• Towel
• Picnic food
• Drinks

A mobile ticket is provided, but the important items are physical ones. Your swimsuit will not help much if your towel is back at the hotel, and a warm jacket matters after leaving the pool for the cooler air.

Should you book the Laugafell super jeep tour?

Book it if you want a private, full-day escape from Akureyri that combines three waterfalls, a remote geothermal pool, and a local guide. The best value comes with four people sharing the $1,179.95 price, especially if you are comparing it with a cruise excursion and want a more personal day.

Skip it if you want a cheap sightseeing outing, a short schedule, or a polished spa visit. The route is long, the weather may change plans, and food is your responsibility.

For the right group, this is a strong choice. You get famous scenery, quieter waterfall stops, and a memorable highland bath in one carefully connected day. Just pack warmly, bring lunch, and leave enough room in your schedule for Iceland to set the pace.

FAQ

Where does the tour begin?

Pickup is offered from hotels and ports in Akureyri.

How long does the experience last?

The tour lasts approximately nine to ten hours.

How many people can join the private tour?

The price covers one private group of up to four people.

What waterfalls are included?

The route visits Goðafoss, Aldeyjarfoss, and Hrafnabjargarfoss.

Is admission to the waterfalls included?

There is no admission ticket charge listed for the waterfall stops.

Is the Laugafell pool fee included?

Yes. The geothermal pool service fee is included.

How long do you spend at Laugafell?

You have approximately 50 minutes at the geothermal pool.

Are food and drinks included?

No. You need to bring your own food and drinks, including a picnic for the road.

What should I bring?

Bring good hiking shoes, a swimsuit, a towel, and warm clothes. A picnic is also recommended.

Can the tour be canceled because of weather?

Yes. The experience requires good weather. If poor weather causes cancellation, you will be offered another date or a full refund.