Private Goðafoss & Laufás Heritage Tour from Akureyri

by Your Friend in Reykjavik · North Iceland

4.90· 1,779 Google reviews of the operator
  • Eco-certified

from €881 per vehicle

Next departure: Fri 23 Oct

Book Fri 23 Oct · €881 the vehicleOther dates
Private Goðafoss & Laufás Heritage Tour from Akureyri — Your Friend in Reykjavik
Historic Laufás turf houses with grass roofs and wooden facades
Waterfall with surrounding cliffs and rugged terrain
View of Akureyri with mountains in the background
Close-up of water plunging over a cliff
Close-up view of turf-covered roofs and traditional architecture at Laufás
Large waterfall flowing into a serene pool

1 / 7

  • Duration

    3 hours

  • Difficulty

    Easy

  • Season

    All year

  • Starts in

    Akureyri

  • Pickup

    Hotel pickup included

  • Guide

    Guided in English

  • Departs

    09:00, 10:00, 11:00, 12:00 …

  • Cancellation

    Free until 24 hours before

About this experience

Experience the perfect balance of Icelandic nature and cultural heritage on this private Goðafoss & Laufás tour from Akureyri. Designed for travelers with limited time who still want meaningful insight into Iceland’s landscapes and history, this relaxed half-day experience highlights two of North Iceland’s most significant sites.

Your journey begins with a scenic drive from Akureyri through the countryside toward Goðafoss, one of Iceland’s most famous waterfalls. Known as the “Waterfall of the Gods,” Goðafoss is both visually striking and historically important. According to Icelandic legend, pagan idols were thrown into the falls around the year 1000 when Iceland officially adopted Christianity. Today, the waterfall’s powerful horseshoe shape, turquoise waters, and surrounding lava formations make it one of the most photogenic stops in the north.

After time to explore and photograph Goðafoss, you’ll continue to Laufás, a beautifully preserved turf house estate dating back to the 19th century. Once an important parsonage, Laufás offers a rare glimpse into traditional Icelandic rural life. Walk through interconnected turf-roofed buildings furnished with period interiors, and learn how Icelanders lived, worked, and adapted to the harsh northern climate.

The visit also includes Laufáskirkja, a charming wooden church overlooking Eyjafjörður, where sweeping fjord views complete this peaceful cultural experience. Throughout the tour, your local guide provides stories, historical context, and insights that bring each location to life.

This private tour is ideal for families, cruise passengers, and culture-focused travelers looking for a comfortable, insightful, and unhurried introduction to North Iceland’s natural beauty and heritage.

Description from the operator, Your Friend in Reykjavik. Prices and availability in the booking panel are live.

Where you go

  1. Pickup
  2. Goðafoss (The Waterfall of the Gods)
  3. Laufás Turf Houses
  4. Laufáskirkja Church & Fjord Views
  5. Return

Included

  • Private transportation from Akureyri
  • English-speaking local guide
  • Admission to Laufás Turf Houses and church
  • Pickup and drop-off at hotel or cruise port

Not included

  • Tips (welcome but optional)
  • Food and drinks

Good to know

  • Warm, weather-appropriate clothing
  • Comfortable walking shoes
  • Camera or phone for photos
  • The tour involves easy walking on gravel paths and uneven ground
  • Weather conditions may affect timing or accessibility
  • Optional coffee or refreshment stop can be arranged upon request

Cancellation for this tour

Free cancellation until 24 hours before departure; no refund after that. If the operator cancels for weather or safety, you get a full refund or a new date.

If the weather cancels this tour

Iceland's weather is real. What usually stops this one is a forecast the operator judges unsafe. Here is exactly what happens to your booking.

  1. 1Your Friend in Reykjavik decides, and tells us. Operators cancel when it is unsafe or pointless, and we back that call every time — we do not ask them to run anyway.
  2. 2We contact you by email, and by phone if your tour is the same or next day. You choose: another date if there is one you can make, or a full refund. There is no fee and nothing to argue.
  3. 3The refund goes back to the card you paid with, through Stripe, usually visible within a few working days. If this tour was one of several in your booking, the others are untouched.

What you do not get is the day back. If this is the only free day in your plan, put a spare day next to it — the planner leaves days free with the rest-day option. And if you want out because the forecast looks bad, that is your own cancellation: free until 1 day before departure, the operator's policy after that.

Questions on the day: [email protected] · +354 497 1373. How cancellations work in Iceland →

Who this is not for

  • Priced per vehicle, so it is poor value for one or two people and good value for four or more sharing.

Read off the operator's own conditions. If none of it applies to you, this is a good one.

Why we list it

Your Friend in Reykjavik is one of 204 operators we work with — chosen for reliability, honest descriptions and how they treat guests when weather changes plans. We don't list everything; we list what we'd book ourselves. The six checks every operator passes →

What travellers say about Your Friend in Reykjavik

Read all 1,779 reviews on Google →

Operator rating 4.9/5 from Google — these are reviews of the company, not this specific tour. Shown as Google returns them, unedited.

  • Sanket Das

    ★★★★★ · 2 months ago

    Your Friend in Reykjavik is the best tour company in Reykjavik . I took Walk with a Viking Tour , Snaefellsnes Peninsula day tour and 6 days around Iceland Adventure tour . I spent 8 Nights in Iceland . I stayed 2 nights at Hotel Reykjavik Grand , 1 night at Hotel Geirland , 1 night at Hotel Hofn , 1 night at Wilderness Center , 1 night at Akureyri Berjaya Iceland Hotels , 1 night at Hotel Laugarbakki , 1 night at Hotel Keflavik . It was an amazing tour . My experience in Iceland was magical and heavenly . I also visited Blue Lagoon and it was a nice experience. I enjoyed my every second in Iceland . Iceland is one of the most beautiful country on our planet . I would keep visiting Iceland in the future . Thank you for making my Iceland journey special and memorable .

  • Wendy Uhlig

    ★★★★★ · 2 months ago

    We had a great time on our Iceland Folklore tour. Our guide was Einar. He was a fantastic storyteller!! Hidden people/elves, trolls and ghost stories - and a lot of Icelandic history. Thank you Einar!!

  • Nanci Ritter

    ★★★★★ · 2 months ago

    Petra was an incredible guide. We asked her to show us as much as she could before taking our crazy family of 10 to the airport for our flights to three different cities ! First stop was the beautiful church in downtown Reykjavik that had just opened with an organ recital. Next stop a lovely spot and observation sight overlooking the city by the Pearl. Cold and wet she found us a lovely coffee shop with the best pastries for a welcome mid morning rest next to the sea. Back in the van we drove for a bit before having the opportunity to explore a geothermal field on our way to the airport. A perfect day and ending to our time in Iceland. Petra shared alot of history and information from the perspective of a local which we all appreciated and enjoyed!

  • Vincent Damas

    ★★★★★ · 4 months ago

    Nice walking trip in Reykjavik city centre with our local guide Hrafn, very friendly and knowledgeable. A good introduction to Iceland on the very first day of our 2 weeks road-trip around the island 👍

Reviews from Google · updated 21 Oct 2026

Read before you book

Reviews from our travellers

Only people who booked this tour through us can write here. We publish every review in full — good or bad.

Reviews arrive the day after each trip — none yet for this one. After your tour we send one email asking how it was, and what you write goes here, unedited.

Hotels

Where to stay for this tour

From the cheapest to the top end of what is near Akureyri, from our hotel partners. Rooms are booked on our hotels site.

All hotels in North Iceland →

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Pairs well with

Add any of these to this tour and 3 % comes off both at checkout. One basket, one payment, however many operators they come from.

from

€881 per vehicle

Book Fri 23 Oct · €881 the vehicle