I get a lot of flak from my wife for working much too hard. She is right, of course. I recently found out that I had 7.5 vacation days from last year, so I just had to take a break. So we took a couple of days off before Easter to make the most of the vacation. We drove north to my hometown of Akureyri, and the mission was simple. Relax! One important part of that was to experience the Earth Lagoon Mývatn.

Getting on the Diamond Circle

We drove from Akureyri, and the weather was quite lovely on the way. We passed through the tunnel in Vadlaheidi Mountain, which will considerably shorten the route from Akureyri to destinations on the Diamond Circle in North-Eastern Iceland.

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Nice day at the Lake Myvatn Nature baths.
Nice day at the Lake Myvatn Nature baths.

Great Destinations in the North East of Iceland

These include the whale-watching capital of the north, Húsavík; Dimmuborgir lava field; Ásbyrgi canyon; Hljóðaklettar rock formations; the volcanic Krafla; Godafoss waterfall; and the fossil deposits at the Tjörnes peninsula.

Driving to Lake Myvatn

We had an enjoyable ride to Lake Myvatn, the weather was great most of the way, and we were treated to fantastic views. But when we got to Lake Myvatn, the weather changed a bit; it got overcast, and there was light snow. I actually was happy with this. There are few feelings better than sitting in hot water in cold weather. After a thorough shower, as is mandatory in Iceland, we got out into the baths.

Nature baths at Lake Myvatn in the dead of winter.
Nature baths at Lake Myvatn in the dead of winter.

Soaking in the Earth Lagoon at Lake Mývtn

The geothermal water was pleasantly warm. The baths have two large areas. When we were there, the areas had different temperatures. I really enjoyed the view from the baths; the area around Lake Myvatn is just beautiful. The baths have two spouts that jet water and give you a great back, shoulder, and neck massage. The baths have plenty of places to sit and soak. When the snowflakes drift down, it is just perfect to feel the water’s warmth loosen all the stress in your body and mind, and meditate. If you are so inclined, you can get a beer to further your relaxation.

Get Steamed

You could say that the natural baths at Myvatn are close to the source of some seriously mineral-infused steaming water from a volcanic neighborhood. The baths are supplied from the massive bore hole at Bjarnarflag where it is a blistering 130°C The lagoon itself has water with carefully controlled temperatures ranging from 36 – 40°C. It is easy to find your footing there, as the bottom of the baths is smooth sand and gravel. I can tell you that the water at the natural baths works wonders on sensitive skin, as I have myself.

Heading back

After we had soaked and relaxed for a good hour or two, we headed back to Akureyri. Of course, we stopped at the lovely Godafoss waterfall.

Tags #Geothermal Spas #Lake Myvatn #Nature baths